please empty your brain below
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I suppose I'd better leave a comment then 
Nick | 08.09.09 - 2:27 a.m. | #
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I'm glad you'll keep going. I've had blogs come and go from my favorites folder over the years. Arseblog was my first in 2002, and not long afterward I followed one of his links over here. These are my two steadfast reads and I'll keep them as long as they are published. Thank you, Diamond Geezer. Keep up the good work.
By the way, Safari's RSS reader is pretty good about showing me your "twiddly formatting."
Josh | 08.09.09 - 3:12 a.m. | #
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DG,
Call me old-fashioned, but reading is a way of life for me. I still get two newspapers (although their combined content is less than one before) and I do not belong to Facebook or any other social networking. You are at the top of my list of must read every day. Your basic insight of human nature wrapped around such an interesting collection of London facts, events, happenings and history will keep me reading till your last post. I have to thank you for providing me hints on so many interesting places to visit on my yearly visits to London. I really appreciate the time you put in to your blog.
Gene
Gene | 08.09.09 - 3:20 a.m. | #
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First, let me apoligize for my inane comments. It seems to be what I'm best suited for, however.
It strikes me that you ventured onto the blogosphere not expecting an audience; hopeful of one, certainly, but not requiring one. Over time I've gone back and read every post from the first. The first aren't the sort of thing that would grip me except in retrospect, but I remember you mentioning your feeling about the first comment, some posts in. Your audience slowly found you, as they always will. And from the perspective of this reader,(who launches as a general rule from a facebook link and doesn'r RSS any blogs) I savour reading your daily adventure. Thank youa and may it long continue.
OMP
Oliver | 08.09.09 - 4:20 a.m. | #
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All very fair points, to which I may add another: the conversation has moved elsewhere, and as you say comments are what make a blog alive.
When I started auto-posting my blog on facebook, almost every one of my posts received at least a couple of facebook comments and a few 'likes', where comments on my little-read blog were very rare.
It's not the same kind of circulation (it's a 'walled garden') and perhaps that's exactly why many people are more comfortable with it.
I like where things are going, but at the same time I miss very much the old times when we all linked to each other via our blogs
Luca | Homepage | 08.09.09 - 7:37 a.m. | #
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It might not be a bad thing for the number of blogs to thin down - but quality one will continue, and hopefully benefit from the less defuse audience.
Steve Barker | Homepage | 08.09.09 - 7:50 a.m. | #
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I'm a daily visitor too, even if I can't quite muster as much enthusiasm about the London-London-London posts - but they're always a good read.
Comments on the decline ... oh very much so. I'm not fond of RSS feeds so read blogs where I can appreciate the layout and trouble that a blogger has gone to on his/her blog.
Happy 'blogday', DG!
zed | Homepage | 08.09.09 - 7:51 a.m. | #
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I'm probably exactly what you are talking about. I have been reading daily since April but have only commented once to complain that a link was broken!
I read (not via RSS) between 10 and 20 blogs a day depending on how often they are updated and when I have time have a scoot round probably another 30-40. i also read two newspapers daily. I am happier consuming the written word than writing it (witness the very spoardic posting on my own blog)
At this stage in my life (3 children nearly 50) I don't have time for the instant gratification of Twitter or Facebook because if I did I would never get anything else done. Fortunately both these sites are blocked at work but bizarrely most blogs are not (including yours)
So I think what I'm saying in a roundabout way is that I fully intend to be here for the ride until you stop writing; just don't expect a comment from me more than once a month!
Peewit | Homepage | 08.09.09 - 8:01 a.m. | #
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Most mornings your blog is the first thing I read. This has been the case for several years.I have not much time for Face book or Twitter, I prefer an in depth read. No doubt you will always have a loyal group of readers dg, so please keep on writing.
John | 08.09.09 - 8:21 a.m. | #
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Perhaps we could have more photoshopped photos of kittens then?
Debster | Homepage | 08.09.09 - 8:45 a.m. | #
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I hardly think using RSS is passive. a) I wouldn't have kept up with your (or other) blogs half as well without RSS. It has been a leading factor in keeping me interested in blogs. To me RSS is a vital part of blogging. b) it's not stripped of the twiddly
for
mat
ting. c) there is a trend (which probably is not a good one) towards leaving your comments on digg, redditt... even in Google Reader now, which tends to separate the location of the discussion from the location of the article.
On Technorati I reckon part of the problem is it's not very good at filtering out spam blogs, which all link to each other automatically.
Which is all just a slightly blustery way of saying, "do keep going."
Rhys | Homepage | 08.09.09 - 8:56 a.m. | #
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Bloggers are dying too. One of my favourite bloggers died a couple of years ago. I still think about him and miss him.
Great Aunt Annie | 08.09.09 - 9:20 a.m. | #
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Happy Blogday, DG. (Thought I'd get that in first!)
Personally I don't mind blogging no longer being the "in" thing. It means that the ones that remain are the people who've got the writing bug, rather than the self-obsessed "Look at me! Oh sod, I'm a vacuous twat with nothing to say except 'Look at me!'" stuff that came along with the 'trend'.
Now those vacuous twats are on Twitter, and will then go on to the next Big Thing. Suits me just fine.
Me, I'll be sticking with the blogging/writing stuff for a fair while yet, 'til I run out of rubbish to write. And to be honest I can't see that happening.
So here's to us writers/bloggers, and the stuff that people keep coming back to.
Lyle | Homepage | 08.09.09 - 9:29 a.m. | #
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And I still can't believe D4D started before DG did - if only by a month...
Lyle | Homepage | 08.09.09 - 9:29 a.m. | #
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There are two (well now three!) blogs I read every day. The first is Diamond Geezer and the second is Bellaphon.
The third? Some rather archaic chap named Samuel Pepys...
Dan | 08.09.09 - 9:35 a.m. | #
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Happy Blogday DG. Glad to see that there's no 7 year itch going down here. I'm loving it every day, as ever!
Cxx
Chris | 08.09.09 - 9:42 a.m. | #
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Another avid daily reader of your blog, DG! And I prefer to get all the goodness straight from your website rather than an RSS feed. Thanks for the last seven years and long may you continue to blog into the future!
michael | 08.09.09 - 9:57 a.m. | #
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Guilt tripping people into commentin aye. Works for me.
Wheres your post on the latest TFL shafting, pink oyster swipers...
I cant believe the press bought their marketing speil, "it will save you monay as you wont get charged for going through zone 1 when you dont". In reality it always gave you the benefit of the doubt. Now my fare is increasing.. grr.
Bennie | 08.09.09 - 10:48 a.m. | #
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What Gene & John said, and thanks again for this blog.
Pippa | 08.09.09 - 10:52 a.m. | #
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Gene (comment no 3) couldn't have put it better. I'm another who is pleased that you are continuing.
I suspect for everyone who comments there are dozens who read and enjoy your blog. I suppose we all ought to comment more often if your mind-reading skills need support!
Martin | 08.09.09 - 11:18 a.m. | #
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DG is the only blog I read not via Google Reader, mostly because I get indirectly told off if I didn't. All the others go on the RSS, which really just means I can assimilate lots more of a range of things. I still take time to read posts in full of certain bloggers though.
I think the last point is the most pertinent though: I write for my own enjoyment firstly, rather than for feedback. Good job really...
Simon | Homepage | 08.09.09 - 11:24 a.m. | #
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Another lurker here, emerging blinking from behind the cyber-skirting boards into the glare of Haloscan. I've been reading your blog every day for a year now and have yet to say so much as 'thank you'. Which I now whole-heartedly do. I am in silent awe at the effort that must go into it, and at the variety, interest and sustained quality which results. Pray continue!
NightMale | 08.09.09 - 11:35 a.m. | #
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Happy seventh blogday! Yes, keep on going. Your blog is a silver lining in that murky cloud called the blogosphere. I often need more than a 140-character tweet to perk me up in the morning.
Andrewh | 08.09.09 - 12:00 p.m. | #
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Oh, how peculiar: that's the second "whither blogging?" post I've read this week with the title "Seven Year Itch" (visible via RSS only, mind). Here's the other one.
mike | Homepage | 08.09.09 - 12:14 p.m. | #
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Congratulations on seven years of daily blogging, DG. I'm continually impressed by your dedication and discipline, and will continue to read your enjoyable writing. Without you, I wouldn't know what was interesting in and around London. Many thanks for all the hard work.
David | Homepage | 08.09.09 - 12:34 p.m. | #
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Add me to the list of people who'll be here until you stop.
Sam | 08.09.09 - 12:38 p.m. | #
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Inspector Sands of Casino Avenue, a fellow Addick, turned me onto to your fine writing. You were my initial inspirations nearly six years ago.
As others above say, we primarily write because we've got the bug and it's a way of saying "here we are" without all the simplistic crap tweets of "I am interesting."
Whatever, I intend to keep going and shan't file for bankruptcy (like Reader's Digest has just done).
The moral of that is that you're free, DG - in more senses than one, so keep on doing what you like doing. And know that many of us enjoy it too.
Jakartass | Homepage | 08.09.09 - 12:40 p.m. | #
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I like your blog, even without kittens. Do keep on blogging, please!
Leuconoe | 08.09.09 - 12:49 p.m. | #
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Happy Blogday!
"Proportions of great comments, moaning comments and bloody inane comments are no different to before, just more thinned out."
*Please* tell me you don't count and analyse those too... 
Blue Witch | Homepage | 08.09.09 - 1:22 p.m. | #
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dg - the future is in niche blogs, not diary blogs, about a subject, not about a person.
botogol | Homepage | 08.09.09 - 1:57 p.m. | #
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DG - I'm one of your RSS feed readers who "watch... a stream of other people's posts feeding through, and maybe reading the ones that interest them" but this blog is one that I make sure to read every day. There's almost always something interesting to read. I'm glad you'll be carrying on.
Alex | 08.09.09 - 2:35 p.m. | #
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What Alex said. If I ever get round to fixing my blogroll, your link will be there.
James Taylor | Homepage | 08.09.09 - 2:48 p.m. | #
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Now there's a thing. On the day you describe your continuing presence, I announce my impending demise. Some sort of balance there, I suppose.
Hand many happy returns to you, too.
Ham | Homepage | 08.09.09 - 2:55 p.m. | #
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I always read and enjoy your words DG, I may not always comment but I inwardly digest it all
amber moggie | Homepage | 08.09.09 - 5:06 p.m. | #
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I read you every day, very rarely comment ('cos I can't think of anything interesting to say) but would like to join those thanking you for an entertaining & informative blog. I wouldn't know what an RSS feed was even if it walked up to me and introduced itself as Gerald your personal RSS feed. Likewise Facebook & Twitter are still mysteries to me.
andy | 08.09.09 - 5:08 p.m. | #
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Keep up the good work DG and well done on reaching seven years. I keep the posts on mine to a couple a week; the thought of posting daily is just too much for me!
Chaz | Homepage | 08.09.09 - 5:16 p.m. | #
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I like this blog because you use English and not text speak.
Happy Birthday!
Amused | 08.09.09 - 5:42 p.m. | #
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Have been reading for years, first "in person" and now by RSS - wouldn't miss it. Thank you for a great blog.
Will keep reading until the mystery category in the annual survey is revealed...
Patrick | 08.09.09 - 5:48 p.m. | #
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Happy Blogday DG!
I only found you (via Ham) 6 months ago, but I have read every single post in your archive!
I wouldn't know what RSS was if it came up and bit me on my ankle, I don't read any other blogs, and can't stand Facebook or the such.
Gene (comment 3) summed it up perfectly.
You start my day and keep me coming back for more. Long may it last!!
CornishCockney | 08.09.09 - 5:55 p.m. | #
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"According to Technorati, the blog search engine, diamond geezer used to be one of the 2000 most influential blogs in the world. They calculated this by counting the number of blogs that linked here, which was relatively high, which was nice. But today I'm only in the top 120000, because far fewer fresh bloggers link here any more, because they're all too busy linking to real news and content instead."
Technorati has become far less useful to bloggers as a result of this change in their ranking algorithm.
7 years ago, hardly any mainstream media journalists even read blogs, let alone used them as primary sources of fact, comment or analysis, but quite a few do so now, so well written blogs like yours are actually more influential than ever.
mol | Homepage | 08.09.09 - 5:57 p.m. | #
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Contemplating uranus is the new blogging.
Martin | Homepage | 08.09.09 - 6:32 p.m. | #
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Happy blogday, DG.
I read your blog via RSS and do so because I find it more convenient - it's much easier to read things and it keeps your formatting!
Regarding the lack of comments, I've been reading your blog a long time and occasionally I would have something to comment on, but most of the time your other commenters had already made the point, or were having a much more interesting conversation that I couldn't contribute to. And it seems a little inane leaving a comment of "That was an interesting post" (Plus you'd get one of those more often than not!)
Anyway, you're still one of my favourite bloggers and I hope you continue to blog, because you are consistently worth reading.
Doug | 08.09.09 - 6:39 p.m. | #
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I’m sure it has had its day, but you haven’t. I’m impressed by the way you always manage to find something fresh to write about, although the walks can leave me feeling a little lost.
Maldwyn | 08.09.09 - 7:08 p.m. | #
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Always read your blog - especially London Items - I dont read any others just click you on my favourites every day. keep up the good work.
Dave B
daveb | 08.09.09 - 8:12 p.m. | #
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OK, I'll admit it, I read your blog AND I use RSS.
But I only use it to tell me when blogs have been updated,there is nothing worse than that feeling of anticipation on clicking on a favourite blog and............. nothing new :-(
Keep up the good work,please
Rob
Rob C | 08.09.09 - 8:58 p.m. | #
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I'm new to blogging and new to your blog. But I enjoy it. I don't read all your posts because frankly, they don't all interest me. But the ones that do, really do if you know what I mean.
One thing blogging gives, that Facebook and Twitter fail to do, is anonymity. I can say thing on my blog, and in my comments that I wouldn't say in my Facebook page. So each thing has it's place. And the comment about diary blogs is true as far as I'm concerned - your blog covers items of interest and doesn't go too much into navel gazing which I appreciate.
I'll keep on reading, not always, but for a long time I'm sure.
Plummy Mummy | 08.09.09 - 10:37 p.m. | #
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I mean, you know this already but yours is the only blog that i still read on a daily basis.
in fact, i woke up at 3am this morning (8am you), and wasn't at home ... what could i do? i know! iPhone! and first thing i did was check your blog. hee.
so yes, we still all love you. ok?
geofftech | Homepage | 09.09.09 - 5:54 a.m. | #
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Meh. I read through RSS, but if I want to comment I still do. Sure, it's no longer a geek club, but I don't see a problem with this. More people are writing good blogs, so ones like this now have less subscribers/links/etc than others - doesn't make this any less good/valuable/whatever. Twitter is not a substitute.
Blogging is certainly changing - I think mostly nowadays because people are becoming aware that The Sun will take whatever they write out of context and make a "story" out of it - but I don't think it's dying.
Simon | Homepage | 09.09.09 - 8:47 a.m. | #
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Oh yes: please keep on going! I am an occasional reader but whenever I read your blog I enjoy it enormously (either via rss or on your site). I would really miss your voice if your blog wasn't around anymore!
I must say though that I enjoy Twitter because it's particularly terrific when you have a niche interest. A great way to access links to articles etc about e.g. genealogy, or whatever floats your boat. But each format has its advantages and drawbacks.
I haven’t commented much on your blog in the past, the fear of sounding inane is rather inhibiting! Pretty please: do keep on going, you’d be more than sorely missed.
Giselle | 09.09.09 - 12:43 p.m. | #
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It won't die completely. People still send postcards, don't they? Some people will still find a use for blogging and an audience. It's all a matter of self-definition.
Autolycus | Homepage | 09.09.09 - 3:10 p.m. | #
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You've been reading my mind haven't you...
I've been thinking much the same things myself, but you've put them down on screen much better than I ever could.
Tom Reynolds | Homepage | 09.09.09 - 6:10 p.m. | #
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Don't stop.
Still enjoying your missives.
BGW | 10.09.09 - 8:42 p.m. | #
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continue to love the blog... keep up the good work...
Anthony | 10.09.09 - 9:06 p.m. | #
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Don't stop! I'm one of the many who read via RSS and don't comment - but it doesn't mean any less to me than if I visited your site every day. You writing has got me out of the house and visiting London like never before - thanks!
Dan | 11.09.09 - 2:32 p.m. | #
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Happy Blogday - albeit a belated one. It's hard sometimes to see if blogging is alive f dead. I hear RSS is now dead in favour of Twitter and that Twitter is dead as their is no yoof involved with it. All i know is that there are blog which I have read for a long time and home to read well into the future and one of those is yours.
Mark | Homepage | 11.09.09 - 5:30 p.m. | #
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I visit your blog about once a week, when I catch up on all the articles I've missed, this is purely for lack of time, not lack of enthusiasm. Unfortunately it usually means I don't comment because the conversations have pretty much finished! My guess is that you now have a lot of readers who do the same thing.
Blogging will continue, it'll evolve. For instance, it would be a good thing if someone who blogs as regularly and as wll as you do could get paid for it, but nobody's worked out how to do that yet.
And just think: it's all still here. For the foreseeable future, anyone who googles "Lea Valley walk" or "Evolution of no 8 bus route" will be find their way inexorably to your work. Whereas if you'd written articles for a local paper at £20 a time, they'd be lost - except for a dusty archive in some basement soemwhere.
vicky park | 13.09.09 - 2:16 p.m. | #
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Bit late to the party...
Great post: totally spot on, as ever.
Happy blog birthday. May you continue on writing fine content for another seven years: I'll be reading (but not always commenting, given I access through RSS, sorry).
Girl with a One Track Mind | Homepage | 13.09.09 - 5:44 p.m. | #
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Any other bloggers feel more inspired after reading the above comments? As someone said blogging is writing, right? People will always write stuff won't they?
Great job DG, I will read your stuff as long as you believe in the art of writing, taking pictures and exploring.
ChicagoAddick | Homepage | 17.09.09 - 7:07 p.m. | #
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I read you through on RSS; I've been a bit away from blogs since just before you wrote this. It's going to take me time to get through all the blog posts I have unread, some I will skim.
But I think the quality blogs are still quality. I still read blogs, like I still read books, even though I Twitter and FB, too.
Gert | Homepage | 28.09.09 - 6:17 p.m. | #
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