As I write about this month's Power Up Day, it's Workers' Day in South Africa and tomorrow's a public holiday. I have, for the first time in a couple of years, given myself permission to labour a little less and have actually told clients that I'm off limits until Tuesday. It's a good feeling. Because. I am tired... It is, however, a kinda good tired because I did manage to complete @traciyork's April #hiveblopomo and the first Hive Blog Posting Month of 2022. Among other things in April...

I admit that there were days when it was difficult because of RL demands and I didn't get to some of the more substantive posts I'd planned on my "to do" list.

I will say this: as I'm having to dip into my Hive nest egg, and will be, for a while, daily posting is a good discipline to ensure that one doesn't deplete the balance. Because I do not want to erode this asset, I have a limit below which I do not want to drop. Saving to take advantage of the interest and powering up each month are all part of this strategy. I plan to continue my daily diary post even without the promise I kept during incentive of #hiveblopomo.

May Hive Power Up Day

Every month, I hope that it's the last one during which I'll power down. I am not saying it this month, because it probably won't be.

However, I shall continue my now regular practice of three weeks' powering down and stopping it ahead of PUD and until I've awarded my usual 300 HP in delegations after PUD. However, as I always say, my goal remains -

to get back to a point where all my Hive rewards are ploughed back in to my account: an appreciating asset that sees the benefit of compounding.

I do of course, still power up once a month and continue playing my small part in this initiative.

For more about why we power up on the first of each month, check out this post from the awesomesauce @traciyork who pulls it all together.

What I do around Hive Power Up Day each month

I have great empathy for noobs and redfish, and that's what lies behind my small contribution to #HivePUD. If you don't know what I do, here's the rundown:

After all the numbers are done and official winners announced -

For the last nearly two years, I have delegated 300 HP, shared equally among three accounts that meet the basic Power Up Day Criteria as well as these additional criteria. They must:

• be less than 6 months old
• have at least two qualifying posts since the previous power up day.
  Posts that qualify must have 200 words or more and exclude posts for Power Up Day, and Actifit.
  As a reminder, the reason I added the second criterion is because -
  Hive is a social blockchain: it's for socialising, ruminating and just generally hanging out.
• have a reputation of less than 61
• have not more than 500 HP in their accounts before they power up - both on the first of the month

I have no plans to stop doing this; actually, when circumstances allow, I'll increase the delegations. Either in quantum or in number.

What if no accounts qualify?

As I always say, I don't make decisions on my own, so if, as has happened in the past, there are "slim pickings", I will be working via Traci with the @ocd team to make selections and will keep an eye out for those accounts that fall into the Silver Bloggers' league and who have joined that community. If there are no Silver Bloggers who meet the criteria, I will look for accounts that have been identified as part of the @lovesniper curation initiative.

Of course, that's not all

Remember that in addition to the delegations, these accounts are added to my fanbase and receive a daily 100% upvote (if my voting power is still more than 90%; if it's not, I do try to pop over, but RL sometimes gets in the way). This is also why I ask @ginabot to notify me each time they post. If I have an opportunity, I pop over, have a gander and occasionally weigh in on whatever the post may be about. If you haven't had a vote, I then give a manual vote.

In the last three months, I delegated 400 HP four qualifying accounts. Depending on how things roll between now and 5 January, I may rinse and repeat.

Remember, too -

Lightening does strike twice:

If you participate in this #hivepud and you still meet the criteria, you will go into this month's pot again, and stand another chance to receive a second delegation. It's happened before. I promise.

I have you powered up today? Have you?

As I explained her, twos yes, 2's, are significant this year, I've set a goal for each of my monthly powers up: they will all be in 2's. This month's is perfectly divisible by 2, but there's no significance to me in the 6. It was either 44.44 or this, so I used a little HBD to buy Hive. Here's proof today's power up:

May the month be a gentle one for everyone.

Until next time, be well
Fiona
The Sandbag House
McGregor, South Africa

Photo: Selma

Post script
If this post might seem familiar, it's because I'm doing two things:

• re-vamping old recipes. As I do this, I am adding them in a file format that you can download and print. If you download recipes, buy me a coffee. Or better yet, a glass of wine....?
• and "re-capturing" nearly two years' worth of posts.

I blog to the Hive blockchain using a number of decentralised appplications.

• From Wordpress, I use the Exxp Wordpress plugin. If this rocks your socks, click here or on on the image below to sign up.

• Join Hive using this link and then join us in the Silver Bloggers' community by clicking on the logo.

Original artwork: @artywink

• lastly, graphics are created using partly my own photographs, images available freely available on @hive.blog and Canva.