How you can contribute

This is an open and collaborative space. Readers are encouraged to add the thoughts and comments, positive or negative. Comments add a whole extra dimension to the posts.

I realise it may not be obvious how you can contribute, so here is a quick guide. (Contents: Adding Comments | Permanent Links | Glossary)


Adding comments

1. On the main blog, at the bottom of each post is some extra information and links (see below for glossary):
• the first line says who wrote the post and the time
• the second line says 'Permanent link to this post' - this is useful if you want to email anyone to read a specific post, or if you want to make a link on your blog or webpage (see below)
• the third line says how many comments have been added, and gives a link to 'View/Add comments'
2. Sometimes you may be looking at a sub-page, showing only one post. At the moment the information and links at the bottom of this page are slightly different, but there is still a link which says 'Add a comment'.


3. Either way, click on 'View/Add comments' or 'Add a comment'.


4. You will now be transferred to a new page. Existing comments are on the left, and on the right is a box where you can add your comments.


5. Type your comments in the box. You can use basic html to format your text, but don't worry about this, it's not important (you can ask me to tidy it up for you if you want).


6. When you have finished your comment it says 'Choose an identity' and you have three options:
• If you have a Blogger account, you can use this. Your comment will be linked to your profile and your blog. If you don't have a Blogger account or you don't want to admit to it, try one of the other options...
• Click on 'Other' and a space will open up for you to type your name or nickname, and to give a website address if you want.
  
• Or click on 'Anonymous' if you don't want to give any information about yourself.
7. You can 'Preview' your comment to see how it will look (and still edit it again if you want). Or you can 'Publish your comment'. It usually takes a couple of minutes for the comment to show up on the main blog.


8. Thank you for contributing :-)
   

Permanent links
These are useful if you want to reference a post, e.g. send someone an email telling them to read a particular post, or put a link on a website, forum, or another blog. You can right click on the permanent link and copy it, ready to paste wherever you need. Or you can click on it and you will be taken to a page with just that post - then the permanent link will be in the address bar of your browser - so just highlight this and copy and paste as usual.


Glossary

• Post - each article is called a 'post' - ask the computer geeks why, but we're stuck with it now.
• Link - click this and it will 'link' (take you) to another part of the World Wide Web, or just another page on this Blog. Links on this Blog are bold and green and when you put your mouse over them they are also
  underlined.
• Blog - short for web log, a sort of web-based diary, often providing links to other places of interest on the web.
  
• Blogger - a free community website where anyone can simply and easily create their own blog. Give it a try...!
  
• Blog Roll - links to other people's blogs that I like (like a 'roll call', for anyone with a dirty mind...).
• Recent Posts - links to recent posts that have been contributed to the blog.
• Archives - any post older than 30 days (that is, written more than 30 days ago) will be in one of the archives, and not on the main page.
• External Links - other links to websites that I like, but not blogs.