Now, some of you may have been ‘in the know’ during April Fools Day, and already discovered/encountered this BBC video, but nevertheless, it’s still worth a watch!

To those that aren’t in the know, this is just a short clip of a fake documentary regarding flying penguins! Honestly, if you have 1 minute and 31 seconds to spare you really should give it a go.

I realise April Fools Day was a long time ago now… but still. Just watch it already!

I had a very long, rambling post for this. Actually, I still have it, I just unpublished it. Why? I very much doubt that you are that interested in what went wrong.

The basics? As short as possible…

This site is hosted via DreamHost, which offers one-click installs of WordPress. I have always used this method for installing WordPress on this domain. By doing this, I can also have the DreamHost bot do upgrades via another one-click process.

When WordPress 2.5 came out, I was eager to sink my teeth into it, and so did the usual upgrade via DreamHost.

What resulted was my site, neither the front or back end of WordPress, showing up or working. Something went astray somehow.

I ended up doing about six million installs of WordPress on another domain, a sub domain here, and locally on my computer (via one-click and manual installs).

However nothing got WordPress working fully functional as it should have been on this domain.

Then it came to me. When I’d installed WP on a sub domain, I’d actually created that sub domain specifically for such reason, rather than plonk it on some random pre-existing sub domain. I remembered skimming past on the page that the sub domain was PHP 5.2.(x). Hmm weird, I thought.

Considering my domain is coming up to two years, I felt sure it wasn’t that version of PHP. And it wasn’t. It was 4.4.(x). Ah. I said to myself. Is this the answer?

So I quickly updated this domain to 5.2, reinstalled WP 2.5 (first manually) and thankfully things worked perfectly! I decided I still trusted DreamHost’s bot, so reinstalled it via the one-click.

To this day I don’t understand what happened. WordPress doesn’t require this higher PHP version, so what did cause the stinky poops I don’t know.

The one unfortunate thing of upgrading via an ‘external program’ is that you can quite possibly be arrogant enough to not read the upgrade instructions or guidance notes. I certainly never did. I just went ahead and clicked ‘Upgrade’.

But from this experience, I’ve learned how important it is to backup your WordPress database before upgrading. To not do this, is pure ignorance, and sets you up for complete disaster that no one can pity you for, or help with.

Thankfully, I had backed up my database randomly the last time I did anything on this blog. DreamHost automatically backs up your files before upgrading, but I don’t believe it does anything with the database.

I realise this post is extremely non-descriptive in what exactly happened, but, hey, let’s just move on, and take joy in the fact everything is now working!

Thankfully, I am very happy with WordPress 2.5. Whilst I am aware some bloggers have issues with things, I have yet to find something that I dislike, or am not fond of. Perhaps all this hassle has left my judgement of WP 2.5 locked in a jar? Hmm. No bother!

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

Uh. This automatically posted entry marks the moment things went right with WordPress. Amongst everything else that caused over a week of frustration, desperation and depression.

I’m keeping this Hello world! post, sounding like the Travelocity’s Alan Whicker, to remind myself of the torment, torture and turmoil I went through to get to this bloody point! GAH!

With all that bad stuff, this post also marked, and initiated the release of all said ‘bad stuff’, and pointed me back into that ol’ good stuff!

Ahhh.

That’s right ladies and gentlemen… this awesome English ass will be on it’s way to YOUR zip code in less than 24 hours!

I’m making my dandy way to Connecticut tomorrow for two wholesome weeks. And I cannnnot wait!

Going to be seeing my Dad! Awwshumm! *does little dance*

Flying with sister! Awwshumm! *does another little dance* … and slightly scared but shhh we plan to drink lots of alcoholic drinks before boarding. It’s legal over here for my age, thankfully.

Gonna stay in New York Ciiiiiiiiity for a new nights! Awwshumm! *dances more*

Living the States life once again! Awwshumm! *totally rocks out*…

For those that don’t know, which should be all of you… I used to live in Connecticut a few years back, so… yeah, it will be interesting going there after so long!

Sorry for not being online so much recently. What can I say, college has been hectic like a cow with mad… cows…. disease?! Not awwshumm.

Anyway, I still won’t be online because I’ll be busy being a chic New York chick!

Seriously… I won’t be touching the internet whilst I’m away so… you’ll just have to return in two week’s time or so!

HAVE FUN!!!!

Oh wait. That’s what I’m supposed to be doing!!!

*laughs*

She emerges, slowly, and still so faded… she raises a hand, hinting for speech… yet her mouth moves, where no sound resonates…

She grasps for deliverance… a straw of understanding, patience… time…

In a world of oaty fairies, white fluffy socks and decaying sentiments, she sighs. Another day. Another time.

But another promise… laid shattered on the cold floor.

There is no mercy… no stop of time… no reverence.

A feeling of passion, prevalence… caught as wisps of meaningful thought… lost… as floating memories…

She blooms… silently… slowly… as an amaranth.

…”an imaginary flower that never fades…”