2015-03-04T20:44:03+00:00

Episode 196: Ode To Blogging 101!

March 4, 2015/Judy E Martin/23 Comments

I couldn’t resist it. I had to write one of my little poems or rhymes about Blogging 101 and here it is:

Although I love this blogging lark

Sometimes it’s just not fun

There are bits of it I don’t quite get

So I signed up to 101!

It tries to make things clearer

And sets you tasks to do

Things like ‘Meet the Neighbours’

And following new blogs too

We also have ‘The Commons’

Where we can post our latest stuff

And get advice and feedback

For when we find things tough

There are people there to help you

And guide you on your way

Three weeks of constant learning

And blogging every day

I’ve learned new things already

And I’ve only just begun

I’m happy to be part of

The class of Blogging 101!

Episode 194: Being Neighbourly

March 4, 2015/Judy E Martin/40 Comments

Today’s Blogging 101 task was to meet the neighbours. We had to find some new blogs to follow via the Reader, plus look up specific genres that we might find enjoyable.

Now funnily enough, despite my social awkwardness and shyness, I do not find it a problem finding new blogs to follow and commenting on them, (I might worry later that a comment I have made might be taken the wrong way though)! I really enjoy interacting with people from all sorts of backgrounds and blogging is a fantastic way to do this.

We all have so much to offer each other, and there are so many wonderful and interesting people out there for me to meet and interact with, In the six months that I have been blogging, I have been extremely lucky in that I have already met a number of people who I have really ‘clicked’ with and that i would consider my blogging friends.

Blogging is not just a one way street, and if you want to have people comment on your blog then you must also comment on theirs! It did take me a while to pluck up the courage to do it at first, but it is so rewarding to build up a rapport with someone. I love it when people comment on my blog. I appreciate that they might have enjoyed something (or not as the case may be), that I have written and want to add their own thoughts to the mix, or maybe tell me of their own experiences.

I feel really lucky that this blogosphere is so vast and that there are hordes of neighbours for me to get to know. Even better is the fact that they all have something different to offer.

Episode 192: If It Ain’t Broke….

March 3, 2015/Judy E Martin/19 Comments

Today’s Blogging 101 task is to edit my tagline or the name of my blog. Now I am quite happy with the name of my blog. I chose ‘Edwina’s Episodes’ for a number of reasons. The first being that I decided to use my middle name of Edwina, originally as I wanted to remain anonymous.

I then needed something that would go with it that was catchy and said a little about my blog. As I was just mainly writing about situations that had happened in my life or little thoughts about things, I decided that ‘Episodes’ would convey the feeling of my life being like a soap opera, and each little event being a mini episode. I suppose I wanted continuity and consistency, which I hope to have achieved!

Now my tagline – A humourous look at the life of an everyday woman

I wanted that to say what my blog is actually about, I have had a few thought about this actually, and might consider changing it. However, as the saying goes ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ and it has served me well so far.

I have thought of changing it to laughing at life or laughing my way through life.

I really can’t decide….

What do you think? I have put a little poll in so you can vote if you feel like it!

Episode 190: This is Me

March 2, 2015/Judy E Martin/35 Comments

I decided that I would participate in Blogging 101 this month as I am still rough around the edges when it comes to blogging! I wanted to learn more so here I am on day one. The task for today is to introduce myself and tell everyone why I am here. so here goes!

To start with, my name is not actually Edwina. It is my middle name, and I originally used it because I wanted to remain anonymous. I don’t mind being called Edwina at all though, as it is much prettier than my actual name of Judy! As I have plastered my blog all over my Facebook account now, and am no longer anonymous, it doesn’t matter which of the two names you want to call me.

My blog is all about trying to see the funnier side of life. I don’t think we have enough laughter in our lives. There is all the hustle and bustle, and stresses of everyday life that wind us up and stress us out, and I just want to try to put a smile in there somewhere to break it up a bit!

The fact that I suffer from anxiety can sometimes make it a bit tricky to try to think of something funny, but at the same time, I have found blogging does help me with my own issues, it is very cathartic.

Anyway, I like writing about the mundane (the everyday situations we all find ourselves in); the silly (I do love a bit of silliness! I am always showing myself up by doing the wrong thing, or putting my foot it); the wacky (occasionally, I read a news story that is really strange or weird) or just the bloody ridiculous! (Anything and everything else).Sometimes I even like to write a little rhyme or poem, just to add a bit of variety.

I like to put my own take on things, and although my personal stories and experiences are all true, I have written them from the humorous angle, preferring to see the funny side of a situation. The point of this is to make the reader (hopefully) smile, or if I am really lucky, chuckle. I would love it if I could get a guffaw, bellow or roar of laughter, but this blog is still young!

One last point. I do love to hear from people. I am lucky that I do have people who comment on my blog. I love to interact with people and hear their stories and experiences as well, especially the funny ones. Or just pop in to say hello.

As the great Charlie Chaplin once said, ‘A day without laughter is a day wasted’

Episode 142: Square Peg……

February 5, 2015/Judy E Martin/21 Comments

Being pretty much a ‘newbie’ blogger, I am still trying to find my ‘niche’ and have decided that I haven’t got one. I don’t fit into any category really (story of my life)! In fact, i would even go as far to say that my poor little blog is the antithesis of most of the ones I read and enjoy, and here’s why…..

Travel blogs:

Now I love to read these, marvel at the beautiful places that people go to, and the wonderful things they have seen. However. you will not get me on a plane (unless I am knocked out), I get terribly seasick, and am a dreadful back-seat driver (as well as hating driving myself)! Oh and I get travel sick on coaches as well. The last time I travelled on a coach,it was about a 4 hour journey. Unfortunately I threw up all over the place in the small toilet, just as we arrived at the destination, which did not impress the driver one bit! I like trains though.

Cookery Blogs:

Oooh, I love looking at the mouth-watering dishes that some people have made, and beautifully presented on their blogs, complete with instructions on how to do it, Although I might have a go at some of these myself, I could never actually produce a blog that focuses on showing others how I made it. Oh no! I would have to clean up the mess first before I took any pictures, plus it would probably take me countless attempts to get it right, and actually resemble something that was edible. I can cook the basic stuff (apart from boiled rice), but only for my family to enjoy (I use that term very loosely).

Fashion and Beauty Blogs:

I do subscribe to a few of these types of blogs because I like pretty things, and am always looking for ways (miracles) to make myself look better. Maybe it might be a flawless foundation, or a figure-shaping (would have to be robustly re-inforced to deal with mine) dress. I love pretty hair styles and have long hair, as does my daughter, perfect for some of these beautiful braids that I have seen. Problem is I can ‘t do them. Not even after watching tutorials. Several times. That type of blog is best left to the experts to write.

Parenting Blogs:

These are the type of blogs I would go to for advice, seeing as my style of parenting is a bit wide of the mark at times.I only have one little girl, and I have been told by her that I ‘baby’ her too much. I admire those Mum’s that stay home with their kids, teach them all sorts of wonderful things, crafts, baking, life skills etc. They do a bloody good job, which is very hard work; I could not write one of these blogs, as my advice would be rubbish! I got ‘the look’ yesterday from my daughter when her friend called round to leave for school together. Before I even thought about it I said. “Why aren’t you wearing your tight-ies, its cold out and your legs will get freezing. Ooops. That went down like a lead balloon. Everything for me seems to have got an ‘ies’ on the end of it. Sockies, leggies, and so on, She hates it.

Craft Blogs.

I only wish i could do one of these blogs, I love crafts but am just not that good at them! It doesn’t stop me from trying though, and I have shown off a couple of things that I have made, here on my blog. The thing is, they probably don’t quite resemble the finished article that I got the pattern for. I tend to have to make a few alterations here and there where I have cocked something up and either left it, or tried to disguise it, I don’t think people would appreciate my style of crafting, which involves a lot of swearing, unpicking and re-doing, then finally a bit of botching!

So there you have it, I pretty much a square peg, in a world full of round holes! Bet you weren’t surprised though!

Episode 120: More To Me Than Meets The Eye

January 24, 2015/Judy E Martin/6 Comments

I have come to the conclusion that I am quite a contradictory person. My actions are quite often out of sync with my personality. I will think one thing and then do another….

For instance, for someone who is still quite shy, and awkward when meeting people, you would think that the last thing I would want to do is blogging! I mean, by its very nature, it is putting my thoughts and opinions out there for all and sundry to read, and comment on. By the same token, I also comment on other people’s blogs.

This means that I have to interact with people who I do not know, in fact have never even met! I could well be opening myself up to a great deal of criticism if someone objects to, or misunderstands one of my posts,

I have even put videos on my blog of myself reading my poems as I wanted to ensure they were conveyed in the way that I intended them to be. What kind of dunce does that when they are very conscious of how they look? Not only that, I haven’t even used my name but have plastered my image all over the place….

Another irony is that I suffer from depression, but like to try to write humorous posts! What is that all about?! I know that laughing is good for the soul, so I like to try to see the funny side of things. One of my great pleasures in life is to make others happy. If I can do that by making them laugh then so much the better, However, it can be one hell of a struggle coming up with funny posts when that is the last thing that I am feeling (especially recently)!

I am a huge fan of music, and yet I can neither sing nor dance! Many is the time that I have gone to my sister’s house for a [arty and they have ended up getting out the karaoke machine.Now her and her husband used to do this as a business, and they both can sing very well (my brother-in-law is also a musician).

It doesn’t stop me from snatching the mike and screeching my head off to one of my favourite numbers, and this is sober as I don’t drink! I can see my brother-in-law frantically twiddling knobs trying to drown me out or make me sound better, or something!

Dancing is a bit more of a problem! Despite my two left feet, I will strut around my front room when the mood takes me, but I still hate dancing if I am out anywhere. What I hate even more is if someone attempts to dance with me. A family friend once grabbed hold of me and started trying to twirl me around, but I immediately went stiff, and then trod all over him! He complained to my mum about my lack of rhythm!

My personal space is a standing joke with one of my good friends that I used to work with. I have about a 2 feet no go zone, I really am not keen on people getting too close at all. Anyway, we used to have this colleague that could not have a conversation unless she was almost on top of you. This really used to freak me out, and I would try to avoid talking to her if at all possible!

It didn’t stop her talking to me though and, as she kept closing in on me ,I would be backing away further and further until I was literally backed against the wall, and no option but to talk to the face that was about an inch from my own!

Why then choose a job now where I physically have to touch people?! It doesn’t make sense, but I love my job, and I will very often give my patients a hug, I am forever holding their hands when I talk to them, or stroking their faces when they are very poorly, but for some reason this does not bother me at all!

I suppose that I am someone who has ‘hidden depths’ and not just bloody odd!

Episode 116: Blogging Blunders!

January 21, 2015/Judy E Martin/21 Comments

I have come to the conclusion that I rather like blogging! I have been amazed at how many new people I have ‘met’ in the last 4 months since I started, and I even think of a few of them as friends. However, it is still a bit of a minefield for me, but luckily I am not the only one who is struggling with some of the aspects of blogging, which would never have occurred to me, before I started blogging myself!

I came across a post from My Thoughts On a Page who raised some very valid points on some of the dos and don’ts of blogging etiquette, as it were. Many of these thoughts had already crossed my mind as well….

Things like commenting, liking, reblogging articles etc are all very well and good, but I was very nervous of doing any of these things at first (especially on blogs with loads of followers) as I didn’t want them to think I was just doing it to promote myself. However, I in my opinion, blogging is supposed to be all about putting your work out there for others to see and enjoy! so if I like something, I will comment on it now, like it , and I have even reblogged one or two posts.

Yes, of course everyone wants their blog to be noticed, and they share it on social media sites like Facebook, Pinterest etc, as well as Twitter. Now I have a bit of a problem here as I don’t use my real name so can’t use my accounts to share my stuff! In fact only a handful of my friends and family even know that I have a blog. let alone what it is called!

I have set up Facebook and Twitter sites for my blog which is bloody pointless as I have less than 5 friends on each, and they have already seen my blog on WordPress anyway!! I am nothing if not a trier…..but I always get it wrong!

Lastly, no matter how many times I read about ‘tags’ it didn’t really sink into my thick skull and enter my brain However, today, as luck would have it, I saw in my reader this post by Opinionated Man. Fantastic, now I get it, and I will show off in a minute by tagging my post appropriately for once! (Well. I’ll give it a go)!

Even in writing this post, I had a dilemma! I got the inspiration for it from the two blogs that I have mentioned. Now, decency and good manners dictates that I should credit these blogs for giving me some ideas. However, will I have caused offence by drawing attention to my blog daring to pingback to TWO blogs?!

Well I don’t know, but as I bumble and blunder my way around this crazy blogosphere, trying to dodge the ‘mines’ along the way, I hope I continue to meet lots of new friends and discover many more new and interesting blogs. Oh yes, I hope that more people get to see mine too! 🙂

Episode 112: A Tour Through Blogland

January 19, 2015/Judy E Martin/13 Comments

I am thrilled and honoured to have been nominated by the lovely and talented Linda from Nutsrok, to take part in a ‘Tour Through Blogland’, otherwise known as ‘The Virtual Blog Tour Award’ I am thrilled to be amongst such great company as the other nominees, and it is my pleasure to accept.

There are a couple of rules that are as follows:

1.Pass the tour on to up to four other bloggers. Give them the rules and a specific Monday to post.
2.Answer four questions about your creative process which lets other bloggers and visitors know what inspires you to do what you do:

What am I working on at the moment?

I am trying to focus on improving my writing at the moment, although, over the three months I have been blogging, I have noticed that my writing is getting a little better. Certainly reading other blogs gives me some insight in presentation and content which I need to learn more about. There are plenty of things for me to learn in order to become the writer I long to be.

How does my work differ to others in my genre?

I think my work is different because I am different! Everything I write about is given from my own perspective of an event or situation that I have experienced. Although others may have found themselves in similar situations, I like to make fun of things or try and pick out the humourous side of it. Either myself, or one of my unfortunate family members, will often bear the brunt of a light-hearted mickey-taking!

Why do I write/create what I do?

Originally it was just a suggestion by my sister to start a blog, as she thought I told funny stories, and she and other family members could read them through my blog. I gave it a go, and as time went on, I found it to be cathartic. I suffer with depression, and can become very withdrawn at times. Writing my blog keeps me connected to people. I wanted to try and make it humorous as nobody likes a whinger! Plus, I hoped that some of my stories and experiences would resonate with others; that they could relate to it and laugh along with me, or at the very least, smile at my idiocy!

How does my writing/creative process work?

It varies. sometimes an event will occur which touches me in some way. It could be anything, something funny that happens that I want to share, or something that has moved me and I feel compelled to write about. Once I get started I usually find that it flows pretty well; it is just a case of trying to organise my thoughts, and articulate them properly. Occasionally I will go off at a tangent , but hopefully I manage to rein it in and get back on track by the end!

And then write a one-time article which is to be posted on a Monday, (the date supplied by your nominator). (This article can be in the same post in which you answered the 4 questions.

I have always been an avid reader, from a little girl. I grew up with Enid Blyton stories, and longed to go to a boarding school like ‘Mallory Towers’ or ‘St Clare’s’ ; perhaps I could solve mysteries like ‘The Famous Five’ or ‘Secret 7.’ Either way, those stories had me transfixed from the start; I lived their adventures with them. That is the beauty of a good book, or more specifically, a good writer.

I know some may argue that Enid Blyton was not a great writer, but she WAS a fantastic story teller. She seemed to know just what children (of the day) fantasised about and she took them there. Judging by the phenomenal success that she achieved, she did a bloody good job of it as well.

I still love to read now, and every night I will read before I go to sleep, as I have always done. I know my husband doesn’t always get it, but I can suddenly burst out laughing, or start snivelling and crying; such are the emotions that a good writer can provoke in me.

I have only ever written little poems which I personalise for family occasions, or academic writing (which is what I had to do at Uni) so I didn’t know how I would get on with blogging!

I love it actually. I love the writing, and reading other people’s blogs. I am now including the odd poem, as they are so much fun to write, plus I have kind of re-discovered writing them again, so it’s still pretty fresh for me.

I have decided that I do want to write, and yes maybe one day become a writer. I’m not sure what yet what to write about, but I need to learn how to do it properly first! Anyway I hope you continue to enjoy my blog.

Finally, I have listed below my nominees, whose blogs I really enjoy; of course ALL the blogs I follow, are all worth a visit as is Nutsrok which will make you cry with laughter! Thanks again Linda for thinking of me. The date for your post is 2nd February.

Storyshucker

Breathing Life

Fourth Generation Farm Girl

Episode 96: Posting No 101….

January 10, 2015/Judy E Martin/8 Comments

I just had a notification that the last post I did was my 100th. It’s typical of me that I didn’t realise, and let it slip by unnoticed so I thought I would celebrate my 101st post instead!

I am very thankful to those that have read my blog; it’s always a pleasure to interact with people, read their comments, and opinions and build up a rapport with them.

I have found a whole new world here in the blogosphere. There are so many wonderful blogs, funny ones, sad ones, informative ones, creative ones,not to mention racy ones (I must have led a sheltered life)! All of them have something to offer, and had I not started blogging, I would have missed out on all of these.

I have encountered some lovely people as well. Different characters that have cheered me up, made me howl with laughter, brought a tear to my eye, or made me see things in a different way…very inspirational.

Anyway, I am still very much a novice, and am learning all the time, but I feel like I am starting to settle into this wonderful community. Thanks for making me feel welcome.

Episode 86: Goodbye To 2014!

December 31, 2014/Judy E Martin/10 Comments

Well 2014 has been quite a year for me in more ways than one! The beginning of the year started pretty quietly, nothing untoward. March was a bittersweet month, On the one hand Mr Grump got made redundant from his job,which was a major worry, and on the other, it was my graduation from University, which I was very excited about. It was a wonderful day seeing all of the friends I made, plus sharing the occasion with Mr Grump and my younger sister.

Luckily Mr Grump managed to find a job quite quickly which he loves, so it turned out to be a blessing in disguise that he lost the other one. We also had the results back from the eleven plus test that Miss Hap took. She passed with flying colours, which meant that she was eligible to go to the Grammar School. Everyone was so proud of her, and she herself was thrilled that she actually did it!

May was Miss Hap’s 11th birthday, and after a massive panic getting her a passport on time, she had a wonderful time in Disneyland Paris with her natural father, as well as the celebrations we had for her at home. Not long after this her place was confirmed at the Grammar, and we had all gone to have a look around it.

Then everything came crashing down for me, and I suffered a severe bout of depression which I could not shake off, I was unable to go to work (or even go out) for two months and it was an awful time for us all. Slowly,with a lot of help I got back on an even keel, and things returned to normal.

In October I decided to stop smoking, after 35 years (my entire adult life, plus some of my childhood as well). Although I am still smoke free, I have been tempted on more than one occasion to take it up again, especially as I kept getting throat infections, and other illnesses I thought I wouldn’t get as often being a ‘non smoker’!

A couple of weeks before I gave up smoking I took up blogging on the suggestion of my younger sister. This has proved to be a massive boost for me. I have really enjoyed writing the posts, although some have been silly, some serious, and one upset the school orchestra (oops), I hope that on the whole they have been funny or amusing which is what I intended them to be when I started.

I am privileged to have ‘met’ some wonderful people in the three months that I have been blogging. I cannot believe how supportive and friendly everyone has been to me. I didn’t know what to expect, so I was pleasantly surprised at the response I have had to my blog, I have also come across so many blogs that have touched me in some way, and I would just like to give some of them a mention, (Thanks to A Momma’s View for the inspiration):

Heels and a Toolbox

Nutsrok

Fourth Generation Farmgirl

The Girl Next Door is Black