My name is Anna and I am a blog addict…
I am thrilled to be co-hosting this months travel linkup and what a fun theme – blog addicts anonymous – this month we are laying bare the blogging addiction in an online self-help group… Over the first week of the month (the 1st – 7th October) add your post to the link up widget which is below or can be found on the fab host blogs: Rebecca’s, Kelly’s and Emma’s.
I love this infographic that often does the rounds and thought it was a very good place to start this post as herein lie many of the issues… With such variation between what everyone thinks a travel writer does and what actually goes on, there is clearly going to need to be some form of self-help! It would probably be wrong to say that many a blog is written glass of wine in hand as illustrated, given the topic of the blog!! I’ve only been blogging for a couple of years, but my is it addictive…
I keep taking photos of champagne and wine glasses with nice backdrops…
And why not? The view or the location often comes alive with a sparkling glass in the corner. It makes a place look relaxing and sometimes captures the view perfectly too. And what would a flight be without some pre-flight bubbles? The issue – needing enough fluid in the glass to look good and having to take multiple shots!
I go on blogger blind dates…
Great fun – at work I hate the idea of walking into a room not knowing a soul, but give me a blogger event and I’m there. And it is fun! Just like online-dating but at least with bloggers we know we’ll be like-minded. Just in the past 6 months I have had some fantastic afternoon tea, a fantastic night at a concert and managed to meet like-minded souls in the UK and abroad.
Sometimes on a weekend we just have to go somewhere because, well, we have to go somewhere…
It isn’t such a bad thing though, to force ourselves out of bed on a Saturday morning and go prowling around Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire etc – looking for another National Trust property, a new country cycle or a good pub lunch. There are of course weekends when we are exhausted from work and manage very little, but having a reason to do something is normally a good thing.
‘Oh hang on, this is instagramable…. stay where you are for just a moment’…
Before instragram, I am pretty sure photos just got taken, a lot less often. But now – suddenly I realise that there is always an instragram moment waiting to happen that can’t afford to be lost… Hold the thought, and the pose, while an iPhone is sought!
A hotel stay isn’t a stay unless it includes a tour with the GM…
It may well be time out of holiday relaxation, but I have to say I find it fascinating to walk a property with the general manager learning all about the place. Mr P also endures the walk-about – wielding the camera and doing the serious stuff.
Every trip is a potential blog, even a commute or a sail…
There is always an opportunity there somewhere, so notes must be made and photos must be taken… Always looking for a new angle on luxury, unique or boutique! I rarely tell people I keep a blog until I know them, it is funny having life out there online – it’s one thing for strangers to read about me it but its totally different telling friends and colleagues!
And then there are the “extra-enjoyable” (sarcasm intended) bits that Mr P suffers silently whilst steadfastly supporting my addiction:
Using social media on holiday…
I broke my first rule of social media when we were in Maine in June and instragramed on a daily basis – the world didn’t stop turning, but one online outlet is definitely enough. I then got in trouble with Mr P when I went sailing offshore (out of range) in August and switched the phone off (friends posted photos when in range but I stayed offline… Whoops)
Taking pictures of food…
I am too self-conscious to take many, this is a new thing for me, so I guess this could be said to be a developing area of addiction… I like my food too much – when the plate arrives I must eat.
Grading hotels and taking notes during a stay…
It is of course important to take notes as we go, so as not to forget something important. It would be unfair and incomplete if this was purely something I assessed myself, so I like to share the fun! Try as hard as I might (no need to be a blogger for this) but one hotel is constantly being compared to another, all in the pursuit of perfection
So yes – quite a lot of things that I need my blogging self-help group for… And thankfully the self-help group will tell me this is all completely normal and teach me some new tricks to become addicted to!
I will end on a positive note – I received a selfie stick from the nice people at Cliveden House, but as yet I have not used it… I think this is quite rare in the blogosphere but I remain proud not to have done anything more than take it out of its box and be impressed with the technology. One day I am sure it will be used, but until then no self-help is needed…
I’m literally so with you on the Instagram thing! People say to me don’t you just want to chill out and enjoy a hotel, but I actually enjoy it more when I’m blogging about it…the addiction has gripped me hard…send help!!
Lots of love,
Angie
Author
Help on its way… I haven’t ever done any blogging when I am away though, that’s a step to far! But sharing photos is strongly encouraged! Xx
You’ve certainly got some great shots with wine glasses in the foreground and landscapes in the back, Anna. Think I also need help!
Suze | LuxuryColumnist
Author
practice makes perfect! 😉 I don’t think we should ask for help though – there aren’t any bad bits to this addiction!
Funnily enough I’m with you on the people who you know, knowing that you blog – it’s been 4 years and I’m only slowly coming clean…
Author
Good reactions when we do share thankfully, always a good talking point at work!
I love using social media on holiday to share snaps and feelings. I look at it like a diary, so later on I can look back and remember how much fun the break was. That’s my excuse anyway!
PS. Never feel the need to justify those champagne shots to anyone 😉
Author
I do love scanning the instagram pics – they are normally the best of the iphone and make a great diary!
Totally agree with you on every single point! Mr Ayla would love to just do nothing on a Sunday afternoon but if we don’t go out exploring then what will I put on Instagram?! Our poor other halves!
Author
They do suffer so – we should put them all in a room together, they can take tips from each other for better survival!
I think them all being in a room together may end up with them coming up with a blogging addiction intervention!
Haha, yes to all of these! This was such a fun topic to write on – great suggestion! Blogging is such a strange and wonderful phenomenon … the need or desire to capture everything can sometimes get in the way of life though and I’m trying to be better about curbing my bad habits!
Author
Sometimes we just need a blogging break… But even then the mind keeps an eye on what is happen that needs noting or snapping…