Tylluan's Recommended Blogs

I haven’t put up recommendations for a couple of days… to be honest I was hoping that BCUK might take the hint and start doing it instead. But so far, no joy.

So here we go…. These are the ones I was going to post last week – there may be more posts on the sites since I visited, but I link to individual posts not the entire blog so perhaps it won’t matter.

I try to browse recent posts off an on through the day in order to be as fair as I can. And I do consider virtually any type of blog on the basis that it should be (a) interesting (b) funny (c) informative (d) well written or any combination thereof.

I don’t normally recommend a very first post on a blog – it’s not fair to the blogger – and I do draw the line at text speak (or TXT SPK) which I simply cannot read. Apart from that… well, let’s see what’s turned up….

Nice thought provoking blog with quotes here: http://creativesilence.blog.co.uk/2009/07/09/well-said-6479044/

Film and TV blog here: http://professor-robot.blog.co.uk/2009/07/09/question-what-the-hell-happened-to-british-tv-6478937/

A nice ranting blog here (for those of you who enjoy a good rant!) http://epistemological-savagery.blog.co.uk/2009/07/09/guardian-feminist-induced-rage-6478768/

A nicely written travel blog –sharply observed and very readable!
http://oddsbodskins.blog.co.uk/2009/07/09/illustrious-first-impressions-6478246/

I always like to share something a little different with my readers here (too many blogs that begin ‘god I’m so bored’ and one can begin to lose the will to live. Here’s an interesting post about Sir Walter Scott from a blog on all things Scottish…
http://celtic-cadences.blog.co.uk/2009/07/09/sir-walter-scott-scot-adversity-belief-consequence-confidence-boosting-tip-writer-novelist-edinburgh-melrose-borders-holiday-hotell-6478186/

For cricket fans, here is a post on the Ashes:
http://midnightphilosophy.blog.co.uk/2009/07/09/ashes-test-1-day-6481398/

A little while ago on my other blog, I posted about fathers and then about mothers. Here is a beautiful post on a very special grandmother – very uplifting:
http://bubblezmd.blog.co.uk/2009/07/09/a-letter-to-you-6481294/

This seems an enjoyable post – the title says it all really!
http://sulkandpout.blog.co.uk/2009/07/09/dropping-the-bollock-and-other-fun-end-of-term-games-6481146/

A good post about looking for work: http://design-dreams.blog.co.uk/2009/07/09/the-face-of-6480722/

Hope you enjoy them, shall be back again soon!

I hope by now that anyone reading this will have been encouraged to at least visit some of the blogs mentioned in these posts. Some of you may even have made new blog friends and that’s wonderful, because that’s what my blog is all about. Getting Blogland moving a bit, encouraging us to venture out of our comfort zones.

So, without further ado, here are my recommendations for today:

A poetry blog here :
http://smokejack.blog.co.uk/2009/07/08/prayers-of-the-ghosts-6470072/

For anyone who enjoys a good rant (and this is one with a sort-of happy ending) pay a visit here:
http://malark.blog.co.uk/2009/07/07/the-demeritocracy-6465352/

For fans of Nina Simone, I would recommend this well written account of the Sao Paulo film festival:
http://loinsbongo.blog.co.uk/2009/07/08/the-love-sorceress-6469699/

A very nice poetry blog here: http://clubman.blog.co.uk/2009/06/17/a-rose-6322253/

A music blog here: http://topofthestairs.blog.co.uk/2009/07/08/ben-clempson-6472270/

And finally….. Sometimes I recommend the entire blog (when I have time to check it through) and sometimes I just recommend individuals posts….. and sometimes…well, sometimes you find a blog you just want to keep going back to...

This is my third visit to Orcus’ blog and I have to admit – I’m hooked! I’ve even subscribed so that I never have to miss another moment. It’s a classic, and today there is yet another mention of (Nazi) Dave – Oh, and MAKE SURE you click on the link to hear the busker! This is a real gem of a blog and I strongly urge you to check it out!
http://not-dead-yet.blog.co.uk/2009/07/08/nazi-dave-the-summerhouse-depilation-and-a-busker-6469854/

Happy Blogging!

MONDAY 6th July 2009 –

A new week and here I am back again. I’ve really enjoyed putting this blog together because it gives me an excuse to visit some wonderful sites. I also found one, which was unintentionally so hilarious that I almost included it but decided not to at the last minute… it’s not nice to be unkind.

So, without more ado, here are my offerings.

Do check out this site, it’s a little gem – the blogger is from China, and includes some lovely photos in his most recent post:
http://cyberfighter.blog.co.uk/

For matters psychic, this is an interesting site and includes drawings done by a method similar to automatic writing:
http://jackiblogg.blog.co.uk/2009/07/06/pyschic-drawing-6459584/

A very thought provoking post, sensitively written:
http://swallowedwhole.blog.co.uk/2009/07/06/ask-not-for-whom-the-bell-tolls-6458830/

If you like gardening, birds and nature I recommend this one – lovely photos, well written, a lyrical delight!:
http://guidetogaygardening.blog.co.uk/2009/07/06/harvesting-and-hippies-6460335/

This appears to be a diary style blog, very well written, and sharply observed (especially if you follow the tags about (Nazi) Dave….
http://not-dead-yet.blog.co.uk/2009/07/06/no-car-a-little-home-baking-and-nazi-dave-6460709/

A very readable poetry blog here:
http://www193111.blog.co.uk/2009/07/06/i-dreamed-the-cooling-eve-6461049/

Always a lovely blog – try The Homely Year here:
http://thehomelyyear.blog.co.uk/2009/07/06/hummingbird-hawk-moth-6460888/

Hope you enjoy them!

A couple of points I wanted to make about Tylluan’s Recommended Blogs here. Firstly, I am linking (mostly) to individual posts rather than to complete blogs. I don’t have the time to check out an entire blog.

Secondly, this blog of mine is in no way implying that any of the blogs on BCUK’s ‘Featured Blogs’ page are undeserving. Most are excellent. But the list hardly changes. There are other good blogs out there, and I think it’s great to go and visit them, too.

Thirdly – why do I recommend some blogs? Well, I like to recommend something different, something that informs, entertains, is well written or plain quirky. I am just one person. I am going to make mistakes: put in the not-so-good and leave out the bloody brilliant from time to time. I am doing my best though, and I assure readers that whatever else I happen to be, I am not lazy.

But yesterday’s stats for this blog were a tad intriguing. Just before midnight I checked:
Viewings 1
Visitors 1

Makes it all worthwhile, really, doesn’t it?

This looks an interesting blog about starting life over…. Lovely writing style too. http://surrealityisreality.blog.co.uk/2009/07/05/walking-meditation-6451658/

The posts on this blog are quite short, but have links to others. Mostly political content:
http://newnorthumbria.blog.co.uk/2009/07/05/lies-more-lies-and-uk-newspapers-6451634/

Another interesting post, this time about Staten Island, US.
http://janetweightreed10.blog.co.uk/2009/07/05/staten-island-6450713/

A brave lone visitor to Tokyo is recording his visit here – nicely written too!
http://travelman.blog.co.uk/2009/07/03/outrage-at-the-national-museum-of-modern-art-tokyo-6440833/

A gently humorous blog post here:
http://malark.blog.co.uk/2009/07/05/fakes-and-ladders-6453752/

this is an interesting post about a very topical subject:
http://ukautismnews.blog.co.uk/2009/07/05/fresh-from-their-success-in-getting-the-gurkhas-the-same-6453702/

This is well worth a read, a blog that talks about the challenges of reverse parenting with the writer’s father… http://declineandfalls.blog.co.uk/

And if anyone from BCUK reads this, please please PLEASE can you do something about all the spamming blogs we've had this weekend? Thank you!

I have been collecting new blogs to share with you, off and on for the past 24 hours. It's not made any easier by certain blogs that just keep posting the same entries again, and again, and again.......I mean some seem to put up a dozen or more in an hour, which is annoying because it is pushing other blogs right off the radar. It wouldn't be so bad if they were posting something new, but when it's identical entries it's just not funny any more....

In fact, they have really spoiled the job for me today, because at one point in TEN PAGES, there were only about half a dozen blogs that I could find in recent posts. The rest were all ONE site posting the same thing over and over.

Anyway, enough of all this. Here are my entries for late Satruday and hopefully also Sunday. If I get chance I may well post up a few more tomorrow, we'll just see how it goes.

This one was posted late last night, but it deals with life in Switzerland and I think it’s always interesting to read posts about other countries.
http://swiskit.blog.co.uk/2009/07/03/random-violence-shocks-switzerland-6444667/

And if you like Switzerland, why not read Mira’s blog about Sweden, life, spirituality et.c This particular post is about Sweden, and I know Mira is sometimes a featured blog, but she’s well worth a visit for those of you who haven’t come across her before.
http://miramaze.blog.co.uk/2009/07/03/afternoon-on-riddarholmen-6444483/

For an interesting ghost story try this post:
http://mizatavares.blog.co.uk/2009/07/03/my-ghost-story-6444994/

And here we have a book blog.
http://myfavouritebooks.blog.co.uk/2009/07/03/my-favourite-books-6444525/

Murphy Mole seems to have had a helluva day, so it might be nice for some friends to pop over and offer support here:
http://wordsandthoughts.blog.co.uk/2009/07/04/not-quite-the-day-i-planned-6449421/

Knitter Scarlet has a fascinating blog and today’s post is very thought provoking on the subject of copyright. As a keen knitter myself, I can well appreciate what she’s saying, but I think non-knitters would enjoy this post too. http://knitterscarlet.blog.co.uk/2009/07/04/copyright-on-patterns-6449398/

This looks quite a gem of a blog, do give it a try:
http://mrrooksplace.blog.co.uk/2009/07/04/not-all-victims-of-war-die-on-the-battlefield-6449303/

Well, that's it for the time being, hope you enjoy them!

I have been collecting these blogs throughout the day, trying to vary the times when I drop by in the hope of catching some bloggers I might otherwise have missed. I try not to make the list too long because I know that's offputting, and I also try and give you a little idea what it's about so you can choose whether or not to visit.

I really hope you're enjoying these suggestions - I've been amazed how many little treasures I've found this week!

This is a lovely post about children… it’s definitely got that ‘aaah’ factor - I know it’s in a group blog, but I still think you should go and visit:
http://creative-writers.blog.co.uk/2009/07/03/a-poem-6442436/

Those of us who enjoy a good rant at the absurdities of modern life will find a soul-mate over here at :
http://stooginho.blog.co.uk/2009/07/03/swine-flu-ministers-warn-40-a-day-could-die-by-end-of-summer-6442423/

Another interesting post, this time on how we seem to be on the phone all the time:
http://benjamy.blog.co.uk/2009/07/03/snippets-of-life-6441754/

Here’s another movie blog you might enjoy:
http://thecinefiles.blog.co.uk/2009/07/03/bluray-review-run-fatboy-run-6441528/

a thoughtful and powerful blog on hospital, death…. Sounds depressing but in a curious way it’s rather uplifting:
http://bubblezmd.blog.co.uk/2009/07/03/death-pt-2-hospital-and-other-stuff-6442702/

A lyrical, thoughtful post… well worth a read: http://twilights.blog.co.uk/2009/07/03/unclear-future-unsettling-past-6442607/

I know Jack Frost is sometimes a featured blog, but do checkout this post – it will drive you mad (and yes, I was always the sluggish snail!) http://jackfrost.blog.co.uk/2009/07/03/this-should-keep-you-amused-6442636/

As for the blog design... I'm still not entirely happy with it but I suppose at least the print is clear!

Much as I dearly loved the last design I was using, I have decided to change. The whole point about this blog is that it ought to be easy to use and navigate and not give us eye strain. So here we are - back to cool, clean and easy to read. Please let me know what you think!

I'll be back later with some recommendations!

I've just added a couple of extras tonight in an effort to avoid losing interesting blogs that will slip through the 'recent posts' if I only check in now and then.

It's all new to me, so I'm doing my best and suggestions are welcomed. Menhir has mentioned that she finds the layout of this blog rather difficult - does anyone else find that? I was just so pleased I'd managed to find a green layout!

Yesterday I meant to put up Ship's Cook's post on ID cards. As you probably know, Ship's Cook sometimes is a featured blog, but I still recommend this post for anyone who isn't a regular visitor:
http://shipscook.blog.co.uk/2009/07/01/id-cards-binned-6432603/

This is a bit of fun too - especially since you don't see tornados very often!
http://welshgirl.blog.co.uk/2009/07/02/mini-tornado-6438497/comment_ID/10323618/

For some very interesting dates, have a look at this post:
http://paulinemom.blog.co.uk/2009/07/02/today-in-history-2nd-july-6438224/

And now for something completely different, try this:
http://foxhat.blog.co.uk/2009/06/27/2-roman-women-6407994/

Well, that's it for tonight! Hope you're enjoying your voyage around blogland!

Here I am, back again with more recommendations for you all.

As I've mentioned before, I have no secret formula although I am tending to concentrate on blogs in English because that's what I can read best. And I go through the recent blogs because let's face it, there's no point whatsoever in recommending a blog where nobody has so much as sneezed for the past six months!

But why are there so many blogs all with an identical intro saying the writer is a housemaid/cleaner who wants to share cleaning tips with us?

Well, whatever... without more ado, let's see what's on offer today...

Here we have a well written blog with good photos... everything a blog should be:
http://rockdaisy.blog.co.uk/2009/07/02/elephant-hawk-moth-6437456/

Next, I suggest you pop over and have a look at Pa's Tale for another, diary style blog, well written, very enjoyable:
http://oldwoodiestale.blog.co.uk/2009/06/28/flaming-june-6413314/

If you're looking for something humourous and lively, then pop over to the Jaded Reprobate's blog:
http://jadedreprobate.blog.co.uk/2009/07/02/what-does-it-cost-to-be-skinny-6437298/

Blogs that tell us about far distant lands are always intriguing so check this one out:
http://postcards.blog.co.uk/2009/07/02/what-could-go-wrong-in-bauquan-6436985/

If I can I might be back with a few more suggestions later on!

I try to be fair to everyone here. There is no secret formula.. I simply go through the recent posts and see if there is anything I think my friends' might enjoy. Then I leave a comment on the post so that the blog owner knows what I'm doing, and put a link to the blog here. Simple.

So, here's my offering for tonight. By the way, if anyone wants to copy my idea and put up their own recommendations, please do feel free. I think it is high time we got blogland moving a bit, don't you?

There are many wonderful blogs out there, blogs that rarely make it onto BCUK's featured blogs page... so let's feature them ourselves. After all, we're bloggers, aren't we? We have the technology....(just I'm never sure some of us aren't quite sure how to use it....

For a bright and youthful blog, try a visit to :
http://justalice.blog.co.uk/2009/07/01/it-can-only-get-better-wait-how-hot-is-it-going-to-be-tomorrow-6432585/

A nice, unusual quirky blog (and I mean that as a compliment!) here at:
http://jellybean-forest.blog.co.uk/2009/07/01/i-live-low-i-lisp-i-die-sugar-shooting-bled-6432424/

This is a little gem that will interest fans of T C Lethbridge and his alternative methods of looking at archaeology (it's worth checking out his other posts, too):
http://tclethbridge.blog.co.uk/2009/06/13/on-tom-lethbridge-6293470/

And for movie buffs, pay a visit to:
http://allaboutmovies.blog.co.uk/2009/07/01/requiem-6432106/

This is a lovely looking site, all about falconry (something I've always fancied trying!) : http://falconryfriends.blog.co.uk/2009/07/01/first-attempt-at-falconry-6432050/

So there you are - I hope you find something to interest you, I hope you meet new friends, but above all, I hope you give this a try and enjoy yourselves!