Blogs I Like (and You Might, Too)–4/16/2024

On By Mike U.In Featured Blogs

This ongoing initiative showcases blogs with fewer than 500 subscribers which I think are deserving of more attention. Hopefully these blogs will spark your interest and you’ll check them out. It’s my way of spreading awareness of talented writers whose work I admire.

This week’s featured blog is Ashley’s A Different View. I first met Ashley in November 2021 when he and I were both invited to take part in a discussion titled “Exploring Basho’s Moon,” an examination of one of Basho’s famous haiku, hosted by Mark Scott’s Season Words blog. I found Ashley to be the kindest fellow imaginable, and his delicate skill regarding the writing of traditional haiku was astounding. Since then, I’ve come to consider Ashley a good friend of mine, someone whose love of nature and poetic ability create a sense of peace and serenity. Ashley speaks my language, you could say, and his blog is a calm harbor of natural beauty and exemplary writing.

I asked Ashely if he’d like to provide a little background about himself and his blog. I’ll let his own words do the talking:

  • I’m 74 years old and married to Carol for 52 years although we were courting about 5 years before that so we’ve been together for at least 57 years
  • whilst Carol has had so much illness in her life (cancer x 4 + heart problems) SHE is still my rock
  • I’m a great grandfather
  • I was born in the city of Armagh in Northern Ireland to northern English parents
  • Armagh was the ancient capital of Christian Ireland & whilst no longer a practicing Christian, the sound of cathedral bells is in my heart (see John Betjeman: Summoned By Bells)
  • left home at 21 to live & work in London, UK.  Work location then was close to the River Thames & that river flows within me still
  • 30 years spent living & working in England in the clothing industry: after redundancy, aged 45, worked in various jobs (transport, retail, health service) now retired
  • returned to NI some years ago
  • did voluntary work with the Woodland Trust (30+ years).  LOVE trees, obsessed by them
  • through WordPress discovered haiku & writing in season
  • have always wanted to write & illustrate
  • lower back problems meant that I restarted my life, exercising daily, a mixture of physio exercises & Qi Gong
  • I have only ever travelled outside the UK about 3 or 4 times but follow blogs all around the world.  With tools like Google Translate I am amazed how many different cultures & languages I am able to connect with
  • I love the simplicity of seasonal haiku

I would be remiss were I not to mention that one thing I find intriguing about Ashley’s blog is that I have some Irish ancestry, and the Emerald Isle is a land I’ve always wanted to explore. I’m able to do that vicariously through Ashley’s writing and photography. Ashley’s essays take us on strolls through the Irish countryside among wild flowers and the trees he loves so dearly, and his haiku–distilled to their very essence–paint glorious pictures of the natural world. For an example of what A Different View offers, here’s a post Ashley chose to share:

“Occasional Furniture (1)”

In a nutshell, if you love nature, if you appreciate fine Japanese short-form poetry, if you’ve ever felt the desire to travel to Ireland, Ashley’s A Different View has it all. I hope you’ll visit Ashley’s blog and walk along with him among the trees.

Let’s spread the love and support our fellow bloggers.

46 thoughts on “Blogs I Like (and You Might, Too)–4/16/2024”

    1. Thanks so much. I’m happy to spread the love and hopefully introduce folks to bloggers they might enjoy. Ashley is a wonderful writer and person. I really like his blog–such a sense of gentle tranquility about it. 😊

      Liked by 2 people

  4. Ellie Carpenter's avatar Ellie Thompson

    I love that you do this, Mike. Giving beginners with fewer followers a chance is a wonderful thing to do. It’s so kind and generous of you. I always take a look at the blogs you mention, as we all had to start somewhere and it can be tough when you’re just beginning. X 😊

    Liked by 5 people

    1. Thank you kindly, Ellie. Yes, I remember my early blogging experience and the frustration that accompanied it. It’s difficult to get noticed among the millions of blogs out there. I just want to share some of my favorite blogs and hopefully others will like them as well. As for Ashley’s blog, he’s such a good poet and writer, with a gentleness about his work that is so inviting and comforting. He truly is a good fellow. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Kindest thanks, Peggy. It’s my pleasure to introduce these bloggers and hopefully shine some light on their work. Ashley’s writing is exceptional and his poetry is sublime. He’s a genuinely wonderful fellow, too. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Nigel. I’m happy to share Ashley’s blog here. He’s got such a deft touch with his writing, as well as a gentle authenticity about him. It’s a pleasure to read his work. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Many thanks for your kindness, Linda! When I read your post, I was like, “Hey, that’s me!” 😄 It was a wonderful surprise, and I thank you for this. It means a lot to me. I’m having a lot of fun with this project, sharing blogs here on my site, hoping to build community among bloggers. Ashley’s blog is a great place to spend some time. His essays and haiku are brilliant, and he’s a really good fellow, too. 😊

      Like

    1. Thank you kindly, Samantha. I’m just trying to spread the love for my fellow bloggers. This is a wonderful writing community and it’s embraced me over the course of my almost-three-year blogging experience. Paying it forward, you know? 

      Here’s wishing you much success with your new blog! I hope it brings you a lot of happiness, with many new friends to meet along the way. 😊

      Liked by 2 people

    1. Thanks, Luisa. I’m really enjoying sharing these blogs. The people behind them are so wonderful, and I appreciate what they’re contributing to our little writing community. It’s my pleasure to do this for my friends. 😊

      Liked by 3 people

  15. Ashley is one of a kind and I couldn’t agree more on the “kindest fellow imaginable”! Thank you, Mike for hosting his blog. He’s a friend I’ve been following for some time now, a friend I truly admire.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Many thanks, Marina. Ashley is a special fellow whose writing I truly admire. I’m pleased and honored to be able to feature his blog here. He represents the very best of what makes this community so wonderful. 

      Thanks for stopping by and for your kind comment. Much appreciated. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Dear Mike,

      I concur with Marina! Good on you for promoting the blog of Ashley, whom I have known for many years.

      It seems that we have a number of things in common, namely, our love of poetry and blogging, and perhaps even our promoting other bloggers and artists, either by championing them and/or critiquing their works. Similarly, as a lover, collector, composer and connoisseur of art and music, I like to think about, comment on, and promote art when time permits and circumstance prevails. Here is a multimedia post of mine promoting the works of John Clinock, available at

      🦅 SoundEagle in John Clinock’s Art Rat Cafe 🎨🖼

      May you and Marina have a lovely weekend!

      Happy May to you soon!

      Yours sincerely,
      SoundEagle

      Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you kindly, Mthobisi. It’s certainly my pleasure to feature Ashley’s blog here. He possesses such deftness and thoughtfulness with his writing, and he’s a wonderful fellow, too. 😊

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks so much. Ashley’s blog is such a peaceful experience, filled with the beauty of Ireland and written in such a contemplative way as he expresses his love for the natural world. I’m glad to be able to spread the awareness of his wonderful writing. 😊

      Liked by 2 people

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