Tuesday 5 July 2011

The perils of hyper local blogging

Or something.

I can't help but notice that it has been rather a long time since I posted anything. The reason for this is that, with very mixed feelings, in December I moved from the heart of the people's republic of Hackney to the Essex town I went to school in (Colchester). I miss the buzz of London, the not-knowing-what-you-are-going-to-find-round-any-corner, the random art, the great (yes, I know, surprising) early years services. But we have gained many rooms to replace a two bedroom flat, a garden, and nearness to family and extended family (on my side at least).

Trouble is, what do I do with this blog? I can't keep calling it Hackney Hackette. It's annoying as I got listed on a lot of other sites but to be fair, I assume they want to read about Hackney which is going to be unlikely. Do I continue here but change the name (can you even do that), or start another blog and link it to this one? And what can I call it? Colchester something? The Voyage Home? Something to do with Romans and castles, Twinkle Little Star or Old King Cole? I'm sure you can't stand the suspense. And what are you still doing here anyway? Wasn't it a bit dark and lonely all that time?

Anyway I shall now be writing about being a mum in Colchester rather than Hackney, which I anticipate will be less trendy, but you never know - half our street seems to have moved here from London Fields so perhaps we too will have a cafe, a cupcake shop and a fill up your own bottle of wine place before you can say "Wilton Way".

5 comments:

OffYourTrolley said...

Perhaps you could keep the blog's name and just find a new focus. After all, there's plenty to choose from:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hack

My partner got a temporary consultancy position last year and had to commute from Dalston to Colchester. Apparently you've got some remarkably polite car drivers in the area (and standards deteriorate consistently as you get closer to Dalston).

Then again, you could take on the roll of creating public service announcements (on the subject of politeness or fresh air) for the benefit of us great unwashed Hackney residents?

I wish you well in your new-ish home.

Anonymous said...

OK, if you get one of those wine places I'm there. My best friend is from Tiptree, very near I believe? Needless to say she doesn't actually live there anymore. Which I find disappointing, as I'd harboured dreams of visiting her in a little tea shop and eating Tiptree jam. Good luck with the "settling in" period. At least London's not too far away!

Simon Clarke said...

Leave it as it is – your heart will be forever Hackney!

Or – change the name (in manage Blog > Settings) so it makes sense, but leave the URL, so people can still find you.

Or – export your blog and import it into another one with a better URL and more appropriate title. And sod your old readers. Or, you know, warn them to update.

Hey – I've missed your blog. It's one of my favourites...

Hackney Hackette said...

Why thank you Mr Clarke, I may well do that. I am thinking Colchester Cocktail in its meaning off a mix of things but I wonder if it makes it sound like I will be reviewing cocktail bars, although clearly I would if I ever got the chance.

OffYourTrolley I like your thinking, hackery does have many meanings. I wouldn't know about the driving as I haven't driven in 15 years, perhaps because of Dalston drivers. My license has the address on it that I lived at 5 places before this one.

mothersalwaysright, it is indeed very near, we have been to the tea shop, when you order scones and jam they say "what kind of jam"?

Hackney Hackette said...

of, not off! Sorry Mr Sub-editor.