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HOBAC: It's Gone...
When I clicked on one of my favourite blogs this morning, it was gone! Disappeared into the ether, taken down by its owner. The blog was House of Beauty and Culture, written by a brilliantly funny man with whom I had the great pleasure of spending a day in London. I also received an e-mail from House this morning, letting me know the blog was gone, and saying that it had run its course. Not true! He had so much more to share with his readers! 
His posts were always interesting, thought-provoking, and informative. House opened my eyes to so many new things I'd never have known. Although there were times I didn't quite get what he was posting about, it made me think outside my proscribed box. 
Mrs. Blandings just did a piece about House, which you can read here. I wrote a little about my day in London with House here, and here and about a brilliant package I received from house, here.
The House of Beauty and Culture was a place that I visited every day, and I will miss going there.
I had not followed HOBAC and after reading your posts I'm now sad I missed him.
ReplyDeleteCompletely crushed.
ReplyDeleteWhat? Why??
ReplyDeleteSo sad for us, but *might* be liberating for him??? I hope he keeps in touch through comments.
ReplyDeleteMeg-They discussed on The Skirted Roundtable the phenomenon of popular blogs quitting. It's a fascinating subject-readers seem to feel like a friend has abandoned them. Maybe he'll change his mind like Absolutely Beautiful Things did and come back!
ReplyDeletesuch a loss!
ReplyDeleteWhat? This cannot be.
ReplyDeleteHOBAC? A loss. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciation for the inspiration & education given.
Garden & Be Well, XO Tara
April fools a little late? OH NO!
ReplyDeleteI got so many of my movie suggestions from him!
AD... I always loved the way he paired his music with his posts. Sometimes there was a hint or a pun in the song's title. It was so clever.
ReplyDeleteWe were just talking about popular, beloved bloggers who suddenly disappear on SRT last week or the week before. What a shame!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like the discussion on the skirted roundtable the other night, when bloggers disappear. It is hard to come up with interesting post ...some days are easier than others!
ReplyDeleteLeslie
I must take issue with your choice of photographs of - and HOBAC's obvious taste for - dead animal parts as tasteful decor. Are those hooves? And a tortoise shell? UGH.
ReplyDeleteMost of the things in House's shop, which are pictured here, have been dead for more than 100 years. They are a part of Victorian-era decor, something in which House specializes.
ReplyDeleteFunnily enough, I never took a picture of the man, just the things in his shop!
Rats, I hate when that happens. I get all my blog list new post via Google Reader so I never know when this happens. Every once in a while I will double click on a blog that I don't remember reading and it will be gone, why? I wish if they decide not to blog they would at least leave the old ones up for everybody to refer back to. Anyway, I wish hobac the best and I am sure he knows what he is doing.
ReplyDeletewow- i'm bummed beyond measure. it does indeed feel like a friend is gone.
ReplyDeletei will miss HOBAC's refreshingly unique, intelligent, and yes, sometimes bitchy point of view. there are so many cookie cutter "look at this pretty picture from elle docor" blogs in our little world, to lose one with such a distinctly different voice, is a blow for all of us who like a bit of diversity in our blog reading. i find myself attracted to blogs where the personality of the author shines through loud and clear, and his was definitely amongst my top 10 reads.
on a personal note, his song parings, and pop-culture references will be even more sadly missed by me, as i felt HOBAC to be bit of kindred spirit from across the pond.
a sad day.
His blog was always a source of great amusement in our house. It was such an unsavoury mix of high camp, Victoriana, pop songs and the odd tea towel. Perhaps his blog will reappear as "The Charnal House".
ReplyDeleteI will miss the blog as well.... it was always interesting to see what he posted. :(
ReplyDeleteI so hate to hear this.
ReplyDeleteI loved visiting there.
I was going to send him an email, but don't have his address. Would you be kind enough to let him now that Edward and I shall miss him terribly?!
ReplyDeletethis is such depressing news.
ReplyDeleteit won't be the same.
Woah - who will tell us about Ugly American Tourists now? Walter was one of the first male intellectuals that joined us silly girls. At first I assumed he WAS a girl! haha.
ReplyDeletehe once posted a video about a designer who used body joints for inspiration - like knee joints used in furniture design. he was fascinating. that's the kind of people and things Walter introduced us to. he is a real original. Walter - I'll miss you!
So disappointed to hear the news. HOBAC if you are reading this you will be missed!
ReplyDeleteToo bad...I loved his manliness in decor. My husband hunts and we have a game room/trophy room in our home. I love that tortoise shell.
ReplyDeleteBlessings...
I'll miss his blog. He wrote intelligently, witty and with a great sense of humor!
ReplyDeleteSad news!
Victoria
I applaud him, and hope other bloggers follow suit. There are many who are repeating themselves now, and need to pull the plug.
ReplyDeleteBlogs are like television series; they have a shelf life.
His blog was brilliant and original,often hilarious and certainly irreverent, but there was frequently an undertone of weariness~to which he, evidently, succumbed. He will be missed.
ReplyDeleteYes, he will be greatly missed. Following upon Mr. Worthington's comment of weariness, I do hope he is well. These are difficult days in so many ways and I do hope the weariness is not all consuming. Worthington's use of succumb made me most sad to think this voice might be lost to use forever. HOBAC,as all you taught me to call him, is the kind of voice that I so enjoyed: informed, quirky, irreverent, passionate. If you are reading our comments, please know you touched our lives.
ReplyDeletewhat sad news. NO N0- Oh No- HOBAC cracked the door for me into the inner circle- with casual nonchalance I might add. I so appreciated his nod to me- Blogging is wonderful but their is a club as it were that stays closely knit and contained. HOBAC ALWAYS posted for HIS READERS- not for other bloggers- which I realize is a real temptation. I think his was a TRUly unique voice out there- "Pulling the Plug" as an Anon. comment said due to repitition was not the case with HOBAC- as his devoted readers will attest. Missed to say the least... gaye
ReplyDeleteCrushed....that's what I am. Brilliant and original, just as Toby said. There are many blogs that started around the same time a couple of years ago, and his one one of the most entertaining. I will miss HOBAC. It's like he has run away from home. So maybe he will come home again someday.
ReplyDeleteHOW SICK! These are terribly horrific images! Why support animal cruelty with these photos?! Have some class.
ReplyDeleteSandra P... I am sorry you don't like these images, but if you read the comments above, there was an explanation: they're Victorian antiques.
ReplyDeleteClass has nothing what-so-ever to do with these pictures.
These items are ghoulish and serve only as a reminder of what bad taste the Victorians had. They are unpleasant trophies which show no sign of any creative input and lack any artistic merit - any fool can stick some antlers on a wall or put a turtle shell on a stand.
ReplyDelete"Walter"? Really?
ReplyDeleteI am crushed!
ReplyDeleteIt was the blog most close to my heart and soul, and I always meant to write a note to say so, but didn't wish to sound sycophantic.
Such brillance....
I don't understnad. I will certainly honour the decision, but I don't understand.
And, now I truly wish I had his address to write him.
And, the thing that is the worst, is that there is no access to the blog now, no going back in it's history and reading all those wonderful posts.
ReplyDeleteHey Meg,
ReplyDeleteIt's great to know I'm not the only one that will feel the loss of HOBAC. Hopefully, it's just a cyber glitch. I love his sense of humor, style & writing. He introduced me(via his blog)to Nick Cave which I am now a big admirer. Although I don't always posts comments, I am still faithfully reading my favorite blogs listed and he was one of them. Thanks for this support group discussion.
I hate this, and it keeps happening with blogs. There was a woman blogging under the name (I think) All Things Bright and Beautiful. Gorgeous Photography. Poof gone.
ReplyDeleteSad. I wish we could at least read the archives.
ReplyDelete