First and foremost, I would like to thank all those that voted and otherwise gave feedback on the new layout. Although, I must admit that I find it amusing that [at the time of writing] almost 80% of you voted positively, yet most comments were negative about the new width. — C’mon those that voted “love it”, speak up for yourselves! 
In other news, I’ve decided to be brave and put up a voice post…
I know, I must be mad. But, I’ve been inspired by a lot of fellow bloggers who have taken to publishing voice and video-based posts recently. Listening to and seeing these people has really created another dimension for me as a reader, and a surprising one, at that!
Don’t get me wrong, I’d always suspected that these people were indeed human (and relatively normal), but I must admit that my reaction was either that of a burst bubble, or a warm and fuzzy familiarity, upon seeing my favourite bloggers animated and audible.
I accept that most, if not all, of you here will experience the former in regards to hearing my voice post.
I haven’t heard my voice on any form of recording since I was a small child, so this exercise has been a big eye-opener for me. I always knew that I had a strong Essex accent, I’ve lived here all my life, as have several generations of my family (both sides), I’m an Essex Girl, “born and bred” and have always been fiercely proud and defensive of my accent and where I come from (much to K’s dismay). That was until I actually heard my voice.
Oh. My. God. I can’t believe I actually sound like that. I sound so thick, and so common. It doesn’t sound real, it sounds like I’m putting it on. I swear my ears don’t hear that noise when I open my mouth and the sound vibrates from out of my throat, I think it must echo in my head and get distorted before it reaches my ears. Or something.
Now, I’m not deluded, I don’t hear a chorus of angels with every utterance, but Jey-sus wept, I didn’t think it was that bad.
Edit — 22 Aug
For those that have trouble deciphering my ramblings, here’s a transcript so that you may read along and try to pick out the words. I swear there are whole words in there — honest! I haven’t totally bastardised the English language quite just yet!
TRANSCRIPT:
’Allo, this is me trying, yet again, to do a voice post.
Um, I tried to do a video blog earlier, but I’m looking a bit of a state today cuz I got yesterday’s make-up smeared ’round my face and I didn’t think that my Internet debut should be me looking like a right dog’s dinner!
I wanted to do a voice post because there’s a lot of people online that have been doing similar things — and it always really surprised me as to how different they sounded, compared to how I expected them to.
Obviously, you expect people to have accents, you know, American bloggers to have an American accent…
But, they still didn’t quite match up to the picture [in my mind]. I know that I probably don’t. I keep listening to what is it that I’ve recorded, back. And it is so embarrassing and I’m so Essex. And for anyone who is listening to this, I apologise. I’m so sorry!
A full-time wheelchair user since 1998, Claire lives in an adapted bungalow in England with her Partner of 10 years and their two dogs: 
Common as muck luv!
Hehe I’m messin! Nothing sexier than an English girl Claire
or so I thought.… No no seriously it’s not as bad as you think. You should hear mine it’s like hybridisation of a posh english accent with one from the north of Scotland!
I’ve only recently moved from Holland to Essex and to be honest, it took me a while to get used to the accent. But now that I have, I wish I could sound like that and not stand out so much!
I love voice posts, especially from people with lovely English accents.
My voice sounds very normal and boring to me, and slightly, um, mannish. I just think I have a low voice for a girl. I should attempt to do a voice post someday but I’d probably bore you all to death. 
Anyway, I think your accent is fabulous. I will admit that I am positively awful with accents so there was a word or two I didn’t understand, but I loved it anyway.
Dave: Oi! LOL… Nah, fair dues — it is pretty rough, I’m no English Rose, that’s for sure… but posh “Scot-lish”? I should imagine that sounds quite nice actually, especially if you have the merging of the better qualities of both posh English and Scottish.
I’m envious. I mean, can you imagine me in an interview?! It’s not that I don’t have the vocab, its just that it’s impossible to use when rambling away in EE, the way I do. When I do try hard to speak in SE (well, the best I can, given my accent) I sound really silly…
I can understand you wanting to fit in, but why anyone would wish my accent upon themselves, I’m not sure! 
Mind you, I’m sure that the longer you stay here in the UK, the more your accent will change anyway. 
Which words did you miss/not understand the first time around?
Eveline: *looks at your blog* So you’re in Chelmsford now, eh? That’s not too far from me.
Meggan: I think you should do a voice post, I doubt you’d bore me to death — I think its fun to hear what other people sound like. “Fabulous”? Well, that’s one word for it, I suppose (but I could think of others)… I’ve put a transcript up on the post now so that you can read along (to help translate my garble)
The “right dog’s dinner” part. Never heard that expression before, so that’s probably part of it too. I think that was it though, I got all the rest of it.
I don’t think I’ve heard an Essex accent before so yes, I thought it was fabulous. 
Ah, I see… “a right dog’s dinner” = “a complete mess”
(this comments is strangely appropriate actually, I’m just having a conversation about using and defining slang/idioms etc online, on another site!)
And there’s a reason you’ve most likely never heard an Essex accent before: we tend to predominantly broadcast only SE/RP dialects, most other England dialects of English don’t tend to get broadcast very often (if at all) on National and International TV and Radio… Estuary English is slowly making it’s way through though — there’s even whispers about it becoming the “new” SE! :eek:
Wow. I wasn’t expecting that. I must say you sound a lot older than you look, which I suppose is a good thing. You do sound very Essex, but I have my moments. Though you do have a warmth and humour to your voice that is very pleasing to the ear. I may just put up a voice post on my blog (coming soon, I’m programming the engine myself).
I sound older than I look? Really? I’m not sure anyone’s ever mentioned that before… Although admittedly, I did get away with pretending to be K’s aunt a few years ago — when telling one of her past places of work that she was too sick to come in that day!
)? I always expect people to sound how they look (if you get what I mean). Or, if I don’t have access to a photo, I base their voice on how their writing reads.
Just out of curiosity, what did you expect me to sound like (especially as someone familiar with the Essex accent
Ah, so you have your “Essix” moments too? Solidarity!
Now I have to hear a voice post from you when you get you site back up *waits eagerly for the “Lew-powered” site* 
I voted that I love it (I’m very big on wide floaty layouts at the moment) but everytime I’ve tried to tell you recently my router has timed out.. let’s hope this comment goes through.
Whoohoo!
Cheers for the feedback Jem, its definitely grown on me over time.