Monday 6 October 2008

Words of Comfort



You never know who's watching you.

On Saturday night, Pat and I met up with her son Andy and a bunch of others, to give them a good send-off for the Great North Run. We ate in the Pizza Express in Gosforth and had a good meal and even better conversation.

It was in the course of the conversation that I discovered I was being read. Not that I think this isn't a good thing, you understand. Since abandoning my Mr Zip persona, I've actively striven to gain greater readership and have been linking Boogie Street into my Mailing List and onto my Facebook page.

But there's a little frisson of excitement to learn that people I know are reading it. And enjoying it, apparently. Makes it all seem worthwhile, somehow.

But can I ask a favour of those who've been picking up my pearls of wisdom? It would be a big help in raising the profile of my blog if you'd leave the occasional comment. It might appear that Blogger insists that you should register with them, but that isn't the case. You can leave a comment as "anonymous" (and could, I guess, even sign it, if you want to), and even a small, I like your blog, makes me smile.

Oh, and congratulations to Andy - two and a half hours is a very respectable time!

If you think before you speak the other guy gets his joke in first.

--Jimmy Nail, Philosopher

10 comments:

jafabrit said...

I rather liked your mr.zip persona :)
I was surprised yesterday when I found out several members of the Shakespeare club I belong to had been visiting my blog. So I understand your feelings.

harry bell said...

Mr Zip spoke highly of you, too ;) He had to go, however, but he's forever lurking on the threshold.

Unknown said...

The things you find when you're looking for something else!! By now you will know what I'm having for tea tonight. Scotch egg curry is bubbling away as I write.

What I was trying to find out was, do you have any more pieces like the black and white character that looms over this post hidden somewhere in the earlier depths of your blog? I like him. The mouth is great, like he's kind of enjoying sucking a whole lemon.

Just out of interest, which stat counter do you use, or is it a secret?

harry bell said...

Oh, man, I thought I'd invented Scotch egg curry! I like to think of it as ersatz nargisi kebab curry.

For more old fanzine art try here (although I don't guarantee you'll find what you want)

http://efanzines.com/Inca/Inca02.pdf

From the start I've used Sitemeter, but long ago lost the log-in info and so cannot access some of the info they undoubtedly have. I recently put on the free version of StatCounter and quite like the info they provide, although I'm limited by not being willing to upgrade.

Anonymous said...

OK here is a comment!i like your blog anway and I was thinking about your river series and comparrisons with Istanbul, How abot Gateshead Istanbul of the North, in a certain light and the colours you use could be.
Also very well done to andy sounds a good Time.

harry bell said...

Interesting idea, Chris. Gateshead is a bit lacking in minarets and even the mosque across the river is in a converted working men's club, I think, so no domes or minarets there either. And since the heavy industry was all closed down, there's not much pollution to give an Instanbul-like sky.

However, infamous local poltician of the 60s, T. Dan Smith, used to refer to Newcastle as the "Venice of the North". I'm afraid the comparison was lost on me, there being no canals.

Anonymous said...

Your blog rocks, dude. I promise not to tell Graham.

-- Bruce

harry bell said...

Bruce my man -- Welcome! Can we ever hope to keep Graham in the dark?

Anonymous said...

quote "It would be a big help in raising the profile of my blog if you'd leave the occasional comment. It might appear that Blogger insists that you should register with them, but that isn't the case. You can leave a comment as "anonymous" (and could, I guess, even sign it, if you want to), and even a small, I like your blog, makes me smile."

Hi. I followed your signature from another blog that i 'Follow' (Blogger's latest toy!)

I can recommend openID so that your sig shows as your blog. Probably it would help to display blogs that you follow, it encourages the visitors.

Back to painting! I love the SIZE of your Watching You character. About two years ago it cost serious money to host large images, now Blogger (and similar) do it for free :)

harry bell said...

Hi Paintings, and welcome. I'll take your advice about OpenID at face value, as I have no idea how it works. I'm beginning to use "Following" but it's early days yet.