Thursday 26 July 2012

Positively Cheerful - One Year On

Every week Michelle at Mummy From The Heart hosts Reasons To Be Cheerful, a little space where like minded souls can enthuse about the great and the good in their lives. I haven't joined in for a while - I've been both busy and lazy - but this week, as it's so sunny, and as I'm celebrating a significant landmark in my blog's history, I felt compelled to share my positive cheer with you ...

Firstly though, some good news about Little A. Her settling in period at the new nursery went swimmingly well; it was me who was treading water. The first morning Little A spent some time viewing her new surroundings from either the security of my lap or with her arms wrapped like vines around my knees. Several occasions she tried to cajole me, tugging earnestly at my hand, into investigating the various themed play areas, but I kept gently reminding, "mummy's job is to sit on the chair". My ploy worked well and it wasn't long before Little A overcame her shyness and began exploring the new faces, wendy house, paints and plasticine, fish tank, dinosaurs, and outdoor area with its sand pit and push rides on her own. There were no tears or tantrums on the mornings I waved my goodbyes. In fact, it was quite the opposite; she refused to leave when I collected her. One morning I was met with "I didn't miss you mummy". Oh, thanks. I must be doing something right if she feels this secure in my absence. I can now breathe easy and enjoy two mornings sacred leave a week from being a mum.

Yesterday, I accompanied Little A on the nursery summer outing to Holland Park. As the heat was so intense, not that I'm complaining after so many waterlogged weeks, we shaded ourselves under the canopy of trees lining the sports field. It was a lovely chance to relax in the glorious weather we're having and meet some of the other parents. My enthusiastic little Olympian took part in her first official running race. And then again, and again, and again. I held her hand as she giggled her way to the finishing line. She didn't care about the winning. She was bowled over by the taking part.


This week marks the first anniversary of my blog, or blogoversary as its affectionately known as. A year ago, the 25th July 2011 to be precise, I sat down at the kitchen table and wrote a small tale about a large dog that'd frightened Little A. At that moment, I couldn't predict if I would still be blogging a year later. But here I am, twelve months on, tapping away on the keys, and with not one, but two blogs. And I have to say I'm very proud of what I've accomplished. I've discovered such a great outlet for my thoughts and creativity, swapping music for words. Who would've thought I'd end up attending a blogging conference let alone consider writing a piece of fiction. I think the first anniversary is an important one; it mirrors that I've made a dedicated commitment to my blog and writing, and long may it continue.

But do you know what I've really enjoyed and appreciated over the last year? Well it's you, my dear faithful reader. Your comments and support have been a joy to read, have spurred me on, and kept my new dream, of becoming a writer, alive. And even though we may not have met, I feel I've become acquainted with you, your essence, through reading the honest and eloquent words written on your blog. I met a small handful of you at Britmums this June. It was like a blind date with someone I already felt an easy easiness with. Like the snugly feeling when I wrap my feet in a pair of Uggs. Or the first comforting tastes of a scoop of vanilla ice cream. So, I wanted to take the time to say thank you for discovering my little home on the internet prairie and sticking with me. To my readers old, and new, a cyber high-five.

As my blog is a year old, I wanted to celebrate by challenging myself with a new creative project. I used to be an avid cyclist. One of the things I appreciated the most about my two wheeled adventures was bearing witness to the passing of the months; snowdrops and ice in February, daffodils and puddles in April, roses and downpours in July or russet leaves and foggy drizzle in November. So with that in mind, I'm going to dedicate five consecutive days each season to posting a photograph(s) and a few words which capture the spirit of the time of year. I'm naming my project One Week ...



And even though it's Thursday, I'm also linking up with Hello Wall's, Wednesday Witter.

28 comments:

  1. Congratulations on the Blog anniversary... I still have ages to go!
    Glad to hear your little one settled in ok at nursery and it looks like you had a fab day out :) x

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  2. One week is a great idea! Congrat on your bloggerversary! Mine is coming up very soon too! I can't believe this time last year I didn't know what blogging was and now it is a huge part of my life...and sanity!

    Glad the nursery worked out well :)

    xx

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    1. Thank you ... I like the idea too, but it feels a little daunting commiting myself to a blog a day - never done that before. Blogging saved my sanity too. X

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  3. Enjoy your you time and hope you commit even more time to your fabulous writing. Pleased nursery is going well too.

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    1. Thank you Kate, and all your inspiration too. Nursery is going very well.

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  4. Congratulations on your bloggerversary, and I am pleased that little A is enjoying nursery and that you enjoyed a lovely day out together x

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    1. Thank you, and she's having a great time there. The day out was fab.

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  5. Sorry about the above - I meant to sign in with my blog name not my google +. I meant to say congratulations on a year's blogging and I am so glad you little one is training for the Olympics already!!

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    1. No worries! Thank you ... yes, already got her training hard!

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  6. Happy one year blogoversary - mine just turned 5 - although it sounds like you've done more in your first year than I've done in mine :) Reading from Australia!

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    1. Thank you! Just checked out your blog - it looks fab - duly signed up!

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  7. Happy blogoversary! I have really enjoyed watching your writing evolve over the past year. You have so many diverse writing styles up your sleeve and I look forward to seeing what the next step is for you. Hopefully with Miss A nicely settled into nursery you'll have more time to do just that. :)

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    1. Thank you Misha! That was a lovely comment, and yes, with Little A starting nursery, it should hopefully give me more time to write. PS, for some reason I'm not able to grab hold of your RSS feed and add you to my blog list :o(.

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  8. Congratulations on your first year. So glad to have met you out there in blogland. Love the one week idea... will you be asking people to join in?

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    1. Thank you, and you too! I think I will turn it into a linky .... watch this space!

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  9. Well done you. I know a few very successful writers, who i'm sure you could pick their brains, about agents etc. Just mail me. I LOVE your blog, it has a real, feel good factor about it. Rightly or wrongly, you get a(after reading) a sense of who you are, which makes you want to read more. So i think you maybe on to something on becoming a writer. Keep it up!

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    1. Thank you - that was a lovely comment. Lovely to know my blog has a feel good factor about it - I had never considered that before. Thank you - will do!

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  10. Wow! A whole year of blogging! What a fabulous achievement, and hats of to you for managing two blogs! I've really enjoyed reading your blog and your wonderful words this last year. Long may it continue, *cheerily raises a glass of fizzy pop*.

    Great news that little A has settled so happily into her new nursery. That must feel like a great relief. I love the idea of One Week. I'm sure it going to be descriptively gorgeous! x

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    1. Thank you Mummy Plum! Glad you have enjoyed reading, I remember I discovered you through Love New Blogs! I hope I'm not putting myself under too much pressure with this - I've never done a blog post every day for a week before! I may turn it into a linky too ...

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  11. Many Congrats Old Hand! It's wonderful to be part of your blogging world and to have you as part of mine too. Thank you for being there. You do a great job XXX

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    1. Thank you very, very much my dear! I'm so glad to have found your blog and met you in person. X

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  12. Loving the sound of One Week - really looking forward to that. It would be great if you turned it into a linky, I'd certainly try to join up. Congratulations on your first anniversary - you are right, you've achieved loads!

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    1. Thank you! Yes, I think I'll turn it into a linky for that week ... and yes, I have done a lot over the last year!

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