tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post103643008061974253..comments2024-03-18T10:29:46.055+00:00Comments on Ken Armstrong Writing Stuff: Finishing Strong –Simon Ricketts and MeKen Armstronghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07775956557261111127noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-64032368897174163512018-12-31T11:32:09.515+00:002018-12-31T11:32:09.515+00:00I never knew Simon and it does seem I’ve missed ou...I never knew Simon and it does seem I’ve missed out there. I’m genuinely sorry for your loss but what I’m more upset about is that it feels like there’s nothing out there to fill that void. I’m not sure at what age I noticed that, that more of my enjoyment comes from remembering life than actually living it, but it’s been a while. When I first went online there was no Facebook or anything like that—even the blogosphere was still in its infancy—and I didn’t really know what to expect from it other than finding a way to get a few poems published. I certainly never expected to make friends. I <i>really</i> never expected to find a wife. But there you go. As you say, it’s mostly gone to shite and that’s a loss we both share but where there’s a will people will find a way. Not all the people. Not even most of them. But enough. I’ve long felt that the Internet exists in strata. You and I and few dozen, maybe as many as a hundred or so, keep bumping into each other because we all know each other and yet there must be other circles of e-friends out there who don’t even know we exist, not one of us. How many thousands of writers must be online right now that we know nothing of? It’s a ruddy miracle you and I ever met and an even bigger one we managed to cultivate the friendship we have.Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-58468531348429601462018-12-31T10:00:45.892+00:002018-12-31T10:00:45.892+00:00Thank you all for your comments here. x
Thank you all for your comments here. x<br />Ken Armstronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07775956557261111127noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-66142652475914278222018-12-31T02:21:33.238+00:002018-12-31T02:21:33.238+00:00You know, you and Simon were two of the first peop...You know, you and Simon were two of the first people I followed on twitter and I ALWAYS knew you two would meet, somehow, to me you were both quite similar in many ways and I would often see you both in my feed and always get you both mixed up. I am so glad you met and I know how deep that friendship ran, sometimes twitter can be like "the outside looking in" when you see people you follow interacting, but in a way it is nice to know that friendship can transcend the barriers that social media creates. <br /><br />Twitter back then was a small place, full of decent people trying something new, not many people were on there and a lot of it was "so what is this site about" and the discovery of what you can do with it. Now it is an amalgamation of the slime of social media, the attention seekers, the selfies, the self promotion, the self importance, and we are but numbers now, I made that mistake stupidly following everyone back (I believed in doing so you could meet amazing people, see amazing content) but honestly it ruined the site for me and I admit I dropped out mostly only conversing via DM's as the whole site and interaction now to me has died, I have nothing to promote, therefore tweet complete garbage, and I am nothing but a number to people, honestly it is true, quality not quantity, too many people on there now BUT it makes the originals from the beginning shine brighter (to me anyway) they were the good guys before the questionable neighbours rocked up to ruin the neighbourhood, but I am far too lazy to unfollow the "spam" so often feel out of the loop with keeping in touch with people and up to date. I felt guilty I hadn't trawled through his feed in a while. Similarly yours (I would have a good nosey at your blogs and loved your random cork floor full of haunting faces). Think I have a few ghost stories to catch up on there...<br /><br />I am glad he got the #bangingout he deserved, it is poetic how he trended and how so many people loved him. I don't think he would have believed it really. He was a lot of peoples "first" follows. I don't think he got lost in the numbers and that made him stand out. Some people pass without notice, he didn't, that shows how much he affected people in a positive way. I often told him he had a poetic soul. His descriptions in his stories, the way he connection with people and described that. That is rare, he truly saw how important connections were. A special RARE skill!<br /><br />But, I now wish twitter was back to the small groups, the writers, the creatives, the thinkers, the inside jokes, I learned a lot from you guys. It was a special time. I feel like that time is coming to an end, everyone seems to have lost that passion for the site. When I would be struggling with writers block or some silly mental block I would see a blog, a message, anything pop up and feel inspired (usually at 4-5am when I was often the only one awake/online). I feel like it was the ultimate group of misfits in the beginning of twitter. Non conforming, rebellious and hilarious. I am glad you found each other and the group lives on. <br />SamBlondenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-3077837931513507902018-12-30T23:09:16.256+00:002018-12-30T23:09:16.256+00:00Poignant and accurate Ken. I had the privilege of ...Poignant and accurate Ken. I had the privilege of knowing Simon from a young age and he was as you said both naughty and wise. I certainly believe I am a better person having known him & he will live on in my memory and my heart foreverNibshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14658164777774953807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-12503788895646191742018-12-30T21:36:25.285+00:002018-12-30T21:36:25.285+00:00That's great Ken, because I knew a lot of the ...That's great Ken, because I knew a lot of the stuff you've written about. I knew he went to see you, that you had a social group that met and the photos, Glen, Andrea, all part of the unfolding stories enabled by social media, in particular Twitter as it used to be, full of characters. That's what makes me, and many others sad and happy too. We were in the room. You and Simon might have met by the sea, or the lake, but we were all there too at the back of the room, or the sides, or just over there talking to someone else.<br /><br />'Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.' Henry Van Dyke.<br /><br />A gap is there in our web woods.Franhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06675807932843211827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-36389914941606831632018-12-30T21:05:02.090+00:002018-12-30T21:05:02.090+00:00Well said, Ken.Well said, Ken.Marc Patersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16124869545439738846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-32274396691670310772018-12-30T19:33:51.522+00:002018-12-30T19:33:51.522+00:00He was so pleased that he made that journey. He ta...He was so pleased that he made that journey. He talked about it a lot after. I got the impression he was immensely fond of you too. And I like you mention his mischievous side. He was. I posted a pic of him at Glastonbury smoking under a no smoking sign, two fingers raised in salute to his personal rebellion. There’s a gang of us who met on or through the Watford Observer and this last day I’ve been singing Morrissey - “he was the first in the gang with a gun in his hand, the first in the gang to die”. That was him. He lived life to the full and just used it up too soon. Thanks for this marvellous memory. Jeremy Austin (jeremymonkey)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-43136133309039974962018-12-30T17:56:33.904+00:002018-12-30T17:56:33.904+00:00As always, your words bring a gentle peace into th...As always, your words bring a gentle peace into the world. I am so sorry for your loss. Christopher Daleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-89673034458079350422018-12-30T16:06:07.289+00:002018-12-30T16:06:07.289+00:00Thank you for this. I was a mere twitter chum but ...Thank you for this. I was a mere twitter chum but time and again met his sheer kindnesses on the paths where we met. He is a beautiful soul and I was fortunate indeed to receive his thoughtful and generous missives. A great man measured by the human love that emanated from him. X Alison Moyetnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-48436465134839866572018-12-30T14:42:02.355+00:002018-12-30T14:42:02.355+00:00Will be sorely missed at Wealdstone FC
R.I.PWill be sorely missed at Wealdstone FC<br />R.I.PGraham Smithnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-23062288689936594312018-12-30T14:19:05.103+00:002018-12-30T14:19:05.103+00:00This is really good, Ken. It made me feel sad and ...This is really good, Ken. It made me feel sad and happy at the same time. Bob Hansonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-40992858974501924452018-12-30T13:35:35.578+00:002018-12-30T13:35:35.578+00:00Thank you for writing this Ken. I feel like I’ve k...Thank you for writing this Ken. I feel like I’ve known him years. I remember him going to visit you. Everything you’ve said I nodded at as I read it. All true. All Simon. Thanks. Caroline Caroline kavanaghnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-52605290909207121882018-12-30T12:54:24.157+00:002018-12-30T12:54:24.157+00:00Such sad news. I will miss his indomitable spirit,...Such sad news. I will miss his indomitable spirit, his wit, his charm - for those are the memories of him that I will keep close. I envy you for having actually met him. Thank you for your heartfelt delivery of our mutual loss.Julirosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16928625274199869805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-47231319792989280932018-12-30T12:12:20.354+00:002018-12-30T12:12:20.354+00:00Your very heartfelt and warm tribute makes me wish...Your very heartfelt and warm tribute makes me wish I'd known that man Ken. Evocative writing as ever. 😊😊Audrey Maughamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00847283083756976402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-49675212187966520222018-12-30T11:24:52.852+00:002018-12-30T11:24:52.852+00:00When I first joined Twitter I was a bit unsure I w...When I first joined Twitter I was a bit unsure I would ever become the addict I now am - people often asked me, "You like that placer? - what on earth for?"<br /><br />The answer came when I started following Simon N Rickets as recommended by someone I vaguely respected.<br />It was the time of the London Olympics and I was "watching with phone" - the spectacle was over to sightly amazed and growing massive enthusiasm, "OMG we can actually do this thing well!" <br />then came the boring bit of all the nations athletes parading into the arena waving a few flags and smiling a lot...<br /><br />Except Simon provided a running commentary mined from his brilliant creative description vaults. It had me in stitches.<br /><br />The fact that I remember the mood he created better than I remember Danny's Ceremony choreography says it all - Simon could make you feel so bloody good...<br />because he was, <br />just so good. offpat @smile_of_decadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05189834112799669520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-68734075887751463832018-12-30T10:07:28.378+00:002018-12-30T10:07:28.378+00:00A wonderful eulogy for a wonderful man. I never me...A wonderful eulogy for a wonderful man. I never met him, but as you have expressed, I felt he was my friend through Twitter. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12310453257072060991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6496460488742488789.post-50401878057898424802018-12-30T10:03:31.505+00:002018-12-30T10:03:31.505+00:00Simon was such a massive part of my early Twitter ...Simon was such a massive part of my early Twitter experience. I’m not on there much anymore but always went to check in with him. So sorry for your loss, Ken.Brigidnoreply@blogger.com