Remember, I mentioned that I used to write a journal once before? Well, here’s a funny thing, earlier this week, I came across an old backup hard drive that I used some years ago. My brother used to work in computers back then, although his skill was with mainframes rather than PCs. Even so, he knew more than me about the tech stuff and when he suggested, very strongly, that I should get a backup drive for my important files, I did so without hesitation. That was way back around 2004 or somewhere close. I backed up all my files on a regular basis as he advised. But, over the years, as technology moved on I stopped using my desktop PC so much. I had long since needed to back up any files and most of my computing was done via my laptop or my tablet. The only time the desktop PC was used was if I needed something printing since that was the only PC connected to my printer. The backup drive had been long since forgotten about until this week when I came upon it in a seldom used stationery drawer. I brought it downstairs and connected it to my laptop and, lo and behold, I came across my old journal entries all backed up and saved as word files. Wow!
Well, of course, I couldn’t help but take a look could I? And what a rabbit hole that turned out to be. I started that journal in January 2004 and kept it going for more than four years. The journals were hosted by AOL in those days and it was quite popular at the time. I made a few friends back then in what became known as J. Land. We would read each others journals and leave comments as we went. It was very communal and enjoyable. So, this week I’ve been preoccupied with those old entries and haven’t gotten around to adding to these pages.
It was interesting looking back at my writing style, although, I don’t think it’s changed very much to be honest. At least, I hope it hasn’t. More interesting than my entries though, were the comments people would leave. It was such diverse range of people, which, of course, led to a very diverse range of journals. And it was good fun. I even met up with one or two of the writers once we’d gotten to know each other well enough. We holidayed in Devon one year and while we were there we met up with a lovely lady called Jayne who had a great journal called Single Girl. She loved the colour pink and even drove a pink sports car. Fun times for sure.
Now there is a reason for me telling you all this. First off I will tell you I have decided that these pages are now definitely going to stay open to the public. In my very first entry I confessed to a side of me that felt it ought to be kept private. Well, since reading some of those old entries and the comments that were left, I now remember how much fun it was interacting with those writers and reading their journals. So I’m staying public. Another thing I discovered was that I wrote entries about my family. Today I read through my entries about my mum and my dad. My dad actually had two entries to his name. And, the thing is, since this is a new journal it wouldn’t hurt to give those entries another airing. I mean, everything I wrote then is as true today as it was then. So, I think, the next entry, should you choose to read it, will be about my dad.
In the meantime then, what have I been up to? On Monday Andy and I went to a local smallholding that’s held by one of our friends and we bagged up a load of manure. We took it straight to the allotment and spread it about the plot. We’re hoping to get some more before the winter sets in.
Today I was taken out to lunch by my good friends Liz and Andy. What’s more they paid, so it was twice as tasty. It was a pub lunch just a short drive away in a pub called The Aspen Tree. It was your standard pub fare but they do it very well and it was a bit delish.
Yesterday I went for an eye test and ended up taking out a mortgage on a new pair of glasses. Tomorrow we’re off to the allotment once more. There isn’t much to pick now as the season is almost over. But there’s some maintenance to be getting on with. Dirt needs digging over, apple tree and plum tree need pruning as well as some general
weeding.
That’s pretty much all for this week. Most of my spare moments have been taken up with reading my old journal entries. There’s a lot more on that hard drive too. I used to belong to a writers club on AOL and a few of us would swap short stories on a regular basis. There’s also some poetry but I think that will be way too soul baring to include in these pages. There are a lot of old snippets of information, cartoons, quizzes, jokes etc, which I used to use in my family magazine. (Have I mentioned the family magazine? I don’t think I have. Oh well, all will be revealed eventually.)
For now tho, cheery-bye.
B. x
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