I’m As Surprised As You.
Back in 2020 when my first post was published, I thought that I would be able to keep this up for probably around six months, maybe a year at a push.
It was not that I didn’t have any interest in keeping it going longer, I just wasn’t sure if the stamina would be there to continue beyond that.
As this post proves however, The HopScot is still very much around and I like to think that in the last three years it has evolved beyond its original purpose.
Of course, I still use it to tell my story but it has also become a platform to answer questions, share information about amputations and heart conditions and most importantly, it has allowed me to connect with a great number of people from all over the world.
What Happened to Part 2?
If you were to scroll back through my posts, you may discover that there is one commemorating my first year of being The HopScot but nothing mentioning the second anniversary of the blog.
I had every intention to write and share a post at the time but to be quite honest, I didn’t actually have the time. Exactly a year ago my wife and me were preparing to move into our new home and as anyone who has done that before will know, it is a busy and stressful time.
Eventually, it got too far beyond the anniversary date to reasonably share something so I vowed to include a mention in my third year post when it came around.
So, here is to Two Years Of Being The HopScot!
What’s Been Going On With The Blog?
The last couple of years have been quite… interesting (to put it politely) and that has meant that I haven’t been able to keep up with posting as regularly as I would have liked (at this point I feel like the last part of that sentence has appeared on this blog more than the word amputee).
It has been getting better recently though and even with the sporadic schedule, I have still been able to get a fair few posts out there.
Alongside continuing “My Story” and the “Have You Ever?” series (which now has nine entries), I’ve also been able to come up with a few new things.
At the beginning of this year I started writing “How I Lost My Leg”, which is a collection of some of the more ‘outlandish’ stories I’ve told over the years when asked about how I became an amputee.
Edited (and slightly embellished) for the blog.
I have also very recently started recording all of my old “My Story” posts in the form of a podcast. Partly because I know some people prefer to listen while doing other things rather than sitting down to read, and partly because I do have a number of readers who for one reason or another cannot read the written word. It gives them an option other than the robotic text-to-speech programmes. (Though I’m not sure how much better my voice is).
Please do be nice, I have been editing all of the recordings these last couple of weeks and it is clear that… well let’s just say that I didn’t have as much practice when I recorded the earlier episodes.
I had hoped to be caught up with all currently released posts for today but the editing proved too big a task. As of this post going out there are … episodes live and the rest will be added over the next few weeks.
You can find all current episodes here as well as on a link at the top of their respective blog posts.
The Stats
And now the fun part that everybody loves about yearly reviews.
Lists and numbers.
Most Viewed Posts (Year 3):
- 7 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Being An Amputee
- A Decade of Hoppiness
- PA 12: All Eyes On Me
- PA 13: What Happens Next?
- PA 1: Gotta Start Somewhere
Countries With Highest Viewing Figures (Year 3):
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
- Canada
- Ireland
- Finland
Blog Numbers (All Time):
Posts: 53 (including this one)
Comments: 162
Blog Followers (Across all media): 742
Total Views: 17,085 (Creeping up on that 20K)
Onward
Who knows what the next 12 months will bring?
I have every intention of keeping things up with the blog and becoming a bit more regular. The podcast will be getting filled out and hopefully it will catch up with current posts soon.
There are several new types of posts I am eager to give a try and of course I’ll be continuing on with all of the series’… well, most of them. One is actually very close to its natural conclusion, keep an eye out for that.
There also may or may not be some videos on the way, that is dependent on a few factors, my available technology not being the least of those.
On the subject of videos, if the idea of my prosthetic legs gaining sentience and talking to (or shouting at) me in questionable accents sounds appealing to you, then my TikTok might be something you want to check out.
Thank You
To everyone who has in any way, big or small, helped me with keeping this going for so long. You all know who you are by now.
Thank you to you, yeah you, reading this right now.
If you are new to the blog, welcome and please have a look around.
If you have been here for a while, you already know that I think you’re excellent but it’s always worth saying again.
And if you have been with The HopScot from the beginning, thank you so much for sticking around this long and supporting my ramblings.
I truly appreciate every view, like, comment (especially the comments giving me question ideas) and share.
If you feel so inclined, leave a comment to let me know (roughly) how long you’ve been here. I’m interested to see when people first came to the blog.
You’re all awesome folks.
Stay safe and keep being excellent.
Follow me,
hello! congratulations!!!!!!!!!!
I myself am pretty sporadic on my blog but I love whenever am able to write.
I don’t really remember when i first read one of the posts from your blog but i remember getting to know about it from Ami’s blog.
your blog is insightful and here’s to more posts from you and another year of this blog!
Thank you so much!
Yeah sometimes it can just be difficult to set up anproper routine for posting but it feels great when I am able to. I’m glad I’m not the only one!
Ohhh I love Ami’s stuff, she was so kind to have me there and allow me to share something with her followers.
Thank you for saying that, I’m really glad thaylt you like the blog and I really enjoy reading yours as well. I’ll be sure to hop over soon and check out your newer posts.
ah yes Ami is lovely 🙂
thanks so much for supporting my little corner 🙂
<3