Family and croft first
I’ve been receiving numerous peevish messages from readers of the blog who feel it’s their right to get a daily serving of Musings From A Stonehead.
They make it clear that they have an expectation that I will provide them with an new and entertaining post whenever they choose to visit the blog.
Well, I hate to disappoint them but it’s not going to happen.
The blog comes a long way after the family and the croft, and when time is short the blog is put to one side.
I’m using Twitter to provide the occasional, short update on what’s happening around the croft. The Twitter feed is also replicated on Facebook to save me the time of doing updates there as well.
If people can’t accept that the blog is adjunct of crofting and not the other way around, tough.
When time and my workload, the number of posts on the blog will increase and I’ll try to catch up with some of the much delayed drafts that are in the system.
But until then, readers will have to be patient and remember that the blog does not pay the bills, does not feed us, does not keep us warm and dry, and does not do anything to keep the croft going.
All those are far more important than providing daily entertainment for an interested audience.
Just had another message, complaining that I’m ignoring the non-Twitter people. No, I’m not. I’m using Twitter to provide quick updates every couple of days so regular readers know what we’re up to and that we haven’t been dragged off by a feral haggis. Those Twitter updates are published at the top right of the blog, and can be read without using Twitter.
Similarly, I’m not abandoning Facebook for Twitter. I’m feeding the Twitter material through to Facebook to save time.
I’m trying to respond to a few messages, whether blog comments, tweets, FB messaging or emails, every day. But I can’t respond to them all.
I am not a media company with a staff of writers, editors, photographers, videographers, and web producers to churn out a targeted, daily package of entertainment centred on crofting. I’m a crofter who writes about what he does as and when the daily workload permits.
And there was me thinking you were just a work of fiction…
Just ignore the trolls. You’ll be happier for it. No point wasting mental energy on people with an overdeveloped sense of entitlement.
It’s nice to know that you’re human like the rest of us who intend to blog but only get around to it once a week.
Family come first and if people don’t like that then that’s they’re problem. Maybe they should get their own lives rather than living through yours
Best Regards
Phil
I don’t blame you one bit. Life comes first. Post again when you have the time. We’ll hang around until then. It’s worth the wait.
“Feral Hagis”
;D Love it!!
I thought all haggis were feral?
Far from it. On the one hand, you have the well-battered, White Lighting swilling feral haggis that’s frequently found in the vicinity of Scottish chippies. Batter being the haggis equivalent of bling—the more there is, the more offensive the haggis.
On the other hand, you have the more sophisticated but shy domesticated haggis that sips single malts and whose haunts are only known to the most discerning.
I read your blog as a special treat and some insight into a contemporary farming family. I feel fortunate in having your clearly expressed thoughts on your doings whenever you are able to post. Thank you! G
I’ve kind of noticed that the periods of the year when most events happen that would give material to write about coincidentally overlap with the most busy weeks. Rather weird, if you’d ask me….
Kidding aside, I greatly enjoy reading your blog and consider it a service that hasn’t an immense return on investment for you. Keeping the family in shape and preparing the croft for the coming winter months seem the most reasonable priorities on your list.
Cheers mate,
F.
Flippin eck, it’s just your blog (no offense), why would you have to write it just for us?
Can’t people buy their own croft, live a lot of their life up to their knees in mud and then write all about it to entertain themselves? Or, just pop in and visit the Stonehead Croft when there is time for a post. I never realised this blogging was some kind of ‘duty to the readers’ before!
I check every day, just to see how things are going. I always know when you are knee-deep in veges, or mud because there is nothing to read. However I have a quick squiz at the Twitter link on the page, and also read Facebook, so that I know everything is going OK. I can’t understand people complaining when you don’t write anything for their edification!!! They obviously don’t have a life of their own
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that some people feel they are entitled to a daily serving, yet I still find myself boggling at this!
Blogging should come as and when the spirit moves, and as and when time permits. Anything else and it wouldn’t be even remotely fun, now would it?
Good luck avoiding the haggis…
I feel I am Entitled to see photos of the feral haggis roaming the heather.
Have the feral readers not encountered the feed reader yet? Bloglines tells me when you or any of the other bloggers I read have a new post.
Stoney many thanks
your comments make me feel better when l haven’t done many postings for a time and/or not been on other blogs to read/reply due to work and time or family l feel so guilty. My new motto is not to (well try not to)
Gobsmacked that people think that they are entitled to a free service on demand. I do not twitter but even I can work out that bashing out a couple of sentences is not the same as logging on to write a full thoughtful and entertaining post.
Like others I know when you are busy because there is no post. Yep, a bit dissapointed because I miss it but I would never expect you to post for my delectation.
Please keep posting, when you want and when it offers your some light relief from crofting.
Maybe suggest that those who complain start their own blogs?
One person told me I’d created an expectation of daily posts and I therefore had a responsibility to continue providing them. He said reading the blog was part of his lunchtime routine and I’d spoiled that routine by not delivering what I’d promised.
Other emails were along similar lines—I’d created an expectation of regular posts and was therefore obliged to deliver them.
Anyway, I’ve just popped the mutton joint in the oven to roast and it’s now time to give the pigs their dinner.
Jeebus, of the fair few generations of crofters I’ve known and met I don’t think I’ve ever come across a bigger whinger than ol’ Stoney! You can take the Ozzie out of Oz etc eh?
I can’t imagine anyone in a million years actually demanded you blog for their self satisfaction. More likely is you got a few emails saying they missed your posts is all.
More grist for the self righteous, grumpy old man mill though I suppose
Anyway, fact of the matter is that you’ve taken the instant gratification / quick ego salve route of Twitter and Facebook posting instead of the real, sleeves up nitty gritty of blog posting. Modern, convenient, efficient and far, far simpler. And I thought you were a real crofter.
I’d like to take this opportunity to add my voice to the Please Get Back To The Look How Hard I Worked Today Posts ASAP campaign as my middle management, middle of the road existence requires your weekly input. Failing that please email me directly with a diatribe about some aspect of mainstream 21st century life. Us plebs need you…
Moran taing!
I almost feel guilty sometimes for not replying given the time and effort you put into your blog (and other blogs I read) given everything that you need to do in your daily working life on the croft. I always appreciate reading your blog and reiterate what everyone else has said.
PS – I’d like to think of my self as the the shy domesticated haggis (Australis haggisi sub-specie) that sips single malts and whose haunts are only known to the most discerning”
I await the day when the feral Haggis breeds with the deep fried mars bars that also love the batter, now that would be a scary animal.
I must admit to checking your blog whilst away in Europe for 10 days, its good to have some constants, your hard working life being one of mine, I look forward to your posts, but I can’t believe the neck on people complaining…
Pay no mind to the TheCroft. He’s probably in his Maker’s Mark!
I’m a faithful follower and enjoy your blogs whenever you have the time to post them. Having grown up on a farm and still affiliated with the operation of it, I know how one’s time can be consumed with the day to day expected and unexpected events. It’s a 24/7 job. I sometimes wonder how you find the time to do as much blogging as you do!! And, you cook too!!!
How very dare you disrupt someone’s lunchtime routine? Honestly – ! God’s teeth.
I agree with RAS !
Have you fallen into the pit labelled ‘Soap Operas’, perhaps, whereby people who have no real lives of their own can slot themselves into a seemingly important role, surrounded by their friends from Corrie/Eastenders/The Archers/The Bill/Stonehead Croft, etc etc.
Carry on doing as you are…. writing what and when you choose, and tell those sad little moaning Minnies to go and get lives of their own to moan about
Well….I suppose you can take joy in knowing people have withdrawal when they don’t get their stonehead fix?
Sheesh.
Why are people on the internet so dense?
Of course real life comes first.
Meanwhile, the NY Times is talking about pigs being smart: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/science/10angier.html?ref=science. Maybe they’ve been following your Doris updates.