Opening Remarks

Inspired by the ever increasing number of blogs that I subscribe to, I’ve decided to take the plunge and subject the big wide world to my insignificant rants, musings and misgivings.

Now, I’m not entirely sure how this blog is going to take shape, or even what I intend to write here. To try and get some focus, I’ve been looking through the blogs I currently subscribe to in order to see what kind of format I should be looking at.

My current blog roll can be neatly divided into 2 broad categories: 1) Work related; and 2) non-work related. It’s not difficult for me to decide which of these groups I want this blog to fall under.

My non-work blogs can be further subdivided into 2 sub-categories. Blogs that are aimed at the public at large (e,g Bad Science, Stephen Fry, etc) and those aimed at people who know me (and anyone within 1 or 2 degrees of separation to them). I’ll be honest and say that I would love to write something that falls within the former category. However, as well as being honest, I’m going to be realistic and recognise that, at least without a flagship issue to champion, it’s unlikely that the Guardian are going to be setting aside column inches for me any time soon.

So, now that I’ve identified my target audience, I need to start thinking about my content. I like the idea of setting myself a set of a set of frivolous fiscal rules by which to live and documenting the consequences in my day to day life. Whilst this would no doubt be of significant benefit to my bank imbalance, I know myself well enough to recognise that I’m neither disciplined enough to comply with these rules, nor humorous enough to produce a fitting record that would come close to the excellent One Hundred Pounds.

I’d like to be able to share photos, doodles and reviews of sandwiches with you all (like here) but I’ve got a crap camera, couldn’t draw a straight line supposing my life depended on it and have only 2 options of sandwich shops at lunchtime (Waitrose or a Bakers Oven if anyone’s interested). Incidentally, I’d have thought that any town with a Waitrose would have been in uproar at the thought of their High Street being sullied by the absence of an apostrophe in “Bakers Oven” – perhaps that’s one for another post.

I’d like to be in a position to document my experiences working abroad and immersing myself in another culture like this, but I don’t think that a Scot living in England is really of sufficient significance.

However, above all, I’d love to do this … but with extra ginger.

Anyway, now that I’ve established all the things I’m not going to do, my concern is that I’ll do something like this (Wan – I’d be delighted for you to prove me wrong on this one). Any tips from experienced bloggers out there on how to keep the momentum going, or on bloging etiquette generally, would be greatly appreciated.

Until next time, I beg to remain your most humble and obedient blogger,

Paul.