A blogger's tale

A while ago I was asked,
Why and when did you decide to start writing?
Furthermore - what persuaded you to take your talents to the Internet?

Here is what I wrote in reply.
In 2007 I was working in a pressurised environment for the NHS in the UK. My job held plenty of responsibility and hassle, for few rewards. Feeling that I was approaching breaking point I decided that it was time to walk away. As it has turned out I did return in a few short months but in a part-time capacity and different hospital environment.

When I first left though I took a drop in money. My new, temporary job was only just above the minimum wage and the 16 hours reduction in the working week added to the financial restraints.

Still I was much happier and the break gave me time to re-evaluate life and my priorities.

So, at home, with more time on my hands, and no money, I began to research ways that I could make a little extra money on-line.

Simply google "making money online" and all sorts of opportunities and scams are easy to find.

I wanted something that was legitimate, non pressurised and offered a little pocket money.

I began with surveys and mystery shopping and found the rewards nice. They were not always vast but they were steady extra cash.

English had been one of my best subjects at school and writing seemed a possibility. I had been good at art but my poor eyesight limited these opportunities.

I signed up at Dooyoo.co.uk and Ciao.co.uk and began to write product reviews. My initial reviews were dire. Whether it was lack of experience, my health at the time or simply lack of practice I do not know, but some reviews were dreadful. Still I earned a little money and built up a community. All in all I enjoyed these sites. Epinions was another that I joined, but only for a short time.

As my writing improved I gradually abandoned these sites and moved on. For a while I did go back and amend some of the reviews but as the rewards were small it felt time to move on.

I guess Helium was my first proper Internet writing site. It was in its infancy when I joined. Over the five plus years that I have been a member Helium has morphed into a new entity. Some of this I like. Some I do not.

Then in time I came across Hubpages. That site for me fulfilled many of my creative needs at least it did back then. It was user friendly, easy to get to grips with and did not make too many changes, too often. Yes, it has made some but most have been welcome improvements. Infobarrel was recommended by a fellow Hubber other sites followed. In time I streamline my Internet writing. There are only so many hours in a day and I do not want to be a, Jack of all trades, master of none, as the saying goes.

I guess on the whole I would say that I decided to try writing as a means to earn some extra money, but it turned out to offer so much more. Writing online offers flexibility, instant writing rather than jotting down notes and needs little initial financial outlay except for needing to have a computer.

It has helped me keep track of new technological innovations, make many virtual friends and stretch my brain. As practise makes perfect it has greatly improved my writing skills. At least I hope it has. It has become a big part of my daily life. I use it as a means to unwind from my daily part-time work.

As I am approaching retirement I have seen and experienced so much over the years that in some ways I have a wealth of knowledge. That is true of all of us as we go through life. The Internet enables us to share our knowledge and experience with people around the world.

The Internet was the place I chose to write mainly because it is accessible, relatively free, non restrictive and World wide. I also liked the possibilty to remain anonymous when required or wanted. I have no delusions about being another Jane Austen or J K Rowling but enjoy putting my thoughts into words.

Now with two websites under my belt I have gone from blogger to webmaster. Who would have though it? Certainly not I.

If you think that it is easy to make a bundle of cash writing online you are mistaken. It could however be the hobby for you.

Sunday news sources have been reporting on David Cameron's latest austerity plans. Once again it will be the poorest in society who will suffer the most. It is worth noting that the only positive change this year from this bunch of hoodlums has been the reduction in tax the uber wealthy in the UK pay.

We have had the laughable assault on Jimmy Carr this week who had poked fun at the coalition in the past. Cameron however has been loathe to single out any others for tax avoidance, because many IOHO are Tory supporters or members.

One description of the latest plans describes those who may be hit as "feckless under 25-year-olds". What an arrogant and sweeping statement.

Cameron will of course believe that he is on to a winner. Tory supporters in particular like to see welfare cuts. Any cuts in fact as long as they do not affect them. Look at the palaver when those with high incomes looked set to lose the child benefit they do not need. One of many Coalition U Turns followed.

The latest proposed cuts assume that under 25s are lazy, thoughtless and all have a good family support structure to fall back on. We assume that the front bench of the Coalition would think this as they were all hand fed by wealthy parents.

Well in the real world it is not like that. This blogger can say that from experience albeit thirty odd years ago. By the age of 25 she had no parents living.

So what grand plan is on the cards now. The Daily Mail who have reported as if they think it is great idea said, the reform would see, "380,000 people under 25 being stripped of housing benefits and forced to join the growing number of young adults who still live with their parents."

Apart from all that is wrong with this plan what about those with no family support structure. Those with parents ill, in prison, divorced or dead. Those whose parents are also unemployed living in poverty. If these reforms go ahead there will be some terrible "sink estates" in the future full of individuals with no hope of change. With no feeling that they owe a bean to society.

In a foolish attempt at limiting the amount of children poor people have Cameron is considering scrapping child benefit for more than three children. Of course those who do not financially need child benefit will still receive it.

If people cannot see what is wrong with all of these proposals there is no hope for the UK. Cameron will hope to sell it to the UK  on the back of targeting the minority in society who want to live permanently on welfare. In doing so he will hit millions of decent people who are caught in the financial mess that politicians and bankers have created.

As ordinary citizens become more and more disillusioned with the shower currently in government in the UK the worry is that many will not bother to vote again. That is bad news.Those who have and will prosper from this Coalition will run to the polls.

Make sure that you do the same. Fight back before it is too late.

The proposals will be debated in Parliament Monday June 25, 2012. It will test the Liberal Democrats once more.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has attacked UK PM Cameron's "Big Society" plans calling them "aspirational waffle". Quite an apt description. In the end we have sunk to gutter talk preferring to call it bulls**t. Whatever term you prefer to use it is doubtful that you will see any benefits in his plans.

The BS, which incidentally conveniently carries the same initials as our description, is all the more farcical when you consider the backgrounds of those who crafted this ill thought out nonsense. A front bench of parliament full of privileged posh boys, with the odd female thrown in, odd being the relevant word here, can hardly relate to the ordinary man, woman and child of the UK.

Now that may seem a rather sweeping statement. After all some of the most notable philanthropic people in the UK have of course had to have wealth. However what they had, which this coalition does not, is the will to help those who need help.

Archbishop Rowan Williams is no stranger to verbal assaults on the government. You can hold whichever opinion you want on this subject but perhaps our supposed god fearing government might at least feel some pangs of guilt because of Williams' intervention.

The Archbishop has summed up what most of us already believe, that the BS was created out of a need to fill the big hole in services this same government's cuts had created. Good work, eh? Preach austerity, cut everything to the bone, reward the fat cats in the UK and then expect the public to work for free.

The Archbishop will be stepping down in a few months and most of what he has said, and more will be found is his as yet unpublished book. It will be interesting who replaces him. A horse of a different colour, we think. The book is called "Faith in the Public Square" and may provide a good insight into the Archbishop.

He could of course simply be jumping on the bandwagon in the hope of providing for himself in old age. We prefer though to think that this man has a conscience and is prepared to speak out when able.

In his book he says, "The big society, introduced in the run-up to the last election as a major political idea for the coming generation, has suffered from a lack of definition about the means by which such ideals can be realised,”

It has for sure. Perhaps it is because our description is the accurate one!

He goes on to say, “’Big society’ rhetoric is all too often heard by many therefore as aspirational waffle designed to conceal a deeply damaging withdrawal of the state from its responsibilities to the most vulnerable.” The Government must be clearer about how individuals can become involved in the Big Society if it is to have any success, he suggests.

“And if the big society is anything better than a slogan looking increasingly threadbare as we look at our society reeling under the impact of public spending cuts, then discussion on this subject has got to take on board some of those issues about what it is to be a citizen and where it is that we most deeply and helpfully acquire the resources of civic identity and dignity,”