Ellee Seymour

You need to have an ultra thick skin and may sometimes wish you could crawl under a very large stone, but other than that, blogging is great fun and I have loved every day of it - well, most of them.

The good days certainly outweigh the tiny minority of bad ones when I have goofed and been ridiculed by others as a result. Fortunately, it has only happened a couple of times since I started writing my blog 17 months ago. But oh, so publicly.

Maybe this is one reason there are so few women bloggers, especially those writing on political issues. And then there are the nutters and ranters who post abusive comments to make life even more challenging, and the cyber bullies.

I have certainly got off lightly, compared to Rachel from North London’s horrendous stalking experience, and Kathy Sierra, who has gave up blogging after receiving death threats.

I’ve been asked to write an article for Iain’s new 2007 Guide to Political Blogging about women and blogging and wondered what were your views were about this, why there appear to be fewer, and the way you regard them. It seems to me that while blogging is not for the faint hearted, the positives far outweigh the negatives.

Derek Cross vanished while on holiday with his friends in Benidorm 11 years ago when he was 26. Last year Derek’s family renewed a desperate appeal for information. His son Spencer said:

“I was nearly four and can remember bits about him. My mum and family tell me stories all the time and say I’m a lot like my dad.

“I really want to see my dad. I miss him a lot. I’m nearly 14 now and I’ve missed out on my dad being around.”

Derek’s friends last saw him in the early hours of November 15 1996, making his way back to his hotel.

His father, John, who has since died, flew to Spain several times when the Spanish authorities contacted Leicestershire Police about bodies that had been found.

His grandmother, Florence Cross, described three years ago how she had received a number of mysterious silent phone calls in the years he has been missing. She is convinced it is Derek and prays every night for his return.

Police were unable to confirm reports that he has since been seen on the holiday island of Ibiza or joining the French Foreign Legion.

Because he has been missing for so long, Derek could be now be officially declared dead. But Leicestershire Police have said his file would never be closed and any new lines of inquiry would be rigorously investigated.

In memory of those who are still missing.