Today is the first anniversary of the ‘launch’ of this blog. On this date last year I sat at an old PC in the corner of my attic and fought with WordPress to produce a post ‘Why am I here‘. My hope was this would be an outlet for a ‘lost’ bit of me. It’s fulfilled that wish, this blog as given me space to stretch my brain, develop new interests and share things that are important to me (cheesy but true).
I wanted to ‘connect’ with other mums and other women, I was working 4 days a week at the time, none of my immediate colleagues had children of a similar age to my son. I felt as if life was made up of two halves, work and being a parent, and that was it. Because I worked 4 days I wasn’t spending much time with other parents, I felt isolated. It’s difficult to go into work and say; ‘I’ve been up since five and I feel trashed’ and ‘does anyone else have a view on the new Cbeebies schedule for bedtime hour?’, which was where my head was at.
Blogging has been a fantastic opportunity to connect with other bloggers and other parents. Male and female. I have been able to step out of the virtual work and into the real world and have ‘actual’ cups of tea with real life people I’ve met through blogging. Wonderful people I now consider to be friends. I am extremely grateful for that. Last June I attended CyberMummy and met many other bloggers, it was, initially, slightly overwhelming meeting ‘new’ people who, in fact, you all ready know an awful lot about already (wine at 11 am helped considerably). Actually, there’s no need for small talk, clearly it was; ‘friends you haven’t met yet’. I’ve gained a lot from reading other people’s blogs, learnt about lives, issues, parenting. Thank you fellow bloggers. Huge thank you to every person who has read this blog over the past year. For all the amazing and gratefully received comments, which have often touched my heart. Big Big thank you to everyone who subscribes and likes; I never imagined anyone would and very much appreciate that you do.
If out there in Cyber Space your reading this and thinking; “I wonder if I should start a blog?” DO. DO. DO. It’s a wonderful journey. But it may take over your life.
Thank you!
Hurrah! Well done! Congrats! And cake all round! 🙂 Totally understand your reasoning for starting this blog – I started mine last month for similar reasons. Well done for keeping going and building for a whole year – here’s to the next one!
thank you – always love cake! X
And it led us to each other….
Happy blog day.
Love you
love you too – it’s been much more fun because of you – thanks XX
Happy Birthday Gemma’s blog. It’s a great place to visit awhile to read & rest! Here’s to the next one! xx
thank you Julia! thank you very much and hope we will meet again soon XX
Happy Blogiversary! And thank you for being there when I started my blog 9 months ago. You were one of my first blog-friends and gave me so much advice and encouragement. I’ve loved reading you over the months and sharing your journey, learning from your sensible and open-minded approach to life. I hope we will meet one day but even if we don’t, you have become a part of my life and as real as any of my conventionally-met friends. I look forward to another year of sharing. Lots of love, Rachel xxx
Rachel – you say the very sweetest things, I think one day we will meet. I cherish our unique friendship. thank you XX
Happy blogoversary!
cheers!
Congrats lovely on your blogiversary. I’m so glad you started it a year ago. You write so intelligently and often move me. Great to have met in real life too. Here’s to many more years x
thank you for lovely words – and isn’t it great to step out of the virtual and into the real – we should do it again soon X
Happy Blogiversary Gemma. I hope it is the first of many more to come x
thanks Glenda, meeting you has been one of my highlights. X
Happy Blogiversary! I’ve only just started out on the blogging road but I can see how totally addictive it is. Keep on blogging, I love reading your blog.
thanks – the year has flown. Enjoy every moment of your own journey XX
Isn’t it great to hit the 1 year mark – I honestly never thought I’d see it through but am so glad I got to ‘grow up’ with the likes of you. x
Cheers Kate, we really must drink wine together sometime – we deserve it! X
Congratulations! I hope it make it to the first anniversary… but really nice to hear how blogging has helped you voice that bit of yourself that so often stays stuck in our heads!
You will make it – if you ever think you won’t shout me and I will spur you on!! XX
well you have done very well,here s to many more blogs
thank you – there’s no stopping me now! X
Happy happy blogiversary. I know exactly what you mean and have only been blogging 2 months. Feels like it is my one grasp on sanity some days!!! Love your blog x
thank you very much – it’s amazing what a difference putting it out there can make – keep at it, it gets better and better XX
Congrats on your blogoversary! I felt exactly the same starting out – working full time so never met up with other mums and just getting odd looks at work when talking about my life!
I love this little community 🙂
Thank you. I love it too! XX
Happy Blogday! Yours was one of the first blogs that I started reading when I started writing… if you know what I mean. You are a friendly face in cyberspace. Thank you.
BM
x
Aaarh thank you! X
Happy Bloggy Birthday
Thank you xxx
I couldn’t agree more. Think my anniversary is coming up too. Thanks so much for getting me going and I love the thank you photo. Brill!
XxX
Thanks, as always for lovely comments xx
happy blogday – even tho i’m abit late 🙂 well done on blogging for a year 🙂
Thank you. Appreciated xxx
Always late to the party, but better late than never 😉
So glad you made it to a year and so glad to have met you virtually and in the flesh! Look forward to more meet ups
Love S.A.M xx
what can I say – without you I wouldn’t have got here in the first place. X
Happy Blogaversary Gemma! I hope to get to know you even better over the next year! xx