My name is Hugh. I live in the city of Swansea, South Wales, in the United Kingdom.
My blog covers a wide range of subjects, the most popular of which are my blogging tips posts.
If you have any questions about blogging or anything else, please contact me by clicking on the 'Contact Hugh' button on the menu bar of my blog.
Click on the 'Meet Hugh' button on the menu bar of my blog to learn more about me and my blog.
Did you check out these nine blog posts that got everyone talking and wondering? If you haven’t joined the conversation yet, why not jump in and let us know what you think!
Categorising and tagging your blog posts correctly is one of the most powerful way of getting your blog posts noticed. My post will show you how to add categories and tag words correctly, resulting in more visitors to your blog.
A difficult choice of lip colour, comfortable purple shoes, a new green dress, and nostalgic gold nail varnish set the stage for an unexpected encounter.
The first Gay Pride march in London in 1972 marked a pivotal moment in LGBTQ+ history, paving the way for rights and acceptance. Pride events continue to celebrate progress and advocate for equality, but have changed considerably over the years. Have you ever attended a pride event? Share your Pride stories here.
Wordless Wednesday – No words, just pictures. Allow your photo(s) to tell the story.
Would you like to come for a walk with me here?
Not sure what Wordless Wednesday is or how to participate? Click here for full details.
Are you participating in Wordless Wednesday? Although I am not hosting this challenge, you can leave a link or pingback to your post in the comments section to help promote it to other bloggers.
To help those with eyesight-impaired vision, please remember to complete a description of your photo in the ‘alt-text’ and description boxes of the picture in the WordPress media library. For more details, check my post, Adding Images Or Photos To Your Blog Posts? 4 Essential Things To Do.’
If you want to know more about the photo featured on this post, ask me in the comments section.
When the first Gay Pride march took place in London on July 1, 1972, I was too young to understand what was happening. I can’t recall anyone talking about it. Homosexuality was a taboo subject during the 1970s.
It wasn’t until years later, when I could reflect on these events, that I truly understood the significance of that day. I remember feeling a sense of awe and inspiration when I learned about the brave individuals who took part in that march, paving the way for the LGBTQ+ rights we enjoy today.
Pride month is every June.
July 1972
July 1, 1972, was chosen as the date of the first Gay Pride march in London because it was the closest Saturday to the anniversary of the June 28, 1969, Stonewall riots. These riots, a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations by members of the LGBTQ+ community in response to a police raid, are widely considered to be the catalyst for the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.
An estimated 500 people attended the march in London in 1972, which was heavily policed. The police presence, while intended to maintain order, also served as a reminder of the societal attitudes towards homosexuality at the time, which were often hostile and discriminatory.
I regret that I’ve never had the opportunity to meet any of those brave souls who participated in that first march. Their courage as they walked down Oxford Street towards Hyde Park in the face of a society that often viewed them with hostility and discrimination is genuinely admirable.
1980s
The first Pride march I attended was in London during the mid-1980s. The march ended on the embankment where the London Eye now stands. It was a small event with a few stalls and people sitting on blankets on the grass, eating and drinking. I don’t recall any entertainment tents, although I remember a small fun fair and an ice cream van making an excellent trade.
Gay Pride – London Embankment – mid-1980s
I don’t recall any trouble at this pride event, although there was a high police presence. The atmosphere was celebration and solidarity as LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies united to assert their right to be visible and proud.
Fast forward to the late 1980s, when Pride was getting more prominent. I recall marching down a road in Kennington, South London, and the march being pelted with bottles, eggs, and stones by onlookers who shouted homophobic abuse. Along with several other marchers, I took refuge in a fish and chip shop while the police made arrests. The owner and staff of the shop were very kind and gave first aid to those of us hit by the missiles thrown. Those of us who could continue the march were rewarded with fish and chips as the march headed towards its end in Clapham.
1990s
I continued attending London and Brighton Pride events right into the 1990s as the events grew. On the day of Pride, underground and overground trains, buses, and other forms of transport were filled with a party atmosphere as people made their way to Pride.
I recall seeing a complete diversity of people attending. Everyone was welcome at Pride, and as the event grew, more prominent locations were needed to cope with the number of attendees.
At one Pride march, I recall being dressed in a San Francisco police outfit. Upon entering the park where the event was being held, a group of British policemen approached me. I thought I was going to be arrested, but all they wanted was for me to have my photograph taken with them. What made it more special, though, was that the group of policemen was a mixture of gay, bisexual, and straight officers. They liked my outfit and we laughed and joked about the differences. How the police attitude had changed since the early days of pride.
I was dressed in my San Francisco police uniform while stuffing my face.
By the end of the 1990s, arrests on pride marches were made for drug-related crimes rather than for homophobic or threatening behaviour. Society was changing fast and becoming more accepting of the LGBTQ+ community.
The Present and Future of Gay Pride in the UK
Today, gay pride celebrations occur across the UK, including the iconic Pride in London and Brighton Pride. Many are significant events with thousands of people attending, especially when famous pop stars such as Kylie Minogue, The Pet Shop Boys, and Lady Gaga appear on stage.
As I have grown older, attending these events does not appeal to me anymore as I no longer seem to be able to cope with being amongst large crowds. I prefer staying home waving my rainbow flag while watching the celebrations on TV or YouTube.
These events serve as a reminder that the struggle for equality is the responsibility of society as a whole, not just the LGBTQ+ community.
The history of gay Pride in the UK is a testament to the enduring spirit of resilience and the pursuit of equality within the LGBTQ+ community. It serves as a reminder of the progress made and the work that still lies ahead in creating a more inclusive and equitable society.
Proudly waving the rainbow flag, the UK continues to march forward in the journey towards true equality and acceptance for all.
Remember, love is love.
Happy Pride!
Notes from the author.
I’m proud to have attended pride marches and events and helped in the struggle to get LGBTQ+ people equal rights. If it had not been for those struggles, my partner and I would never have been allowed to have our civil partnership in 2006. We now have the same rights as a heterosexual married couple does, although there are still some areas where more work is needed.
I can’t imagine what life would have been like for gay people in the UK before homosexuality was decriminalised in 1967. Having to live a life as a lie and forever being in fear of getting found out and sent to prison for who you were must have been a terrible way to live life.
Of course, discrimination sadly still exists in all forms of life. Hatred toward others simply because they are not the same as us, live like us, or hold the same values should be locked away and forgotten. Remember that in some parts of the world, being a member of the LGBTQ+ society is a punishable crime, sometimes with a death sentence. One day, I hope everyone can love who they want to love and live a peaceful life without being judged by others for it.
Are you participating in Wordless Wednesday? Although I am not hosting this challenge, you can leave a link or pingback to your post in the comments section to help promote it to other bloggers.
To help those with eyesight-impaired vision, please remember to complete a description of your photo in the ‘alt-text’ and description boxes of the picture in the WordPress media library. For more details, check my post, Adding Images Or Photos To Your Blog Posts? 4 Essential Things To Do.’
If you want to know more about the photo featured on this post, ask me in the comments section.
Red, orange or pink lips? The choice was hard. Which one?
And then there were the shoes. Purple, brown, gold, light blue, white, or plain old dull grey? No contest! The purple ones always seem the most comfortable to wear and walk in.
And what about the dress? Multicoloured? Or how about the new bright green one with yellow flowers on it? After all, it’s new and still has the price tag attached. It’s about time it got shown off for the first time. There’s plenty of eyes to see it.
As for the nails, the gold nail varnish looks fantastic and smells like pear drops, a favourite sweet that always brings happy memories of Grandma.
It’s time for me to look in the mirror. I can’t help but feel a surge of confidence and excitement as I take in my reflection. How gorgeous I look in all these colours, don’t you think so?
Is that somebody coming into the house and walking up the stairs? Yes! My heart skips a beat. Oh, no! Panic, panic, what shall I do? My mind races, trying to devise a plan, but fear freezes me.
It’s too late. My father, a man whose presence always brought a mix of fear and anticipation, is already in the room. I don’t even have to turn around to find out he’s there, as the stench of alcohol, tobacco, and hints of my schoolteacher, Mrs. Freeman’s perfume, hit my nostrils.
My whole day went black. The only good thing was that I could watch the bruises change various colours as they faded.
Imagine having a blog where nobody wants to engage. It’s a thought that’s hard to fathom. After all, what’s the point of writing and publishing blog posts if there’s no one to interact with?
How do you engage with your readers and other bloggers?
As bloggers, we can spark curiosity and questions in our readers, even when publishing informative posts. And that’s where the actual engagement begins. It’s our responsibility to set the stage for meaningful interactions. One way to do this is by asking open-ended questions at the end of your posts or inviting readers to share their thoughts or experiences related to the post’s topic. It can encourage more in-depth and meaningful discussions.
Those bloggers who blog to make money will only care a little about the interaction. For them, making a living out of blogging is more important. Good for them if they are successful, but take your readers seriously, especially if they want to engage with you. Consider removing the comments section from your blog if you’re going to refrain from engaging or responding to questions.
What’s the right way to engage with readers? Is there a right way?
I’ve always craved engagement, but over the ten years I’ve been blogging, the type of engagement I crave has changed.
I’ve become more of a ‘discussion’ blogger. By that, I mean a blogger who likes to discuss the subject of a post rather than just leaving a comment that only confirms I visited. It’s about sparking a conversation, sharing different perspectives, and learning from each other. This type of engagement is more valuable than a simple ‘I agree’ comment, as it adds depth and richness to the post’s content.
Over the past year, I’ve made a conscious effort to reduce the number of non-engaging comments on my blog, a decision I’m proud of. I’ve aimed to break free from the cycle of leaving comments solely to prove a visit or just for the sake of doing so.
This shift has decreased the overall number of comments I get but has made me feel like a more thoughtful and influential blogger. It’s not about the number of comments but the quality of the interactions. This change has helped my personal growth in writing and blogging.
Should we always try to engage? No!
Of course, just because I don’t leave a comment on a blog post does not mean I’ve not read it. Likewise, I know many people read my posts but want to avoid engaging. There’s nothing wrong with that. These silent readers are still part of the blogging community; their support is as important as active engagement. So, let’s recognise their presence and continue to create content that resonates with them.
If you’re new to blogging, leaving an engaging comment every once in a while is far more beneficial than leaving short, non-engaging comments on every post you read in an attempt to get noticed.
Are you approving spam comments without realising it?
Imagine my concern when I came across this comments section on a recently read post.
Never approve these types of comments
I was appalled to see these comments and could not understand why they’d been approved. Given that the blog’s posts would probably be full of these types of comments, I also decided not to follow it.
Spam comments not only detract from the quality of a blog but also discourage meaningful interactions. Let’s keep the blogging community free from such spam and focus on producing meaningful engagement. Your thoughts and ideas are too valuable to be drowned out by spam.
Other examples of spam comments.
Some may look genuine, but they’re not. Spammers and spambots are getting cleverer at fooling us into approving their comments, so beware.
Thank you
I want to express my deep appreciation to all of you who support and interact with me here. Your engagement is not just a number on a screen but a vibrant testament to the joys and value of blogging. I especially want to acknowledge those who actively interact with me, as your contributions are the lifeblood of my blog.
Remember, it’s not just about the numbers but the profound connections we build through interactions. For instance, when a reader shares a personal experience related to a blog post or when we engage in a thoughtful debate about a controversial topic, these are the types of interactions that genuinely enrich the blogging community.
Let’s wrap it up.
This post delves into the importance of engaging with readers and other bloggers, offering insightful strategies to spark meaningful interactions.
Avoid leaving short, non-engaging comments on all the posts you read. Instead, leave a thoughtful comment every now and again.
Don’t leave a comment just to leave a comment or prove you’ve visited.
Never feel obligated to comment because they always comment on your posts.
There’s nothing wrong with not wanting to engage. Some readers are more comfortable reading a post without saying anything.
Take your readers seriously by responding to or acknowledging their comments.
Never approve spam comments. Mark them as spam and delete them.
Consider closing comments off if you do not want to engage with your readers or respond to any questions.
If you crave engagement, ask open-ended questions at the end of your posts or invite readers to share details of their experiences with the subject you’ve discussed in the post.
Do you enjoy engaging with your readers and other bloggers? What type of commenter are you? How do you deal with spam comments and the spammers? Share your knowledge and ideas in the comments section.
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Wordless Wednesday – No words, just pictures. Allow your photo(s) to tell the story.
Would you go up to say hello?
Not sure what Wordless Wednesday is or how to participate? Click here for full details.
Are you participating in Wordless Wednesday? Although I am not hosting this challenge, you can leave a link or pingback to your post in the comments section to help promote it to other bloggers.
To help those with eyesight-impaired vision, please remember to complete a description of your photo in the ‘alt-text’ and description boxes of the picture in the WordPress media library. For more details, check my post, Adding Images Or Photos To Your Blog Posts? 4 Essential Things To Do.’
If you want to know more about the photo featured on this post, ask me in the comments section.
From Esther Chilton’s blog: Writing prompt – Cities: One of my favourite cities is Rome. I’ll never forget the way the Colosseum took my breath away as I stood in the middle, the sights and sounds of the years before playing out before me. What cities have you been to? What special memories do they hold? Perhaps a city could be the backdrop for a story or poem.
Life And Death In TheCity – by Hugh W. Roberts
From the highest building, the city landscape held him in its thrall. His fist clenched, while his other arm stretched out, his eyes roamed from side to side, taking in the buildings, green spaces, transport, and every aspect of the city he adored. But the people? They were a different story.
From the moment he stepped foot in the city, a profound bond was formed. Every street, corner, and building became a part of him, intertwining with his very essence. For three glorious years, he thrived as a quintessential city man, his love for the city growing deeper with each passing day. But when he lost his job, a seismic shift occurred in his world. The concept of change was foreign to him, but the city, his beloved, seemed to be craving it, or so he thought.
As he gazed at the bustling, unfriendly crowds flowing into the city hall below, where he once worked, he realised that the city desperately needed a nucleus of change.
Eighteen minutes later, he found himself with his back turned only a few steps away from the imposing doors of city hall. He stood there, gazing up at the place he had been earlier, his mind a tempest of thoughts, each one questioning why he had even considered such a drastic step as jumping. The struggle within him was not just a storm, but a hurricane, his heart and mind locked in a fierce battle.
People tutted and gave him dirty looks as he blocked their path. The smell of their body odour hit his nostrils, making him feel sick.
‘Always in a rush! Why are these unclean city people always in a rush?’ he asked himself.
“Get out of the f-ing way,” somebody shouted at him as they pushed by him. “Idiot!”
“Idiot? Me?” he bellowed, his voice brimming with a potent blend of defiance and uncertainty. ‘Not me.’ he assured himself. ‘For I’m the one who can spark the change this city so desperately craves. It doesn’t deserve people like you.’
Minutes later, inside city hall, the first change to the city occurred.
“I’VE COME HERE TO SAVE YOU!” he screamed. Moments later, he pushed the trigger he’d held in his clenched hand, something he’d planned meticulously until he’d found himself looking down from the top of that building. As the almighty bang of the bombs went off, a sound reverberated through the halls, symbolising the start of a new era for the city. Without his action, it would never have survived.
Wordless Wednesday – No words, just pictures. Allow your photo(s) to tell the story.
Homemade Apple Pie
Homemade Apple Pie
Not sure what Wordless Wednesday is or how to participate? Click here for full details.
Are you participating in Wordless Wednesday? Although I am not hosting this challenge, you can leave a link or pingback to your post in the comments section to help promote it to other bloggers.
To help those with eyesight-impaired vision, please remember to complete a description of your photo in the ‘alt-text’ and description boxes of the picture in the WordPress media library. For more details, check my post, Adding Images Or Photos To Your Blog Posts? 4 Essential Things To Do.’
If you want to know more about the photo featured on this post, ask me in the comments section.
Categorising and tagging blog posts are some of the most potent ways for bloggers to get their posts noticed. However, some bloggers don’t bother with either, meaning they’re losing the potential for new readers and followers. Are you one of them?
But what are categories and tags, and how do they work?
Do you categorise and add tags to all your blog posts?
What are blogging categories?
Blogging categories act like groups where blog posts that have a connection with each other are stored.
For example, if you’re a travel blogger, you could have The United Kingdom categoryand list the sub-categories Scotland, Wales, England, and Northern Ireland.
Categories are important because they make finding specific blog posts more straightforward for visitors to your blog (especially first-time visitors).
Every blog post should have at least one category.
Unfortunately, if you don’t categorise blog posts, they will be uncategorised, which is no help to anyone.
Imagine going into a shop to find a particular book about dinosaurs and finding that none of the books has been categorised. You’d leave and go to another shop that helps customers by categorising its books to find what you’re looking for much easier.
I never return to blogs that do not categorise posts.
How to add a category to your WordPress blog post
This tutorial uses an Apple iMac desktop computer and the WordPress ‘Default’ dashboard.
While drafting a blog post, you’ll see a toolbar in the settings area on the right-hand side of the page. This is where you can add categories.
Every blog post should have at least one category.
If a blog post doesn’t fit into one of your existing categories, click ‘Add New Category‘ and create a new one.
Remember to do some housekeeping regularly for the categories on your blog. For example, delete categories that are no longer being used or update categories by giving them a new name if something works better.
How to edit the categories on your blog.
On your blog’s dashboard, click on Posts to open a submenu, and click on Categories.
Click Posts and Categories.
To edit a category, click the three verticle dots (meatball menu) next to the category you want to edit.
Click the meatball menu to edit a category.
The meatball menu displays four options: edit, delete, view posts, and set as a default.
Edit – Edit the name or description of the category.
Delete – Delete the category.
View posts – View a list of all your posts under the category.
Set as default – Useful when most posts fall under a particular category.
Remember to click the ‘Update‘ button to save any changes you make.
The number next to each category tells you how many posts are under that category. I recommend deleting any categories that are not being used.
Any sub-categories will show under each category.
Tip: Setting your default category to ‘Uncatorigised‘ allows you to search for any blog posts you may have forgotten to categorise.
What are tags?
Tags are popular keywords that can be added to a blog post. For example, some of the tag words I’ve added to this post are –
blogging
bloggingtips
categories
tags
WordPress
HowTo
Each tag should be separated with a comma or by pushing ‘Enter’ on your keyboard.
Tags containing more than one word (such as ‘Blogging tips’) act as one tag word, but you must add them without any space between the words, i.e., ‘ blogging tips’ becomes ‘bloggingtips.’
Generally, tags do not need to connect with each other, but when used correctly, they can generate a lot of extra traffic to a blog post.
Like categories, tags can be added to blog posts in the settings area toolbar on the right side of a draft post.
Always add keywords (Tags) to your blog posts.
When adding tags to your post, consider the keywords somebody would add to the WordPress search bar when looking for specific blog posts. Or think of words you would use to search for your post.
Check out the tags I’ve added for this blog post. They appear at the end of every post.
Important information – Did you know this…?
The cardinal tagging rule on WordPress.com is that you should never add more than 15 tags and categories (combined) to your post; otherwise, it won’t appear in the WordPress Reader.This cap prevents spam posts from appearing on the reader list, as spammers and spambots tend to use many categories and tags to lure readers in
15 tags and categories can seem like a lot, but you don’t need to use all of them.
Never tag your blog post with words that have nothing to do with the post’s subject. Otherwise, visitors will come to your blog under false pretences and probably won’t return.
Generally, I add no more than three categories and between six and ten tags to my blog posts.
As with categories, it’s also essential to do some housekeeping for the tags you use on your blog.
How to delete and update tags
On the dashboard of your blog, click on Posts – Tags.
A page showing your tags and how many blog posts containing each tag appears.
To edit, view and delete posts containing a tag word, hover your mouse over each tag word and click edit, quick edit, view or delete.
You can also view the posts containing the tag word by clicking the number in the ‘Count’ column. I recommend deleting any tag words that are no longer being used.
Let’s wrap it up!
All blog posts should be categorised and tagged.
Categorising and tagging your blog posts makes them user-friendly, meaning people will likely return to your blog.
Not categorising your blog posts means they’ll be challenging to find.
When tagging posts, think of keywords others will use when searching for your blog post.
Don’t use tag words that have nothing to do with the subject of your blog post.
WordPress users – never add more than 15 tags and categories (combined) to your posts; otherwise, they won’t appear on the WordPress Reader.
Remember to perform regular housekeeping of categories and tags on your blog.
Adding the proper tags to your blog posts will increase the number of readers who find them. More readers mean higher stats, more comments, and new followers.
Do you categorise and add tags to all your blog posts? If not, why not? Which tags-words work best for you? Is there anything you’d like to add or ask regarding categories and tags in blog posts? Join the discussion by leaving a comment.
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