Long Time No Speak! A Personal Update From Me

Hi everyone,

I hope you’re all keeping well and dry on this wintery weekend. I’ve had a few messages from some of you on my social media and thought it was about time that I touched base with everyone to explain why it’s been so quiet here on Tea and Cake for the Soul.

You may remember reading my post last year about how I quit my job as a learning support assistant. I said then that I intended to carry on with my other work and continue to build up my portfolio and client base as a freelance writer and social media manager.

Irony!

Well, as I started working on more content for Tea and Cake for the Soul and freelance articles, I began to suffer from more back pain particularly in my coccyx area. As time went on, so did my pain to the extent that I am now in chronic pain and cannot sit down for very long at all now. Ironically, many of the articles that I wrote were about health!

I won’t bore you with all the details of my condition in this post, except to say that this has been going on for a long time and I am now on the waiting list for a second cortisone injection. It has had a huge impact on my life of late and I haven’t been able to get out to gigs and socialise because I can’t sit for that long in the car. It has become very isolating.

I have managed to keep up with my freelance writing and social media management work but my blog has been left behind. The bloggers amongst you will know that there’s so much more to blogging than the writing, and a post can often take a day’s worth of “work” to get it to the state for publication. Obviously, my paid work has to take priority.

What I can do …

During periods of illness, it is so easy to get dragged down by what you can’t do, but it’s so important to focus on what you CAN do and when I think about it I’ve still managed to achieve quite a lot.

Freelance Writing and Ghostwriting

I’ve been enjoying doing some ghostwriting for someone recently. Sure, it’s nice to see your name in print somewhere, but the pleasure is also in the creating. I’m sure you’ll understand that mum has to be the word on this one!

I’ve also contributed to a book about menopause. You may have seen my review of The Menopause Monologues last year, well I’m very pleased to say that my story has been published in book two.

Summerley Digital

I’ve joined a great team at Summerley Digital who offer everything for your digital needs from new build websites to SEO advice and lots, lots more.  I never know what I am going to be doing from one day to the next, but so far it has included content writing and social media analysis.

Social Media Management

Of course, I have my freelance social media management and writing obligations too.

Music

I’ve continued my commitment to all the band and music pages that I run. I’ve loved helping out a new band with some advice and short-term media management to get them started and help spread the word.

Tattoos

I’ve also started work on Facebook and Instagram for a tattoo artist from Hampshire. He’s been tattooing for 40 years and produces high-quality custom work in a variety of styles. It’s an absolute pleasure to be sharing his work. If you’re a tattoo fan do check him out at @afinetattoomartin

Facebook link
Instagram link

My social media

I’ve not been that active on my social media accounts with the exception of Instagram. I’m very late to the party on this platform but I have to say I love it! Just lots of pretty pictures.

I only post pictures that make me feel happy, and only follow accounts that will do the same for me. I’m in very low numbers compared to others but it is going up month by month organically. There’s no follow-for-follow-back game played here.

I share photos from my travels, blue skies, colourful blooms, calming sunsets and lots of street art and oddities that have tickled my fancy. I’d love it if you want to join me or if you post similar photos please let me know so I can check out your account.

I go by the tag @littlejojackson_ 

 

Tea & Cake for the Soul vs UK Psychobilly Archives

I decided to move all my music content over to my other website UK Psychobilly Archives and Gig Guide. It has been running for almost 20 years in many years in different guises, and although some of my audience overlapped, I decided the music posts were best off in one place.

I’ve republished all the articles and interviews over there and have lots more to come. I’ve just set up an Instagram page for that too where I post the current month’s gig flyers and old photos from concerts and festivals. I didn’t stick to my brief entirely though and have posted some cake pictures there too.

You will find the site WordPress and social channels with the handle @psychobillygigs

WordPress
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter

Tea & Cake for the Soul

I will sign off with what’s coming up on Tea and Cake for the Soul. My mind is permanently buzzing with ideas for new projects and I have several posts in draft form to be formatted properly.

I’ve read a lot of books over the winter so I would like to share my thoughts on those and some new cake recipes that I’ve found too. Unfortunately, they will all be as and when I am able to sit for long enough to do them. Like I say, I have to limit my time sitting and priority has to be given to my paid work.

So I apologise for lack of interaction on the blogs I normally read, and the social media accounts I normally follow. In the meantime, please check out some of the old posts that I’ve written. You can find all my categories in the menu or on the home page. I do hope normal service will resume before too long. Thanks for all the support as always.