It was pretty amazing for me when I made it to the end of one year of blogging, even more amazing that I managed to survive another couple of years despite what was going on in my life. Now, I am four, who would have thought, certainly not me!
While I might not have written my very first post until the 31st March 2013, I had registered the name, which at that time was ‘The Geeky G4mer’. Even in that very first post, I made excuses which paved the way for me more than likely giving up on this new fad, but I didn’t, I am still here.
The last four years have been pretty rough, some of it will be documented on this blog and some of it on others, where I shared my experiences of being a carer for someone with Dementia. Writing from the heart wasn’t always pretty, hence my decision to keep those posts away from here. It didn’t really matter where I wrote, as long as I did, because on many days that was my saving grace, the thing that kept me going.
Had life not intervened the way it did I may have been a blogging superstar by now, these days there are people in the same position as me who have been blogging for only six months, or perhaps even less. I’m quite content to not be a superstar, it’s hard enough being me sometimes. That fame malarky is definitely not the road for an introvert to travel.
I am not, nor will I ever be a magnificent writer, I simply want to entertain and write about life, which can be hard sometimes, because it’s far from perfect despite what some people would have us believe. The difference is the way that people deal with the cards that they have been dealt and every day here, I see examples of people who despite what they hide still manage to put a smile on their faces and carry on regardless with the intention of putting a smile on ours.
Stepping into both blogging and the WordPress community can be daunting at first, but for those of you who are new, my advice would be never give up. Hold on to what you believe in and most importantly never lose sight of why you started your blog. Write for yourself and no one else, the rest will come with time. Open yourself up to this amazing community, there is nowhere else that you will find such a diverse bunch of people who probably shouldn’t work but do. There is always someone to help, comfort, teach and guide, you just have to interact and ask, never be afraid, we have all been where you are now.
In the last four years I have written 500 posts, quite fitting that this should be number 501. I have 1,220 followers, my page has seen 21, 069 visitors with 43, 941 views. There have been 9, 312 comments, with some still pending. That’s amazing, and I am extremely grateful for every follow, like and person who has stopped by whether they commented or not. But for me, what is more important are the people I have met, the friends I have made and the posts I have read that have made me smile, laugh, cry and remember that I am not alone in this world. More importantly it has reminded me I am loved and despite the fact that I am not a magnificent writer, I have things to say that people want to read.
I am four, but only because you all helped me. Thank you, words can never express how grateful I am to have had you all at my side.
Here’s to another 365 days of blogging! Happy blog anniversary to us.
Aw! Happy Blogiversary!!!!
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Thank you, and thank you also for all your support :)
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Always hun!
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Congratulations! No need to thank us – you did the all the work!
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Maybe, but you guys kept pushing me forward :)
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Congrats and Happy Blogiversary!
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Thank you :)
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Happy Blogiversary!
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Thanks Trent :)
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I can certainly relate to that in more ways than one. One way is not so much as I am only a newbie blogger. Plus I think you write rather well!! :-)
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Thanks, that’s nice to hear. You’re doing good for a newbie let me tell you so keep er lit as we say over here :)
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Gotta love the Irish humour 😎😉
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Oh aye, the craics mighty :)
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Happy Blogiversary Juls x
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Thanks :) Have you got on the bad side of Akismet, you were in my Spam folder……don’t worry though I rescued you because you’re a good un!
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Is that all I am to you…. spam?
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Noooo, you mean so much more, that’s why I fished you out!! You’re Charcoal Chicken at the very least ❤ lol
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Happy Birthday :)
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Why thank you, want a slice of cake?
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Always love cake!!
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Happy 4th Blogiversary and congrats!
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Thank you so much Traci, I never thought I would make it this far lol
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Happy Blog Birthday! 🎉🎉🎉
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Why thank you young Dean! Did you get my vote for the next character to be drawn. I’d seen you asking but couldn’t think of any, so was really glad when you put HQ as one of the suggestions :)
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Congratulations!!
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Thanks Trudy :)
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You’re welcome. It’s a big achievement.
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What an achievement! Congrats!
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Thanks :)
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Congratulations Juls. You can take the training wheels off your blog now ! lol :) <3
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But, but, but………….what if I fall over. I might squash something! :)
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Don’t be so hard on yourself. Blogging over time is an achievement. That could mean you are an amazing blogger.
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I’ll settle for decent, but thank you :) All the comments have made me realise it is something to be proud of :)
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Glad to have you, Eejit! 💚
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Glad to have met you HeTebeSpiders 😘
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Happy 4! It ain’t easy getting to four. The skeletons of many blogs litter the internet.
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Do you know what, you’re right :) I still miss some of the people I used to know. Thanks for making me look on it in a different way, I am celebrating now :)
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Happy Blogiversary!!! Cheers and to many more years!!! :)
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Thank you kindly :)
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Congrats! I’m 5 in October. :)
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That deserves a bigger cake than mine then, that’s a full on party! I better get an invite :)
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Of course!! :)
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Happy Blog Birthday! Enjoy the cake. :)
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Why thank you. I ate it all. The Devil made me do it, you can ask him next Sunday :)
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Well, he’s a little intimidated by female Irish bloggers at this point. ;)
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Happy bloggity birthday dear!
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Thank you and also than you for being here pretty much from the start. I’m glad I plucked up the courage to say hello all those years ago to the girl with the bunches and the roller skates :)
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Me too! Look what I’ve become in the meantime LOL! Seriously, you rock and I am glad to have you in my life as a friend now :)
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Well I always thought of you as older, must have been the wisdom I read in your posts Juls…but good luck to you, I don’t know how old I am, everyday is a good day is how I look at it…so if tomorrow I get vertical once again then great, I’ll look out for your words should they come my way….take care of you and keep us entertained a lot longer..
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I think I initially saw this as a bad thing, as in 4 years on and I am pretty much in the same place. But as I am on a mission to alter my thinking I am now looking at it as, wow I’ve survived 4 years, that’s pretty darn good :) Glad to have met you and thank you for all the support, especially at the rougher times :) x
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No worries juls glad you still around.
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Many congratulations on reaching four years of blogging, Juls. I’m still trying to work out why WordPress never notify me of these milestone achievements. 🤔 I must be in their bad books. 😈
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Lol I knew roughly when it was, but it popped up in my notifications. If I had not been checking for a couple of days like I normally do I would easily have missed it this year. Console yourself with the fact that you’re way more popular than I am and it got buried in the love :)
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Aww, that’s so kind of you to say, Juls, but I’ve a feeling it probably got swallowed up by the spam monster. 😀
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I’ve only recently found you, but I’m hoping for many more years. Happy anniversary!
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I am very glad that you did too :) Here’s to much more tears, fun and laughter :)
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Congratulations! Exciting stuff! :)
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Why thank you, I suppose it is :)
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SNAP!! I turned 5 on the weekend and shared some cake in my obligatory post. Happy days to you and many more years ahead.
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Happy 5th Birthday to you as well :) When I think about it the fact that we have stuck it this long is actually something to be proud of, so yay us!!
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Hey hey hey hey – Happy Slappy Daffy Doodles er …. Blog-o-Birthday! 4 huh? Is this like dog years? The blog – not you ….. I remember wayyyyyyyyyyyy back when …. uh oh ….. that dates me huh? So like yeah, even though my original blog from way back then is no more, I still even remember the whole should I change my name etc??? LOL – so happy birthday and many more, here, to come – in celebration of all the things that happen, in life – bips and bumps and thumps and all that maydupp stuff ;) and the good times and penguins and odd stories and prompts and just the whole Shebang! Ya done super great my friend – ((((((((Eejit))))))))))))) – you TOTALLY rock the blogging world :)
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And I could not have done any of it without people like you, because your support has kept me going. I’m an introvert in real life and perhaps a little here too. I can’t always find my words, but people like you understand anyway.
It’s been a crazy four years, but it’s been a good four years :) May Dupp, ahhh how I miss her, I might just have to trundle her out one of these days :)
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Well, you know, friends hang out no matter what …. and that’s the beauty of finding a great community – sharing and encouraging, as needed :)
Well all stumble sometimes over the words …. but that’s okay. No need to be polished and “A” sides all the time ;)
LOL@May Dupp – lovely gal 😚
I’m sure she’ll drop in when she’s free to do so …. and so, in the meantime, here’s wishing you another glorious year – shall we start planning your 5th birthday bash now???
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Oh I think so. Next year might warrant party hats :)
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streamers and balloons and glitter and horns??? ;)
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As in blow horns or devil ones? Lol
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LOL – both!!!🎉😈
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I can’t even remember what trail I followed to get here I’ll admit… but glad that I did. First congratulations of course. I would like to comment on you saying to open yourself up the WP community. I’ve only been on here for a month and already it’s been one of the most engaging and motivating months I’ve had in years in terms of work-like behavior (even though it’s just a hobby). I second your motion and now follow your blog!
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Hey, thanks for stopping by.
I’m glad you’ve enjoyed your first month and believe me the interaction just keeps getting better. I can still remember most of the people I have met, sadly some of them no longer blog.
I think that’s the first thing that surprised me about blogging was how much work it actually was. These days I’m trying to be a little more laid back by not stressing myself out and just blogging when I can :)
I had a quick read of a couple of your posts last night too, so I think you have also found yourself a new follower :)
P.s if you need help with anything just ask, if I don’t know there is always someone else around here who will :)
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Thanks for the encouragement and offer of support. First thing I should work on is getting better at noticing messages… I keep missing some, like this one, sorry for the delay to acknowledge you.
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Lol that’s ok, takes me a while to get to comments too sometimes. To be honest that’s why I turned on moderation for mine, it meant that if I didn’t get to them for a couple of days then I never missed any :)
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I have it on… Sadly
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Ah ffs lol It’ll be reet, as my good friend would say :)
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Congratulations. That’s quite a feat. I’ve been enjoying your blog. Here’s to at least another 4?
JP
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Let’s hope so, with fun and laughter along the way :) I’ve been enjoying yours also, so I hope you don’t mind me stalki……tagging along :)
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