Melody Jacob

Finally, we have reached the end of 2024. Wow, I feel like the year flew by, almost as if it’s being chased by 2025, eager to make its entrance. I’m really excited about the new year, and I know I’ve said it several times, but I’m truly thankful for life! I wish you all a Happy New Year and can't wait to read all your blog posts in the year ahead, living according to God's plan. HAPPY NEW YEAR! WELCOME TO 2025! Photo by Efrem Efre

In my previous post, I mentioned it would be my last, but when I came across this news today, I felt compelled to share my thoughts. For every country I have lived in, visiting restaurants has been one of the fun things I enjoyed doing. Never have I been obligated to give tips. Even in Ukraine, where I really enjoyed the services when I went out, I was never obligated or talked down to by a delivery person or server to give tips. I did it at will. The same applies to Hungary and here in the UK. However, I know experiences can differ from person to person. When my friend traveled to America, she told me that waiters and servers gave her bad looks and even asked her to tip them. She was about to leave a restaurant, and a waiter asked her outright, “Where is my tip?” I was shocked when she said this happened several times in different places. I kept wondering: how are waiters allowed to harass customers like this and get away with it? I’m not sure about the laws in America regarding ti...

It’s just two days to Christmas, and guess what? I’m not working on Christmas Day! I’ve been thinking about writing a Christmas post because I can’t end this year without thanking everyone who has been reading, commenting, and supporting my blog. Writing and connecting with all of you through my thoughts and feelings about life has truly been one of my favorite activities this year. A few days ago, my friend Ebube called and mentioned that she’d be coming to Glasgow for a day trip with Yinka. They planned to leave the next day, and it got me thinking about how every year, since moving to the UK during the Christmas period, I’ve had the chance to meet up with Ebube. Do you remember my Christmas trip to Edinburgh with Ebube? Well, we’re doing it again this year, but this time, it’s just a quick day trip before Christmas. Yesterday, being Sunday, Yinka arrived on time as planned. She used FlixBus, and it didn’t disappoint this time. Unlike the first time I used it to travel to Aberdeen f...

Many bloggers struggle to drive traffic to their blogs, and one common mistake I've noticed while visiting many new blogs through their Google profiles is leaving outdated links on their profiles. Ever since Google shut down Google+, which I consider one of Google's biggest missteps, this issue has become more common. Google+ was a fantastic platform for connecting bloggers, sharing blog posts, and resolving blogging challenges, thanks to the wealth of information shared there. Now, without Google+, you can no longer view a blogger's profile directly without clicking on their Google account or visiting their blog URL. Unfortunately, many bloggers still have outdated, nonfunctional blogs linked to their profiles, leading to an increase in bounce rate. What is Bounce Rate? I’ve explained this in a previous post , but here’s a quick recap: Bounce rate refers to the percentage of single-page visits on your website, where a visitor leaves without interacting further. It’s calc...

While I was watching a reality TV show about a family who lives and raises their children in the bush, I was struck by the profound implications of their story. This family had built their life in the bush, far from the conveniences and demands of modern society. However, the government burned down their home located on public land, forcing them to relocate. Determined to continue their way of life, they purchased land deep in the forest in Alaska—a remote and inexpensive location—and began rebuilding. But the challenges didn’t end there: they had to endure long drives and build a new cabin just to maintain their lifestyle. Why am I writing about this? Because their experience reflects a broader issue: the way governments and modern societies treat people who choose to live differently. Across the world, there are indigenous tribes and isolated communities who have been “discovered” by tourists, explorers, scientists, or even random adventurers. Once these groups are identified, govern...