Tuesday 19 March 2013

1st Anniversary Giveaway!

Today is the 1st anniversary of starting this blog, the anniversary of my 1st post - not much of a post I have to admit!
 
I had been reading lots of blogs on a regular basis for years and thought it might be a bit of fun to join in, I wanted to join the party! But I hadn't really grasped, how could I have, how much of a community you all are. I was warmly welcomed and hadn't expected to feel as excited as I did when I had my first comment - that was from Sarah who was so welcoming and has also stuck with me for the whole year! Sarah takes the most beautiful photographs, I always look forward to a new, picture full, post from her
 
I've not always been sure what to blog about; I've bounced between a hectic family life involving plenty of sport to house renovations, holidays, Christmas and birthdays. I'm not sure if anything I've written has ever been riveting but it's been lovely to meet so many new people all over the world who have become friends, albeit in the virtual world.
 
One of the nicest things I remember from the past year is that some people worried about us when we were on holiday and suffering a direct hit from the hurricane - I was really touched.
 
After starting to blog in secret (fear of being laughed at!) I did vaguely mention to my family whilst on that very holiday that I might start to blog (only 7 months after I had actually started), I've been careful not to say too much about it I don't want them to know everything I write about - I may want to moan about them!
 
So we're about to start on our Summer cricket schedule, fixtures are coming in left, right and centre from school, club and the County team - I'm already confused as I managed to write all of May's fixtures on the calendar for March!
 
Thank you for joining me and thank you for all the lovely comments that have been left for me during the year.
 
I really didn't think I'd do more than 1 or 2 posts before giving up but here we are and by way of celebrating this anniversary I'd like to host a giveaway - I always love to enter these so thought I'd do my own!
 
So please leave a comment and I'll draw all the names from a hat (or gingerbread man balaclava!) in a couple of weeks. I'm not entirely sure what I'm giving away yet (am I supposed to say what it is now??) but I'm thinking something booky - I know of 2 with a vague cricket connection so maybe that.  And maybe something local.....

21 comments:

  1. Can I be the first to congratulate you on your 1st Anniversary too! Those first few posts are always difficult, when you wonder if anyone will ever visit. Others had encouraged me too at the start. I'm so pleased you carried on and I have enjoyed so much popping by and hearing all your news, thanks for making me smile! Here's to another great year!
    Sarah x

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  2. Congratulations! I agree, you always make me smile with your adventures so well done and I hope to read lots more in the future, love Nick xx

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  3. Congratulation son your first anniversary! Like you, I didn't tell my family for months that I was blogging and I still hate that they sometimes read my blog.

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  4. Happy Blogiversary! I always enjoy your posts - they make me chuckle. And you're always so kind to comment on my blog too, which helps make it worthwhile.
    Keep up the good work!

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  5. Well Congratulations indeed. I hope you now stay for ever. My son teases me so much about my blog BUT it is water off a duck@s back. I wish I had kept a diary of all the kindnesses I have experienced since I started. Even today a " friend" took the time to virtually hold my hand whilst I searched for the rAvelry and Pinterest button for mine. Have a great Giveaway. They are fun and thanks for popping over to Chalky's
    Love Linda

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  6. Congratulations on your first anniversary. How exciting that must be. I can understand about not saying anything about blogging. When I started, I only told my daughter but she gave me such good reviews, I have been happily at now since last fall. I agree, this community is a wonderful one with such caring and compassionate people in it. Looking forward to your giveaway. I'm sure it will be a great one.

    Hugs,
    Sharon

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  7. Happy Blogoversary! 1 year is such a milestone after those first few weeks/months of diving in and not knowing what the response will be. I always enjoy visiting here and look forward to the next 12 months. Mel x

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  8. Happy anniversary!
    I'm glad I'm not the only one who blogs in secret! My family have now discovered my blog and surprisingly didn't laugh - well not in front of me anyway!!! (But I don't tend to tell anyone else about it, it would seem almost like letting them read my diary!!!!)
    Hope your second year is even more fun than the first!
    Angie x

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  9. Many congrats on your first anniversary, it's good fun being in the blogosphere isn't it!
    Here's to the next year and all it brings.
    Gingerbread man balacalva? I now have visions of biscuits with black hoods on!
    Lisa x

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    1. The gingerbread balaclava refers to the dressing up post, Little Miss had one as part of her book day outfit but refused to wear it! Hopefully you didn't think it was something I wore from time to time!!

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  10. Congrats on your first year! I have certainly enjoyed reading about your escapades and am glad to have found your blog.
    June

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  11. You've only been blogging for a year???Your blog is awesome and the writing is always so fun and honest and engaging. Happy First Anniversary!

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  12. I an surprised that you've only been doing this for a year - you're so good at it! Unlike you, doing it in secret, my blog started as a way to keep my family informed of what I was doing, since I was the only one who didn't live in California. After a few months, I figured out that they weren't reading it, but other interesting people were. (Some of my family did eventually start reading it, so good thing I kept writing!) It is slightly stress relieving too.

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  14. Congratulations on your one year bloggy birthday! You are right, the blogging community is really something special.

    Gillian x

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  15. Congratulations on your first successful year, and Happy Blogging Birthday. :)

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  16. Congrats on your blogoversary!

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  17. Many congratulations on your 1st blogaversary Jay! - I too am surprised it's only been a year as you write so well with your lovely sense of humour :o)
    I was (and still am) amazed that bloggers are so kind and supportive to each other - it lifts the heart.
    Rose H
    x

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  18. Congratulations Jay! One year is quite an achievement in the blogging world I reckon. Not only am I surprised by all the lovely nice people I've 'met' through blogging, but by the fact that anyone reads mine in the first place!
    I'm glad you decided to write yours x

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  19. Well done on blogging for a whole year!

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  20. yay for your anniversary! NZ is on task to beat England today - a huge miracle!!

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