Blogging birthday: two years old!

Wow TheMelican is now over two years old!

I've got mixed feelings about this - I'm feeling a bit disappointed right now since my two year blog 'anniversary' was actually on June 15th and I missed it!  

I'm also incredibly pleased that two years on my blog is still here, getting visits and I'm still writing for it.

Over this time I've written about fitness, music, social media, job hunting, spinning, horse riding, weight loss, love, friendship, family, relationships, books, the theatre, films, poetry, art, culture, beauty, short stories and lots more. 

If I leave it too long a gap to update the blog I soon hear about it, people notice and complain they've missed reading my posts.

When I first started writing this I was looking to get a new job and move on from my old company. Now I've nearly been at my current company for two years. 

Two years ago when I sat down and started to pour my feelings out I was feeling pretty fed up. Tonight sitting here blogging (on my phone) I'm feeling a bit sad and shameful.

Of late I've had a few 'issues' in my life - both work wise and in my personal life. I've not been feeling great if I'm honest. However tonight I decided to tune into a TV documentary on BBC called Lifesavers. 

You know when you lose a loved one or get some shocking news about someone close to you? 

This program has had the same impact. Put things into perspective. Life is too short.

There is a 17 year old girl on here with a completely smashed hip and pelvis. Now there is a young man who got smashed over the head with a hammer and is not responding after a long period of time and the prognosis 'isn't hopeful'.

It's so true you really don't appreciate what you've got until it's gone in life. 

I hate to be so sombre in mood and so serious. But I also feel this is a reality check opportunity too, something I think I've probably needed lately. 

So on that note I am going to go back to focussing on these inspiring people in the NHS and try to stop whinging quite so much!

Here's to another year of blogging and some more thoughtful and less whiney posts! 

My 100th post!!

Seven months later and here I am at my 100th blog post!

Since June 2011 I've posted short stories, poems, opinion pieces, random thoughts and entertainment-led items and I have to say I've loved every minute.

I first set up this blog as a way to be able to write. Since a young child I've always loved to write, whether it be pretend newspaper articles or a Mickey Mouse adventure story!

After realising that getting paid to write wasn't going to earn me that much, I soon accepted I'd need to follow a job that didn't involve writing.

I used to write reviews for a website where I used to work, so got to carry on my writing for a bit. This sadly ended and I was left without a chance to write. I then decided last year to try and do something where I could enjoy my interest in writing - hence The Melican was set up.

I've always said I'll just write about anything and everything and say how I feel, which I really have tried to stick to. I didn't want to specialise in a set topic as I know what I'm like and tend to go off on a tangent when I have a conversation normally!

Knowing I wanted to take a rather random approach to my blog and reflect my big mouth in real life in my words the name came naturally.

When I was at Uni, my flatmates would joke how much I talked and how big a mouth I had! One in particular was doodling one day and happened to draw a pelican, adding a few girly features after the huge mouth, they announced "Hey! It's Mel! Melican!!". Much laughter followed and the name stuck.

I'm gradually getting some more comments on posts - please keep them coming! I've had around 5000 page views since I started the blog and I have a set of regular followers, some subscribed, some not.

However in 2012 I want The Melican to be bigger and much better.

So far some of the most popular blogs have been:

'Giving men the red card'
http://themelican.blogspot.com/2011/11/giving-men-red-card.html

'Is the only way Essex?'
http://themelican.blogspot.com/2011/10/is-only-way-essex.html

'Random hungover Sunday musings'
http://themelican.blogspot.com/2011/10/random-hungover-sunday-musings.html

'Winter is coming'
http://themelican.blogspot.com/2011/10/winter-is-coming.html

'Should it always be fitness first?'
http://themelican.blogspot.com/2011/11/should-it-always-be-fitness-first.html

Clearly opinion pieces are more popular than short stories, although there is one poem there. So my audience like me to talk about football, Essex, hangovers and the seasons. From a girl who isn't into footie, the fact my most popular blog post is about that sport does make me giggle a bit.

So for now I'm going to carry on what I'm doing and keep opening my mouth loud and proud to keep those opinions and thoughts flowing!

Thanks to those who've been reading this blog already, please please do spread the word and if you've got a minute I really would appreciate some comments on the posts. I do always make sure I reply back and always read them. I like to know what you think too...

The Melican xx

What do you want from me?

So, I’ve been having a think lately, what makes a good blog? What did I set out to achieve from starting this blog?

Granted, this thinking might have been encouraged somewhat by some recent research by Technorati. Although for a few weeks now I’ve been trying to find ways how to get more from my blog, or importantly how to offer more.

So, you tell me. What would you like to see on this blog? What posts do you like the best? What posts are you not so keen on? Of course I can view the stats Blogger supplies – which I do regularly – but I want to hear it from you direct.

How can I get you guys to comment more on my posts? What would make the blog better for you?

I set out when starting this blog to give me a chance to use my creative skills and get back into my writing, something I love to do. Admittedly I hadn’t written in a while and was slightly unsure about whether I was actually still any good. The approach I have tried to take, is to create a mix of poems, short stories and opinion pieces and I do honestly write them at a random, whatever comes into my head.

I get so much enjoyment from this blog, but do you the audience?

So over to you guys, what do you want from me? What can The Melican do for you?...