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November 2025 – This is a first! But I Have Good Reasons

Published on Nov 30, 2025Nov 30, 2025 by Hugh W. Roberts16 Comments

The past three months have been busy outside the world of blogging, so much so that I didn’t get the chance to write and publish monthly round-up posts for September or October.

Did I feel bad? Did I apologise? No. Sometimes life gets in the way of schedules, and my blogging routine was thrown off course, but it happens to everyone, and nobody needs to apologise. From what I saw, my posts from September, October and November continued to receive engagement, and for me, it’s all about interacting with other bloggers, writers, and readers.

Better late than never. Without further ado, here is the monthly round-up for the past three months on Hugh’s Views and News.

WordPress has introduced a new blog recommendation feature that displays recommended blogs on your Gravatar profile, improving visibility. My post details how to add the blogs you love the most.

This New WordPress Feature Helps Promote The Blogs You Love

Here’s a fresh writing challenge that everyone is encouraged to try. Can you write a story using only 101 words (no more, no less) based on a featured image?

Bloggers/Authors: Are You Ready For A Writing Challenge?

Where do the images and photos in your blog posts originate? Are you certain you’re not infringing the law by using copyrighted images?

Where To Legally Source Amazing Images For Your Blog Posts

How easy do you make it for visitors to share your blog posts and boost the visibility of your blog? Take action: These nine options are easy to find and activate.

9 Important Options on Your WordPress Blog to Check Now!

This is why you should never forget to put the clocks back before going to bed.

When The Clocks Go Back

Springtime in Paris! Sounds romantic, doesn’t it? Think again!

Experience the Magic of Spring in Paris! But not as you know it!

Are photography blog posts worth commenting on? Why I Decided to Stop Publishing My Photography.

4 Never Before Seen Photos And Why You Need To See Them

This post outlines various scams affecting bloggers, including voicemail scams and email phishing claims that appear to come from WordPress. Don’t become a victim of a scam or fined for downloading copyrighted material.

The Latest Blogging and Publishing Scams You Need to Be Aware Of Now

The featured image on this blog post is sourced from Pixabay. AI reviewed spelling and grammar errors.

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Did You Miss Any Of These? Monthly Round-Up – June 2025

Published on Jun 30, 2025Jun 29, 2025 by Hugh W. Roberts11 Comments

We’ve reached the halfway point of the blogging year. How are your stats for 2025? Are you happy with them?

Including this post, I’ve published 26 posts so far this year. It appears likely that my viewing stats are running at the same level as those of 2024, although this time last year, I had published 62 posts! Although there has been no increase in viewings, I’m pleased with how my blogging year is going so far.

This month, I bucked the trend and published more posts than previuos months this year. I ventured back into ‘Wordless Wednesday’ and published five posts.

I also wrote and published a piece of flash fiction. Even though my flash fiction posts do not get as much viewing or engagement as my blogging tips posts, it was great to be back with my flash fiction hat on.

Here’s your opportunity to catch up on my five blog posts from June 2025.

Blogging can connect you with thousands of people worldwide. However, oversharing personal details poses significant privacy risks, negatively impacts professional reputation, harms relationships, and may lead to legal issues. Are you taking enough precautions to keep yourself and your identity safe online?

How To Make Yourself Safe Online: 7 Ways

What lies beyond the hedge?

Wordless Wednesday – What’s Beyond There?

Monitoring blog followers is crucial; spam-bots dilute engagement, pose security risks, harm SEO, and diminish your blog’s credibility. Do you know who is following your blog and how to remove unwanted subscribers? Read my post for further details.

Look! Blame Me For A Painful Drop In Blog Subscribers

Mike embraces change and love, symbolised by blue skies and blue wings. But where will they lead him?

Flash Fiction – Blue Sky

We all want to help other bloggers succeed. This is the one thing you can do to help every blog and blogger you visit.

This Is The One Thing You Can Do To Help Bloggers

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Don’t forget to add a BlueSky sharing button to your blog.

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Did You Miss Any Of These? Monthly Round-Up – December 2024

Published on Dec 31, 2024Dec 28, 2024 by Hugh W. Roberts

Here’s your chance to catch up on my six blog posts published in December 2024.

This is my annual post about blogging in December and my eleventh December in the blogging world.

7 Essential, Easy Ways to Help You Blog Through December

Question: Can you give my snowman a name?

When Is A Snowman Not A Snowman? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

Question: You can only choose one. Which one?

Which Of These Goes Best With A Hot Chocolate? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

What would you wish for at the Christmas tree that grants wishes?

Flash Fiction – The Christmas Tree

Question: What would you do if you saw this happening in your neighbourhood?

Do Not Try This At Home! #WordlessWednesday #Photography

A Christmas and end-of-year message from Hugh.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Hugh’s Views and News is at the heart of great conversations and engagement. Did you join the debates and conversations? If not, why not jump in and let us know what you think?

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Did You Miss Any Of These? Monthly Round-Up – November 2024

Published on Nov 30, 2024Nov 30, 2024 by Hugh W. Roberts

Here’s your chance to catch up on my five blog posts published in November 2024.

Hugh’s Views and News is at the heart of great conversations and engagement. Did you join the debates and conversations? If not, why not jump in and let us know what you think?

Question: What was the last thing that lit up your life?

Looking Up! What Do You See? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

Do you have a successful blog? Are you a blogger engager or a comment spammer? These are just two questions I am asking in this milestone post. But what blogging milestone am I celebrating?

Want More Blogging Success? What Happens When You Find It.

Question: Can you guess what’s on my plate?

What Did You Eat Last Night? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

Question: Do you like my most recent selfie? Can you tell it’s me?

Do You Like Taking Selfies? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

Question: Would you sit here?

Items That Have Seen Better Days #WordlessWednesday #Photography

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Did You Miss Any Of These? Monthly Round-Up – October 2024

Published on Oct 31, 2024Oct 31, 2024 by Hugh W. Roberts

Here’s your chance to catch up on the nine blog posts published in October 2024.

Hugh’s Views and News is at the heart of great conversations and engagement. Did you join the debates and conversations? If not, why not jump in and let us know what you think?

Question: Do you know the name of this strange-looking fruit on this tree?

What Type Of Tree Is This? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

Do you have a life-changing event you’re proud of?

Flash Fiction – How To Ice A Cake And Change Your Life

Question: Have you spotted a rare double?

Are You Seeing Double? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

Are you seeing too much spam on your blog? How To activate Akismet’s spam setting in WordPress to significantly reduce spam comments and streamline your blogging experience.

Turn This Setting On To Stop Seeing Too Much Spam On Your WordPress Blog

Do you use excerpts in your WordPress blog posts? If so, there’s an ongoing issue with them. WordPress has now fixed this problem. Read on for more details.

Is This WordPress Problem Affecting You? It’s Been Reported

Question: Have you ever seen more than one ghost simultaneously?

Are You Ready For Halloween? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

Do you use excerpts in your WordPress blog posts? If so, there has been an ongoing issue with them that has now been fixed. However, for the fix to work, you must take action. Read on for more details.

WordPress: Excerpts Are Working Again!

Question: Could you beat me at this game?

Do You Play This Game? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

Question: When did you last see something eerie looking out from a window at you?

Halloween #WordlessWednesday #Photography

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Did You Miss Any Of These? Monthly Round-Up – September 2024

Published on Sep 30, 2024Sep 30, 2024 by Hugh W. Roberts

Here’s your chance to catch up on the nine blog posts published in September 2024. Hugh’s Views and News is at the heart of great conversations, discussions and engagement. Did you join the debates and conversations? If not, why not jump in and let us know what you think!

What memories do you have of television? Perhaps you share the same memories of these classic television shows as me?

Nostalgic Memories: The Miracle Of The Television Set Before Video

Question: Have you ever gone foraging? What did you find?

Do You Forage? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

When will you be calling the transport helpline? They’re waiting for your call.

Flash Fiction – Time To Leave, Time To Arrive

Question: Have you witnessed any early signs of autumn or spring where you live?

Autumn Mists #WordlessWednesday #Photography

Where do you think this door leads? Maybe into the sandcastle?

Do Sandcastles Have Doors? #ThursdayDoors #Photography

The WordPress Reader is great for reading the posts of the blogs you follow. But did you know it can do much more? This is what I found out. Why do you use the WordPress Reader?

Why Do You Use The WordPress Reader? This Is Why You Should Use It.

Question: Can you help this guy find his shoe?

Has Anyone Seen My Shoe? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

WordPress simplifies adding a subscribe button to your blog posts making it easier for visitors to subscribe or follow your blog. Here’s how to activate it.

How Easy Is It To Follow Your Blog? How To Add A Subscribe Button To All Your WordPress Posts

Question: You never quite know what’s in the dark. What can you see in this nighttime photo?

Can You See In The Dark? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

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Did You Miss Any Of These? Monthly Round-Up – August 2024

Published on Sep 1, 2024Oct 6, 2024 by Hugh W. Roberts

Did you see these nine blog posts that got readers talking, asking questions and wondering? If you haven’t joined the conversation yet, why not jump in and let us know what you think!

I don’t write book reviews. But this book has helped me change my mind. Read on for more details.

Book Review: Borrowed Time by Russell Dean @RussDeanWrites

Question: Did you watch the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games?

Olympics – London 2012 – Closing Ceremony #WordlessWednesday #Photography

WordPress users often face problems, but they may not always be caused by their blogging platform. Device issues, internet browsers, poor blog housekeeping and retired themes can all contribute to problems. My post outlines what to do if you’re experiencing issues with using WordPress.

WordPress Problems: Don’t Panic! How To Solve Issues Quickly

Question: Do you grow fruit or vegetables in your garden or allotment?

Homegrown #WordlessWednesday #Photography

He’d been promised gold, but he only found a dusty trail. But where did it lead?

Flash Fiction – Gold

Are you following too many blogs? 7 common mistakes to look out for before following a blog.

7 Common Mistakes To Avoid When Deciding Whether To Follow A Blog

Question: What strange garden objects have you found?

Strange Garden Objects #WordlessWednesday #Photography

Question: What are the signs in your part of the world that summer or winter is ending?

End Of Summer #WordlessWednesday #Photography

Are you following too many WordPress blogs? This is how easy it is to unsubscribe from those you want to unfollow.

5 Easy Ways To Unfollow A WordPress Blog

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Did You Miss Any Of These? Monthly Round-Up – July 2024

Published on Aug 1, 2024Aug 1, 2024 by Hugh W. Roberts

Did you see these nine blog posts that got readers talking, asking questions and wondering? If you haven’t joined the conversation yet, why not jump in and let us know what you think!

After a decade of crafting short stories and flash fiction on my blog, I’ve learned valuable storytelling techniques, which I shared in a guest post. But what helped me write better stories that many readers love? Read on for more details.

How To Write Fantastic Stories That Will Impact Readers

Question: Would you swim to the boat or wait by the lamppost for somebody to bring it to you?

An Interesting View #WordlessWednesday #Photography

WordPress has relocated the ‘Discussion’ setting to a more visible and accessible position, simplifying the control of comments and pingbacks. My post outlines where to find the ‘discussion setting’ and when you should consider turning comments off on specific posts.

WordPress: How To Close Comments: What You Need To Know

Question: What would you have liked to have been behind the shutters?

Behind The Shutters #WordlessWednesday #Photography

You can now add images to WordPress posts directly from your phone using the Jetpack app, with simple resizing options. Read my posts for all the details.

Blogging Simplified: Adding Images From Your Phone To A WordPress Post

Question: Have you seen signs of nature fighting back?

When Nature Takes Over #WordlessWednesday #Photography

Time is the enemy for all of us, especially Mr Kingston, who needs to frantically clean his house before time runs out and his visitors arrive. But why the panic?

Flash Fiction – Has Anyone Seen Felix?

Question: What kind of creature is this?

The Nighttime Visitor #WordlessWednesday #Photography

Question: Have you ever attended the Olympic games?

Olympic Rings – London 2012 #WordlessWednesday #Photography

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Did You Miss Any Of These? Monthly Round-Up – June 2024

Published on Jun 30, 2024 by Hugh W. Roberts

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.

How To Make Categorising And Tagging Blog Posts Powerful

Do you enjoy home baking? What do you bake?

Homemade: What Would You Serve With This Pie? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

A man deeply connected to the city loses his job and believes the city needs change. This culminates in drastic action. Can he save the city?

Flash Fiction – Life And Death In The City

Do you own any strange works of art?

Strange Works Of Art #WordlessWednesday #Photography

How do you engage with your readers and other bloggers? Are you taking full advantage of the comments you leave?

Blogging Simplified: Engagement. Am I Doing It Right?

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.

Flash Fiction – Colours Behind The Mask

Question: Do you prefer sunrises or sunsets? Why?

Summer Solstice #WordlessWednesday #Photography

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.

True Stories: Confessions Of A Gay Man – Pride

Question: Do you enjoy a daily walk? If so, where do you usually walk?

Captivating Visuals: #WordlessWednesday #Photography

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Did You Miss Any Of These? Monthly Round-Up – May 2024

Published on May 31, 2024May 29, 2024 by Hugh W. Roberts

Did you see these 9 blog posts that got people talking, discussing, and wondering? Maybe you joined the conversation, but if not, jump in and let us know what you think!

Do you have a favourite place to eat?

Would You Eat Here? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

Do you like talking about blogging? I do, and I’ve lots to say about it. What about you?

Blogging Simplified: It’s Easy, Isn’t It? Things I’ve Learned

Are you in this photo? If so, let me know in the comments. If not, have you ever met a group of bloggers?

What Do You Call A Group Of Bloggers? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

Where’s your favourite place to daydream?

Flash Fiction – Life On The Edge Of Dreams

Can you guess which famous writer used to live in the house in this photo?

Which Famous Writer Lived Here? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

I’m terrified of water. But the swimming instructor had other ideas.

Flash Fiction – Swimming Lessons

Can you guess how old my antique vase is and how much it’s worth?

Antiques: Do You Own Any? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

Three contrasting nights out reveal the challenges and joys of a gay man’s life. Incidents highlight the struggle for acceptance as well as a changing societal attitude towards the LGBT community in the 1980s and 1990s. You may laugh, you may cry, but these three true stories about gay nightlife are very different.

True Stories: Confessions Of A Gay Man – Nightlife