I am sure many of you have noticed that I do not post as often as I used to. It troubles me somewhat as I wonder where the enthusiasm I had for Random Jottings has gone. It is still there but these days I just find life seems to get in the way. I had a think about it all and came to the conclusion that I would give up blogging and close Random down. I havered about and fiffed and faffed and, in the end, decided I would miss it too much. It has been going now for eighteen years and would leave a huge hole in my life if it ceased to be.
I have regular visitors and followers and I cannot tell you how much this means to me. I no 
longer have hits in the thousands as I used to, more like hundreds now, and that is fine. Newer bloggers have multiplied, more vibrant, more interested in modern literature and the latest authors. As you all know by now modern novels have never appealed to me try though I might and I tend to wallow in Victorian literature, Golden Age crime, crime of all sorts and lovely romances and what is slightingly called 'chick-lit' a soubriquet which has always annoyed me.
So I had a think. I have started From my Shelves this year when I revisit books I have loved and read and reviewed in the past and that will continue, but for up to date reviews of the latest Booker or whatever I am afraid you will have to look elsewhere. The book pages in the papers seem to offer very little of interest to me, my problem not theirs, and I can feel a draining of enthusiasm when receive press releases containing the words, 'searing' 'powerful' 'hardhitting' 'visceral' yadda yadda you get the drift. I have reached the age when I am not interested in this kind of reading.
Anyway, I am wittering as per, so I have decided to continue but will change the slant of Random somewhat. I have always popped up with the Odd Rant or write about a movie, a play, Wimbledon and assorted other topics and I have decided that I am going to drop the idea that this is a book blog only and write about anything that I find interesting be it something I have seen on tv, a walk I have taken, how I am dealing with increasing old age, my children and grandchildren, weight loss, health and, oh I don't know, anything that takes my fancy.
I read in the newspapers this week that the Duchess of Montecito has decided to resurrect her blog/website called The Tig which she gave up when she married His Royal Misery. It seems that she will be dispensing all sorts of advice (no doubt how we can change the world) including how we can improve our mental health and wellness. Easy to do when you are loaded and living in a posh mansion without any money worries, not so easy for most of us as I know well. So fear not, I will not be doing or saying anything like that at all. I would not be so presumptious as to feel I am an expert on how we should lead our lives. Most of us stumble along doing the very best we can,
So dear readers I do hope this sits well with you and you will continue to read, visit and comment. It really keeps me going and makes me happy.
And I will start my new mixed bag Random by saying that the spring may have arrived, daffodils out, plants beginning to grow etc, but it is freezing here today and I am sitting here writing this with two jumpers on and wooly sox. I am going swimming later (oh and I have a wonderful rant about that coming up soon) and then will slob out for the rest of the day. I am visiting an old friend next week so we will gossip and chat and check out the charity shops which is always great fun so will not post until I get back. I will check and see if I have a From my Shelves ready to go and will then start the new regime on my return.
Please let me know what you think about it all and if you continue to visit Random, then bless you and thank you xx
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