Who am I?

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An individual, of no great importance, who is unable to see the natural world as a place for competition. I catch fish, watch birds, derive immense pleasure from simply looking at butterflies, moths, bumble-bees, etc - without the need for rules! I am Dylan and this is my blog - if my opinions offend? Don't bother logging on again - simple!

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Monday, 7 December 2015

How can this be?

Is it possible that I have friends, with whom I've never met? Steve Gale writes a blog, as does Derek Faulkner, Stewart Sexton, Gavin Haig, Darren Roberts and there are many, many others - kindred spirits whose outlook is similar to my own. We exist - but in a world that is all smoke and mirrors?
We use the wonders of "Google & Microsoft" to allow others to share our spin on the mundane routines that are our very existence; liven it up with a few pretty pictures or the tale of some away-day or other, but space explorers we ain't. What we get up to in our own little worlds is simple and available to every inhabitant of the UK - we all get outdoors and look. Not a particularly radical concept but one, I fear, that is becoming more uncommon as this same technology, which allows us to share our experiences, replaces reality with the fraudulent alternative of virtual reality.

How many people take the time to look at the ordinary?
Whilst I see what we do as "folly", there is a spark of responsibility involved at another level? If, by doing our thing, we are able to encourage others to get involved, our type of blogging is a positive way of using this modern technology to advance, and enhance, the interest in our natural heritage.
We might not all sing from the same Hymn sheet, but sing we do - a powerful tool in this day and age!


If by sharing our own interests, we are able to encourage others to get involved, we can be content in the knowledge we've done our bit to ensure future generations will have a natural world to discover for themselves. Here endeth the lesson! (P.S. - I've already applied for Saint-hood!)

It  doesn't matter what form - enjoying wild life is at the very core of my existence
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6 comments:

  1. Steve Gale7 December 2015 at 09:55

    Well, St. Dylan... yes, our own experiences with the natural world are fairly insignificant, that is true. But I agree with you in that even if just one other person is inspired to get involved in caring about our wildlife and countryside, then it has all been worthwhile. Like you, I wonder at having a group of 'virtual' friends, but they are all welcome!

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    1. Dylan Wrathall7 December 2015 at 10:34

      Steve, as a totally befuddled old git - I remain in blissful ignorance of how it all works? I do, however, see it as a duty to attempt to show others the enjoyment to be derived from encounters with our natural world (in whatever manifestation)This blogging lark is a fantastic medium by which we are able to share our everyday experiences with umpteen unknown individuals from anywhere around the globe. As for cyber friends? If it were not for this technology we wouldn't be speaking!
      Stay happy - Dyl

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  2. Derek Faulkner7 December 2015 at 11:56

    Dyl, I did wonder if reaching the great age of 60 might have a profound and sentimental effect on you and this latest blog posting shows that your recent postings infused with a fair amount of melancholia might now become a regular thing. After all, when you get into your sixties, all of a sudden the road behind you and the wonderful things that you have done, starts to seem a lot longer than the possible ones ahead. Despite being a mere 58'ish, Steve seems to have started the nostalgia trip already, while for me at 68, the road ahead seems to get shorter every day.
    But the beauty of this blogging lark is that, whether we're out and about or stuck in a wheelchair, we can still entertain those that can be arsed to read our ramblings, with our great wit, our past experiences and our adventures that are still happening.

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  3. Dylan Wrathall7 December 2015 at 13:22

    Derek, I said to Benno at a recent family funeral gathering, "each one you attend gets you one step closer to the front of the queue!" I'm in no doubt that the road ahead is shorter than the one behind but, remain convinced that there will me many adventures yet to be had before I get to my final destination. As for this blogging malarkey, it's an adventure in itself. Thanks for the comment - as always - Dyl

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  4. Stewart7 December 2015 at 16:29

    Hi Dylan, I do like my cyber friends too. This type of contact is all too readily derided, by those who say we should just have 'real' friends. I see you all as 'real' friends. In olden days naturalists etc would have entered into written correspondence with peers and maybe have become pen-pals. Its all so much easier now. Anyway reading good bloggage is like getting a new book but for free and is way better than the tosh in the papers...

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    1. Dylan Wrathall7 December 2015 at 22:55

      Stewart, I see blogging as an open diary, a means by which I can offer my opinions an any subject that comes into my thought process or impacts on my life in other ways. I have a small number of blogs which provide my basic daily reading matter, they are closely allied to my own interests, but are also very much a reflection of the individual blogger and opinions are often wildly different to my own.
      Cyber friends - a modern symptom created by the technology now at our disposal - I'd rather this than a return to the dark ages? Love the Lesser Redpolls - cracking little birds which are a very scarce visitor to my part of Thanet. All the best - Dyl

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