Since when did blogs stop becoming blogs?

Years ago, when blogging became a thing, it used to be more than acceptable to write about one's lifestyle, thoughts and feelings. A kind of journal if you like. Then bloggers, like me, started to look at the numbers and realised that people wanted to learn something, be entertained or be interested in something you had to say.

I get that. Totally. 

Then, blogs started to be the new word for websites. Or part of a website. It's almost unacceptable to not have a blog section on a company website now. Great! I love that idea.  

But... if you know me, you'll know I DO love to journal every morning. And while the pages keep my secrets between me and them, I do love to share some thoughts online too. Here, on my blog and over on my Youtube channel.  it seems all about analytics these days.

We are blessed to be able to work online, earn while you sleep, automate, automate... 

Yes, we are. 

But where are all the blogs these days? I love to read about lives. We all do, otherwise, there would be no such thing as Instagram. True? Personally, I love a good blog. A bit of a brain dump. 

Sometimes, you have to strike while the iron is hot. Just the other day I had a wonderful idea for a blog when I took the dog to a pub overlooking the sea between Kent and France, sitting there, eating chips, not realising they tasted like curly fries, which are gluten covered. Ending up poorly and having to adjust to life for the next few hours. Seagulls ahead, my dog watching the passers-by, the scent of seaweed hanging in the air like fog...

I had this wonderful story. But it has escaped me now. I spent too long thinking about it and over-analysing the idea that a blog shouldn't be a blog, like that. But rather some over-thought thing. Well, no more. This blog is a blog. I will tell you about life, about trips, about the academic journey I find myself on. The fact that my fingers FLY over this keyboard when I write like this (in Starbucks, no less, hello 17th May 2021).

If you are up for all of that, say yeahhh and send me some details of other blogs (which are around), like this. Let's begin to journal more, share thoughts, create stories. If we don't, we leave a legacy untold. 

We are going to Tui Blue Scheherazade

 Finally, it is almost time to travel. Want to see where I have chosen as my first place to fly?

Book it here!

 

 

Jasmine and I are set to fly here in September. The place looks amazing.

An adult-only hotel is brilliant for us now that my children are grown up. We love the entertainment of an adult only. And while this hotel is known for the wonderful views of the beach (right next to the resort!), you can see the pool from most of the rooms too. 

 

 

We have booked a Junior Suite with Sea View and Balcony and I can’t wait! I love nothing more than waking up, pulling back the curtains and looking at the sea. The sun rises over this sea and the horizon takes your eye to the lush egg-shaped chairs and Balinese style beds which are waiting for us to come and relax on them!

Our room has a/c, a balcony, a double bed, a lounge area, and a sea view. An early riser, I’m likely to enjoy that view on the balcony while Jasmine gets herself ready for the day ahead.

 

This hotel used to be called the Tui Sensimar Scheherazade. 

 

Halfway between Sousse and Port el Kantaoui, we decided we might grab a taxi and visit the harbour town nearby. They always make for great people watching and a lovely backdrop to fill up that Instagram feed. Shops are only 100m away, so that’s handy. 

 

For information, there needs to be a tax paid on arrival. It’s 2 Tunisian Dinars PP PN for 3-star hotels and 3 Tunisian dinars PPPN for 4 and 5 stars. Under 12s don’t pay. The maximum charge is for 7 nights.

Hear all the news in this video.

 

There are 204 rooms over 4 floors and thankfully two lifts. 

Three restaurants to chose from and two of those are A la carte. One trip is free per holiday. The buffet-style restaurant has something for everyone. There is a dress code for the restaurant and everyone is rumoured to comply nicely with the request. 

 

Trip advisor reviews currently sit at an impressive 4.5stars. Those who have been have said wonderful things. One of my favourite comments is about the heated swimming pool. Good!

Also, the staff carry a great reputation for taking good care of visitors. And that includes the management. Security is said to be as tight as can be. 

I’m excited to have a quick go in the spa, and definitely in the gym. 

Find out more about this hotel, prices and when you can go by clicking here

 

Edit: 

Since I've been, I have a facebook group where you can ask questions, and I have created these YouTube videos, including an up to date look at the Swim Up rooms. 

How do you know what to post online?

 The blackout curtains usually spilled a little light through the gap at the top, just above the curtain rail, but it was still black as night. I turned to my right and tapped the phone screen with the tip of my index finger. Propped in the edge of my open drawer unit for ease, it lit up the screen instantly.  

 

04:03.

Black as night. 

 

I laid for a while, wondering. Might this be it for the night? Could I drift back to sleep? Even though I was already comfortable, I shifted between my bedsheets to get even more snuggled and ready for slumber. Then began the writing within my head. 

 

In the garden on Sunday, I’d been writing in my head, “I’m writing in my head again,” I called to my daughter as I tried hard to pull up a weed.

     “That’s a good thing.”

     “It is isn’t it, it’s been a while,” I said to her. 

 

I laid, writing in my head. Feeling the double French braids pricking the side of my cheek, knowing a cascade of waves would generate smiles in the coming day. It would be a busy one this week. Those thoughts consumed me. Within a short while until I was back to writing again. A swirl of thoughts joined in, this time the sounds were recurring about a blog post I will write about The Bold Type, a series from Netflix.

Awake-dreams about the milk tray man sat in my head for quite some time. I tapped the phone again.

 

04:45.

Coffee was calling.

 

Might as well get up, I thought and reached for the switch on the salt lamp. As the orange glow filled the room, I unfolded my glasses arms and put them on. Somehow, I ended up scrolling on Pinterest. What do people want? What should we be posting? I mean, I know what I like to post and want to post. Often, they want travel from me. Sometimes that feels like a waste of my academic brain as I was in that industry way before I knew what a periodic table was. But if that’s what they want….

Sometimes, I just want to write those stories which are in my head. 

My Instagram is fairly stuck. Youtube grows at a snail pace since the airports were grounded for non-essential travel. The books I write, do well to a specific audience. But how are we supposed to know? One platform favours the quick little reels, one favours 45-minute videos talking about the day.

 

Philosophy of life is consuming my workday at the moment. Of course, there is so much more to it but the experience of being a human is just my complete and utter obsession. What do people feel? How do they think? What makes them tick? How do they love? Have they been hurt? Writing about that might have a tiny audience, who knows, but what I do know is that it takes one person to touch one life and make a difference.

 

I’m over 50 now, with a belief that age is a number. I didn’t just start believing that because I'm over 50. I was more settled and grown-up before my first heartbreak at 18. Now, I probably float around 29 years old, with accompanying battle-scars and some clue into what makes life great.

Telling someone else how to make their life great, needs a little creative smocking. We can all do that, with some skill, but each of us is individual. What makes us click on a post, read it, love it, want more, digest and remember it: all different to the next person.

 

I lay awake in the dark of the night, writing in my head, hoping the sky turns to the blue of the ocean because the day is coming then, and I won’t be so afraid of going downstairs on my own. You might lay awake wondering what this year's crop will be like, or how Bitcoin is performing. You and I will be different.

 

Who knows what to post? Even the algorithm will change its mind one day to the next. There can only be one answer.  Post what you want to post. Think about what you would like to see or read. Post that. See what happens. 

World sleep day is here

 

Oh yes, definitely is a need for three candles today.

🕯🕯🕯

The last week has been difficult. Concentrating has escaped me. With a poorly daughter, and a mum taken into hospital (who I usually care for) things have been very different around here.

Yesterday, while trying to fix things in the house, some pretty hefty stuff fell on top of my head. I know that sounds comical, and I do have the bump that you would see in Tom and Jerry, but it made me feel a little less dynamic.

🤕

So today, we journal, we Potter, and we take an easy road where possible. Sometimes it’s not always about being kind to others but also kind to yourself too. It is also world  sleep day today. So before we change the clocks next weekend, why don’t you get yourself an extra bit of rest tonight.

💤💤🛏💤💤

My research has shown that it’s so incredibly important for health to get the right amount of sleep. It’s not too much or too little, it’s just the right amount. Just like Goldilocks. I wish you an amazing day, And a wonderful weekend.

👩‍🔬🧫🔬🧪📖🖋

Bluewater is empty during lockdown

 Apple Genius bar is still open. Thank goodness.

My desktop Mac is having some difficulty with waking up to enough speed to keep up with it's younger version of the laptop. Well, since starting my Doctorate, I've realised, a couple of screens is essential. 

I was excited to drive, to wear my sunglasses, to sing loudly and to feel like a little bit of 'normal' life was going to be a part of my day. Since my daughter has been unwell (see the story here) I have not left her side. But I made sure she was comfortable and not going to leave her room in the duration I was away at the huge, beautifully designed shopping centre called Bluewater. 

Walking through the centre, I was shocked. it was completely empty. silent. I could hear my footsteps. 

as I snapped photos to share with you here, I was thinking. I sent a silent voice from within my head to the shops, the upturned chairs, the darkened rooms, "it won't be long."

The plan to open is April 12th. Let's hope that is the case. 

This was the best day ever. Started full of love, the sun shone, the music was amazing, I lost my voice with singing (always a good sign), the Apple staff were amazing as always, and I did grab a takeaway Starbucks too. Perfect.  Life is good. It's coming back to us in Kent.