I’ve been using Google Calendar for a while now, which is especially awesome as it now sync’s with my phone. However, with everything looking the same, I longed for the ability to look at my week and quickly glance what was class time, what was study time, when assignments were due, and – importantly – when my “personal” time was – the time where I could go and practice my violin, play a game on my computer, or squeeze in a round of golf.

My Colourful calendar

I discovered that this was able through the ability to colour your events in Google Calendar. This was a fairly recent, but welcome, addition to the Google Calendar, and will quickly allow me to see what my week looks like. However, You are not able to edit the colours, or to apply labels to your colours so you know what each colour is to be used for.

I played around a bit, and then worked out a solution – the tasks bar!

My Colour categories

The tasks bar is always open, and always there, no matter what screen you’re looking at in Google Calendar. So what I did was create a new list – called Colour Guide – and created a “task” for each colour, and what I want it to be used for. So as you can see, Red is for Classes, Blue is for Meetings, Grey is for House Duties (cleaning the college), Orange for prayer and devotions – and so on.

Then I applied the colours for each appointment or event. I started out going into each event and picking the colours out from the selection below the event details – as in the picture on the right. It was only half way through that I discovered a far easier way.

Clicking on any event will bring up more details, showing time and where, and some other details. However, what I didn’t realise was that clicking on the arrow to the left of the event title will allow you to change colour. This way you don’t have to go into the new screen to edit the event details, you can get this done a lot quicker.

So there you go – go colourise your Google Calendar, using a new Tasks list to help remind you of the categories you’ve set.

Related articles

• 10 Simple Google Calendar Tips and Tricks to Boost Your Productivity (mashable.com)

The Salvation Army Training College, Melbourne

I’ve practically finished my first week of orientation at the Training College. We’ve had a lot of different orientations – to uniform, to education, to prayer and more. Yesterday, we had a session called “Coping with Change”. We have all had to go through a big change in order to come to the Training College. At a very basic level, the shift from Perth to Melbourne was a big change. We were discussing yesterday the differences in language that we share – from Milk Bars and Delis, to Stobie Poles and Power Poles and even the way we pronounce Lego.

One thing we did was to create a well-being plan that focussed on some goals in four areas – Physical, Mental, Emotional and Spiritual. By setting goals in these four areas, we can help take control of certain areas of our life so that we can deal with the change better, but also be in a better mental state. Part of the exercise was to write down some names that we would share the plan with so that we can be accountable with it. So I’m going to share my goals with you, and post regularly on how I’m going.

Physical Goals

We'll be walking a lot around Princes Park. Look carefully - there's the training college in the background.

Exercise helps so much with staying focussed and your general mental health, that it’s really rather important. For me, I’m committing to at least 3 blocks of exercise a week, with one of those being high intensity in the gym. I like working out  in the gym, but I also enjoy walking with Liesl, as it often gives us time to chat. So by saying one of them will be high intensity, allowing the rest to be walking in one of the various parks around college, I can get that exercise in and still have that nice thing to do with Liesl.

At the training college, we get our meals provided. They often provide desert. While desert is nice to have, it’s not great to have all the time, and it’s not great for weight control (especially as I’m looking to lose a bit more weight). So I’m not going to have more than three deserts a week, one of those being a healthy desert (fruit, yoghurt etc).

Water is also really important, and it’s something that I’ve often neglected a bit. I’m going to try and drink 1L of water each day. This will keep me hydrated, and allow my body and mind to be working as intended.

Finally for the physical side, I’m going to set up a sleep routine that allows me to get 6 hours of sleep per night. I find that 6 hours works well for me, and allows me to function as needed. By setting up a sleep routine, I can set myself up in the right frame of mind for sleep, by doing the same things before heading to bed each night, indicating to my body that it’s time to wind down.

Mental

I had difficulty choosing goals for the mental side, because often it’s hard to find a mental goal that has a specific, measurable outcome. Their suggestion of one was “every time I catch myself thinking negative thoughts, I will reframe these into positive ones”. For me, I find that a difficult one to measure, which means it’s not very achieveable because I can’t be accountable on it – and if I’m not accountable on one goal, then I won’t be accountable on any of the goals.

(Image from sxc.hu by dwayno)

Instead, I set myself a goal of spending an hour a week planning my schedule and organising my week. If I don’t have a plan for my week, I know that I can end up doing not much. This could be very dangerous here, as I could quite easily get behind in my assignments. Instead, by devoting time to scheduling and planning, I can look at what time I have during each week, as well as looking at what deadlines I have approaching, and I can block out time accordingly. This should hopefully calm my mental state because I know what is happening, and know that I am on track with assignments and the like.

Emotional

Spending time with family is very important, and a must for the emotional side. I plan on spending an hour a day devoted time with Liesl – chatting, or watching a tv show together, or similar. It’s important, because she’s very important to me. When our baby comes along, I’ll also need to spend time with her, so I’ll need to be very careful with my scheduling to make sure that no-one gets forgotten.

As well as family here, I need to make sure I spend time talking with family at home, as well as my mates. I’m going to make sure I set aside time once a week for a video call with my parents so that I can catch up with what’s happening with them, and stay in close contact. And a suggestion from the guy who was running the session was to set aside time to e-mail friends to stay in contact with them. So I’ll be e-mailing one of my mates each week, so that I can stay in contact. They have so much happening in their lives at the moment – one’s getting married, ones about to become a father, and a third is in the process of building a house. These guys were a big part of my life – they were all part of the wedding party – and I need to stay in contact with them.

Spiritual

A Celtic Primer: The Complete Celtic Worship Resource and Collection

While you would think studying Ministry would allow the spiritual side to be covered, you also have to be intentional about it. For me, I’m going to be intentional about finding a regular time to spend half an hour in personal devotions and prayer. I think this is going to come – for the first part of the year at least – from a book that I received from my work at the Uniting Church called A Celtic Primer.

Also in the spiritual side is setting aside time for the things that you enjoy. For me, it’s music and Golf. So I’m going to try and learn an entire Bach Sonata or Partita by the end of the year. I’ve tried to be realistic about this, in that my time is limited, so I won’t get much practice done. So I’ve chosen one that I’m already familiar with – the First Sonata in G Minor. I performed the 3rd and 4th movements of this at my graduation recital, so I know these, and I’ve played through the first movement enough to know the general layout of it, which just leaves the second movement – the fugue – for me to learn from scratch. Even still, if I plan it out, I need to learn an average of 6 bars a week to have it complete by the end of the year. That shouldn’t be too much of a stretch.

Finally, with golf, I’ll aim to get out on the course once a month. It may be difficult – particularly around assignment times – however I really enjoy golf, and want to keep it up – so I shall try for once a month. I’ve already bought a scoopon for a round of golf at the fantastic Eynesbury Golf Course, so I shall head out there one day, and the Royal Park Golf Course is a short walk from the college, so hopefully I can squeeze 9 holes in there fairly regularly.

I’m hoping that with these goals, the journey through college will be made easier (mentally), and that I will enjoy a lot of it. I’ll be keeping accountable, posting regularly on here about how I’m going (about once a month).

Related articles

• How Exercise Impacts Your Mental Health (myyeartothrive.wordpress.com)
• Playing Golf Will Help You Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions (azgolfandhome.wordpress.com)
• Hone Your Mental Skills, Part 1: Goal Setting (stack.com)
• Music and Mental Health (kractivist.wordpress.com)

So, Friday we went out looking at cars, and at our second dealership, found a car that was a good buy. It’s a 1994 Holden Berlina, so its a lot larger than any car I’m used to. It’s also got many features that I’ve never had in a car before – for example, electric mirrors and windows, climate control, remote locking… It is a car with a much larger engine, but we won’t be driving it much during college, so hopefully it shouldn’t ne too much of an issue.

We had a good farewell from Perth. Sunday we had our last meeting at Floreat, with a divisional farewell as well. On Monday, our gear got picked up. I’ve had to pack my instruments to get them over, so I’m hoping that they arrive safely and undamaged.
Tuesday, we said farewell to many of our friends, with a dinner at Hillarys. It was great to catch up with them one last time before heading to college.
Wednesday, we had dinner with Liesl’s family, which was again a wonderful way to spend our last night in Perth. Family is a wonderful thing, and to spend our last night with them was a very special thing.

So we’re slowly growing accustomed to Melbourne, it has been a bit chilly the last couple of days, but we’re still looking forward to the challenges that college presents.

Farewell Speech to Ben and Liesl

A few weeks ago Liesl led the devotions at Songster Practice. She spoke about her life being in the ‘count-down’ phase as she was going through ‘the last time I will be doing this’ before leaving WA for the Training College… the half packed boxes a constant reminder that time was ticking away far too quickly. She expressed that her sense of excitement and anticipation was tinged with sadness because she would be leaving her church family here at Floreat. Liesl has grown up in this church since she was a baby, except for a brief period after the family moved to Morley and attended the Corps there. However Liesl’s heart was always at Floreat so she returned and became one of us again where she has been nurtured and encouraged in her faith and service for God. Those who have known Liesl would be aware of her strong conviction that God had called her into full-time ministry in The Salvation Army.

Image via Wikipedia

When she met Ben, who at the time was attending and involved in another church some of us may have wondered if God had other plans for her life. Would Officership still be her calling? As only God can do, He worked His plan and purpose out for both Ben and Liesl in bringing them together and laying on Ben’s heart that same conviction that as husband and wife they were to serve Him as Officers in The Salvation Army.

Today is another count-down for you both when we here at Floreat officially farewell you. Yes! It is a little premature as you are not leaving us yet but with Christmas and the New Year holidays it is appropriate that today we acknowledge your service in this church and assure you of our continued support in this new phase of your lives. On behalf of the Corps I want to thank you for your service to God in this place. Liesl, you have an amazing gift for Children’s ministry and many have benefited from the talents and service that you have given over past years. You will be greatly missed as our Session leader at mainly music. This has not been an easy task but you have competently engaged the parents and children in such a way that it has been a delight for other members of the team to see the enjoyment and participation of the mothers, grandparents and especially the children. There have been disappointments in the past for you but this has never dampened your resolve to use the gifts God has given you to change young lives and introduce them to Jesus.

Ben you have contributed so much with your God-given musical gifts and talents in leadership, training and encouraging others and more recently in the leadership of the Songsters. Whilst this appointment was to be a training experience for you, I want to expres as a Songster my gratitude for your commitment, dedication and helpful, patient instruction during practice. It has also been good to sing some familiar pieces which you have set to a new arrangement and I acknowledge your gift in this area. Both of you have served in the Youth ministry, organising and leading youth meetings, arranging speakers and so much more.

To say that you will be missed is an understatement. Who will take you place is a question to be addressed but I am reminded that this is God’s work you have been engaged in and He will provide and continue the good work and the influence you have accomplished in His name.

Your daily routines have been fairly predictable… work, Corps, social commitments… although it has been busier because of all the things that you have needed to do as you prepare for the Training College. Things are about to change for you from mid January 2012. College life will dictate your daily routines… to some extent you will lose the flexibility and choice of doing your own thing when you want to. Duties, chores, lectures, assignments, deadlines, out-training experiences, preparation for various ministry assignments will all be part of your normal life experience for the next two years. You have no doubt though about this, plus the fact that you will also welcome a precious gift from God in the form of the baby you will bring into the world. So life will change drastically for you and it would be natural to be overwhelmed with the doubts and uncertainty of all that is about to happen for you both. I would suggest that you put these thoughts behind you. Life is going to be exciting, challenging, rewarding and the different experiences are going to bring a new dimension into your lives which as yet you may not fully comprehend. This is because you are following God’s will for your lives and as the simple chorus declares, “Doing the will of God… the best thing I know in this world below is doing the will of God”

In closing I want to leave you with some promises from the Word of God.

“Therefore, [my brother and sister, Liesl and Ben,] be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things you will never fall and you will receive a rich welcome into the Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ”

These are the words of the Apostle Peter in his 2nd Letter 1:10. The things he refers to are found in the preceding verses where he challenges Christians to make every effort to add goodness to their faith, then knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, and brotherly kindness and above all love. I am certain that College life and the training you will be undertaking will nurture and help you grow so that you will truly be Disciples of the Cross in two years’ time.

Another Scripture I want to pass on to you is Paul’s words in Romans 8:28.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose”

I quote from the message translation this passage with some extra verses.

“God knew what He was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love Him along the same lines as the Life of His Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity He restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives in Him. After God made that decision of what His children would be like, He followed it up by calling people by name. After He called them by name, He set them on a solid basis with Himself, and then, after getting them established, He stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what He had done.”

When the pressures get heavy and the demands seemingly unbearable remember these words of Paul and take encouragement from the fact that God will always meet you at your point of need.

To the congregation, I would say, Ben and Liesl still belong to us. They may be leaving us and embarking on an amazing and exciting journey but they will always be a part of this Corps and therefore we have a responsibility to support them, encourage them, take an interest in what they are doing, to make sure we have their email address if we have a computer so that we can send messages and most important of all we are to continually uphold them in prayer.

To Ben and Liesl in the words of Paul, I say, “May God Himself, the God of Peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful and He Will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24.

Liesl’s farewell

The last time I had to say goodbye to this church, I was about 10 – and probably threw a tantrum or something. But this time I know it is for good reasons and I am going to attempt to do so without tears – but no promises.

Even though I was away for a short while, Floreat was always my home – and I am blessed to be able to say I have been part of this family for my whole life – and like all families we have been together through good and bad, supporting each other all the way. For this I am truly grateful.

I can’t imagine not being here – I look back and realise this corps has been an integral part of my life and memories. A lot here would remember the beginnings better than me – I was a regular attendee since just a few weeks old. I was dedicated in this building with many of you present.

I found a whole new adoptive family of aunties and uncles who may as well be blood. I have beautiful memories of Sunday School with teacher Alice and others, marching around the lower hall to “I’m too young to march in the infantry”. I remember years of anniversary musicals with teacher Barbara and others.

Of course I was a true Salvo kid – a bandmaster’s daughter – learning the cornet with Gary and the junior band, and the timbrel – How could I ever forget Junior Soldiers with “Cranky” Mrs Jackson – who knows I really love her. And I’ve been to more fete’s than I care to count!

Although at about the time of being enrolled as a Senior Soldier, I left the corps for some time, I never really left – people still loved me and people still cared. I continued to attend JYG and eventually Youth Group before my heart couldn’t stand being away any longer – and with the help of the wonderful Marion Family Chauffeur service, I was back where I belonged.

It was during the next few years the love and support of this corps was just what I needed. And I can never be more grateful for the people here who have always been there.

I will cherish the most the heart of Floreat – the love and kindness that is offered to all who enter the doors – an attitude I will hold onto as I work with people from all walks of life. But I have always known I could bring anyone here without fear of judgement or aloneness and I am grateful to the love shown to all the “strays” I’ve brought in along the way – none more so than the acceptance shown to the strange Anglican that rocked up out of the blue as the newest boyfriend in my life. Despite the obligatory making sure he was good enough, he was welcomed with open arms.

And I know I speak for Ben when I thank you for the way you have loved him – It is not just with my sadness that we say goodbye but even in what feels like longer but has only been about three years, Ben has experienced the family we have.

It’s hard to believe that the 22 year-long chapter is closing – but I know we have the prayer and support of a beautiful family back home.

I struggle to imagine all the major events of life not involving this building – every Christmas begun here – every mother’s day, Father’s day. It’s the place I signed my Soldier’s Covenant, the place I gave my life to God – various times – the place I preached ym first sermon, led my first meeting, accepted my call to college, married my soul mate and grew in faith for so long. I get upset sometimes when I think of my baby not growing up here like I have – not having a church to call home – but  instead of getting upset I will thank you all – for all the good lessons you have taught us, for nurturing us to this point, for showing us what it means to be a family, for supporting us in every way possible – from prayer, to words of encouragement, to fundraising assistance.

You all have played a part in getting us to this point where we are ready to say “C’ya later” and enter Training College as prepared and spiritually ready as we can be.

Although College is making me remove my Floreat Epaulettes, it is still, and always will be – our Home Corps.

So again, thank you – for simply loving us – in whatever way it has been. We can’t thank you enough!

This song, sung to the tune “Old Hundredth” – to which the Doxology is often sung – has some wonderful lyrics, which resonate with the church universal.

All people that on earth do dwell,
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;
Him serve with fear, his praise forth tell,
Come ye before him and rejoice.

All people that dwell on the earth should sing to the Lord with a cheerful voice. I love singing, and especially praising God. I find it interesting that the way I sing very much depends on the song – I put on a more “contemporary” voice for the modern praise and worship songs, and a stronger, more traditional voice for the older hymns. Personally, I love singing the old hymns, and always do so with a “cheerful” voice – whether old or new, coming to praise God through music is something that I love and always brings cheer to my heart.

O enter then his gates with praise,
Approach with joy his courts unto;
Praise, laud and bless his name always,
For it is seemly so to do.

For why? The Lord our God is good,
His mercy is for ever sure;
His truth at all times firmly stood,
And shall from age to age endure.

Praise, laud (meaning: extol, or praise highly) and bless his name always, for the Lord is good. It’s important to praise God always – and this is something that I try to do in my life – to praise God always, no matter what I’m doing. Packing boxes and getting ready to move? Praise God! Cleaning the dishes? Praise God! Finishing off assignments for College? Praise God! No matter what you do in life, use it as an opportunity to praise God always.

A song of praise written by St Francis of Assisi.

All creatures of our God and King,
Lift up your voice and with us sing
Alleluia, alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
Thou silver moon with softer gleam:

Chorus
O praise him, O praise him,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

The first three verses here are praise and proclamation about the nature of God. First we have the call to all creatures and to praise God with alleluias, and then some words about the nature of God.

Let all things their Creator bless,
And worship him in humbleness,
O praise him, alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One

As the creator blesses us, so we bless the Creator by worshipping him in humbleness, by praising the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

And finally, whenever I hear this song, I can’t stop but think of this clip from Mr Bean.

A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing;
Our helper he, amid the flood,
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Firstly, the word bulwark is one we don’t use often. Reference.com has a few definitions, but the one I like is “any protection against external danger”. So in this verse, we read that God is a mighty fortress, who never fails at protecting us from external danger – for example the flood of mortal ills (a 12th Century definition of this word meant “Morally Evil” – it was only around the time that Luther wrote this song that the word “ill” came to be associated with sickness). Despite this, the ancient foe – that is, Satan – seeks to work us into trouble. Armed with his cruel hate, and his craft and power, there is no-one on earth that is his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right man on our side,
The man of God’s own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth his name,
From age to age the same,
And he must win the battle.

Luther goes on to ask a question: Did we – in our own strength – have faith that our striving would be of no use, were not the right man at our side? Who is the man that God chose? What is he name? Christ Jesus, Lord Sabaoth (which means Hosts or armies, usually of a heavenly host – see James 5:4 or Romans 9:29), who from age to age is the same. It is Christ that must win the battle with Satan.

And though this world, with demons filled,
Should threaten to undo us;
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us.
The prince of darkness grim,
We tremble not for him,
His rage we can endure,
For lo! His doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

The world that is full of temptations – the demons that threaten to undo us – we do not fear because the will of God allows truth to triumph through us.

That word above all earthly powers,
No thanks to them abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill;
God’s truth abideth still,
His Kingdom is for ever.

The word – that is, God (John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”), that is above all earthly powers, can fell Satan. That same word grants those who side with him the spirit and gifts. Finally an exhortation: Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also. Luther is saying that possessions do not matter, because “God’s truth abideth still, His Kingdom is forever”

Finally, another performance of these lyrics, now that we’ve gone through them and looked at them in depth. This performance is a contemporary one by TransMission.

We’re in the midst of packing right now – we move to Melbourne in less than two weeks now. The usual routines that we have fallen into will change dramatically, with our new lives being governed by college timetables and expectations. Not only that, but we will be bringing a new child into the world in May – something that will also change our lives dramatically.

So for today, let’s look back on the year that was, and look forward to the year that will be…

I started off the year aiming to write a post each day this year. I didn’t quite get there, writing 186 posts. I wrote some interesting ones, and some not so interesting ones. Maybe if you read my blog this year, you could share your favourite post in the comments below?

In the middle of the year, I went into surgery, to have my Left Anterior Cruciate Ligament fixed. That was a fun experience. I don’t think I ended up telling many people about what happened in hospital, but coming out of the anaesthetic, I was absolutely freezing – they had blankets all over me because I was shivering so much. And then I wasn’t passing urine, and they were getting worried, so they attempted to put in a catheter – 5 times! Eventually the on call urologist (who wasn’t able to get it done himself) ended up sticking a needle through to my bladder to let it out. Not a happy night, and all the nurses the next day felt really sorry for me.

But thankfully, the knee now is doing really well. I’m slowly getting more and more confident in it – bouncing around sometimes, taking stairs 2 at a time instead of step by step, short jogs – it’s feeling great. Come May, I’ll need to go and see a Physio for a “pre-season” strengthening regime, which will get it back to being pretty much as good as new. Theoretically, I should be able to play Basketball again – I don’t know whether I will or not, I haven’t quite decided.

Come the end of the year, I wrote a few posts about Christmas carols, and I think I might continue the trend, and write about a Salvation Army Songbook song each day for this year. I got as a wonderful gift from the Floreat Songsters a Songbook, so I shall certainly be putting that to good use in college next year.

The Salvation Army Training College, Melbourne

As for next year, I’ve already mentioned that we’re moving to Melbourne, and commencing study at the Salvation Army Training College. This is going to be a real challenge, for both of us, but we’re both looking forward to it (though a little bit scared as well). I’ll be writing a bit about my experiences though the year, so make sure you stay tuned for that.

Personally, I’m trying to spend some time each day really studying the bible. I’ve got a devotional commentary that provides some good background information for each reading, and will take me through the bible in a year. I’m also journalling a number of questions on each passage that will hopefully get me thinking critically about the passage, and what it means in relation to itself, the time it was written in, the book that it’s in, and how it connects up to the Bible story as a whole. I’m also planning to spend some time journalling my every day movements, just as an experiment to see how it goes in remembering details, and also in an attempt to be more organised.

Overall, I’m looking forward to this year, and hope that there are many happy memories for me to share at the end of this year.

Thinking this would be a great little addition to my website, I applied. I looked through the website just to check any details, couldn’t find any reason as to why I wouldn’t get approved. As part of the application process, they ask what country you’re from, which makes sense because they’d need to send out the book to you and would need to know the address.

So I applied, and waited for my approval.

A couple of days later, I got an email.

Dear Ben Clapton,

Thank you for applying to join BookSneeze.com. Unfortunately, at this time we cannot accept your application. If you have any questions, you can contact us at…

Now, I’m alright with the rejection, as I just thought it would be something nice to do. However, the lack of details as to why annoyed me. Was there something that I could do to change so that my application could be accepted? I responded, asking

Hi,
Can you expand on any reasons why my application was refused?

The response from Booksneeze came back as follows.

BookSneeze applicants must show that they actively maintain a personal, public blog in order to be accepted into the program. We do not accept Facebook, Amazon or any other type of community profile site as a viable form of blog.  We are currently seeking bloggers who have a greater subscription following. In addition, our program is intended for bloggers who regularly post content. Feel free to contact us at a later time once your blog meets these criteria, and we’ll be happy to review your application again. Please note that you cannot submit another application, as we keep all applicants on file.

Now, my blog is personal and public, and not on Facebook or Amazon, so that wasn’t an issue. I also post content regularly, so that isn’t an issue either. So it must be my subscription following. Now I’m not sure if they can see my subscription details or not, but admittedly it’s not a great number. So I asked what number of subscribers they were looking for so that I knew when I could let them know when to review my application. Their response:

We are looking for at least 30 followers and at least two posts per week.  Also, we are currently only accepting bloggers within the US.  This may change back in the future.

Now, my problem is: if they are currently only accepting bloggers within the US, why was this a) not mentioned in the first e-mail, and b) not mentioned anywhere on the website? I would think that would be a fairly important piece of information.

Overall, I think Booksneeze is a great idea, however I will be unlikely to reapply because their organisation seems to be somewhat lacking.