Well, apparently this is my thousandth post on my blog! How the hell did that happen?
I’ve been making a few calculations. If, for example, I’ve written a couple of hundred words in each of my posts, say, 250 – then thats around a quarter of a million words written on Daly History since July 2009. And a thousand posts divided by three years works out at just under one post a day. One wonders where I’ve found the time for it all, in amongst writing my first book, a day job, a home life and by no means least a partner!
I would like to thank you all for your support over the past three years. My brother Scott for suggesting that I start a blog in the first place. Honestly, it started out as something to do and a way of expressing myself, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I would end up winning awards and getting a book published off the back of it. My publishers for taking a chance on me that I hope has paid dividends, and also the various other publishers who very kindly let me review their wares. Also the various friends I have made here over the years, and other social media historians who have helped to create what is a thriving online community for military and other kinds of history.
A few years ago, nobody would have imagined the amount of history that would be created online. Even now, some of the more sniffy ‘professionals’ might doubt the importance of social media. But I’m sure the past three years here have shown that it is THE way forward when it comes to breaking down barriers in history, heritage and all other kinds of allied fields. Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Flickr, and indeed WordPress are just as valuable tools as the humble pen and paper. bJust like the internet has broken down doors for music artists, it’s done the same for historians, and it’s time that people woke up to it. Just as nowadays somebody can record an album in their bedroom, and put it online, a budding historian can circumvent all of the chicanery, and get their work noticed. Why beaver away on writing dusty journal articles that maybe four people will read? Blogging is accessible, it’s dynamic, and it is – I’m sure – here to stay.
Heres to the next thousand!
I hate that I am not just arriving at 1,000. I looked at some of your previous works and I really enjoyed them. I recently started a history blog myself….I hope that I can make it to the 1,000 milestone.
Thanks Grant. You would be surprised how quickly the time flies!
Well, I could say that 1000 posts exemplifies your wooden delivery. Or that 1000 posts make you a lot of mail. (Double rimshot.)
Okay, okay, seriously. This makes two wondrous bits of news from Old Blighty I’ve received today. And just to properly massage your ego, I’ll rate your 1000th post ahead of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. And that’s saying a lot, from an honourary Coldstream Guardsman!
Congratulations, my friend, and here’s to many thousands more!
Thanks John!
On the subject of the Jubilee, did you see any of the footage of the ‘Thames Jubilee Pageant’? It made me sick hearing the commentators talking about how we haven’t had a River Pageant for over 400 years – thats because in the intervening years we had a Royal Navy to review!
We had the feed from the Beeb on. Can’t say I noticed too much prattle, but then again, with US News in its’ current state, I keep my “prattle” filter on maximum most of the time. Mind you, I logged onto the BBC earlier today to find out about Prince Phillip, and noticed in their concert guestlist they had the “Cold Stream Guards” band. It’s “Coldstream” – one word – like “IDIOTS!”. And this, less than a week after they were doing a report on Syria, Amnesty International, and the UN Security Council, and managed to put up a graphic of the UN Space Command – one of the forces from “Halo”, or some such video game.
(Sigh.) Well, it had to happen. With everything else the US exports, we finally managed to export our “twerp” gene. My apologies to the rest of the world!
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