Andy Smart's Blog, page 6
April 18, 2016
Beijing’s Vanishing Hutong: Last House Standing
2008: Qianbajia and Houbajia Villages. My way in to college every day.
2008: I remember it clearly like it was yesterday. The route from the apartment to Tsinghua University would take me through the warren of narrow streets, alleyways and dirt tracks of the Qianbajia and Houbajia villages the likes I’d never seen before. This twice daily half an hour overload of information to the senses was everything I’d come to China for.
It took ages to work out how to get through to the other side but talk about worth it! Thousands of tiny buildings roughly thrown together, an attestation to the resourceful nature of Chinese people. Households all recycle. Used materials get stacked outside stored under tarpaulins saved for maintaining their property, bike or for growing plants. This is Beijing’s Hutong.
Qianbajia and Houbajia Villages: Now Gone
Maybe twenty five percent of the population of Beijing still lives in the hutong and it’s been this way for centuries though as Beijing’s population continues to sky-rocket, these areas are now rapidly being torn down. In less than a week nearly the whole of Qianbajia and Houbajia was demolished in order to make way for new development. I couldn’t believe it! A way of life gone forever!
Last remaining building of the Qianbajia and Houbajia villages still defiantly standing (click to enlarge)
My first reaction was somewhat misplaced. A Westernised romantic view of the hutong, the local people hounded out by the wicked ‘powers that be’ and the sad destruction of a bygone era. Actually, it turns out that people around here have a special reason to keep smiling if they are asked to move on. Indeed they get a couple of choices. The first is to move to a new place with the ability to move back again after the building has finished and pay half the cost of a new place. The other is to receive from what many locals tell me around here, is a substantial pay-out.
The new apartments on the Qianbajia and Houbajia site (click to enlarge)
The honest truth about many of the villages here are they are so incredibly poor that people live in really filthy conditions. They only have public shared toilets and when you use one you will turn instantly green, especially during a nice hot summer’s day. When it’s cold, life is harder than hard and keeping warm is all existence is about. Who’d want to bring their kid up in that?
I cycled home in a torrential downpour through a hutong area the other night. The whole area became instantly flooded and the amount of rubbish and ‘matter’ in the water was ridiculous. I could feel myself instantly going down with some foul germ from hell and was sick for days after.
click to enlarge
Reality aside, from the Qianbajia and Houbajia the next hutong in line is the SiJie Village right around the corner from where I live. Hemmed in between the Qinghe River, G6 and 5th Ring Road, SiJie continues as if it’s trying to go on unnoticed; a hidden vibrant community filled with life. That it will be levelled for new apartment blocks is pure speculation, but I can’t help but worry how long it’s going to be before it’s gone. Based on how things move and change so quickly in Beijing I’m not holding much hope.
SiJie Village
I love SiJie and consider myself lucky to be around while it’s still here.
Filed under: Beijing, China, Chinese Culture, Urban Exploration Tagged: Andy Smart, Asia, China, Chinese Culture, Photography, Travel, travel tales, travelogue, Writing
Beijing’s Vanishing Hutong: Last House Standing
2008: Qianbajia and Houbajia Villages. My way in to college every day.
2008: I remember it clearly like it was yesterday. The route from the apartment to Tsinghua University would take me through the warren of narrow streets, alleyways and dirt tracks of the Qianbajia and Houbajia villages the likes I’d never seen before. This twice daily half an hour overload of information to the senses was everything I’d come to China for.
It took ages to work out how to get through to the other side but talk about worth it! Thousands of tiny buildings roughly thrown together, an attestation to the resourceful nature of Chinese people. Households all recycle. Used materials get stacked outside stored under tarpaulins saved for maintaining their property, bike or for growing plants. This is Beijing’s Hutong.
Qianbajia and Houbajia Villages: Now Gone
Maybe twenty five percent of the population of Beijing still lives in the hutong and it’s been this way for centuries though as Beijing’s population continues to sky-rocket, these areas are now rapidly being torn down. In less than a week nearly the whole of Qianbajia and Houbajia was demolished in order to make way for new development. I couldn’t believe it! A way of life gone forever!
Last remaining building of the Qianbajia and Houbajia villages still defiantly standing (click to enlarge)
My first reaction was somewhat misplaced. A Westernised romantic view of the hutong, the local people hounded out by the wicked ‘powers that be’ and the sad destruction of a bygone era. Actually, it turns out that people around here have a special reason to keep smiling if they are asked to move on. Indeed they get a couple of choices. The first is to move to a new place with the ability to move back again after the building has finished and pay half the cost of a new place. The other is to receive from what many locals tell me around here, is a substantial pay-out.
The new apartments on the Qianbajia and Houbajia site (click to enlarge)
The honest truth about many of the villages here are they are so incredibly poor that people live in really filthy conditions. They only have public shared toilets and when you use one you will turn instantly green, especially during a nice hot summer’s day. When it’s cold, life is harder than hard and keeping warm is all existence is about. Who’d want to bring their kid up in that?
I cycled home in a torrential downpour through a hutong area the other night. The whole area became instantly flooded and the amount of rubbish and ‘matter’ in the water was ridiculous. I could feel myself instantly going down with some foul germ from hell and was sick for days after.
click to enlarge
Reality aside, from the Qianbajia and Houbajia the next hutong in line is the SiJie Village right around the corner from where I live. Hemmed in between the Qinghe River, G6 and 5th Ring Road, SiJie continues as if it’s trying to go on unnoticed; a hidden vibrant community filled with life. That it will be levelled for new apartment blocks is pure speculation, but I can’t help but worry how long it’s going to be before it’s gone. Based on how things move and change so quickly in Beijing I’m not holding much hope.
SiJie Village
I love SiJie and consider myself lucky to be around while it’s still here.
Filed under: Beijing, China, Chinese Culture, Urban Exploration Tagged: Andy Smart, Asia, China, Chinese Culture, Photography, Travel, travel tales, travelogue, Writing
April 14, 2016
Book Trailer: Warm someone’s spirit with this three year life-changing travel yarn
One of the Reindeer Tribe who came in for a cup of tea one rainy Saturday
Just Turn Left at the Mountain – Trials & Tribulations Meandering Across Chinese Borders by Andy Smart
With zero Chinese speaking ability and minimal planning, Andy’s story starts with a disastrous online romance played out in South China and his great escape. From a first Chinese haircut, to encountering the most fearsome waitress in China, to Chengdu and its famous napalm like hot pot, the journey winds its way from Tibet into Yunnan via one of the most dangerous bus journeys in the world. Across borders he foolishly goes ghost hunting in Cambodia and to the DMZ’s ‘no man’s land’ in South Korea. We also take a visit to the eagle hunters of Western Mongolia and the Russian border where Andy manages a Mongolian holiday camp.
For a direct link to the book click here: Just Turn Left at the Mountain on Amazon.co.uk and Just Turn Left at the Mountain on Amazon.com
Find Just Turn Left on Andy Smart’s Author Page here
Amazon.co.uk
and
Amazon.com
Drop by Andy’s website at https://justurnleft.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndySmart01
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndySmartJTL/?ref=hl
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/676120.Andy_Smart
Just Turn Left is available on Kindle or as a paperback on Amazon
Safe Journeys!
Filed under: On the Road, Writing Tagged: Andy Smart, Asia, books, China, humor, Humour, life, Photography, Travel, travel humor, travel tales, travelogue, Writing 
April 11, 2016
Book Trailer: Just Turn Left at the Mountain, Trials & Tribulations Meandering Across Chinese Borders
With zero Chinese speaking ability and minimal planning, Andy’s story starts with a disastrous online romance played out in South China and his great escape. From a first Chinese haircut, to encountering the most fearsome waitress in China, to Chengdu and its famous napalm like hot pot, the journey winds its way from Tibet into Yunnan via one of the most dangerous bus journeys in the world. Across borders he foolishly goes ghost hunting in Cambodia and to the DMZ’s ‘no man’s land’ in South Korea. We also take a visit to the eagle hunters of Western Mongolia and the Russian border where Andy manages a Mongolian holiday camp.
For a direct link to the book click here: Just Turn Left at the Mountain on Amazon.co.uk and Just Turn Left at the Mountain on Amazon.com
Find Just Turn Left on Andy Smart’s Author Page here
Amazon.co.uk
and
Amazon.com
Drop by Andy’s website at https://justurnleft.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndySmart01
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndySmartJTL/?ref=hl
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/676120.Andy_Smart
Just Turn Left is available on Kindle or as a paperback on Amazon
Safe Journeys!
Filed under: On the Road, Writing Tagged: Asia, backpacking, book trailer, books, China, humor, Humour, Photography, travel humor, travel humour, travel tales, travelogue, Writing
Just Turn Left: Featured Blog of the Month at Yesterdayafter.com
And FEATURED is… Andy Smart!
YesterdayAfter Featured of the Month April 2016
Hello everyone during last 30 days I came across lots of beautiful, interesting and inspiring Blogs and I made my pick for the month of April. I choose between all the wonderful Bloggers that left their Blog links at our weekly event Meet and Greet Fridays!
This month is about exploring life travelling and discovering China!
Today I am very pleased and honored to introduce you my new Featured of the Month and featured is…Author Andy Smart and his Blog Just Turn Left same title goes to his great book!
A Book to read!
I discovered Andy only about a month ago we came across each other Blogs and we followed and stayed connected. Andy has a very friendly and great personality he seems that friend that you knew all life long and it is fun to engage with…
View original post 332 more words
Filed under: Writing Tagged: Asia, backpacking, China, friends, humor, Humour, love, Photography, Travel, travel tales, Writing
April 8, 2016
Yangshuo: Guangxi Autonomous Region, China. Thanks for the Memories
I must say I miss working in the smaller towns around China; magical amazing days of initiation into TEFL that will forever stay close to me. The attitude and way of life is completely the opposite to that of say Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu or Shenzhen and yes, it is completely stunning!
Yangshuo: From the TV tower. Click to Enlarge
Things are always done in a more relaxed and less formal manner and it’s easy to get work, especially if there is a big tourist influx. Take Yangshuo (Yangers to the local expats) near Guilin for example. There are schools all over the place just ready to take on any foreigner for any length of time. People stay for a weekend, a week or a month. Even those who consider themselves regular teachers really only ever stay for around a year. Take your pick! (tx Wikipedia)
Excerpt from Just Turn Left at the Mountain Chapter 9 by Andy Smart
2006: Teaching the students is both a unique experience and a real laugh. Its great putting absolutely every bit of energy back into classes again. The students keep coming up with all kinds of eccentricities. I set some homework where they had to write about their ideal romantic candle lit dinner for two with their partner. Xiao Yan’s was a large fish head in a white soup while Jessie Li’s main ingredient was monosodium glutamate.
Plenty of trips out of town at the weekends
Still on the subject of food, one of the students reckons that her favourite is harvest mouse and also the moth pupa which are apparently very tasty. Indeed if you’re doing a topic based on food, asking anyone to list ten types of meat is always an experience and a half; “beef, pork, goat, chicken, duck, pigeon, fish, donkey, snake and dog” is normally how it goes.
After a while you realise that even the most straight forward questions or activities don’t go how you envisage them. We were doing a lesson on cooking when I asked for some similar verbs to the word ‘cut’ expecting to hear ‘chop, slice and dice’. The problem is, Chinese students love to have their heads buried in their electronic dictionaries which, although can be quite handy, often bear no thread on the language we use in daily life. Instead of the predicted answer, one of the students comes out with the word ‘slash’. So there I am trying to explain why we wouldn’t use the word slash in this instance and when we normally use it, showing them the difference between cutting and slashing using my board marker instead of a knife. Of course they delighted in this new word and it was in use for days after.
Nearing the end of class it was time to put all the new vocab into practice and they were given five minutes to work out the recipe for making a chicken and salad sandwich in English.
“Easy” I thought!
“First you need to buy a chicken” explained the first student. “Take it home and slash it with a knife in your kitchen until its dead. Put your hand inside and pull out its stomach…”
At that point I quickly stopped them, guiding them onto the ‘putting everything between the bread’ stage before it got even grizzlier.
We were discussing various jobs today. One that came up was that of a life guard. I asked what they thought it meant. One student guessed that as you move through life it was someone sent to protect you against danger. While doing a class on various warning signs from the text book, we discussed the one with a picture of a hard hat. One of them put his hand up and said that you would normally find it when ‘destroying caves.’ He explained that it is normal in China to rip the guts out of any cave and sell all the stalagmites and stalactites.
During a talk on the most important inventions in history the compass and paper were of course the first to get a mention. After all China was the first place to start using both way back near the beginning of its five thousand year old history. One guy however put his hand up with an excited look on his face; “guns” he said.
“Why are guns the greatest invention?” I asked. “Surely they are the worst.”
“Yes but they are more convenient” he explained.
I must admit, I was reluctant to start teaching to say the least. I guess it was a mixture of extreme laziness and “Hey, I’m on holiday, why the hell do I need to get a job?” Actually, the trick is not to see TEFL as a job and that’s all there is to it.
There are in fact a number of very sound reasons for choosing to teach when you’re travelling in China:
Being able to stay on the road. The small towns may not pay that much but if you have dwindling resources then you can earn as much as you need and then move on.
Being able to stay in the same place and really get a feel of it. When I was in Yangshuo I was able to get a brilliant flat near the river for next to nothing.
Experiencing Chinese festivals and celebrations.
Learning Chinese. People on the road rarely start to get past the beginners barrier. If you stay put for a while your know-how will definitely start to grow.
Joining the school’s day trips to fantastic places at the weekend.
Hanging out with your students if you are teaching adults. They will no doubt invite you to all sorts of places you never expected to go to.
Gaining a deeper experience of what China is about, something that doesn’t really happen if you are moving quickly from town to town.
Getting treated like a superstar by your students and royalty by the management.
My amazing flat by the Li river that cost me £50/$70 a month (2 bedrooms, kitchen, large living room and WC). Nice!
The English speaking competition and our esteemed judges.
Lunchtimes in the canteen.
If you’re thinking of hitting the road across China and would like more info drop by anytime and I’ll get back to you.
Safe journeys!
Filed under: China, On the Road, Writing Tagged: Asia, backpackers, backpacking, China, humor, Humour, Photography, Travel, travel tales, travelogue, Yangshuo
Yangshuo: Guanxi Autonomous Region, China. Thanks for the Memories
I must say I miss working in the smaller towns around China; magical amazing days of initiation into TEFL that will forever stay close to me. The attitude and way of life is completely the opposite to that of say Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu or Shenzhen and yes, it is completely stunning!
Yangshuo: From the TV tower. Click to Enlarge
Things are always done in a more relaxed and less formal manner and it’s easy to get work, especially if there is a big tourist influx. Take Yangshuo (Yangers to the local expats) near Guilin for example. There are schools all over the place just ready to take on any foreigner for any length of time. People stay for a weekend, a week or a month. Even those who consider themselves regular teachers really only ever stay for around a year. Take your pick! (tx Wikipedia)
Excerpt from Just Turn Left at the Mountain Chapter 9 by Andy Smart
2006: Teaching the students is both a unique experience and a real laugh. Its great putting absolutely every bit of energy back into classes again. The students keep coming up with all kinds of eccentricities. I set some homework where they had to write about their ideal romantic candle lit dinner for two with their partner. Xiao Yan’s was a large fish head in a white soup while Jessie Li’s main ingredient was monosodium glutamate.
Plenty of trips out of town at the weekends
Still on the subject of food, one of the students reckons that her favourite is harvest mouse and also the moth pupa which are apparently very tasty. Indeed if you’re doing a topic based on food, asking anyone to list ten types of meat is always an experience and a half; “beef, pork, goat, chicken, duck, pigeon, fish, donkey, snake and dog” is normally how it goes.
After a while you realise that even the most straight forward questions or activities don’t go how you envisage them. We were doing a lesson on cooking when I asked for some similar verbs to the word ‘cut’ expecting to hear ‘chop, slice and dice’. The problem is, Chinese students love to have their heads buried in their electronic dictionaries which, although can be quite handy, often bear no thread on the language we use in daily life. Instead of the predicted answer, one of the students comes out with the word ‘slash’. So there I am trying to explain why we wouldn’t use the word slash in this instance and when we normally use it, showing them the difference between cutting and slashing using my board marker instead of a knife. Of course they delighted in this new word and it was in use for days after.
Nearing the end of class it was time to put all the new vocab into practice and they were given five minutes to work out the recipe for making a chicken and salad sandwich in English.
“Easy” I thought!
“First you need to buy a chicken” explained the first student. “Take it home and slash it with a knife in your kitchen until its dead. Put your hand inside and pull out its stomach…”
At that point I quickly stopped them, guiding them onto the ‘putting everything between the bread’ stage before it got even grizzlier.
We were discussing various jobs today. One that came up was that of a life guard. I asked what they thought it meant. One student guessed that as you move through life it was someone sent to protect you against danger. While doing a class on various warning signs from the text book, we discussed the one with a picture of a hard hat. One of them put his hand up and said that you would normally find it when ‘destroying caves.’ He explained that it is normal in China to rip the guts out of any cave and sell all the stalagmites and stalactites.
During a talk on the most important inventions in history the compass and paper were of course the first to get a mention. After all China was the first place to start using both way back near the beginning of its five thousand year old history. One guy however put his hand up with an excited look on his face; “guns” he said.
“Why are guns the greatest invention?” I asked. “Surely they are the worst.”
“Yes but they are more convenient” he explained.
I must admit, I was reluctant to start teaching to say the least. I guess it was a mixture of extreme laziness and “Hey, I’m on holiday, why the hell do I need to get a job?” Actually, the trick is not to see TEFL as a job and that’s all there is to it.
There are in fact a number of very sound reasons for choosing to teach when you’re travelling in China:
Being able to stay on the road. The small towns may not pay that much but if you have dwindling resources then you can earn as much as you need and then move on.
Being able to stay in the same place and really get a feel of it. When I was in Yangshuo I was able to get a brilliant flat near the river for next to nothing.
Experiencing Chinese festivals and celebrations.
Learning Chinese. People on the road rarely start to get past the beginners barrier. If you stay put for a while your know-how will definitely start to grow.
Joining the school’s day trips to fantastic places at the weekend.
Hanging out with your students if you are teaching adults. They will no doubt invite you to all sorts of places you never expected to go to.
Gaining a deeper experience of what China is about, something that doesn’t really happen if you are moving quickly from town to town.
Getting treated like a superstar by your students and royalty by the management.
My amazing flat by the Li river that cost me £50/$70 a month (2 bedrooms, kitchen, large living room and WC). Nice!
The English speaking competition and our esteemed judges.
Lunchtimes in the canteen.
If you’re thinking of hitting the road across China and would like more info drop by anytime and I’ll get back to you.
Safe journeys!
Filed under: China, On the Road, Writing Tagged: Asia, backpackers, backpacking, China, humor, Humour, Photography, Travel, travel tales, travelogue, Yangshuo
April 2, 2016
For the Love of Blog: WordPress Friends Never Leave You
I’ve had a number of revelations recently regarding blogging. After years of struggling to find what it’s all about and being blocked by the Great Firewall at every turn, things have accelerated like Road Runner after downing a super-sized coke in one go. Meep Meep!
Friends & Community
I love people visiting my website. It’s like the landline ringing or someone knocking on your door stopping by for a chat and a cup of tea.
I love visiting other people’s sites. Each place I go to has its own unique feel about it. It’s easy to appreciate the time and love that someone goes into creating their own site; the tinkering and readjusting until its right. I can now understand the time and effort that goes into a single post; the detail.
Blogging allows you to express yourself like no other medium. I have WP ‘Community’ and RSS lists. Together they contain the widest range of interests and talent you can imagine. Who said it was important to have a target audience? Poppycock! Ha! There are poets, writers, photographers, cat lovers, musicians, model makers, artists, psychic and paranormal investigators, travellers and people who describe what’s just outside their back door from places I’ve never heard of on that list. There are people that pour their heart out in a manner that allows us to at least absorb a part of what they are feeling in that moment. I can only stand back with admiration of people’s work. Unbelievable!
I am also surprised at how positive and friendly everyone is. There are no egos floating around. People like your post because they genuinely do. It sounds a strange thing to say but compare it to a like on Facebook and they’re light-years apart.
Followers never leave you, well rarely. If you’re not around they wait. For me I even wonder where people are if they haven’t posted for a while. I had to walk away from Justurnleft for months not so long back and when I returned I had virtually the same number of followers as before.
I’ve experienced a kindness as well. People are genuinely helpful, sharing links, re-blogging and offering advice. Recently I discovered that the slider on my Bromley theme changed images way too fast. I went onto the WP support and posted a request for advice only to be answered by the creator of the theme himself Binarymoon. Incredibly, he went to his desk and changed the speed of the whole theme. If you’re using Bromley and the slider has slowed down it’s my fault. Sorry!
The biggest kindness rush I’ve had though has to be undoubtedly the help that Jason AKA Opinionated Man has given me and other indie authors. I mean help and trust mixed together in the same tikka masala of the highest order. I must say that such selflessness doesn’t come about very often.
Myself
It allows me to write lists with bullet points and not worry about repeating myself, breaking the cardinal rule of all book writing. Ha!
I love the excitement of hitting the publish tab when you’ve finished a new post, to sit back with satisfaction and see it on your site and how different it now looks.
My blog is my own little world I go to like a second home. It kinda reminds me of my Dad’s garden shed. Filled with various tools and paraphernalia, he would be out there in the back garden for hours absorbed by his model building
I’ve always suffered with anxiety problems. I had a huge spike last week which rendered me useless for twenty four hours, phew! I don’t get that here among my online friends. I’m free from any such burden and it’s such a relief.
I’m inspired to go out and research. That’s an awesome one in itself.
If you like my post, I’ll drop by and check yours out as well. If I like it, it means I really do!
If you follow I’ll follow back. If you go away I’ll wait for you and wonder where you went.
If you follow don’t forget to add me to your Twitter and say hi. I always looks to see what my WP friends have been up to on Twitter and often RT. I’m @AndySmart01.
See you there and happy blogging!
Ha!
Filed under: Real lives, Writing Tagged: beauty, blog, blogger, blogging, community, friends, happiness, life, love, social media, Travel, wordpress, Writing
Book Trailer: Warm someone’s spirit with this three year life-changing travel yarn
One of the Reindeer Tribe who came in for a cup of tea one rainy Saturday
Just Turn Left at the Mountain – Trials & Tribulations Meandering Across Chinese Borders by Andy Smart
With zero Chinese speaking ability and minimal planning, Andy’s story starts with a disastrous online romance played out in South China and his great escape. From a first Chinese haircut, to encountering the most fearsome waitress in China, to Chengdu and its famous napalm like hot pot, the journey winds its way from Tibet into Yunnan via one of the most dangerous bus journeys in the world. Across borders he foolishly goes ghost hunting in Cambodia and to the DMZ’s ‘no man’s land’ in South Korea. We also take a visit to the eagle hunters of Western Mongolia and the Russian border where Andy manages a Mongolian holiday camp.
For a direct link to the book click here: Just Turn Left at the Mountain on Amazon.co.uk and Just Turn Left at the Mountain on Amazon.com
Find Just Turn Left on Andy Smart’s Author Page here
Amazon.co.uk
and
Amazon.com
Drop by Andy’s website at http://justurnleft.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AndySmart01
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AndySmartJTL/?ref=hl
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/676120.Andy_Smart
Just Turn Left is available on Kindle or as a paperback on Amazon
Safe Journeys!
Filed under: On the Road, Writing Tagged: Andy Smart, Asia, books, China, humor, Humour, life, Mongolia, Travel, travel humor, travel tales, travelogue, Writing 
For the Love of Blog: WordPress Friends Never Leave You
I’ve had a number of revelations recently regarding blogging. After years of struggling to find what it’s all about and being blocked by the Great Firewall at every turn, things have accelerated like Road Runner after downing a super-sized coke in one go. Meep Meep!
Friends & Community
I love people visiting my website. It’s like the landline ringing or someone knocking on your door stopping by for a chat and a cup of tea.
I love visiting other people’s sites. Each place I go to has its own unique feel about it. It’s easy to appreciate the time and love that someone goes into creating their own site; the tinkering and readjusting until its right. I can now understand the time and effort that goes into a single post; the detail.
Blogging allows you to express yourself like no other medium. I have WP ‘Community’ and RSS lists. Together they contain the widest range of interests and talent you can imagine. Who said it was important to have a target audience? Poppycock! Ha! There are poets, writers, photographers, cat lovers, musicians, model makers, artists, psychic and paranormal investigators, travellers and people who describe what’s just outside their back door from places I’ve never heard of on that list. There are people that pour their heart out in a manner that allows us to at least absorb a part of what they are feeling in that moment. I can only stand back with admiration of people’s work. Unbelievable!
I am also surprised at how positive and friendly everyone is. There are no egos floating around. People like your post because they genuinely do. It sounds a strange thing to say but compare it to a like on Facebook and they’re light-years apart.
Followers never leave you, well rarely. If you’re not around they wait. For me I even wonder where people are if they haven’t posted for a while. I had to walk away from Justurnleft for months not so long back and when I returned I had virtually the same number of followers as before.
I’ve experienced a kindness as well. People are genuinely helpful, sharing links, re-blogging and offering advice. Recently I discovered that the slider on my Bromley theme changed images way too fast. I went onto the WP support and posted a request for advice only to be answered by the creator of the theme himself Binarymoon. Incredibly, he went to his desk and changed the speed of the whole theme. If you’re using Bromley and the slider has slowed down it’s my fault. Sorry!
The biggest kindness rush I’ve had though has to be undoubtedly the help that Jason AKA Opinionated Man has given me and other indie authors. I mean help and trust mixed together in the same tikka masala of the highest order. I must say that such selflessness doesn’t come about very often.
Myself
It allows me to write lists with bullet points and not worry about repeating myself, breaking the cardinal rule of all book writing. Ha!
I love the excitement of hitting the publish tab when you’ve finished a new post, to sit back with satisfaction and see it on your site and how different it now looks.
My blog is my own little world I go to like a second home. It kinda reminds me of my Dad’s garden shed. Filled with various tools and paraphernalia, he would be out there in the back garden for hours absorbed by his model building
I’ve always suffered with anxiety problems. I had a huge spike last week which rendered me useless for twenty four hours, phew! I don’t get that here among my online friends. I’m free from any such burden and it’s such a relief.
I’m inspired to go out and research. That’s an awesome one in itself.
If you like my post, I’ll drop by and check yours out as well. If I like it, it means I really do!
If you follow I’ll follow back. If you go away I’ll wait for you and wonder where you went.
If you follow don’t forget to add me to your Twitter and say hi. I always looks to see what my WP friends have been up to on Twitter and often RT. I’m @AndySmart01.
See you there and happy blogging!
Ha!
Tagged: Andy Smart, blog, blogger, blogging, community, friends, life, love, personal, Travel, wordpress, wordpress community, Writing
