I've never really seen the point of travel writing. I am very much in the mindset that to truly experience something, or somewhere, you have to be there. It's all very well having some over-competent writer telling you the best restaurant to visit in the south of France, or where you can buy lovely dresses in Milan, but does it really matter if you didn't find it out for yourself?
My parents vow to never enter a restaurant in Italy that shows pictures of the food on the menu, because from their experience it means the food is crap. But as influenced as I am by my parents opinions, decisions and ideas, I would rather find that out for myself. Okay, so I probably won't ever go to a restaurant with pictures (because who wants to waste money, plus there's a delicious tagliatelle waiting for me somewhere), but essentially my point is that experience is personal.
Technology is the same. I don't doubt that most people recognise the unhealthy obsession that we have with technology, but sometimes we forget the need to take a step back. More importantly, most experiences do not need to be shared through our social media platforms.
It took my recent trip to Cornwall, to remind myself that it is unnecessary to be constantly attached to my mobile phone - obviously, because the lack of mobile network in Cornwall is so similar to being in the Stone Age.
On our first evening, we signed up for surfing lessons. Yes - willingly going in the sea, in England - definitely mad.
It's a reasonably common aspiration to want to try new things so, after my friend had mentioned it in passing, we decided to give it a go. Anyway, when the instructor asked for a contact number it was swiftly followed by the question:
'Do you have signal at all?'
Evidently, no, which resulted in a round of hysteria.
Because if you have a mobile device in the South West, don't expect to actually be able to make contact with the rest of the world.
We didn't have WiFi (my laptop knew to capitalise that before I did, weird?) in our holiday cottage - the unfortunate incident resulting from staying in a house your parents booked. So, I relished the opportunity to comment on our sudden ability to 'reconnect with the world,' every time we went anywhere remotely near civilisation.
However, it was a nice change, to fully immerse myself (figuratively and literally) in an activity that involved diving into the sea, rather than the depths of internet. What I'm trying to say, in a very round-a-bout way, is that it was truly enriching; the surfing, just as much as the chance to disconnect from Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. And as much as I'd love to boast that I am now an incredible surfer, sadly that wouldn't be the truth. As a somewhat impatient individual, I dream of being instantaneously great at everything, without the 'learning' bit in between.
My trip to Cornwall also sparked the name change for my blog.
For a while now, it has been titled: RE: Pending.
The idea being that, my posts are such a jumbled collection of ideas that there is no one subject that conclusively sums them up. I also envisioned that my blog would reflect my career, and as my job path itself is awaiting the completion of my degree, I thought it apt.
However, I think the change to 'Freckled Pen' (coincidentally sounding like Old Speckled Hen - not sponsored) acutely covers it. Despite the fact that this is an online authorship, my preferred writing method is with pen and paper, so what better way to sum it up?
The freckled bit (obviously) is my individuality, because after spending the week in Cornwall, I came back home substantially more freckled. I also like the idea that freckles are not regular, rather they are very random, much like the mixed subjects of my posts.
If you had a blog (or even if you already do), what would you title it? Why?
While you're here, read my previous post: Writers blo(g)ck
My parents vow to never enter a restaurant in Italy that shows pictures of the food on the menu, because from their experience it means the food is crap. But as influenced as I am by my parents opinions, decisions and ideas, I would rather find that out for myself. Okay, so I probably won't ever go to a restaurant with pictures (because who wants to waste money, plus there's a delicious tagliatelle waiting for me somewhere), but essentially my point is that experience is personal.
Technology is the same. I don't doubt that most people recognise the unhealthy obsession that we have with technology, but sometimes we forget the need to take a step back. More importantly, most experiences do not need to be shared through our social media platforms.
It took my recent trip to Cornwall, to remind myself that it is unnecessary to be constantly attached to my mobile phone - obviously, because the lack of mobile network in Cornwall is so similar to being in the Stone Age.
On our first evening, we signed up for surfing lessons. Yes - willingly going in the sea, in England - definitely mad.
 |
| https://www.pinterest.co.uk/chris0clark/surfboard-design/?lp=true |
It's a reasonably common aspiration to want to try new things so, after my friend had mentioned it in passing, we decided to give it a go. Anyway, when the instructor asked for a contact number it was swiftly followed by the question:
'Do you have signal at all?'
Evidently, no, which resulted in a round of hysteria.
Because if you have a mobile device in the South West, don't expect to actually be able to make contact with the rest of the world.
We didn't have WiFi (my laptop knew to capitalise that before I did, weird?) in our holiday cottage - the unfortunate incident resulting from staying in a house your parents booked. So, I relished the opportunity to comment on our sudden ability to 'reconnect with the world,' every time we went anywhere remotely near civilisation.
However, it was a nice change, to fully immerse myself (figuratively and literally) in an activity that involved diving into the sea, rather than the depths of internet. What I'm trying to say, in a very round-a-bout way, is that it was truly enriching; the surfing, just as much as the chance to disconnect from Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. And as much as I'd love to boast that I am now an incredible surfer, sadly that wouldn't be the truth. As a somewhat impatient individual, I dream of being instantaneously great at everything, without the 'learning' bit in between.
My trip to Cornwall also sparked the name change for my blog.
For a while now, it has been titled: RE: Pending.
The idea being that, my posts are such a jumbled collection of ideas that there is no one subject that conclusively sums them up. I also envisioned that my blog would reflect my career, and as my job path itself is awaiting the completion of my degree, I thought it apt.
However, I think the change to 'Freckled Pen' (coincidentally sounding like Old Speckled Hen - not sponsored) acutely covers it. Despite the fact that this is an online authorship, my preferred writing method is with pen and paper, so what better way to sum it up?
The freckled bit (obviously) is my individuality, because after spending the week in Cornwall, I came back home substantially more freckled. I also like the idea that freckles are not regular, rather they are very random, much like the mixed subjects of my posts.
If you had a blog (or even if you already do), what would you title it? Why?
While you're here, read my previous post: Writers blo(g)ck
Comments
Post a Comment