Well, I'm probably making a massive error of judgement even writing this today, because the lkely outcome runs counter to my intention, but here goes nothing...

I logged in today and saw my rank had shot to 56. Many people would I'm sure be delighted and over the moon and would probably broadcast the fact. I kinda pulled my hood up over my face and hid, like a tortoise popping back in its shell.

My exact thoughts were,

'Oh crumbs.. people are going to think I know what I am doing!'

followed by,

'Please God don't let me go Top 50!'

For a while I have been hovering around the low 60s mark which was kinda scary but understandable. Understandable because I do spend considerable time interacting with members and the platform generally. Usually I slip a point or two over the weekend because that is my family time, and then rise a point or two again through the week, like a cork bobbing along on a tide, sometimes overcome by waves, sometimes floating peacefully above.

Imagine my shock then to return after my customary weekend absence to find I have risen 5 points.

I know you get points for interacting with the community. However my interactions generally consist of a few words of encouragement, a considered and constructive comment on a member's website and generally running round like a headless chicken cocking things up and begging wiser members for help with my latest disaster.

For the record, my original website is still very wobbly on it's legs and probably heading for extinction or euthanasia, depending on whether I decide to put it out of its misery. My SAC site is moving with the speed of said tortoise, although not for want of trying on my behalf, and my tick-list for month one SAC is very unticked, again, not through want of trying but through want of ability on my behalf.

So, if you are a newbie, by all means ask me a question and I probably won't know the answer, but I will know someone who does. If there is one thing I have learned since being here it is who to go to for help and support when I need it, what people's specialisms here are, so who best to approach with a certain kind of query. These people know who they are and I hope they know how immensely grateful I am to them.

When I newbie asks me a question, it is the knowledge I have learned from these people that I will pass on to them, because it is tried and tested, particularly by me who can break anything.

My one piece of advice to newbies however is, don't be fooled by rank. Age ain't nothin but a number and so is rank. My rank is not a reward for success, but an indication of how much help I need and get. If you want an indication of success, look for Ambassadors. They are the heroes of the platform and they have truly earned their stripes.

People here are catagorised according to their activities. They may be Creators, Helpers or Contributors. Again, use this information to assist you in seeking out the members that will have the answers to the kinds of questions and needs you have.

I'm going to crawl off and hide again now and mangle my website a bit.

Keep being fabulous!

Alison