To write a blog, or not to write a blog

I've agonised about the decision to start writing a blog, mostly because I don't want to be a self-aggrandizing, arrogant and indulgent arse. So if I ever become one on this (yeah yeah yeah - I already am one in real life. haha.) , I thought I would write my first blog post about why I want to write one.

The thing that finally pushed me over the edge was Nelson Mandela going into hospital. "Here we go with the name drop" :p As Madiba was all over the news, I was struck with the urge to find out if there was any information out there about his relationship with my grandfather - Oupa Natie. A quick google later and i discovered the picture of a letter Oupa wrote to Madiba when he was president - about corruption in the ANC.

It was so powerful to hold this printout of a letter written by a man who I remember mostly for his enthusiastic chasing of chickens around our back garden in Norfolk (he chased the chickens, the cockerel frequently chased me across the garden). But it was a part of his life that I never heard him talk about and will never have the chance to. It made me think that I've been extraordinarily lucky to have so far lived a life of great experiences (if I were in the Deep South I would describe myself as 'blessed') and I don't want to forget any of them.

I want to live life, but I also want to remember it, so this blog is for me. See - not only am I being indulgent - I'm also being terribly selfish :p. But I'm keeping a watchful eye on the words of the American author Fran Lebowitz once said that "Your life story would not make a good book. Don't even try." Which is just the optimistic note that I thought I should start the blog!

So why am I writing a blog rather than a personal diary? Mostly because this way I don't have to save it. Because I like to share my life with others - as I write about thoughts, musings, opinions, if this blog does have an audience (hi mum), then it would be cool if they shared their own thoughts, musings, experiences. Also - for the far simpler reason that I find it easier to write when I think of someone to write to, much like I find it nearly impossible to write a coherent sentence when the font is Times New Roman. So there it is. I'm writing a blog. Let's see how long it lasts.