Editors Blog
After the site is launched I will be doing an occasional blog here just as an update of its progress.
Thursday June 25th 2009
Hi, I'm afraid I have been awfully lazy with keeping up with a blog but I have been pretty busy with other areas of the site. There has been much more interest and some contributions and lots of new ideas have been being applied such as the crime page, competitions and forum and lots of regular updating.
Now seems a good time to do an update here as today the hits counter turned 3000, quite a milestone really. I must admit to being a little disappointed there hasn't been a little more contribution so far but what has come through has been a pleasant surprise and a pleasure to add. I have removed a few pages that weren't really going anywhere from initial ideas but lots more new pages have taken their place. It's all trial and error really and still developing. I guess it will always be developing as it isn't something that will ever be finished. Work on growing and improvements will always be going on as long as the site is online.
I think it is safe to say that it will be worth renewing the contract with the host in August (though I have had more than a few moments of doubt) although there have been a few problems with the service provided, overall it hasn't been too bad and probably no worse than any other company. There are still lots of potential and ideas to explore.
There has been interest from advertisers and even if I say so myself, my graphic design skills have greatly improved with practice in applying the adverts. When I look back to the first daunting attempts of design of the site I laugh how terrible it was! Just one reason to continue when I think how much it's improved in less than just a year. I have dabbled a little with the easy way of using software and a template to re-design the whole thing and solve a lot of the problems of programming all by myself but if I'm honest, I quite like the look of the site and not choosing the easy option makes it quite unique and I like that.
Well I think that's enough rabbitting for now, even if it was a bit overdue so I will just say have a great Summer Midd peeps and here's to another year online and may it be twice as good again this time next year! Cheers!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Sunday December 14th 2008
Well it's about time I did another little update during this festive season. The site has been plodding along nicely with little improvements being made on a weekly basis on the overall look, though there hasn't been much by way of contribution coming through yet because I'm still not getting it out there enough and a lot of people don't yet know it exists. This has been ok so far though as I feel it is more ready to be seen now than it was a couple of months ago, and Rome wasn't built in a day. I will soon be contacting local groups directly about getting involved.
What I do know so far is that Rochdale Council don't want to know at all. They have made that quite clear by completely ignoring me. Almost everyone I have contacted connected to Rochdale haven't even acknowledged my email, from the new park warden to my enquiry after old Middleton prints in Middleton library after contacting the the 'man at rochdale' who is now in charge of Middleton librarys archives. (How typical is that??) It's almost like they have had their orders to ignore me.
However Rochdale Council doesn't run everything and it just makes me all the more determined to make the site a success without their involvement. They have been invited. I can't do anymore than that.
On a brighter note, I met the lovely couple behind the long running 'Memories of Middleton' publication, Alan and Dot, and they agree something like the website is needed in Middleton and there are certainly things we can work together on. They know some of the older Middleton history writers who I would also love to meet and maybe get some nice articles for the 'History' and 'Nostalgia' sections. As a lot of these people are of the older generation now, Alan feels younger people are needed to come on board and keep the traditions and passion alive for generations to come. They are also members of the Middleton Civic Association which was set up back in the 70's when Middleton merged with Rochdale. It was set up basically to keep Rochdales hands off what belongs to Middleton which is something I would like to look more into and perhaps become involved.
So overall, things are moving slowly but are definitely on the up. Rochdale can snub me but won't get rid of me in a hurry and I'm hoping my next blog will include some major break-throughs and successes! Heres to Middletonia and all who sail in her. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all readers! See you next year!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Thursday October 2nd 2008
Well I just about got up and running at the very end of August. I then had to be patient for a further 3 weeks or so until I had sussed out all I had to do to get the site to come up in searches and that is also just about happening now. In the meantime, I e-mailed various related Middleton sites with a view to exchanging links but have as yet had no reply. This is a little dis-heartening as it makes me wonder how much community spirit we actually do have left.
Only this week, our new 'town centre manager' is in the Guardian talking of making the most of Middleton and promoting things like our conservation area. He also wants to hear from local people and their thoughts and views, yet he was one of the people I e-mailed over a fortnight ago to tell him about this site so it seems he isn't so keen to hear about this as I've had no reply at all.
Could this be because this post is connected to Rochdale Council?
If Mr McMahon can't acknowledge a whole website dedicated to Middleton, the town he serves, then I wonder just how dedicated he really is to the town. After all this guy lives in Castleton. Perhaps it's just a job that pays well.
And if he can't reply to someone with a whole website, what chance does an individual have?
Well I will continue it alone for now. Who needs support like that? I've put too much in to give up on the back of a couple of knock-backs that really aren't that important, but this is one person who won't be ignoring the people of Middleton so bring it on you lot!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Thursday August 28th 2008
It's taken a little longer than I was hoping but I hope to be online by the end of today. This is after I have gone through the process with my chosen host and of course PAID them! So far I haven't paid for anything as I have done it all myself so this is my first real outlay for the website, so fingers crossed, you may see me later!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Sunday August 10th 2008 at 10.26pm
Well I have decided to do my first blog entry after a little tweaking and perfecting tonight, just to make a start even though the site isn't quite up and running yet. I am hoping I am at a stage where I can begin the launching process of actually getting it live online by the end of next week so it's an exciting time after over 3 months in the making! It's been a lot of hard and mentally tiring work just to do what I've done so far with as yet no web designer or software to help. It's still a very basic document but whoever I go with as my host might provide some software to improve the graphics in the package. Even as its basic format, hours of work have gone into research, learning and typing just to get the content so far. And this has been by me alone so I've burnt myself out at times! But I'm hoping it will have all been worth it in the end. Only time will tell.
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