That’s All Folks

December 31st, 2012

That’s All Folks

I have enjoyed writing this blog very much over the last few years. I set out to make it a place where issues could be debated, where local causes could be championed and, to be honest, where I could vent a little when frustrated with the world of politics. It seemed to me that my home, Wisbech, and the wonderful villages around it were a place where such discussion would be useful and positive.

Since it’s inception the readership has grown every year and this year, 2012, the blog has had just over one million unique hits (according to my blog statistics.) Even factoring in false hits, multiple visits, bots and other tomfoolery – that’s still quite exciting. I believe it has been the “most read” political blog in the county for some time based on those statistics which I am aware of. I might be wrong. The blog has been honoured by a number of major national awards. I was particularly proud to be voted UK No.1 amongst Conservative Councillor’s blogs last year. I’d like to think, maybe just maybe, it has also had some effect on the debate around the area in which I live – though admittedly, I do not know this is true.

In my role as a councillor I have taken varied positions on issues and I have not always toed the party line. I’ve tried to use this blog to thrash out my thinking on controversial issues and to allow others to support, challenge or debate my positions. Quite often it’s worked and I’d like to particularly thank some of the political opponents who have taken the time to come here and discuss things. Sadly, some of those opponents have moved on to pastures new and, to be honest, I miss them.

Anyway, all things come to an end, good or otherwise. Except death and taxes, obviously. This blog in its current form is now over. I’m making some changes in the new year and this is one of them. There will be a new blog type area and website to handle press releases, county council news and local news that I want to cover. I’ll announce it here shortly – once I’ve got it ready to receive visitors. There will be little or no “discussion pieces” or personal views – though I have been asked to write occasionally for a well-known national site and will submit articles elsewhere in the usual way.

For regular and occasional readers, contributors, friends and colleagues, I’d like to thank you all for your help in making this blog what it has been. Whatever that is. I’ve had a blast. Writing this blog has been amusing, irritating, difficult, easy, challenging, exhilerating, mystifying. It’s never been boring. Well, not for me, anyway. You may take a different view!

I certainly wont say that I will never blog here again. I try not to permanently close doors I may one day wish to reopen. But for now, that’s all folks.

test Filed under Interlude | Comments (3)

3 Responses to “That’s All Folks”

JulieJ on January 1, 2013 10:45 pm
Awww, sorry to see you go Steve…but thank you. I’ve enjoyed following the blog, and learning from it and all the many comments in the time I’ve been following. Happy New Year!
Ian W on January 1, 2013 11:12 pm

Cheers for the entertainment Steve.

Your stories bringing an amusing slant to political issues in particular will be missed.
adam baddeley on January 2, 2013 4:52 pm
Boo Hiss Sob