A friend recently apologised for not visiting my blog. not just my blog, she assured me, but any blog or internet networking site. She preferred the Real World. Firstly I assured her that I was in no way offended at her non-visiting, (I could be blogging into the wilderness and it wouldn't bother me) and then we had an interesting discussion about how we perceive Life, specifically how teenagers seem to spend most of their lives on Face book, rather than being up and doing things. I personally think this is just perception; the younger generation are always doing something that we elders don't understand or approve of, else what is the point of adolescence? One day they will be tut-tutting over something that their children are doing, and bemoaning the fact that in their days they spent many creative hours on Face Book, chatting and communicating with friends, unlike 'today' when their kids are doing - well, whatever kids will be doing in twenty years time...
I digress, or rather, I come to the point. I've found that blogging has changed my Real Life in many ways. Not least of which is that sometimes I get to meet actual human beings, and exchange lovely things with like minded people on the other side of the world, with whom I would otherwise have no connection. Such as the SOSF tea-party in a bag from Fairy Luna, and her beautiful artcard -
And a scrummy little present from my talented friend Maya of Lily Moon - wonderful badges!
Not to mention a flying visit from Higgledy Piggledy, IN Real Life, AT the hovel. For which I made a batch of shortbread using Tara's lavender sugar, which I had been saving for a suitably special occasion.
My camera batteries died just as the requisite group hug photo was being taken, and the shortbread vanished in 24 hours. But I like that in some small way, Tara was with us, in sugar if not in body. Alas, it was an all too short meeting, as we had to be at a cricket match and time, tide and match fixtures wait for no one. Suffice to say that I think we could have chatted all day and still not run out of conversation, although we might have been somewhat hoarse.
Talking of Real Life, we've been taking a lazy holiday at home, thanks to the rain which made our proposed camping trip unfeasible. I actually got to read two books; we have thousands of them, piled high to the ceiling, but it is rare that I sit down and wallow in a good novel. (The Secret of Crickley Hall by James Herbert and Piece of my Heart by Peter Robinson - both excellent if you like horror and murder). So I've been more or less offline for a bit, and have a gazillion gorgeous blogs to catch up on - see you in cyber space!
And a scrummy little present from my talented friend Maya of Lily Moon - wonderful badges!
Not to mention a flying visit from Higgledy Piggledy, IN Real Life, AT the hovel. For which I made a batch of shortbread using Tara's lavender sugar, which I had been saving for a suitably special occasion.
My camera batteries died just as the requisite group hug photo was being taken, and the shortbread vanished in 24 hours. But I like that in some small way, Tara was with us, in sugar if not in body. Alas, it was an all too short meeting, as we had to be at a cricket match and time, tide and match fixtures wait for no one. Suffice to say that I think we could have chatted all day and still not run out of conversation, although we might have been somewhat hoarse.
Talking of Real Life, we've been taking a lazy holiday at home, thanks to the rain which made our proposed camping trip unfeasible. I actually got to read two books; we have thousands of them, piled high to the ceiling, but it is rare that I sit down and wallow in a good novel. (The Secret of Crickley Hall by James Herbert and Piece of my Heart by Peter Robinson - both excellent if you like horror and murder). So I've been more or less offline for a bit, and have a gazillion gorgeous blogs to catch up on - see you in cyber space!
25 Comments on Virtual v Reality, last added: 8/31/2007
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I am certainly glad I got over my fear of computers a few years ago, and went online.
I have 'virtually' met lots of lovely people, and some in real life too, like you!
Penny.
x
It was lovely visiting you and your shortbread was wonderful, it was nice to meet Tara too in sugar that is. The 'hoval' is a truely lovely welcoming place crammed full of the most interesting books and things and with great company. I'm sure we could of carried on chatting. Sorry to hear you did not get to go camping. Captain Rupert packed his bags for his holidays yesterday, in went a jar of plum jam to share with snowdrop on there rabbiting journeys
Totally agree with you - I've made some lovely 'virtual' friends and been been inspired/pushed to to more with my arts & crafts than if I didn't have a computer.
The Secret of Crickley Hall - I loved that too!
So glad the sugary-ness of my soul could be there even if I could not in body. :-) (Hope the shortbread turned out OK. Am not sure how long the sugars maintain their flavor. The batches I make for myself don't hang around too long. Tried a new herbal flavor in my shortbread last night - cinnamon basil (that is a variety of basil. One of the best tasting to my mind) with a sprinkling of clove on top. Think it is my new favorite!)
I will never regret blogging....I have encountered THE most amazing souls all over the world. Who gets a chance like that unless you're a world traveler? Certainly not I! AND to meet someone in person a delighful treat, the bonus being you've already learned a little about one another.
Some day soon when G and I get to the UK I MUST, simply MUST visit you at the Hovel....but please, NO road kill. LOL!(I tease you out of love! :)
XOXO
The women I've met online are very REAL indeed to me. They make me laugh out loud, they encourage and support me, they show me around their homes and countryside...kind, generous, inspiring souls that I would never have met without my leaping headlong into the blogging world. My summer has been chock-a-block busy and the thing I've missed the most has been my nightly connection to dear friends via cyberspace. Hugs to all...
A lazy holiday at home sounds wonderful, think I'll try at least for a lazy weekend! I found Crickley Hall a horribly compelling read have to look out for the other one.
I love you, header??
And the lavender sugar sounds pretty special to..
Blogging is like having loads and loads of pen firends but its instant and more personal, unlike local friends, its lovely I can turn you all on and off as I wish come and see you when you are out, and enjoy you company at all times of day and night, if fact the advantages outweigh the disavantages by miles. Love the drawings and the photographs Brillant.
Blossom
Thank You PG for Mr Kipling x
Blossom
I too much agree -- I love my virtual friends -- visiting and chatting... some I've met, some I never will. Perhaps if I don't have a heat stroke very soon I might spend next summer someplace cooler like Merry Old England where I will invite myself to the hovel for a nice cup of tea... and shortbread and jam... without this lovely computer I would not have considered doing such... Well, I might have, but you would have wondered what on earth possessed me wondering in.
Back to real life wher it is hot, Hot, HOT.
Jenny
I so enjoy "knowing" you and visiting your blog, it is always a special few minutes.
I have to add my two cents to the discussion about teenagers. Frankly, I am tired of the constant complaints about today's young people. I have four of my own, and seeing them grow up in my household, frankly, I am in awe of them. They have to work much harder than I ever had to be successful in school, have very litte free time, are very good at keeping up friendships over years and oceans (yes, the LOVE face book, they are happy to touch base again with old classmates who went to preschool eons and oceans ago, for example). Are there bad apples out there? Sure, but previous generations had their share of them, too. :-)
I hope I am forgiven for my runt. I do know that every now and then our young ones drive us up the wall (remember, I got for of them *g*).
I know what your friend means, but like you say blogging is fundamentally what you do for your own pleasure.
And blog friendships are just different..If you write something and it touches a cord with someone else then that can only be a good thing surely?
I have to agree - this is another, rewarding dimension. Were the Victorians criticised for making full and frequent use of the penny post when postcards flew round the country with nothing more vital on the reverse than a train time or advice to 'wrap up warm'? Plus ça change?
And teenagers - we've surely all been there...isn't it the business of youth to be dangerous - or if not dangerous, slightly dodgy?
Found your blog at last PG and look forward to reading back entries. I love it and your photos and I do agree with your views on the joys of blogging.
Blossom has already said it . . .
I love blogging, it has made me feel that the world is fuller(?) of lovely kind generous and creative folk, which as far as I am concerned is a very good thing...and PG your blog was the one that got me started on blogging, so thank you!
Hi, just came over to visit after reading your comment on my blog. I totally understand how blogging has changed your life as it has mine too. As you know all my holiday in America was through blogging, meeting and staying with friends I never knew I had. The hospitality that they extended to us still makes me want to weep.
So agree with what you say about teenagers - and blogging. Blogging was kind of scary for me at first - a bit like sticking your head above the parapet - but it's been worth it.
I think the summertime is a time for life and it's hard to sit inside and spend as much time on the computer as we do in the colder months. I've been bad this summer also. Haven't been getting around "visiting" as much as I would like to. I think I'm now getting back on track though. I have a lot of catching up to do! Oh, that last picture is absolutely breathtaking. I can always count on you to bring such beauty to film.
I think that the interweb and blogging has its place. It is a very creative outlet and a place where you can receive feedback in a way that you can't with a paper journal/diary. I'm not sure I think it's a *great* idea for children to be exposed to - especially not from a young age - because although Facebook, Myspace (et cetera, ad nauseum) are "social networking" sites, they are used in a very solitary fashion. I am sat here typing to you on my own, and if that is being done at a "formative age" it's not teaching the younger generations how to interact socially. However for adults, who for the main part, have had a life without computers (we only got the 'net in 2001 when I was in my mid-teens) it's a better tool because the building blocks are already there. If that makes any sense... But with blogging, it's a lovely way to connect with folks from all over the place, who usually one wouldn't encounter.
Gosh you must love it when you postman arrives, he brings you some gorgeous parcels! Blogging has changed my world in so many ways, not least being inspired by some fabulous artists I would never have known about. The internet hasn't reduced my 'real' life, only added to it.
well ditto, what everyone else said. i used to be just a little bit luddite and esp. about the internet being isolating blah blah blah - but its saved my sanity over the last couple of years and constantly reinforces my faith in humanity and friendship.
That pretty postal and works... whenever I visit your blog I am enchanted... Greetings from Buenos Aires...
http://www.alexiev.com.ar
Alexiev Store
So glad I made it back to visit. I always find such specialness here. Lavender sugar sounds interesting and I`m glad you put on your creative hat this day :)
tea
xo