Blogito, ergo sum.
Abject apologies for the abysmal appearance of the Raccoon blog over the past month.
It has been a month to forget, or should have been, were it not for the many individuals who offered unexpected advice and support, time and technology, friendship and common sense, and generally nursed a bedraggled Raccoon back to normality (or what passes for normality in these parts!).
Not only but also. Not only had I taken a pair of kitchen scissors to the database, but the ever generous Andrew Withers and SadbutMadLad who made every effort to keep the blog going, found they encountered severe difficulties, entirely unrelated, with the host server, and then when we did track down an intact version of the database, we found that it was so large it caused all sorts of hiccups to reload. The site has been up, down and up again, reappearing with half the posts missing or half the comments missing – you must be thoroughly fed up!
Were it not for the talent of Neil Mathews of wpdude.com – who is henceforth knighted as an honorary Raccoon – the site should never have seen the light of day again. Then again, were it not for the unflagging support and encouragement of Matt Wardman at the Wardman Wire and Laurent at Wikio E-blogs, I doubt that any attempt would have been made to resurrect the site.
Matt Wardman in particular made me think long and hard about why I had started the blog in the first place. I realised that unlike those who say they have ‘lost the rage’ and therefore given up blogging, I had never had a rage in the first place. Indeed, the blog had never been about making my voice heard at all.
The blog had always been about providing a space where others might make their voices heard – and by others, I don’t just mean other posters, but the commentators. I saw myself in the role of pub landlady – and I have blogged in the past HERE about the way the blogosphere has replaced the denigrated role of the pub in society – as such, my putting up a post each day, sometimes two or three times a day, was not about me ‘shouting out’ – but a way of getting the conversation going.
The comments, the repartee, the wit, the satire, the information, the sheer effort that went into those comments, meant far more to me than any desire to get my point across – and invariably, my point would turn out to be two or three different ways of looking at the same news item! I personally learnt so much from my commentators – not least that there is no apostrophe in MPs – they were a daily education, and not, I suspect, just to me.
I realised that in closing the blog, I had not just removed myself from the line of fire of some deeply unpleasant people, I had also closed down a meeting place and information exchange for many other people.
It’s back up there, as intact as we can make it. I know there are still some holes in the database; it’s as good as we can do.
Andrew Withers and SadButMadLad will continue to write for the site, I hope others will join them; there have been some memorable contributions in the past. It’s your site really, not mine.
I’m sorry, I apologise.
November 23, 2010 at 14:14
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Just found out you’re back. Bravo!
- November 17, 2010 at 20:43
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“I personally learnt so much from my commentators – not least that there is
no apostrophe in MPs ….”
LOL
Anna, great to see you’re back. Why am I always the last one to find out
- November 17, 2010 at
20:59
- November 15, 2010 at 04:07
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Am delighted to see you back. More power to the Raccoon!! Nil nisi
carborundum …. etc.
- November 12, 2010 at 12:41
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Wonderful to see you are back in harness and going for the throat of what
ails our society again, welcome home Ms Raton Lave, welcome home!
- November 11, 2010 at 23:59
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Welcome back Anna, angel of light.
-
November 11, 2010 at 21:24
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Crumbs! One rejoins mainstream life (i.e. goes nowhere near a computer) for
no’but a three-week, then ventures back to crumb-strewn keyboard to discover
that a certain ‘beloved-yet-believed-defunct-site’ is not only extant but
trilling with lively vigour. Sheesh. Pleased and put-out in almost equal
parts, but pleased wins.
Note to self: Keep up, love.
So The Smudd says a cheerful “Hurrah!” and retires to chew a Werther’s
Original while she takes in facts of matter.
(oh, and “Boo!”)
- November 11, 2010 at
21:31
- November 11, 2010 at 17:39
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I’m a lurker mostly but enjoy reading here. It’s good to see you back Anna,
more power to your elbow.
- November 11, 2010 at 13:48
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Still has …. sorry, I was troubled by emotion to see you’re back
- November 11, 2010 at 13:47
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Wouahhh and she’s back !! That IS a good news
I’m
not commenting very often here but I surely am a reader and a fan
!
Therefore I can’t wait to translate on of your talended post for
e-blogs.
Welcome back Grande Dame and please don’t leave ever again or Laurent will
lost the few hairs he still have
- November 11, 2010 at 10:00
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Bugger!
She’s back!
Treble bamboo shoots all round
- November 11, 2010 at 08:08
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Late to the party, but I definitely needed some good news this week – and
this will do just fine
But, lest we forget, there are a couple of ‘bloggers’ out there whose noses
will be a bit put out of joint. Shame, ain’t it? Nope.
- November
11, 2010 at 07:14
-
Did I say welcome back ?
Welcome back !
– you were truly missed you
know
– if by all means we can help you kick the obsessive nutters butts,
let us know
If like you so elegantly put it, this blog is our blog, we’re
entitled too to piss them off, aren’t we? :p
Of course I had to tell you my
piece of mind (like many of your readers would have, or have), telling you
such a huge talent was wasted and missed ! So it’s only natural that, in a
blogosphere “ruled” by the some mediocre dickheads, I from the bottom of my
soul wish readers to read your inspired, ironical, witty, informative
prose.
Thank you to the wonderful people who supported you, thought about
you, worried about you, helped you getting your blog back on track.
Long
live Anna Raccoon!
- November
11, 2010 at 01:53
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I rushed my last comment. Should have said ‘Lettuce rejoice you’ve returned
you Little Gem’.
- November 11, 2010 at 07:26
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Cos we missed you……
-
November 11, 2010 at 10:28
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and we’re glad you’ve stopped romaine…
- November 10,
2010 at 20:14
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Welcome back Anna x
The blogsphere is a better place for your return.
So good to see you again!!!
- November 10, 2010 at 19:00
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The wanderer returns. I guess a contribution to the RSPCA is in order.
Don’t forget to let Gloria & Saul know of your return; they’ve been
strangely silent whilst you’ve been away
- November
10, 2010 at 18:39
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Welcome back Anna Raccoon, the blogosphere needs you.
-
November 10, 2010 at 18:31
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Ms Raccoon, it is very good to see you back and through whatever tunnel you
had to traverse, the internet certainly became a darker place without you.
Welcome back !
- November 10, 2010 at
18:32
- November
10, 2010 at 16:12
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What a delight to see you around again. Well done Matt and the divine
Laurent, plus your co-authors of course. Slainte!
- November 10, 2010 at
17:03
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Both Blackwatch and another commentator calling himself Mr Potatoe Head
have left the building, forcibly ejected with my boot up their
backside.
Anyone else trying to use the reappearance of this blog to
voice their crackpot theories on the McCann’s or Hollie Greig affair can
expect similar treatment.
Apologies to other commentators .
- November 11, 2010 at 00:33
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Good!
Your blog – your rules.
- November 10, 2010 at 13:39
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As usual, I’m behind with the news, and last in the queue! But welcome back
Anna. And — to keep the Latin bit going — non illegitimus carborundum est.
- November 10, 2010 at 13:21
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Welcome back – nice place you have here, landlady. And even more power to
your furry elbow.
- November 10, 2010 at 12:55
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Thank you for taking the bull by the horns and returning to us Anna, my day
is now complete.
Never be sorry for being hurt, I think all of us here would / will support
you as necessary.
Now, practical things. You do have the database backed up to the NAS under
the desk don’t you.
-
November 10, 2010 at 11:54
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We say yeah, and welcome back. As one who in his working life had to deal
with huge databases for the libraries of the likes of Oxford Uni, Trinity
College Dublin & The National Library of Wales, I am well acquainted with
the restoration of databases and all that imperils such operations. Well done
to all!
-
November 10, 2010 at 11:37
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Hi there. Although I only ever lurked, reading the blog but not
contributing, the posts here were a real highlight of the day. Glad you’re
back.
- November 10, 2010 at 10:23
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Sorry, what for ? You have nothing to be sorry for. It was your blog, your
ideas and entirely your business if the level of provocation and nastyness
made you throw the toys out of the pram. But really, lots of us missed you.
Having you back to enliven and inject some sense into my morning coffee is the
best bit of news in a bleak couple of weeks.
-
November 10, 2010 at 09:44
-
Dear Anna, lovely to have you back – it really is a case of “accept no
substitutes” – although well played to the boys for struggling on without you
!
Did I miss something ? Were you subject to some foul super -injunction,
or a hacking attack from a rogue server in deepest Kyrgistan ? Anyway,
disregard whoever has been nasty to you, and keep the common sense comming
please !
- November 10, 2010 at 09:25
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Pint of Guinness please, and can I smoke in here?
- November 10, 2010 at 09:12
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Hurrah! And thanks to all those involved for their hard work in making it
happen.
- November 10, 2010 at 08:57
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Anna – when I read your post, my eyes filled up! I’m so glad you’re
back.
-
November 10, 2010 at 08:32
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Obligato
What a lovely comment!
G
- November 10, 2010 at
08:50
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Gildas!
What a lovely sight…..!
That has brightened my day.
- November 10, 2010 at 10:57
-
That old fool Gildas has been up in Scotland (his birthplace, I
believe) doing something called “fishing” but all he has managed to catch
is an almighty cold (he calls it ‘flu)!
In Love and Light!
Sister
E
- November 10, 2010 at 08:02
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Calloo Callay!
A brighter day,
Anna’s back in town!
A shot in the
arm,
A huge dose of charm,
You can’t keep a good blogger down.
All we need now is Gloria,
And Sister Longoria,
And Gildas to lighten
our gloom.
In these dark winter days,
Racoon’s a warm fuggy haze,
Our
own virtual village tap-room.
It may be worth getting out of bed once more……
- November 10, 2010 at 07:48
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Glad to see you back Anna. No need for an apology.
- November 10, 2010 at 07:01
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So lovely to see you back!
- November 10, 2010 at 06:36
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Glad you are back, Anna.
Thanks to those who kept it going.
- November 10, 2010 at 09:22
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Good point, Eleanor. Thanks to them (see the second and third
paragraphs of the text) for coaxing our raccoon back in to the open.
ΠΞ
- November 10, 2010 at 02:10
-
To whom do I dedicate this charming slim post,
just now polished with
dry pumice stone?
For you Anna, for you were accustomed to think
that
your scribblings were something.
When already at the same time, you
alone
dared to unfold the whole age of liberty in your blog,
learned, by
Jupiter,and weighty!
For that reason have for yourself whatever your blog
is,
and whatever you like, oh patron maiden,
let it last for more than
one longlasting generation.
Shamelessly cribbed and bowdlerised from the works of Gaius Valerius
Catullus.
Good to see you putting fingers to keyboard again. Can’t keep a good
blogger down.
- November 10, 2010 at 01:25
-
Sheesh – FFS ! – I been checking me links, fiddling with me URLs, doing the
google thing – and (mea maxima culpa) gave up last week and deleted the blog
from my favourites……
But “Huzzah!!!” – one last check and sanity is restored !!!!!
- November 10, 2010 at 01:05
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What a lovely surprise to see you back, you’ve been sorely missed.
-
November 9, 2010 at 23:16
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Glad you came back
- November 9,
2010 at 21:19
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Welcome back!
- November 9, 2010 at 21:15
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Hurrah!
- November 9, 2010 at 21:15
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Good to have it back.
- November 9, 2010 at 21:07
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Thank you for returning and making the interweb a better place.
- November 9, 2010 at 21:04
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It is good to see you back fair maiden….You are back aren’t you?
- November 9, 2010 at 21:03
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Salve (as long as we’re writing in Latin).
Agree with wassname : you’ve nothing to be sorry
for.
ΠΞ
- November
9, 2010 at 20:57
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Welcome back Anna, it is good to see you again. Please don’t apologise for
disappearing.
- November 9, 2010 at 20:56
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…we are complete again.
- November 9, 2010 at 20:02
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Good to see you back!
- November 9, 2010 at 19:56
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….and you’re sorry for what exactly? Delete that, it’s irrelevant. There’s
nobody here who thinks you need to apologise. Thank heavens you’re back. You
have good supporters and luckily some of them are a damned sight smarter than
me. Thanks to you all.
- November 9, 2010 at 19:55
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So glad to see you back; you have made my day.
- November
9, 2010 at 19:53
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Welcome back. I’m glad you changed your mind.
- November 9, 2010 at 18:51
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Welcome back, Anna, and God bless you.
Back to work now – you’ve a lot to do – and thank you for doing it.
- November
9, 2010 at 18:47
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Good oh! All together now:
There a hole in my database dear Anna, dear
Anna,
A hole in my database, dear Anna, a hole.
Etc. etc.
Who says we
old ones cannot keep up to date?
- November 9, 2010 at 18:41
-
Great to see you back online Anna. I really think other people, perhaps the
one’s who vilified you, were – and are – sorely mistaken in their
understanding of what motivated you to blog. No doubt we’ll see their
miserable response in due course.
- November 9, 2010 at 18:24
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Where the fuck have you been???
- November 9, 2010 at 18:21
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I am so pleased to see you back. You were sorely missed!
- November 9, 2010 at 18:06
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Nice to see you, to see you, nice!!
- November
9, 2010 at 17:55
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Anna.
:*-)
We missed you!
- November 9, 2010 at 17:53
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You were missed far more than you can imagine and always my first port of
call on the way to pick up the day’s obscenities from Obo! On a different note
is there anyway one can send some fags (fromabroad) to the old dear who was
persecuted for tapping the ash of the end of her cigarette (admittedly there
was more grey matter there than in the combined heads of the council
nazis)
- November 9, 2010 at 17:55
- November 9,
2010 at 17:41
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Welcome back Ms. Raccoon.
You have been missed.
-
November 9, 2010 at 17:21
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Bravo Anna, c’est bien que tu reviennes.
Nous, on t’aime ^^
Hugs
- November 9, 2010 at 17:17
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Yup, welcome back!
-
November 9, 2010 at 17:17
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I’d be mighty proud if my blog looked as good as this one.
- November 9, 2010 at 16:43
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Welcome back, Anna. You were missed!
- November 9, 2010 at 16:42
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Oops i tweeted it twice ? twice as happy to RT @annaraccoon2010 [New Post]
Blogito, ergo sum. – via #twitoaster https://www.annaraccoon.com/annas-persona…
-
November 9, 2010 at 16:42
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It is good to see you back online Anna.
- November 9, 2010 at 16:15
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Anna’s back RT @annaraccoon2010 [New Post] Blogito, ergo sum. – via
#twitoaster https://www.annaraccoon.com/annas-persona…
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