My first blog post was published on the 2nd October 2009. 16 years ago today. It was all about finding a way to 'tweet longer'
In the early days of twitter people used to really know one another, we'd chat daily, got to know each other's husbands and kids, shared achievements and sorrows and in general had a lot of fun.
My favourite was #fancydressfriday the previous week's winner would vote for the new person. It was taken very seriously with some great costumes.
Shortly after writing that first post, we were asked to move to South Africa with Peter's job and my blog became all about expat life in South Africa and Dubai. This involved a lot of travel which has continued and for which we have many more plans for and my blog documented family life as we travelled back and forth and saw us transitioning from full time parents, to empty nesters, to grandparents and to the recent loss of our eldest child. I also discovered a passion for gardening when we moved to South Africa and I managed to grow a variety of fruit and veg in the sand in Dubai and our garden is something we're both developing since relocating to the UK.
In Dubai I also started documenting construction projects. Photographing buildings in various stages and revisiting places around the world, for which I have lots more to update after a recent trip to Dubai.
There has been a variety of work opportunities for both Peter and me, from volunteering in townships to working on the European Golf Tour. Peter's retirement saw us return to the UK in 2021 during Covid with the cat and the dog who of course were documented with Animal Tales.
Whilst I continue to blog, I do it these days for me. I hope one day that blogging makes a return in popularity. I loved the 'realness' of it when I first started, however it change quickly when people started monetising it, but as new platforms emerged it has become more wholesome again.
I'm still blogging with people I met from 2009. I've met up with many in real life. My first post became a regular weekly when we moved to Dubai in 2015 when I started #OneDailyPositive
In 2019 I teamed up with Stephanie from @bosworthlife to co-host #pocolo Post Comment Love - where you can join in and link up with any post written in the week.
Currently I write a post each month about the garden, trips in our camper van, the best parts of the month and somewhere we've visited usually with the grandchildren. I also write a weekly One Daily Positive post that is linked up with Project 365 and I've recently joined in with Word of the Week where I write about something that's been on my mind.
Blogging over recent years has helped me through the grief of losing my father, several friends, our dog and our daughter.
I enjoy reading back through old posts, meeting new people through the linkies, keeping up to date with people I've known but never met, who really feel like friends. I find it therapeutic. I like the idea of leaving a legacy for the grandchildren.
I'll leave you with some photos and my first blog post.
Having fun this week as the winner of #fancydressfriday. Wearing my costume at a variety of locations. Hubby slightly amused over the weekend now thinks I'm completely bonkers, which I probably am. Nagged 17 year old son to crawl round the loft space until he found something I could wear. I rejected his first choice of a Santa hat. His reply 'for god sake Mum, get a life.' Now bribing the kids to take photos.
Spent Friday night celebrating my win with a glass of Rum and coke. Did ask if I could crack open the champagne, that didn't even raise a smile from Hubby. Firmly told 'no' 'grow up'. Then did some sewing as my 14 year old son left for France on Saturday morning with Sea Cadets aboard the TS John Jerwood. By Tuesday he and the crew had made it to Brighton Marina. And finally to bed in costume, hubby lost his patience by now and refused to talk to me till I took the dam thing off, slept like a baby dalek all night in it.
Saturday saw me in #fancydressfriday at Barnard's Green Cricket Club for Malvern Town Wanderers football open day. A huge success we signed 23 mini kickers, gave away goodie bags and footballs. I helped serve up the bacon butties and drinks to parents whilst dressed as a Dalek.
Sunday was the autumn show at the Three Counties Showground, did a bit of gardening in the morning in #fancydressfriday then spent a lovely afternoon with 10 year old son buying useless things that may come in handy one day. Not sure when that day will be but sure we'll find out soon.
Monday in the office all day sorting out case files and chasing up some loose ends. Got spotted by the neighbours hanging up the washing in #fancydressfriday. Tried to explain twitter but they didn't have a clue. I have 2 twitter friends in my town but haven't met either of them yet. Gave up 2 hours of my time to 'help' hubby set up his new computer. For 'help' read 'watch'.
Tuesday spent hanging round the garage, in Cheltenham, for the best part of the day. Popped in to see step daughter for a bounce on the trampoline and cup of tea. Then off to Asda for the weekly shop. Hubby hid #fancydressfriday costume and I finally found it in a case in his office just in time to bake my son his Gluten free cakes for school.
Wednesday a really boring day. Housebound and cleaning windows, bathrooms, dusting and hovering all in #fancydressfriday costume, got a bit hot and there wasn't anyone in so set up the camera on the timer which took more shots of the back of me as I tried to get it right. 17 year old son came home with a friend and is still not speaking to me as I showed him up, his mate, however, is wetting himself laughing and thinks it's great, finally had an audience to talk twitter to as he had at least heard of it but said he doesn't tweet as it's for old people. Cheeky bugger. Hubby away for the night so had uninterrupted fun on Face book.
Thursday in the office for the morning persuaded a colleague to take a photo of me at my desk, although there was a condition I had to let him have a copy of the photo. Agreed as he was the only one in the office that noticed I had had my hair done last week and now have lots of blonde streaks. Don't know if everyone else in the office has noticed it or doesn't like it. Who knows? Who cares? My evening was spent running kids around to various activities.
It is now Friday and my last day of #fancydressfriday. Didn't wear my costume on my epic journey from Worcester to Ramsgate return leaving home at 4am and returning at 2pm. 447 miles and was only there for 10 minutes to collect son and 3 Sea Cadet buddies after they spent the week sailing to France. I won't be putting the costume back in the attic just yet as I wear it every year to hand out the goodies on Halloween. It's sad now that the kids are no longer interested in this activity. 10 year old will go out for half an hour if he can persuade anyone to take him, to rob the neighbours of their sweets but isn't interested in dressing himself or the house up, thankfully the boys still love Christmas, although I think they humour me with the decorating. Will sit down this evening and search for #fancydressfriday and announce the winner live on twitter. I wonder if they will do the same next week or just keep their avatar up. Hope the spirit of #fancydressfriday continues. Last job to do in #fancydressfriday is to wash the costume. Off to bed early tonight as this week’s activities have left me exterminated.
Finally quote from hubby 'thank f*** for that, now will you pay the family some attention this week' huh see above what does he think I've been doing all week?
