Welcome to Almerimar Life. You can read what we are all about here but on this page we wanted to explain how to use the blog.

First up a blog (or weblog) “is a website, usually maintained by an individual, with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse chronological order.”

Basically think of it as our electronic scrap book. It is a way for us to share our thoughts, experiences and views via a variety of medium - written (the most common and called a post), photographs (found on Flickr, Photo Gallery, or Photo Library), video, video stream, and audio (called a podcast).

It is also a means by which you can contribute and particpate:

• Make a comment on a post (see below)
• Email us with a suggestion for a post, information on an event, a photograph you want to show, or with information on your business

A Post

This is what you will see when you first visit the blog or when you click on the Blog text in the header. It is effectively an article that we have written or someone has submitted on a subject that we think will be of interest to you. It may be about some local activity or news, a review of a restaurant or excursion, or some news relating to Almerimar, Spain, Europe or the UK.

They will often include a photograph, video or a link to another part of the site (or internet) where you can find out more information on the subject.

And of course this is where you can comment! The front page will show the first few lines of the post. To read it all either click on the post headline, or the Read It All link at the bottom of the post next to the smaller headline. This will open up the full article. Right at the bottom of the page you will find a box that says Leave a Reply. You can type whatever you want to say about the article in this box. The first time you do this you will be asked to enter your name and a valid email address. You can also enter your web site if you have one. You only have to do this the first time just so that we can confirm you are a real human and not a robot trying to spam us! If you enter your Website then the more you comment, the more chance you have of showing up in the Top Commenters list, and then if someone clicks on your name they will be directed to your site.

If you leave a comment be sure to check the Subscribe button at the bottom of the page as that way you will receive an email whenever anyone else leaves a comment on that post. It is a great way to exchange views and get to know people!

Daily Bits

In the middle sidebar - wait I better explain what they are! The main posts are in the errr main section of the page i.e. the bigger block on the left. The two narrower columns are called sidebars, so we have a middle sidebar (which sounds wrong I know) and a right sidebar.

So in the middle sidebar you will find what are called mini-posts, and we call Daily BIts. They are short bits of information relating to our daily life. You can comment on them as above, and you can read the full article by clicking on the [more] word.

Related Posts

You will see these at the bottom of every post and they are the blogs way of giving you some suggestions as to previous posts on a similar subject.

Middle Sidebar

Site Information

Here you will find links to pages with specific bits of information. Hover your mouse over a link to see a more detailed explanation. Archived posts is a good one for finding all the previous posts on the site. You can view them by month, popularity (number of comments left), Tag (subject e.g. restaurant, expat, sport) and Daily Bits i.e. personal mini posts as explained above)

Daily Bits

Explained above

Exclusive Readers Offers

As you would expect from the title, a link to the page (see below) that lists all the exclusive offers available to readers of the site. We have a policy of not charging for advertising on the site so long as you advertise exclusively with us (locally), provide a exclusive readers offer and contribute content to the site. This will always be our position. Advertising will be free for the lifetime of the blog under the above conditions. In addition we will provide free web hosting for anybody that advertisers with us, and were appropriate a share in revenues generated. Yes, you could actually get paid to advertise with us! We do charge for sponsorship if you want even more benefits and coverage.

Currently Popular

These are the posts that are generating the most comments at the time.

Almerimar Life Poster

You can download our poster to help promote the site - please!!!!

Photo Library

Links to our online photo libraries - take a look and enjoy

Search Blog

A way to search for specific information on the site e.g. a particular restaurant you may want to read about.

Recent Comments

Links to the most recent comments left on the site.

Top Commenters

A lost of the top 5 commenters. Our way of saying thank you for participating and a way for you to link back to your own site

Random Post

Click it and see - it will take you to a previous post at random. Just a bit of fun

Text Link Ads

A blog tool really, if you are into blogging you should sign up with these guys.

Recently Posted

Errr - the most recently posted items!

Advert

This is one way we make money from the blog and you can help us. If the advert appeals to you then please click on it and see if the offer is of interest to you. We wok hard to get accepted onto these marketing programs and always try and find ones that we think will be of interest to you.

Streamed Video Feed

The nearest to live video you will get! We can stream video in real time from events we are at so you can watch them on the blog.

Right Sidebar

Advert

This is one way we make money from the blog and you can help us. If the advert appeals to you then please click on it and see if the offer is of interest to you. We wok hard to get accepted onto these marketing programs and always try and find ones that we think will be of interest to you.

Donate To Help The Strays

A way for PayPal users to donate and help us try and help the stray animals here in Almerimar. This is very much a personal issue, having adopted two cats of the street.

Latest Video

As and when we shoot some video and publish it on the Internet you can see it here. You can also subscribe to our account with blip.tv or iTunes to receive and view the videos as well (see below)

Latest Podcast

As and when we record some audio and publish it on the Internet you can listen to it here. You can also subscribe to our account with Libsyn or iTunes to receive and view the videos as well (see below)

Tag Cloud

A very easy way to find previous posts. Click on a tag e.g. Eat & Drink and you will see all our previous posts on that subject.

Amazon

Another way you can support the site. If you shop with Amazon UK then please do so through the site. You pay the same and we get a small % of the transaction.

Pages

Right a post as you have seen above is a small article. A page is a more static bit of information e.g. Frequently Asked Questions. You can click on any of the pages to go straight to it!

News

Latest news from the UK, Europe and Spain

So that just leaves the footer where you will find the weather forecast, our latest Flickr photographs and the all time most popular feeds and the header which is where you can really help. If you are looking for a property to buy or rent in Almerimar, a great offer from one of our advertisers, or a cheap Hotel at a UK airport then please check out the relevant links in the header. Yes you save money this way and yes we make money. You win, we win and we get to pay the bills to keep the blog going.

Hopefully this helps. Any questions just shout!