At the dawn of the blogging age.........

I had a sudden thought this morning - I couldn't remember when I first started blogging, so I checked. The first tentative post was on August 15, 2005. And while I did write 5 more posts that year, I only really started blogging in April 2006. Nearly 5 years ago. Sunday, 2nd April, to be exact.

How could I have known then just what would happen to my life, or how much being a part of the blogging world would help me. Those long lonely nights when sleep was elusive. Time after time, there was a voice somewhere out there which I could hear, and which heard me. People. Real people. So I made friends.

Do you remember the trepidation when you first posted a comment somewhere? I was worried I was intruding. Ridiculous now. But back then, it was a whole new thing. The days before books on blogging were written, and before it became the massive engine it is now. Back then, we just jumped in - or rather, crept in toe by toe, in reality.

And here I am, all those years later, writing my 1315th post. So many words. And now, I am popping back and forth, trying to find and recognise the woman I was back then. How I have changed, and some of you have been there through the metamorphosis. Good? Bad? Does it matter? It is who I am and how this life has shaped me.

(6 hours later)

I got lost in the memories there for a few hours. Back then I didn't say very much, but I remember the emotions behind the words, you see. I remember what I did NOT write, and that was the really important stuff. It took some time to recognise me. The good Lord knows I am older, greyer, and a whole lot wiser. A bit dented and brusied too. But, if nothing else, I am a survivor. With sense of humour intact!

So what have I been up to today? Apart from trawling through old posts? I had an auctioneer come round to see about getting rid of a few things. Large things like cupboards. That must count as a few bags, I think. He was here a while, and then Julia popped in for tea, followed 5 mins later by Jean, who was trying out her bus pass now that she is over 60 - she had been on an adventure - and then a little while later, Glynis and Peter rolled in the door too, so it was a wonderful way to spend the rest of the afternoon. The house was full of chatter and laughter and tea and biscuits.....and some of my favourite people too. Perfect.

They all left together and in the silence, I realised how quiet my life is normally. A little of both - balance - is just right, I think.

My beef stew which had been bubbling away in the crockpot all day was delicious. And now it is time to retire to the couch with a coffee. And a chocolate. The bag count, by the way, is up to 18. It is going well. I now have a medicine cabinet sans medicine which expired in 1996. We are finally up to date. And I will never need to buy another plaster again. Then I moved on to the sewing room. I was buried. I have done 2 sets of drawers and 3 shelves and the mess is diabolical, but it is a work in progress. Watch this space!

Time to rest..............

(What is wrong with the spellcheck? I click on it and nothing happens at all.......)