Tom – Page 61

is for … handing over ….

I’m handing over the reins to the rest of the participants in the April A to Z Challenge 2016.

When I completed my first attempt in 2014, it was hard work, because I had nothing prepared in advance. My topic was ‘writing’ and the whole idea of the month-long challenge drove me on. I completed the alphabet and, met some great people.

I didn’t attempt the challenge in 2015, mainly because I had too many projects underway.

This year once again I had work in progress, so I prepared all my posts in advance, having already chosen to write about natural history – another topic close to my heart.

Why stop now?

As I’ve said before, I have a blog, but I’m not a blogger – I’m a writer who blogs. This site is a platform to me and, not as it is to some people; a website based journal.

I don’t give up on things, but my heart is not in this challenge. I’ve had a handful of people stopping by to ‘like’, or even comment, but if I continued I’d be doing so for the wrong reasons. I’d feel uneasy and, insincere.

I’ve been following eight other participants, and instead of enjoying the experience, my assessment is – I’m losing writing time each day. It would make no difference how many people I followed, because it feels like a task – which it should not.

If I visit a blog, I leave a meaningful comment. I cannot honestly go from one to another and write ‘Good post’ and move on. It would be the equivalent of leaving ‘Good story’ as a book review on a novel.

This will be my final post in this challenge and, I’ll get back to my writing.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you if you’ve been one of the few who’ve paid any visits to my blog over the early part of the challenge.

I don’t harbour any negative feeling regarding the challenge, but, I believe this second attempt has proven to me it’s not for me. I did it once, enjoyed it and, I’ll leave it there.

I apologise to you Damyanti for dropping out, but I did start out with the best of intentions.

As always, I will respond to any comments and, for now, I’ll leave you all to get on with your next posts.

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is for – Gorilla, Goldfish, and Gull. We’ll look at Gorilla.

The Gorilla is the largest of the four ‘great apes’ which are the most closely related to humans. The others are the Orang-utan, Chimpanzee and, Bonobo.

Gorilla’s arms are longer than their legs which is pronounced on sight, because they tend to walk on all fours. Although large and fearsome looking animals, they are not aggressive unless provoked.

They are tender with their young and, highly protective. Unlike monkeys and the smaller ape species’ the Gorilla is a ground dweller and sleeps on a blanket of leaves.

Sam — Silverback Gorilla – acrylic on canvas

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Species: The four sub-species of Gorilla are the Mountain Gorilla (the longest hair), Cross River Gorilla, Western Lowland Gorilla and, Eastern Lowland Gorilla (the largest sub-species).

Size: Average 5.5 – 6ft (when standing upright).

Habitat: Mountain forest and, lowland forest.

Location: Central and Western Africa.

Diet: Roots, Shoots, Leaves and, Vines.

Predators: Mankind … yes, the most famous of them all. Where mankind can’t find a way to kill or injure, he reduces or damages the habitat – and here he does all of the aforementioned.

Info / Strange Fact: Gorillas can live as long as 50 years.

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