The Need for the Folly

The word folly has several different meanings, each of them suggestive of a daydreaming and escapist approach to life. This is necessary for everyone, every now and then, and the pursuit of same is certainly made possible through writing.

One might describe a person's beliefs or statement as 'folly',  meaning it is absurd, illogical, or insensible. At least one of those words, maybe more, can be used to describe my writing upon occasion. It is not always to be taken seriously, and it is certainly meant in good humour, with the eliciting of thought and the drawing forth of smiles in mind. Whilst it is true that I intend to further my writing on this blog as a matter of gaining experience, and putting on paper some words that I can call my own, I understand that my style will have to develop in order to cater for a reading audience. I can't always be dead-pan serious when this endangers my prospects of anyone ever reading the posts ever again.

Wimpole's Folly, Cambridgeshire

Hopefully I won't be doing myself too much of a disservice when I explain that the other meaning of the word 'folly' is a typically English idea for a small building that-- well-- essentially serves no traditional purpose that buildings usually serve. In romantic literature, the folly was a place of seclusion, rather than one of habitation; a place for thinking and solitude rather than comfort and reclining. It hosted the turning over of ideas and book pages. One of these grand little buildings  could be visited when in need of a place to elucidate, to ponder, and, given their commonly being located in areas of outstanding natural beauty, to be used as a suitable spot for 'gandering'.

And what else should a blog be used for, but to ponder, oft times in solitude, and to elucidate and express ideas, sharing them with anyone else who cares to read? As for outstanding beauty, I'll try to fit in some pretty pictures every now and then.

So, a silly name for a blog, yes, perhaps. An apt one? Certainly. 


M.