Sunday 1 January 2017

Gratitude Journal

I've been meaning to write this post for a while, but I've been waiting.  Partly because I'm not very good at writing things that are nice, because I am bitter and evil and cold.  But mainly because I wanted to time it right.

This is a thank you post you see, to say thank you to people who've read the blog and said nice things now it's finished.  And writing thank you posts is always hard because you have to have the right amount of dignity and coyness but also the correct level of gratitude.  You have to time it right, because you want to wait until everyone has left their nice comments so you can thank them all, but you want to do it soon enough after the post so that people notice it.  It's a complex balancing act, and if I'm honest, I think I failed here; I probably should have written it about a month ago, but there's been all sorts of shenanigans going on at home.  Plus I really wanted to take a break from writing anything.  Just clear my head for a bit.

New Year's Day though, that's a nice time for me to write a little post.  New horizons, new starts, newness.  NEW.  All those things.  It also means that I get a 2017 entry, which is nice.

So, to the fulcrum of my gist: thank you.  Thank you for the very nice things you said about the blog, both on the blog and on social media and even, weirdly, in person.  I know; actually talking to a live human being - how very 20th century.  But it was always appreciated, even though I have a very complex relationship with compliments; when you have self-esteem as low as mine a compliment is inevitably scanned a thousand times before bouncing off my carapace.  (Insults and negativity on the other hand get a free pass into every inch of my soul, which is why I am this delightful mess of a human being).

Thanks for being lovely readers, thanks for being lovely people, and thanks for existing.  Thank you.

I'm going to stop now before this turns into a Sally Field at the Oscars situation.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't think I've ever left a comment on anything I've read on the internet, but I'd feel rude if I was to accept all the hours of entertainment you've given me without telling you how good it was. It's a thing of pure genius to make a walk between (for example) Greater Manchester suburban rail stations something so interesting that people keep coming back for more. I really hope you'll carry on updating us on occasional saunters to places, even if you don't want the pressure of trying to complete a whole region again!

Thanks for all of it.

John Freear said...

Hi Scott,

Even though you've finished your adventures,I still check your page daily.Obsessive or what?
Thanks for all the good reading,Best wishes for the future.
Regards.
John Freear

Neil said...

And thanks to you for sharing your travels with us!

Twangy said...

Over the last few years, this has been the site on the whole internet I've got the most enjoyment out of besides redtube. I can't say better than that. Cheers!

Anonymous said...

I'm trying to think of something different to say, or approach things from a different angle but I find myself at a loss to say something original to do justice to your efforts ! No matter, you've given this ex-Merseysider hours of pleasure over the years !

I'm toying with the idea of writing a show about the "Merseytart" and offering it to the Royal Court for next years "Scouse" Christmas show !

Anonymous said...

PS

Best wishes

Andy

David Emmott said...

I came across your blog a few months ago (maybe after you'd already finished). As another Merseyrail obsessive I warmed to your comments, and got hooked by your wider travels with much admiration for you slogging across windswept moorlands between stations. I like your humour, your wide-ranging interests (architecture and visiting new places fascinate me too), and your soul-bearing honesty. I should have commented earlier but I want you to know you are appreciated. It might be a bigger task than you wish to take on the whole of the national rail network, but I hope after a well-deserved break you will explore and report on other journeys.

Best wishes
David Emmott