Frequently Asked Questions


Well, what with new readers arriving through BlogMad, Bust and others - a warm welcome to you all - I thought I'd take the chance to answer some of the questions I get asked about my life and our blog. So...

Q: How did your blog get started?
A: Back in January 2004, whilst randomly surfing the net, I came across a few blogs I liked, and having wanted a website of my own for a while, I just decided to start one of my own. I've always liked writing.

Q: Why is your blog for both you and your cat?
A: Basically, I think of us as a team. But not in a crazy way. There's only ever been a few "Xander posts" - like this one.

Q: Is Xander named after the character on Buffy?
A: No. (This is the question I get asked more than any other). I've never watched Buffy and didn't know that it had a character named Xander until people started asking me this.

Q: Okay, how did Xander get his name?
A: When I knew that I definitely wanted a cat, I intended to get a girl cat, and call her Zelda; but when we went to the shelter to look at the kittens I saw this little 600g bundle of black fluff. From that moment, I was hopelessly, eternally in love. So he came home with me. I knew I wanted to name him "something with an X or a Z". We threw around a few names, and as the kitten poked his head out of his box I realised I was thinking of him as Xander. So, that's what he was, is, and evermore shall be.

Q: Where were you born?
A. I was born in Dublin, Ireland. I came to Australia with my parents when I was two, but I've been back a few times since.

Q: Where else have you traveled?
A: Spain, the US (New Orleans and San Francisco), Japan, Germany and French Polynesia.

Q. What do you do?
A: I'm an administrative manager.

Q: Yes, but what do you actually do?
A: I can't tell you. Not as in "but then I'd have to kill you", but it's that I just can't explain it, other than to say...well, I piss around with databases.

Q: So, how's your love life?
A: NEXT!

Q: You sometimes refer to being unwell. What's wrong with you?
A: At the moment, my only real health problems are low blood pressure, which makes me dizzy, and a few stomach problems, so I have to watch what I eat. However, in 2004 I had a bad bout of chronic fatigue syndrome, and I'll probably be prone to tiring easily for the rest of my life.

Q: How far is Newcastle from Sydney?
A: It's about 150km, a little under 100 miles (why can't Americans use the metric system?!?)

Q: How do you take your coffee?
A: Very strong, with lots of milk and sugar (and no, I don't think that's a contradiction - just because the coffee is black does not make it strong coffee!)

Q: Why are there no comments on your blog before December 2005?
A: Because I changed the commenting system I use from haloscan to blogger comments, and all the comments made before the change were lost.

Q: Why did you delete my comment?
A: Because either it was spam, too poorly written to make sense, or offensive. Healthy debate is fine, but if you want to be rude go do it somewhere else. This is my blog.

Q: Can I add you/will you add me to favourites?
Generally I won't add any blog that's smutty, racist/sexist/homophobic, or poorly written (you don't have to be Proust, but basic spelling and grammar is a reasonable enough thing to ask). Other than that, I'll have a look but usually I say yes.

Q: Can you help me with my template/HTML?
A: I'd like to be able to do this for people, but I just don't have the time. When I do get a chance though, in the not-too-distant future I hope to post a guide to working with Blogger - all the tips and tricks I've picked up that aren't in the Blogger help guide.

Well, that's all for now. But if I think of anything else, I'll call you at home.

Comments

  1. You have about the coolest template I have seen (your side bar specifically).

    How did you do the drop down bars?

    Chris
    My Blog

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  2. Thank you very much!

    I wrote the drop-down menus using javascript (actually, they're pretty easy to make, converting a normal link list). But since then, I've found an automatic drop down menu creator, you can find it here - you just put in the web addresses and names for the links and off you go!

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  3. Just cruised by on blogmad so wanted to say hello from across the big ditch ;)

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  4. Hi! BlogMad is so addictive - until you start seeing some of the same blogs over and over - but I've come across some utter gems.

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  5. Anyone who has a blog about their pet is..................................totally awesome in my book!

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  6. You should turn this section like other blogs' 100 things list. Basically, you write down 100 things about you, so that you answer most of the questions and more.

    I also hate seeing the same blogs over and over and over again on Blogmad, but it's not just Blogmad, it's everything traffic exchange place out there. I think what happens is that some blogs buy credits, so they out rank us when it comes to exposure. I would like to see some different blogs once in a while.

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  7. I've tried writing one of those "100 things" lists on and off for the past couple of years. Maybe I'll even finish and post it one day...:)

    You can't currently buy credits on blog mad, but I don't know if I'd bother even if you could. As I've said, most people are just waiting for the timer to run out so they can click for the credit...

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  8. Re: The metric system. "They" have been saying, "in two years we'll only be using the metric system" for over twenty years, now. I may have to finally use it, though, as my dh may get a 2-3 year position in Williamtown. (that's how I came to find your blog, searching for local blogs)

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  9. your "For the stalkers menu" is a real eye catcher.. can't wait to have something like that on my blog.. Seems you also have a knack for comic writing.. pretty impressed.

    happy blogging!!!

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  10. Thanks ustav - good luck with it yourself.

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