Monday 25 June 2012

A Bus Strike and a Clubbing Experience

Typical. There was a bus strike. I was completely unaware of this until a helpful passer-by politely pointed at the electronic sign above my head. In red neon it shouted the words all commuters dread, INDUSTRIAL ACTION. Why the heck hadn't I noticed this before? Oh no. Not today. Not at the start of Britmums Live. I'm going to have to walk the long walk to the tube. And fast. Until the moment that stranger had redirected my attention, I'd been sitting absent mindedly on the unyielding plastic bench of the bus shelter for nearly twenty minutes, my faith in London transport still intact.

It was on my hurried half-run to the station that I finally became aware of the distinct lack of public transport snarling Uxbridge Road, and the unusual throng of frustrated looking pedestrians busying like ants in the same direction as me. How had I not noticed these glaring clues earlier? Then providence gracefully stepped in. I glanced intuitively over my shoulder and spotted something heavenly. A lone double decker. And it was rumbling towards me. I was luckily within an ear shot of a bus stop and flagged the renegade vehicle. A gasp of calming relief escaped my mouth as the bus indicated and pulled to the curb. It was packed but I squeezed on between stiff Summer raincoats and bullying shoulder bags. I'd made it ...

... And I was on time for the pre conference meet up at the coffee shop. But a large chai latte couldn't assuage my nerves. Britmums Live was my first blogging conference and it seemed like one giant blind date. Only this date had a narrative twist. I don't think I've been in a situation where I'm meeting someone in the flesh for the first time and they already know many intimate details about my life. What would my cyber friends think of me? Was there a believable and fluid congruency between my written word and the real life me? Would I lose some of my on line mystique? I needn't have worried though as this weekend I found myself standing shoulder to shoulder with a group of welcoming, genuine, warm, and thoroughly supportive women.


And the conference? Well I spent the first hour overwhelmed and rooted to the spot like a stunned rabbit caught in head lights. I don't remember drinking the peppermint tea or eating the lemon cake I held in each clammy hand. I do remember intently gazing at many chest lines trying to decipher names and blog titles on conference badges. I remember uttering "Oh I know you" and "I really like your blog" an awful lot. I also remember a lively conversation about the merits of True Blood and Twilight. Vampires are useful ice breakers. Adrenaline though can have a very over powering and surreal effect on the senses. So much so that the entire two days often felt like a nostalgic throw back to my DJ'ing days. The excitement of meeting so many new people and absorbing the collective positive energy of the 500 bloggers present had more in common with a clubbing experience. I found myself riding an ecstatic high.


The stuff that stole my interest included call to action keynotes from Ruby Wax and Sarah Brown, serenely dozing babes in arms that invited broody yearnings, workshops on the Path to Getting Published and How to Create and Market Your Own eBooks which appealed to my writing aspirations, copious glasses of prosecco and canapes proferred during the BIBs Awards party, and the Bloggers Keynote ...

The Bloggers Keynote was a truly powerful, and empathic experience. It was a joy to listen to each chosen Blogger's selected post. Their spoken renditions breathed life and electricity into their written words. Hayley from Downs Side Up received a standing ovation for reading this moving post about her beautiful daughter, Natty, who has downs syndrome. There wasn't a dry eye in the room.


And now its all over and I'm genuinely sad. I find myself in a melancholic haze. I think I'm having a post clubbing come down. For the first time my humble blog and I felt a part of something much bigger; a blogging community that is making a difference.

Life is about relationship, and it doesn't matter if this takes place on line. Because behind that computer screen resides a real person with history, worries, triumphs and losses, aspirations, hope, tragedy and illness, and love. And the energy of that human experience pulsates through the written word. And in that there is always connection ...

See you at Britmums 2013.


34 comments:

  1. You've written this post in such a moving beautiful way - I simply love it.
    Have you added it to the linky:
    http://www.britmumsblog.com/2012/06/britmums-live-linky/
    I found this post by Googling Downs and standing ovation as I was so moved (and cried) as a result of her post.
    Liska xxx

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    1. Thank you, and yes I linked up, and I think many bloggers reporting on the conference mentioned Hayley's reading.

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  2. Great post. I'm so glad you had a wonderful time and I really enjoyed meeting you. x

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  3. I'm enjoying reading everyone's review of the weekend. Sounds like you all had a fab time - I wish I'd been able to go. Maybe next year. Meeting all those people and taking part in all that activity sounds exhausting, too. Lovely post. Polly

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    1. It was great, and mainly as I had blogging buddies which I think you really need during a weekend like this. I hope you come next year.

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  4. A lovely post by a lovely woman. Was great to have you as my buddy and looking forward to staying in touch x

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    1. Thank you my dear! It was fab to have you by my side all weekend. X

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  5. I didn't know about the bus strike either! And all my trains were cancelled. But it was worth the slog to meet you et al and next year I'll make sure I buy a ticket and come for more.

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    1. Yes I know! I had no idea! Bit of a curve ball. It was great to meet you.

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  6. I'm so hoping that I'm going to be in the UK for next year's. Would love to have met you in person x

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    1. It would be fab to meet you! Here's hoping you'll be in the UK for next years event.

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  7. Wow, you've captured the essence of BritMums Live - and what it is to be a newbie preparing to go there - so well. Hopefully we will get to meet up again before the next BML! x

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    1. Thank you. It was great to meet you and it would be lovely to meet up with you again before the next event.

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  8. You see, Motherventing put me off, you have put me back on... I'll see nearer the time, but I'm glad you had fun and met some lovely ladies.

    p.s. A lovely post all the same. As always.

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    1. Taa my dear! I liked Motherventing's post, but I also enjoyed the conference and workshops as I'm a novice writer/blogger. I can see why for more seasoned writers some of it may not have appealed.

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  9. What a wonderful experience after a somewhat rocky start! I haven't been to a blogging event yet (there are not as many in my city as there are in other cities)... but you've inspired me to give it some consideration the next time opportunity knocks!

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    1. Thank you ... it was. Certainly worth the £50. I recommend going to one at least - it makes the whole thing seem more real.

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  10. Oh hun this is such a fabulous post encapsulating a brilliant conference. And a DJ in the past eh? Can you get a woop woop? Definitely from me :D (P.S. Wanna be writing buddies?)

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    1. Thank you! Yes, it was a long time ago. Writing buddies - of course!

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  11. A fabulous post, fabulous lady! It's lovely reading everyone's take on it a few days in, is bringing all the happy memories to life again. I am still so touched to have met so many wonderful, warm and endearing people. I can not wait to see everyone at 2013! Now when are those early bird tickets going on sale... lol.

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    1. Thank you and thank you. I think we are very lucky we stuck together all weekend - it really made a difference to the whole thing. Will definitely go again next year!

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  12. I have just found you. I love your blog. I am a 44 year old mother of 2 under 5. So i will read your blog with interest! and definitely see you at Britmums 2013.

    http://littleboyred.blogspot.co.uk/

    Angela x

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    1. Hey! Thank you, and thank you for stopping by. Nice to meet you! Going to check out your blog now!

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  13. Beautiful post and so spot on. Your first hours sounds similar to mine, minus the lemon cake. Have to say I was truly amazed at how sweet and calm the babies in attendance were.

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    1. Hello. I am really disappointed that I didn't bump into you! It would have been lovely to meet you. The babies there were gorgeous!

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  14. Oooh I love your words about it being like clubbing! I never really "got" clubbing (I don't enjoy drinking and it was never as much fun being the sober one when everyone was getting drunk!) but my husband did. He went to raves in fields in the middle of nowhere and his descriptions of this make me realise that you're right, the collective positive energy really did put everyone on a high!

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    1. Hello ... thank you. At the time I couldnt put my finger on how I was feeling at Britmums and then I remembered - clubbing - which was a long time ago!

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  15. Was super to meet you, if only for a few moments! So glad you had a good time, me too. See you next year..... Mich x

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  16. Great post OM, especially loved the last paragraph. SO glad you had a good time. Have to admit to feeling a little bit sad I missed you all. It looks alot of fun. Photo's look fab too. Maybe next year. x

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    1. Cheers MP! I hope your holiday was good! You were missed too! It was a great couple of days and I would highly recommend it one year. X

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  17. Now I've read your post, I'm even more tempted to go along to Britmums 2013! I am slightly put off by the thought of an overnighter with a load of people I only know on-line and my husband has used the 'blind date' analogy more than once! If I lived closer than I wouldn't have to stay overnight....ooh the dilemma!

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    1. Do go - it's a great experience. I will probably be going again next year. What have you got to lose? :o).

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