For Detectorists Who Just Whine on … and on … and on

A couple of things were the catalyst for this blog post. The first was from a friend of mine bemoaning the fact that whenever he visited detecting sites, it seemed to be the same ‘hard core group’ keeping the forum active – and that’s true. I have often seen that Administrators urge people to contribute more.

The other, from the mouth of a serial whiner was a terse, “There are too many bloody blogs.”

Nice alliteration!

Self Doubts

I pointed out that the core group on any forum were usually the retired, the unemployed and those with time on their hands – for whatever reason. Other, younger detectorists, are busy working, earning a crust, raising a family, and coping with a myriad of other tasks, including getting on with their lives. They don’t have the same luxury as us wrinklies … and that ‘commodity’ is TIME. And, although I try to keep myself busy, I’ve still got a surplus of that! One thing I do with this bonus is maintain my blog – about the ONLY thing I can do. I enjoy writing about and keeping up with the hobby and, I suppose, that has always been the point.

December 2010 was my rather hesitant foray into the blogosphere and I wasn’t really sure what I was doing there – apart from giving me that purpose in life. In the early days I talked with Dick Stout about why we kept a blog. He summed it up admirably in a well-written blog …

“I’ve often thought that blogging was a self-centred way to promote yourself, but I find it creative and fun, in that I try to pass on things about the metal detecting pastime that I’ve learned over the years, and in the process, try to get a laugh or two out of my subscribers.” Dick.

Along with many of you who leave the occasional response on my blog, Dick has kept me going in periods of self-doubt and I thank him, but perhaps I owe more to Bacchus, the Roman god of the grape harvest … or should that be the Greek god Dionysus? In Greek mythology, in addition to being the god of wine, he was also a champion of ritual madness! Yup! He’s more my kind of guy.

>>> Statue of Dionysus. Marble, 2nd century – found in Italy. Unknown artist.

Red Wine Increases Cancer Risk

Call it what you like, the nectar of the gods, the blood of Christ or vin ordinaire, the thrice-blessed child of sun, soil and grape is what helps keeps me going. I say ‘bollocks’ to Britain’s top doctor, hectoring bore Dame Sally Davies who urged people to consider the risk of getting cancer every time they have a drink. This is contrary to what I have always understood. Later she retracted her earlier statement. Bottom line: NOT drinking is the safest choice.

I’ve already made up my mind. No contest.

The Romans and Wine

“In Rome, wine was drank at every meal, making one wonder if a modern day Roman would pour Chardonnay into his Cocoa Puffs. Even slaves, who were thought to exist on the same spectrum as mongrel dogs, were allowed to drink wine. A life of servitude, to the Romans, seemed reasonable, but a life without wine was out of the question; it was simply preposterous.” Read more entertaining and interesting facts at savoreachglass.

At this stage – eleven years on – I am not absolutely sure what I should be doing on here and what the content will be. Is it simply an exercise in self-congratulation or something much more than that?

Contrary to current thinking, you’ll be delighted to know that drinking wine doesn’t make you fat. I’ve discovered that it makes you lean: against tables, chairs, floors, walls and people!

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Rating: 5 out of 5.