In January I will have my remaining right ankle fused. When I had the other bit of my ankle fused a few years back it was successful but a shit 9 months before I could get on a bike or do anything vaguely active. This led to 'mild' depression although that is mild on my own scale, never formally checked. I just knew that if on a ship I wouldn't jump over board but also wouldn't jump the queue for the life rafts. I count that as mild.
Now I am a month or so away from going through it all again and am not looking forward to it. Anyone who has read my threads will know I am not shy or worried about sharing Sensitive Private Personal Information (SPPI) occasionally so I was wondering if there was any benefit in starting a blog. The aim of the blog is multi-fold.
Primarily it will be to educate/entertain people about what is involved in recovering from another ankle fusion.
Secondarily it will hopefully give be some reason to bother. Bother to do anything, talk to anyone and not be a bastard to my wife because I am bored.
Thirdly it might be fun/useful.
The basic challenge is that I live what I consider a basically normal and boring life and cannot imagine other people being interested. The only counterpoint to this is the way other people refer to me as 'different' or 'unusual' some times.
What do you want to read in a Blog?
What do you not want to read in a Blog?
Lots of photos?
Please post links to blogs you follow so I have some idea what works*.
*If it makes shit loads of money then I will blow it on a party next year. You are invited!!!
I used to write a blog, then I discovered Instagram. Much easier for you and any readers, and Ive met a fair few good folks from there now.
Your blog doesn't need to be completely factual and truthful - invent some plot lines and see who calls you out.
I like to read. I like the internet. I like to read things on the internet. I follow exactly 0 blogs or bloggers and to be honest I wonder who does.
However I do quite like some youtube channels which are basically video blogs. Vlogs. Consider that.
[i]doesn't need to be completely factual and truthful [/i]
I have always had an on/off relationship with reality. Ask Chuck Berry.
With your story and history .... absolutely start a blog.
Insta is a good idea, your pretty good at updating us with photos and narrative. I think you’d be pleasantly surprised at the amount of followers you will get. Also, this will focus both thoughts and you’ll need to be inventive with pics (which you are) and include everything to do with coping mechanisms.
Plenty of (in) able bodied folks out there looking for both insight and help with their own issues.
Definitely do this..
IMO.
I have some stuff on YouTube. Does this link work?
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW6_kGwq0qtWnNB7ioM4G6w?view_as=subscriber
I guess I could do it on video instead of text.
What's Instagram? Does it do words, pictures and text?
If it's clear the person is writing from a position of both passion/genuine interest and knowledge but also doesn't seem to be holding back/over editing out of caution and not allowing their personality to come out that works for me.
A bit of humour is always good and there is nothing wrong with a post being long. BUT if it is then shorter paragraphs, an image or two and good formatting is really important.
Link this blog into SottyGen and I’m sure they’ll help and assist with info and pic opportunities..
Give them some long needed publicity too.
[i]Link this blog into SottyGen and I’m sure they’ll help and assist with info and pic opportunities..[/i]
Check my ankle thread or other injury threads and there are plenty of pics of Xrays, Majors Unit etc...
Eggzakerly..
*Ton to the forum, Ton to the forum*
Jesus, that sounds bad WCA but Ton's had heart surgery, an ankle fusion & now a hip relacement! If there's one person who should start a blog It's you two!
I'll give you one tip, but IMHO it's a good one.
Write for yourself.
If people want to read it, they will. If not, WGAF? If you're writing for an audience you'll be constantly second-guessing yourself and probably ultimately disappointed. If you're writing for your own pleasure / distraction / whatever, you're onto a winner.
Do it.
What's Instagram?
Far as I could tell, it's a platform for making reasonable photos look shit.
I'll give you one tip, but IMHO it's a good one.Write for yourself.
Abso-fricken-lutely.
Cougar - Moderator
What's Instagram?Far as I could tell, it's a platform for making reasonable photos look shit.
Oh come on.
Me and Ton have privately emailed a few times already
Absolutely worth doing for the reasons you posted, benefits to you and to others who may be going through the same thing or have it in their future. (EDIT: what Cougar says - do it for yourself. The rest will just follow naturally)
Personally I am not so interested in tons of pictures (too squimish) what I would care about is how you feel, how you are dealing with the downs, what you are looking forward to, your goals & milestones, your thought process on making treatment choices, the options available etc etc.
You could just write the material or you could record yourself saying it to camera having prepared what you wanted to say
Good luck
Oh come on.
Good point. They're usually not reasonable photos.
😆
Buuuuutttt.. they’re in HDR so Day Is Wiv It.
So you've obviously just failed to find any of the thousands of great photographers and artists on there.
The app must be rubbish then 😆
I think you should create a WCA beard growth thread, with weekly pictures of you beard.
Be interesting to see how bit it is in 9 months.
I found the one I started here back in February really helped me a lot. In a way it helped me to get my thoughts and emotions 'down' somewhere that I could also share with either those who knew me and I told them about it or folk who didn't know me from Adam.
I find myself going back to the thread to remind myself of what I was feeling at the time and to be humbled by kind words from strangers.
Do it in whatever way is easiest and convenient.
Cheers.
Instagram yesterday. Clearly dreadful photos 😉
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Nick, a blog would be good. it is always nice to see how people are getting on.
i tried instagram......hated it. and twitter. i like fb for messaging.
and tumblr, for other things.
I misread the title and thought you were planning to write a blog about a shit you were having in 9 months. Thought it was some weird pregnancy sympathy thing 😆
I started one following a rock climbing accident but also used it in the run-up (hobble-up?) to my hip replacement partly as a means of remembering things but also as something to do and let off steam/frustration whilst recuperating. There's a mixture of odd observations - my fingernails didn't grow for six weeks - and general musings. Doing something, even if it's just writing stream of conscious type guff, is better than just being a sponge/sink for everyone else's moans. As Cougar says: write it for yourself.
Ton: Have you had your op yet?
Go for it. Writing out your thoughts can be cathartic and help you deal with the thoughts you are having rather than bottling them up.
nice one Nick, bookmarked.
loved all the youtube vids 🙂
should link that into your blog too 🙂
Thanks - I will try to keep updating it.
I will be adding some historic content too for those who haven't been stalking me previously 🙂
That way, if I mention the Big Bike Bash, Southampton Bike Park or the Tarty car people will know what it is.
Any comments or feedback on the blog page is welcome.
Instagram is worth doing IMO. You can link to your blog & its very easy. I love blogs but they are a dying art form.
Ton: Have you had your op yet?
Bob, yes mate. 10 days ago. managed a 1 mile walk this morning. 😆
Brilliant! Keep at it.
Well done Ton. More than I can do at the moment.
Perhaps you could start a blog?
With all the good intentions I am trying to update the blog most days if I can think of anything interesting to say.
Once I actually have the op there may be more to write about but for the moment you just get to see what my life is like I guess.
The stats bit are interesting. Seems that some of you are reading it.
Entry http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/facing-a-shit-9-months-thinking-of-starting-a-blog
Pageviews 42
I wonder how to get a wider audience?
I wonder if I want one?
when will it be on Netflix?
For the 8 of you who visited earlier today I have just posted todays words of wisdom. Sorry it is later than usual but I had to go to the garage to get my car...
http://theworldclassaccident.blogspot.com/2017/12/maintenance-and-collusion-between-toys.html
I wonder how to get a wider audience?
Have you asked in the chub club thread?
I hadn't until just a few minutes ago
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/stw-fat-club-is-it-still-going#post-8894644
and I thought I was being funny 😀
🙂
And now 46 views
Forgetting about the blog for a second perhaps finding a hobby that accommodates your recovery could be the way forward.
One that immediately springs to mind is airgun shooting. Bench rest specifically (at first) as it allows you to sit and take the weight off your feet. For the sake of about £300 you could have a ready to go spring powered rifle with scope that will allow you to tinker as you would a bike (drop in tuning kits and beyond) and is self contained so no need to worry about lugging dive bottles around as per a pre-charge and, if second hand, not likely to lose any value provided you take care of it. You're handy too (well, I guess ;)) so you could knock up your own kit if you wanted to. Learn how to inlet a stock and make your own, knock up spinners for plinking, that sort of thing. The point mainly being that it's:
a) Accessible
b) Sociable (most club folk tend not to be the Walt types, especially target shooting. Occasional ATGNI snobs but you get them everywhere)
c) Focuses the mind, probably the most important thing. Even when not shooting there is plenty you can do. IIRC your garden would be fine for a short downhill range with a suitable backstop if you didn't fancy the club. Plus tinkering, always the tinkering, especially if you built your own gun using a Crosman or such.
Dunno if [url= https://thegunshopbotley.com/therange/ ]this[/url] place is close but would be worth a look if you're interested.
During my recovery I am planning on:
Improving my 3d printing and design - Sat inside
Improving my welding and making some more art pieces - Sat in the garage
Replacing the bushes on the BMW suspension (see latest post) - Laid on a wheeled undercar crawler
plus a few other things I will keep back so you stay following my incredibly exciting blog.
Anyway, please post comments there 🙂
Holy crap I feel your synchronised toy maintenance pain.
Cheers - also just discovered the switch on my my mains powered drill ie the powerful useful one, seems to be on the blink. Sometimes it presses, sometimes it doesn't. I suspect a little bit of broken plastic in the switch body has written off a £100 drill...
I don't know how well known it is, but a book that might be useful for you is "On Writing Well", by William Zinsser.
Good luck with the blog, if you do one, and with and the ankle.
Edit: sorry,I didn't notice you'd already started blogging. I wasn't suggesting the book as a result of taking a look – just in case that's how it looks.
[I]but a book that might be useful for you is "On Writing Well[/I]
What are you saying?!?!?
🙂
The blog is basically for my own amusement and to giver me something to do while recovering. If it entertains a few people along the way then that is a benefit. Sort of STW-lite
haha, see my edit above ...
I'd be interested to know how it is you actually manage to finish your various projects, can you tell me that in your blog?
Cos I still haven't managed to fix a broken SRAM shifter that's been stuffed for over a year.
As I tell my wife "I have started so I will finish, there is no need to nag me about it every 6 months"
Actually it is simpler than that. I get bored very easily, I don't have kids, don't like TV, only really read late at night so the rest of the time what do I do?
There is only so much porn on the internet you can watch before you get bored of it so you had better create the BBB/Southampton Bike Park / a bespoke car / some welded dragon sculpture / engraved portraits etc
100 page views in one day for the first time after just 4 days and 6 posts.
I bet it is back to 6 of you by tomorrow/ Anyway, off to do my yoga now
WorldClassAccident - MemberI wonder how to get a wider audience?
The really simple way is to create a coherent/consistent social media presence, the main platforms obviously being Youtube, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. You can then either promote your content through the likes of Facebook ads, Instagram ads and paid for youtube views. Your blog would be a written version of your video blog, insta, the photographic version with video or video stories and Facebook a combination of the two.
It could all be to promote your blog or your blog could be to compliment the other platforms.
I wonder if I want one?
Unless you really work at it or spend a lot of money sponsoring it then it probably won't grow into anything massive. You might get some free gear to review, it might open some interesting avenues career wise, or it might give you access to new revenue streams. It's hard to say.
Any of you (15 today) who are looking for updates, I normally update around lunch time so check about 2pm if you are interested
You tube the blog?
I have to have a plate put in next year and plan to complete my PS4 games gaining dust or read, practise my maths (uni level) and play my guitar.
If I had more money I would smoke coke and the company of hookers.
Stay positive and take it easy when repairing the bmw, you need to mend first!
I'm one of the 15.keep it up .:-)
Okay, I was lax while away on work but the blog is now updated and I even have a saved extra draft post prepared so if I am too busy to write I can post that up.
Thanks to the loyal 8 who have checked for the last couple of days. I will try to keep the updates regular in future.
Blog looks good. What model RR have you got?
I suspect a little bit of broken plastic in the switch body has written off a £100 drill...
Improving my 3d printing and design - Sat inside
OP; that's a couple of hours sorted then?
Range Rover details here http://theworldclassaccident.blogspot.co.uk/p/changing-range-rover-36-tdv8-air-filter.html
Full fat V8 turbo diesel