Anastasia

Blogging in the Sunshine

Having spent a wonderful holiday in Serres and Thessaloniki, here I am relaxing at home on this last day of the Easter break. Since Alkis and I flew back home on Thursday, I've been looking at all the photos we took, bringing back so many wonderful moments of what was probably the best Easter holiday I've ever spent in recent years. 

I slept in today and missed most of the sunshine that flooded my terrace, but I did enjoy breakfast outside and blogging in the remaining sunshine of this bright Sunday in Larnaca.  Since we came back from Greece, I've been mostly sleeping or lazing around, unpacking and doing the laundry. It's funny how much laundry can pile up after a week away!  I don't have a tumble drier, so I was really thankful for the sunshine today which, apart from drying up laundry, also inspired this post!!

 

Efharisto! Thank You! Mille Merci! Grazie! Vielen Dank! Spasiba!

22 November 2011

I wish I knew how to thank each one of you in your own language. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for stopping by. Never in my wildest dreams did I think so many people from all over the world would be reading my blog. Thanks a million!

September 11, 2011

I don't think the world will ever forget this unprecedented act of cowardice - the terrorist attack on America at the World Trade Centre Towers in New York City and The Pentagon in Washington. Ten years later, I remember things so clearly.... September 11, 2001 was a Tuesday, the second day of the new school year.. At 4:00 pm (NY time 9:00 am) I was in class with my Pre-Intermediate kids (11 year-olds). The class finished at 4:30 pm. My Intermediate kids had already been waiting in the hall. They looked pale and scared. I thought it was the back-to-school-shock- after- the- summer- break. I smiled at them and said:

Photo Credit

"Hey!!!  It's not the end of the world...just another school year! And summer will come again!".

Then one of my students solemnly said:

" Miss, it's the end of the world for some people.... You know, I saw it on TV ... the Twin Towers in New York fell down and many people were killed!"

That student - one of the best I've ever had - is a bright boy with a vivid imagination , so I certainly did not believe him. I smiled again and said:

" So,  aliens from outer space attacked the USA.....Right?"

"No, Miss", another kid said " Not aliens...terrorists! It's on TV"

And as I rushed into my office, a girl asked:

"What's a terrorist?"

"A terrorist", I answered, "is a very bad person who wants to scare innocent people and sometimes kill them."

I turned on the TV in my office ..... I couldn't believe that was real! I cried my heart out and  still have tears in my eyes 10 years later.. I don't have the words to express the horror, the shock and the revulsion I felt while watching briefly on TV what was happening in the USA.

Let us not forget and let us pray for all the innocent victims. May they all rest in peace.

 

Photo Credit

Ironically enough, September 11 is also a birthday celebration: my great friend Walid's birthday but also the birthday of this blog.. On September 11, 2004 I joined TypePad - the best blogging plarform ever and have never regretted it since then : 765 posts and 4,683 comments in addition to your visits. Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart.

 

10 Blogs I Love To Read

Reading other people's blogs has not only helped me to improve my own blog but, most importantly, to broaden my horizons by learning about other cultures or simply adding to my knowledge of things. Here are a few of my favourite blogs which I really enjoy reading regularly. I hope that you will also love them as much as I have.

1. Agnes' Pages

From the very first moment I started reading Agnes' Pages, I was hooked on her blog. Agnes has a unique way to master words and attract her readers' interest.

2. Blind Pig & The Acorn

Before I came across Tiper's blog, all I knew about the Appalachians was that they are mountains in the eastern USA. Thanks to Tiper, I've learned a lot about her wonderful Appalachian heritage.

3. Bobbin Talk

If you love fashion, have a look at Aneta's blog. Simply brilliant!

4. Gal Friday

Although I was absent from Tina's blog for quite some time because of my heavy schedule at work and my many obligations, it's always one of my most favourite places to visit in the blogosphre. It's enough to read one of her posts to feel like being part of her beautiful world.

5. God of War Diaries

Whenever Kofla writes in English, I always stop by. I love his thought-provoking posts on a variety of social or political issues.

6. I love I hate America

Impossible to get bored when reading Bing's blog. Bing has admirably managed to reconcile two completely different cultures.

7. Mary Ames Hill

I was delighted to see my great friend Mary back to blogging. Her inspirational posts are like a haven of peace where I can sit back and enjoy her great content. I've learned so much from Mary - how to become a better person, in particular.

8. My Blog

Constantinos' blog is filled with his own personal experience of things in different circumstances and situations and his valuable, inspirational thoughts. I also feel very honured  honored to be a contributor and hope that Constantinos will eventually update his blog soon.

9. Taxidiaris

"Taxidiaris" in Greek is used to describe someone who enjoys travelling. Phivos' exceptional blog, in both Greek and English, is all about travelling around the world and also constitutes an excellent source of cultural information in addition to the truly amazing photos.

10. The World Around Us

Stefania's blog mostly consists of interesting articles, photos and videos relating to the world around us - a valuable source of information. 

Personal Blogging Vs Niche Blogging And 13 Blog Post Topic Ideas

When I started out on TypePad almost seven years ago, I wasn't sure what a blog was. I had previously read an article on blogging in a British magazine at my hairdresser's and thought I'd give it a try. I googled "blogging platforms" and eventually chose TypePad as it seemed to me the most reliable one. So, I set up my TypePad account in September 2004 - that was very easy to do, even for a computer illiterate like me! "And now what?", I asked myself. I clicked Compose and started writing about my day. To my mind, a blog was something like an online journal which you share with the world.

A few months later, having done some online and offline reading, I realised that blogging was far beyond that. Experts on blogging still recommend choosing a niche. I decided to keep my personal blog as my default blog but, in the course of time, I created three niche blogs: Cypria which is all about information on holidays in Greece and the Greek islands, English Today - a free online course of English as a second language and quite recently My Photo Blog - a collection of my favourite photos. According to experts, a personal blog isn't very popular with search engines unlike niche blogs. Funnily enough, my personal blog is much more popular than my niche blogs - although, I must admit that I have occasionally departed from my niche.

Not having a niche, on the other hand, may often lead to a blank computer screen  and you can't think of a word to write. I admire bloggers who claim their problem is quite the opposite - they generate a horde of ideas and always have something to write about. However, I've often hit a dry spell and found it relatively hard to break through a blank computer screen. So, I decided to carry a small notebook in which I jot down things that I find interesting while sitting at a café or waiting for my turn in a queue. More often than not, when I'm short of ideas, I click Compose and start writing straight from the heart. This is the greatest priviledge of personal blogging, isn't it?

Just in case you blog and get stuck at times , here are a few suggestions. You are very welcome to complete the list with your own ideas:

1. Create specific, step-by-step how-to posts (like how to use Windows 7, Facebook or Twitter)

2. Create a beginner’s guide to something - e,g, how to start a blog or how to make pomegranate jam

3. Write a Things You Don’t Know About Me post

4.  Write about your home and family first thing on Monday morning.

5. Write about something funny you overheard in public.

6. Describe what you consider to be the ideal way to bring up children.

7. Write a post about a dear friend.

8. Write about your first blog post.

9 Write about something amazing or frightening that happened to you.

10. Introduce your friends from a social network

11. Write about a typical day in the year 2099.

12. Write about a day that went disastrously wrong!

13. Write about the person you admire most in life.

 

 

Your Opinion Matters!

I've been blogging on TypePad for almost seven years and this has been an exciting journey and a unique experience I have derived so much pleasure from. Back in 2004, I never thought anyone would ever read my posts. In the course of time, I realised that quite a few people in the blogosphere would stop by and read my blog and even leave a comment. As a result, I started taking my readers into serious consideration and trying to see what interests them most in my blog. I would like, therefore, to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for stopping by regardless of whether you leave a comment or not.

Sitemeter - 27 March 2011

Naturally, your comments are precious and your opinion matters. I don't have a niche as I usually blog on the spur of the moment or whenever I have some free time. I'd greatly appreciate your feedback and constructive criticism. 

• Is there anything you would like me to post blog about?
• What do you like most in my blog? What do you like least?
• Any recommendations?

 

Google Translate

Many of my friends whose native language isn't English have often asked me to translate my posts in French and Greek. I only wish I had the time to do that. It took me some time to test Google Translate knowing that this is an electronic translation. It's pretty good, though. Grammar and structure aren't always respected but if you don't understand English, Google will give you a relatively decent translation in a variety of languages.

First go to my sidebar on the right handside.Just below Search you can find Google Translate. Choose your language and click translate. You will then see Google Translate in process at the top of my post. Please, bear in mind that comments can't be translated but feel free to leave a comment in your language. Depending on your Internet speed, the page will be translated within minutes. Should you wish to translate the whole blog, it will take much longer, though! Don't hesitate to let me know if this works for you.

The Dream of Blogging

via www.google.com

I blog for pleasure, yet I do care about your comments and, most importantly, it means a lot to me to interact with you, to exchange views or simply communicate. To me this is the essence of blogging. Do you blog? Why do you blog? What do you expect from blogging?

Let's Write a Story!

Those of you who have known me for quite some time now, you know what I mean. This is my favourite online game.

Here are the rules of the game:

1. I will write the first sentence of what I hope to be a gripping tale. In the comments section, you must add to my sentence and what you add must make good sense to what the previous commenter has written. Please bear in mind that in order to avoid unwelcome spammers who would copy and paste your comments, you must sign in using your TypePad, Twitter, Facebook, Blogger, Yahoo and more.... As you all know, a story has a beginning, a middle and an end. So, be inventive and imaginative!
2. I promise to put everything together so that it reads smoothly.
3. Those of you who choose to participate in the writing of this story will win a small souvenir from Cyprus if you email me your address.
4. I'll give our story a title after I have put everything together. 

My Facebook friends don't need to sign in - they can post their contribution to the story on Facebook.

OK Here Goes!

I closed the door behind me and from that very moment I felt that there was somebody there and that this somebody was very friendly and pleased to see me.

Your Turn!

Please note that all contributions are either product of the commenter's imagination or used fictitiously.

Blog Lurking And Comments

" Lurking isn't quite ominous as it sounds; it simply means that you read a blog without letting the blogger know you're there.It's not inherently rude to lurk at a blog. Most of us lurk at blogs from time to time - maybe we don't feel we have much to contribute to the conversation or we think the bloggers already get so many comments they'd never notice ours, or maybe we're just plain busy. That's all understandable, so don't feel guilty about lurking from time to time." ~ excerpt from TypePad For Dummies by Melanie Nelson and Shannon Lowe p.345

To be honest, I rarely lurk at blogs. I usually find something to say to the blog owner and, I think, it's a courtesy to the blog owner to let him/her know I stopped by - even if my comment is something like "I love this post!" But I don't usually leave this kind of comment as I almost invariably have something more to say. I only lurk when I can't relate to the blog content or when I feel my comment will repeat what other bloggers before me have already said. I am never discouraged by bloggers who receive lots of comments. I don't expect a reply - unless I ask a question. I comment because I feel like doing so. And I'm very glad to read so many interesting blogs on TypePad.

A few years ago, on the ex Yahoo360, I came across a Brit who had received 670 comments in 3 days! My comment was the 671st! The post was the shortest I had ever come across. Just a question: "Where do you come from?" You had to put in the comments your city and country of origine and then the blogger posted all comment entries - names/ cities/countries. That was fun. And I greatly appreciated the fact that he did reply to all his comments.Yet, I prefer to write!

On the other hand, I hate people who send emails such as this one: "Hey! Come visit my blog (link). I've got 76 comments!"  Now, I'm asking you. Isn't that stupid? I like to interact with my readers and I do reply to their comments when I'm not too busy.at work! I don't mind not getting a reply to my comment or a comment back. To me blogging is a pleasure in itself. It does not depend on comments or stats. But I value the great conversations I sometimes have with my friends in the comments.

Occasionally, lurking at blogs is fine but as Melanie Nelson and Shannon Lowe put it in Typepd For Dummies :

" There's another side to that coin, though. You're likely well aware of how encouraging a good comment is at your own blog, so don't hesitate to leave comments (at least occasionally) at the blogs you most enjoy."  p. 345