Over and out

Sometimes I have no idea what I'm going to write.

I'll sit at my laptop, stare blankly at the screen, then pound at the keys like a runaway train with no driver. Like a parked car careering down a hill with no hand-break, or a spooked horse galloping aimlessly across a dark field.

It can be tough coming up with new material and I freely admit I wouldn't waste my time reading some of my previous posts.

But others have been like finely-crafted works of art - beautiful records of my life and emotions, documented for prosperity with honesty, courage and humour (I hope).

Like sand through the hour glass these have been the days of our lives.

When I'm lost for ideas I guess I could trawl the net for inspiration. Google "good blog topics" and peruse the top 10 hits.

But every great writer (and some like me) must inevitably taste the bitter indignity of writer's block. I didn't expect to suffer its hideous clutches till I was a miserable, divorced, 60-something alcoholic, living alone in unsanitary squalor eating tinned sardines in some dive of a council flat.

I thought I'd at least have a few novels under my belt by then - maybe a volume of eclectic poetry or a successful line of children's books.

But no.

As you log on to your office computer each morning - polystyrene cup of unpalatable instant coffee steaming on your desk - do you ever wonder what blood, sweat and tears were poured into today's throwaway post?

For I can tell you, the words don't just land there in cyberspace by themselves. Like a beautiful woman or an injured dog, each sentence has to be tenderly coaxed into submission. Buttered up like a hot cross bun and carefully arranged for the perfect, deliberate effect.

I've spent 20 minutes banging out a post. And I've agonised for days over a 500-word piece, determined not to press publish till every word and inference was just so.

It's my art, I guess. News is my day job, and spilling my guts for anyone who cares to listen is what I do for kicks.

Well, it was.

But sometimes it's a laborious task. Readers' comments can sting like paper cuts. At other times your wise counsel is welcome advice and surprisingly insightful. Thank you all for tuning in.

However, life moves on in strange directions you never expected to go.

Lost? Who knows? Not to the same degree I was two years ago. Career - check. Girl - check. Mortgage, kids, dog, white picket fence and retirement nest egg? Um, well, not yet.

Maybe such lofty pursuits are unattainable for some people and perhaps we should just be thankful for what we have.

I'll miss lying in bed with a steaming cup of black coffee, my Vogel's toast and marmalade at hand, concocting tomorrow's blog offering on my laptop and laughing at my own jokes (someone's got to).

I'll miss seeing what you have to say.

So as another post draws to a close, as my word count rises towards the required tally, I'll say farewell.

Thanks to Fitzy - a gifted writer but a lousy tennis player. I reckon he'll make a great dad.

As for Churchouse, thanks for sharing your tales of life, love and adventure. We're all a little richer for your words. You're a good friend.

It's been fun - mostly. Wonder what I'll write about next...

FOOTNOTE:

@ Churchouse: I liked yours the best too.

Newest First

Oldest First

4/205   #1   09:28 am Dec 23 2009

goodness........what a handsome couple!!

Sophie   #2   09:33 am Dec 23 2009

Awwww Laneos!! (and Nickos) I'm going to so miss tuning into your delightful ramblings every morning - I've loved [nearly] every mixed up, wonderfully philosophical, rampantly hyperbolic, occasionally offensive, frequently soppy, usually metrosexual, breathlessly gossipy, misspelt word of it. Well done you two - so sorry to see you go but looking forward to the next chapters. And well done to Tom Fitz too - some of his have been real favourites. XX

NoAngel   #3   09:42 am Dec 23 2009

"I'll miss seeing what you have to say".

I agree, for even though sometimes the pen has been mightier than the sword when it comes to insults being bandied about on here, I think there's a real community spirit on the blogs, of which sarcasm and humour has played a major role, and has entertained us away from the reality of actually working... and now you guys have just curtailed one of our outlets. But we've loved ya.

paul   #4   09:45 am Dec 23 2009

So... the Lost Boys are quitting cos they're all grown up? That's sad. LOL@the last pic. We never really thought you were rugby players - but you sure did a great job pretending.

time flies   #5   09:58 am Dec 23 2009

Thanks for the entertainment and sharing all the ups and downs

Will   #6   10:24 am Dec 23 2009

In life i dont beleive that you are ever truly found but you make small steps to finding out who you really are throughout life. Why not just change the name of the blog to "The Lost Men" and then you can continue blogging on the trials and tribulations of your new steps in life. I think i speak for alot of people when i say we will miss you. You guys have the only male blog on here worth reading and i have to say (sorry jane and greer) yours is my favourite, your tales of life,love,misadventures and random ramblings always make for a good read and offer inspiration for others of us who are lost in life.

dragonzflame   #7   10:40 am Dec 23 2009

Thank you for finishing with a Boston Legal reference.

When I hear the lilting timbre of pan pipes, I will always think of Churchouse.

It's been fun, and confirmed my long-held suspicions that boys are as weird as I've always suspected.

JB   #8   11:45 am Dec 23 2009

Well done chaps! Thanks for the entertainment over the last 2 years.

CJ   #9   11:51 am Dec 23 2009

Bye guys! It's been greating reading your blogs over the last couple of years, sorry to see you go. Wonder what I'll do in the morning now, don't tell me I'll actually have to do some work...

Loz   #10   12:37 pm Dec 23 2009

Thanks for the blogs you three! Some (the minority) have been epic wastes of my time, most were pretty good, and there's a certain select few have been absolute crackers that have had me chuckling away quietly for most of the day. I'm inclined to say that Nick's posts were my fav, but Lane and Fitz's are a close second equal : ) I've always liked how the tone of a LB blog changes depending on the writer, and how each of you has your own writing style and brand of humor. All in all the LB blog has made for some entertaining reading during work! All the best for the future guys, happy holidays xx

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