EVERYTHING IS NEW

It was time for a change of photo in the logo. Simple. Choose, add image, press publish. Well, if only it was that simple! The limitations were about to become apparent. Undo, redo, undo, the old photo re-emerged, but at a cost. Perhaps 'theme' in the navigation panel can help, I thought and pressed the button. I didn't know it at the time, but it was a move that was to have consequences.

This sample theme with fancy font looks interesting, I'll have a look. On opening the theme the layout was uninspiring, however, on trying to revert back to the original this new one remained. A few attempts later it stubbornly held fast. The previous was no longer accessible in theme back-up. An upgrade in the past was all it took to remove a site that I'd been told was 'full of personality', 'absolutely beautiful'. For years the compliments had flowed like water. Now not only was the name with its beautiful font and shadowing no more, but the Magellan Cloud background had disappeared.

With articles to write and send before submission deadlines, the last thing I needed was to completely re-design a website. Grieving struck. I was in denial that this could have happened as I was so careful about backing up my website. Realising I couldn't update the site with some exciting news, finding the time to replace the nondescript theme staring back at me had suddenly been made priority. Anger seethed that my website imagery no longer existed, and feeling a loss of my online identity; the talking to, shouting at, and bargaining with my inanimate laptop were all futile. The offending not-my-theme resolutely stuck to my screen. Searching for options, my shoulders slumped as a foreboding depression grew, coupled with the frustration that I had to find time to completely redesign my website.
It seemed ages before the fifth stage of grieving - acceptance - was to become apparent.

After nine years, I'm taking the opportunity to create a new look, rebrand, with emphasis on my books; a new look website has emerged.