The last two weeks have been traumatic for me, and that is not an exaggeration. I've had very little sleep, spent hours and hours sitting hunched over my keyboard, ignored housework, fed the family freezer meals, even resorted to takeaway (something we haven't had for over 5 months) for tea TWICE!
Most of you will be aware that my website, Cheapskates, disappeared on 26th February. It took 60 hours of constant Skyping, emailing and messaging with techs here in Australia, in Baltimore and in Vancouver to find out what happened and get it back up. Then the server that runs the Cheapskates Club websites decided to have a hissy fit (I wanted to have one too!) and slow down, then stop. Once it was restarted it decided to start throwing out little errors that once again brought the website down.
During this time my blog was getting hit with some unacceptable (and quite hurtful) comments and so I made the decision to turn it off, and it has been off for 12 days. I wasn't sure I'd bring it back, and if I did, whether or not it would be public.
I had no idea just how many people would miss it. Of course I see the stats for visitors each day, and I know it is looked at by lots of people every day. But I didn't really understand how many of you would miss it if it wasn't there. This blog is really just me putting some thoughts and habits into words, sharing the weird and wacky things I do to maintain our frugal lifestyle so we can live the life we want to without the stress and confines of debt.
Over the 12 days the blog has been down I've been emailed, messaged via the member forum and the Cheapskates Club facebook page and even had phone messages asking where it had gone and when would it be back. Lots of them!
So it's back.
This is my blog, my kind of personal record of what I do in my day-to-day Cheapskates lifestyle. Sometimes I am a regular blogger, updating with titbits every couple of days. Sometimes it might be a few days or even weeks between posts. When I blog depends on time.
My time goes firstly to my family. Family always comes first. Then it goes to the Cheapskates Club members. Then if I have time it goes to the blog.
So every day I'll post the latest Tip of the Day from the Cheapskates Club, and when I have the time to sit and write a post and take photos for you I'll blog.
Thank you for your encouragement, you have no idea how I have appreciated it.
I am humbled that you've missed my ramblings and I will do my best to blog more as requested :)
You do such wonderful work Cath, you help so many!!you are much appreciated x.
ReplyDeleteThank you Melissa, I honestly had no idea the blog would be missed by so many. Have to say it was everyone who asked where it was that kept me going the last couple of weeks - I was ready to turn in my frugal badge at times :)
ReplyDeleteI was sorry to read that you have had such an awful couple of weeks. I do enjoy your blog and I understand it can be hard to find the time to post at times. Please know that I for one will appreciate reading your posts whenever you have the time to get around to them.
ReplyDeleteI love your blog and often spend ages just scrolling through your old posts (I am a fairly new member). Thank you for helping me look after my family and my church family the Cheapskate way!
ReplyDeleteExcellent news you are back Cath! I also am a relatively new member to the Cheapskates Club and I have missed your blog. I have learnt so much from reading your blog and it has helped my family so much and made me feel better at being able to provide for them on our very new lower wage.Cheers Donna Z:) PS Sorry I am anonymous I don't have a blog or Google account
ReplyDeleteSo glad to see that you're back!
ReplyDeleteI was so disappointed when the website wouldn't load for such a long time.
Sorry to hear you're getting some nasty comments. Try your best to ignore them! Some people just have too much time on their hands and too much hatefulness in their hearts :(
Hi Cath,
ReplyDeletesooo glad to have you back! I missed your blog terribly. You help and inspire a lot of people. Thankyou so much for being generous with your time and energy in producing this wonderful blog. Sorry to hear it has been so stressful for you. Take care of yourself and your family .x Regards,
Veronica
Glad your back- love to read your stuff! Ignore unkind people - they don't need us thinking about them!Cheers
ReplyDeleteThis is my first visit Cath, so I am oblivious to outages. But I have to say, I'm so sorry to hear that you were subjected to unfavourable comments. There's a great shortage of kindness in the world sometimes. I hope that things are better for you today. Mimi xxx
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