Click here to read the first week of this feature, and follow the links at the end of each post.
***
London – April 27th, 1988
My date with Jamie, last night, went well, and it was the perfect end to a great couple of days. He’s a charming bloke, and I do hope we meet up again. However, it all went pear-shaped again when I found out that he already has a boyfriend. What is it with these guys who all seem to see me as their bit on the side? Do I have a sticker on my forehead saying ‘I’ll sleep with you, but only if you have a boyfriend?’ This is something I really need to tackle, but how?
I spent a lot of the day flat hunting, and also with Nigel. I’m so glad that Nigel and I have become good friends. We seemed to click as soon as we met at work. There’s nothing sexual between us, although we do seem to like the same type of man. Nothing wrong with that, although let’s hope we never fall in love with the same man!
Stephen threw a spanner into the works this evening when he announced that’s he giving notice on his room in the houseshare at the end of this week. Try as I could to convince him to wait until June to give notice, he doesn’t seem to want to do that. Something tells me that he’s hoping that Kev will ask him to move into his flat in Muswell Hill. If this is some kind of ploy, then I hope it works out for Stephen. It does beg the question, though, why hasn’t Kev asked Stephen to move in with him before now?
***
Welcome to this new feature for 2018 on Hugh’s Views and News. In this feature, I’ll be sharing snippets from my diary of 1988. We’ll also take a trip in Hugh’s Music Time machine to hear some songs from the 1980s which have been chosen by some specially invited guests.
This week, my guest is blogging expert, Janice Wald. A recipient of a Master’s Degree in Education, Janice uses her skills as a teacher to empower her readers to increase their online visibility. She’s the creator of the hugely successful blog Mostly Blogging, and resides in Santa Clarita, California, in the U.S.A.
I’ve been following Janice’s blog for many years and have picked up many excellent tips on blogging and social media from her. She prides herself on answering questions and comments left on her blog posts, which are always full of essential information.
Janice knows the worlds of blogging and social media inside out and is always in high demand to write guest posts. She’s the author of the book ‘An Insider’s Guide To Building A Successful Blog: Tips and Tricks From The Creator Of Mostly Blogging.’ Available to buy on Amazon, here’s the blurb on the book.
Are you a blogger? Are you ready to see your page views skyrocket?
If so, you know the importance of using proven tips to engage readers, improve content, and increase blog traffic.
In 2016, there were over two billion social media users.
Fortunately, this guide is the only roadmap you will need to send them rushing to your blog.
“By your reading this particular ebook, you’re finally ready to cut through the clutter and all of the confusion and online noise.”
Janice Wald’s tips are proven by research and easy to understand and implement.
AN INSIDER’S LOOK AT BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL BLOG is a collection of Wald’s articles from her own successful blog, Mostly Blogging.
It contains step-by-step directions for content creation, tips for increasing readership, and advice about which tools to use to make blogging easier.
By following the advice in these posts, you will be able to increase your content’s visibility.
Follow her established strategies and see a dramatic increase in your blog traffic.
Click here to buy An Insider’s Guide To Building A Successful Blog: Tipsands Tricks From The Creator Of Mostly Blogging.
Connect with Janice
- Google+:https://plus.google.com/u/0/+JaniceWald/about
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/MrsPaznanski
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janice.rappoportwald
- Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/mycurrentnewsblog
- Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/janicewald/
- Flipboard: https://flipboard.com/@JaniceGreen5fcu
- Stumble Upon: http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/janicewald
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janicewald/?hl=en
- LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/janice-wald-0301ab2b
- Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16067827.Janice_Wald
- Blog: https://mostlyblogging.com
Janice’s song choice is ‘True Blue’ by Madonna.
Released in 1986, ‘True Blue‘ was the third single from the album by the same name. The song has a retro 1950s feel to it and is said to have been written about the feelings Madonna was having for her then-husband, Sean Penn. It became a number one hit in the UK, Ireland and Canada, and peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts in the U.S.A. Thanks for the excellent song choice, Janice.
Back in April 1988, ‘true love’ was something I was having difficulty finding; often making me feel blue. Do you have a favourite song that features a colour? Share a link to it in the comments.
Next week, there’s some good news on the job front, but tensions rise in the houseshare between two of the occupants. Click here to find out all the details.
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Your track record seems very similar to how mine was in the 80s Hugh! I always seemed to pick the wrong man as well.
Janice is a real blogging phenomenon! She knows so many things and what I love, is that, like you and some other bloggers, she shares information and tips that help us all out. Madonna was one of my favourites in the 80s and I can’t believe she seems to have hardly aged! 🙂
Thanks, Judy. I’ve picked up so many excellent blogging and social media tips from Janice.
Yes, my track record was terrible back in 1988. Still, I did have some fun along the way. 😀
You and me both, Hugh! 😉
It has been said that if you keep attracting the same type of person over and over that there is some lesson you need to learn. What that lesson might be, I don’t know. I’m happy to see that you did get past that streak!
Thanks for the introduction to Janice. I look forward to checking out her blog. 🙂
That’s a very true statement, Kat. I must have learned my lesson as, after Jamie, there were no more ‘attached’ men seeing me as nothing but dessert. 😀
That’s good! I know a few people who seem to be caught up in a spiral where they just keep going back to these same type of person and it’s not a good pairing at all!
Your diary keeps reading like a soap opera, Hugh! I’m surprised that so many men in your life back then had boyfriends already. Would you say that many gays were/are unfaithful? Of course, you had first hand experience with actions that were hidden from others. Knowing what I know, intimately and secretively, I’m surprised at how many heterosexual people cheat on their partners as well.
I’m glad someone picked a Madonna song! She was such a presence in the eighties. Whenever I’ll get serious about my blog and blogging, Janice’s book and resources will come in handy!
PS: I can comment on your posts from my iPad without issues again. Yay!
Oh, yes. I think many were unfaithful, Liesbet. It was a very promiscuous scene, although many couples claimed to have ‘open’ relationships, but most would go behind their partner’s back and hope not to get found out. I witnessed many arguments between couples, one resulting in suicide because of what had happened. That was a few years into my future from 1988, and one of the most terrible parts of life.
Good to hear about the iPad working again. Maybe it had something to do with recent ios software updates? Who knows? But, at least it’s all working again now.
Sorry to hear about the suicide and that dark period in your life. Events like that leave a serious mark on our psyche, and consciously or not, influence decisions and events in our future.
You did seem to have bad luck on the fella front Hugh. I can’t help feeling sorry though for Jamie’s boyfriend. Thank you for introducing me to Janice, her book looks great not to mention her taste in music. Love Madonna 😊
Who doesn’t like a bit of Madonna, Sam? As well as Kylie, she’s one singer that always gets me up to dance. Not that I dance very well. More like somebody being attacked by a wasp.
😂😂 nothing wrong with ‘dancing like nobody’s watching’ 😂
And the plot thickens on the dating and roommate front, Hugh 🙂 So nice to see Janice here! I love your blog, Janice and, like Hugh, have picked up many excellent tips from your posts. Love your song choice 🙂 ❤️
Thank you, Tina. Yes, the plot thickens, although romance goes off the radar in the next few entries.
Have a lovely weekend.
xx
So great to see Janice as your guest! We are only a few 100 miles away from each other and I need to find a way to meet her in person one day! We got acquainted when she was blogging under “Reflections” 4 years ago. Great song choice too and I love how you tied it in with your journal entry about what comes down to authenticity! Have a great weekend, Hugh and hope to “see” for Sunday Stills!
I hope you two get to meet up sometime, Terri. I’ve learned a lot about social media and blogging from Janice. She’s a goldmine of information.
See you at Sunday Stills.
Hi, Janice – Nice to see you on Hugh’s blog. I loved your song choice and was happy to hear it again (it’s been a while).
Hi, Hugh – Thank you for sharing another engaging diary excerpt. I have been trying to guess your next segment as we go along….but so far, I haven’t been close!
Next week’s entry is a leap forward to mid-May, Donna. I just hope you all still know what’s going on. There are a few big gaps in the entries coming up, then everything gets bunched together for a while.
A real favourite of mine is a whiter shade of pale,by Procol Harum
https://youtu.be/_BADDeIQWVQ from 1967
Thanks, Willow. I like that song, too.
Lovely, great by Annie Lennox too. As for your memoirs I love it always wanting more!? 💜💜
Reblogged this on Viv Drewa – The Owl Lady.
Hi Viv,
Great to see you on Hugh’s blog. Thanks for reblogging my feature.
Janice
Interesting diary extract, Hugh. I hope you get to find true love soon and not be the bit on the side for too much longer. I enjoyed this song by Madonna. I wasn’t aware of it, but I like it.
Madonna has released so many songs that I sometimes get lost with them, Norah. However, it’s a song I hadn’t heard for a long time either. Then, after publishing the post yesterday, it was played on the radio. How weird is that?
That is weird. But maybe it had been played before and you hadn’t noticed. You noticed this time because of the post.
Hi Norah,
Great minds think alike! True Blue is my favorite Madonna song! Thank you for your comments.
Janice
Great to see Janice here, Hugh. She is a goldmine of information. I was lucky enough to guest on her site once and it was a terrific experience. As for Jamie and these blokes who two-time their boyfriends, they could learn something from Madonna. A little more true blue in their lives could save some heartache. Man cannot live to be dessert alone!
Oh, wow! That must have been a great experience to have written a guest post on Janice’s blog, Molly. What was it about? Please include a link to it, if you want to.
Yes, I often found myself as the dessert. Still, it was sometimes fun (when I wasn’t aware they were already hooked up).
Here is a link to the guest post, Hugh. Janice and I debated page views vs. comments. I was the proponent of comments being more important than page views. https://www.mostlyblogging.com/high-page-views/
Thanks, Molly. I see I commented on that post, but it still gives plenty of food for thought. I’m guessing that hits matter if you make money from your blog, but that comments are far more important if making money from your blog is not important.
I was so naive at the time I wrote that, Hugh, I didn’t even realize hits equal money. Haha! Now I have to go back and find your comment.
Hi Molly,
Great to see you here on Hugh’s blog! Thanks for the testimonial about the nice experience guest posting on my blog. I thought it funny that you compared Madonna’s True Blue to Hugh’s personal life.
Janice
It was a great experience, Janice. I’d love to do it again sometime!
Hi Hugh
I’ve been following Janice for about a year now. I learned a lot from her. I bought the ebook too.
Love Madonna! True Blue is so retro. It reminds me of my friends and me cruising around singing songs like Johnny Angel. Fun Times.
That white convertible T-bird’s pretty nifty too.
Laura
She’s an expert in her field, Laura. That’s why I follow her as well. I’ve learned so much from her, especially about social media.
Thanks so much for sharing those memories with us.
Hi Laura,
Thank you for the kind words about my blogging tips articles. I’m glad you have found them helpful.
I agree. True Blue does have the same feel as Johnny Angel and other similar songs.
Thanks for writing.
Janice
I think you have enough for a book here, Hugh…Love Janices choice any Madonna album is good for me.. One of my favourites through the years is Bobby Vinton love this song https://youtu.be/9Cr_apcZkpY
Aww, thanks for that lovely song choice, Carol. What a classic. Loved it.
I love it as well…Hugh 🙂 x
Hi Carol,
Great to see you here on Hugh’s blog. Blogging is such a great community. So many of us know each other and have many mutual friends.
Janice
LOL, glad you posed the questions because I was going to ask, what’s up with all these guys you find who you seem to be the dessert for? LOL ❤
lol, that’s a great way to put it, Debby. Chocolate sauce was once involved, but that’s another story. 😇
xx
LOLLLLLLLLLLL okay, I’m waiting for that one!!!! 🙂 😉 xxxx
Hi Debby,
Great to see you here! This conversation has taken a strange turn– from blogging to music to “mature” content. =)
Janice
Lollllllllll Hi Janice! That’s the beauty of Hugh’s blog – you never know where it will take you. 🙂
Hi Hugh,
Thank you so much for featuring me on your blog today. What a unique feature you have– definitely a step back in time with Madonna’s True Blue. Thanks for including the video so your readers can hear the song.
Your community is welcome to come to Mostly Blogging for tips to ensure their success on their blogging journey. To make sure bloggers realize they are part of a community, I host six blogging events each month. All new subscribers receive a complimentary downloadable of 123 free blogging tools https://www.mostlyblogging.com/for-new-subscribers/
I’m off to share! Thank you again.
Janice
You’re very welcome, Janice. Thank you for accepting my invitation and joining me onboard my music time-machine.
Best wishes,
Hugh
I will be linking to this article at my linky part this Monday.
Janice
Hugh, you’ve got to do something about that sticker on your forehead! Hugs x
I managed to get rid of it, Janice, but it took a lot of thinking, on my behalf, to get rid of it.
xx
Hi Janice!
Apparently, Hugh and I have many mutual friends. Nice to see you.
Janice
Nice to see Janice here! I will definitely follow her everywhere and check out her books. Thanks, Hugh! I can always use some help! Hugs xx to you both!
Me, too, Janice. Janice always has brilliant tips for bloggers and also for those on social media.
xx
Hi Janice,
I returned to thank you for writing that you’ll check out my book. Thank you! Thank you for the kind words as well.
Janice
Hi Hugh,
It wasn’t a sticker, you were too cute to not pursue you. Maybe a little naive too? Ahh, if we knew then what we know now. OH MY!
I too follow Janice and have picked so much information and help. Thanks, Janice.
Aww, that’s so kind, Chuck. Maybe you’re right. Those were certainly the days. Still, it was often fun.
Hi Chuck!
What a funny conversation you are all having about Hugh’s personal life. Thank you so much for the compliments on my articles. Much appreciated!
Janice
Hi Militant Negro!
We both know Hugh! Did you reblog my feature? If so, thank you!
Janice
It does beg the question. Nice meeting Janice.
Thanks, John. Janice always has great blogging and social media tips.
Thank you, Hugh. Your compliments are much appreciated.
Janice
Hi John,
Nice seeing you again on Hugh’s blog.
Janice
Oh Hugh!!!! You certainly needed to kiss your fair share of frogs, didn’t you before finding Prince Charming!
And as for a song, there are so many I enjoy!
Michaal Jackson’s Black Or White
Billy Idol’s White Wedding
Prince’s Purple Rain
The Beatles Yellow Submarine
The Stranglers Golden Brown
D’Angelo’s Brown Sugar
I could go on…
But here is a particular fave as The group is from Brum, and the niece of one of the band members was at my school, and it;’s reggae, which I LOVE!
Haven’t seen that video for Red Red Wine for a very long time, Ritu. It reminded me of the good old days when pubs and bars had restricted opening hours and were a lot more fun to visit.
Love UB40
HI Ritu,
Nice to see you here. I like many of your song suggestions also.
Janice
Thanks Janice!!!
I love Madonna! She’s brash and not afraid to show it 🙂
Great post, Hugh. I’m following Janice on Twitter 🙂
Thanks, Jacquie. I’m another big fan of Madonna. Her music rocks.
Hi Jacquie,
I love Madonna too– musically and for the reasons you mentioned. Your Twitter follow is appreciated!
Janice
I guess it’s like the old saying, “You have to kiss a lot of frogs until you find your handsome prince!” Madonna so defined the 80s. My daughter just loved her.
Very true, Darlene. And there are lots of frogs out there. 😀
Shame, Hugh, you certainly were a bit unlucky in love then. Maybe we are all like that when we are young and trying to find someone special. True Blue is a great song by Madonna. Lovely to see Janice over here.
I think it’s a huge learning curve for many of us, Robbie. Still, it can also be a lot of fun.
Hi Robbie,
How nice to see you! I’m glad you like my song choice. Thanks for commenting.
Janice
Oh, no. Sorry about the sticker on your forehead, Hugh. You needed a “he’s got a boyfriend” detector back then 🙂
Now, why has nobody invented one of those? 🤔 You’d make a lot of money, Aimer.
I know, right? Liars everywhere beware 🙂