This blog will continue to appear over the Christmas break - so do dip in now and again!
Since I started blogging in May I have posted over 200 blogs on subjects as diverse as anting, climate change, how butterflies spend the winter, having a cup of tea with Gordon Brown, being a bit veggie, the Game Fair, squirrels, bitterns, nature reserves, marine Acts, people being nasty to birds of prey, farmland bird declines and much much more.
I write about what interests me, and where I think I have a bit of an insight to offer, in the hope that it interests you.
And I know that it interests one reader at least - Sooty. Sooty appears (who knows!) to be a retired dairy farmer from the Peak District, now living in Wiltshire who sometimes holidays on Mull and has never been on a plane. And he, for we must believe that it is a he, has posted c130 comments on my blog. Seems like he writes almost as much as I!
But Sooty is not alone. There are about (I cannot be sure) 700 daily links to this blog and I keep meeting people who comment to me on what they have read. The readership includes government ministers, journalists, civil servants, RSPB staff, friends, RSPB members and staff from other statutory conservation and environment bodies.
As well as Sooty, 60 of you have left comments on this blog. Do keep it up - I enjoy reading the comments (most of them) and I am sure others do too. If you are reading this, then you must like the blog a bit - tell me how it could be better for you and I'll see what I can do. And tell others about it too - the writing doesn't get harder if more people read it!
A Happy Christmas to all our readers, including Sooty.
Not much I can say Mark,a bit overwhelmed by your generous comments never expected to be quite so well known on your blog and as I have said before enjoy the fact that your blog covers so many things that are a serious issue,you seem to let people say what they feel without overpowering them in any way.We seem to enjoy each others opinions even though quite often different.Thank you for lots of pleasure and surprises me the relative small number of comments from all your readers,here's to a happy Xmas to you and all your bloggers and readers.
A Happy Christmas to you, too Mark. I can assure you that I often 'dip in' to read your blogs, although there is so much going on on this site, that it's hard to keep up in todays busy world. I'm sure others do the same, reading them but not having the time to comment. Perhaps you should take it, that most of the time we agree with you! (Should say, that there are not many links to this part of the site, so some may not have found you yet.) All the Best to you for 2010.
Mark Happy Xmas and Best wishes for the New Year from both of us. Always read, not always commented on but always enjoyed. Keep it up for 2010. Bob
Merry Christmas Mark and all the best for the New Year.
I always read and enjoy your informative blogs. Well done for taking the time daily