Monday, February 13, 2012

Doh!


I was planning to write a different post and then I thought "Hang on, I did that a year ago"  which made me realize that I have been blogging for over a year.  I then had a look at some stats.  I have 98 followers,  I have written 88 posts (89 if you include this one), and have had 24,577 views!!  I have to say that is nuts.  It made me question a bit why I do this and who I'm doing it for.  Originally it was a chance to have a bit more of a natter than you can fit into a status update on Facebook, a way to keep Mother up to date when we don't get a chance to skype in busy weeks and when a good friend wrote this...

"Ah, I loved reading this, it was like you were right next to me talking.
You make your day sound both chaotic and magical. At least you didn't include a trip to A&E!
Looking forward to reading your future entries, will almost be like popping round for a cuppa. Almost. 
B-A xxx"

... I was thrilled to pieces. 

However, I have occasionally felt a bit like being back at school where you have the cool kids and I'm hanging around on the periphery, not quite cool enough, but then I remembered that I was very happy that way at school.  I'm fortunate that as I get older I care less and less what other people think about what I do, wear, think and am more confident in my own skin, beliefs and values.  I don't need anyone else's validation to be happy.  If no-one but my Mum read this that would be fine, this is not a popularity contest (although bizarrely it sometimes feels that way) and if people want to spend time reading my ramblings, then I am firstly surprised, but also humbled and pleased that people find it entertaining enough to bother!  

I sincerely hope that any lovely readers can read between the lines and know that life is never perfect, my house is a bomb site most of the time, my neighbours are probably sick of the sound of me yelling, I'm sick of the kids fighting and so on!  I confess to missing mums back in Scotland who I used to be able to chat to and realize that my children weren't freaks but were in fact normal!  I don't know many of the older boys' friends' mums so don't have that support here and sometimes venting a bit helps. 

So thank you so much to any of you who read my nonsense and comment either here or on Facebook.  I do love a chat but don't always have the time to reply or comment.  There is a reason that "Chaos" is in the title...

I'll just leave you with couple of pics from the two Swim carnivals from last week, thankfully mostly good weather and fun was had, I even got to enjoy the first one without a Small Boy causing chaos and was accompanied by Husband who has never managed to get to one before.  




Day 1






Day 2

















32 comments:

  1. I'm hearing you Sandra! I feel a bit like that about my blog too. It started out as just a way to document some crafty action and make me personally more accountable to actually finish things off properly , and record bits of our home life for the kids to look back on later. Now it has kind of got a life of it's own, and I feel a bit of pressure to post something interesting and feel kind of guilty when i don't have time or can't be bothered to post!!
    You have reminded me to keep things in perspective, I do enjoy the fact that people like my reading my blog, and leave nice comments and all that, but also to remember that it doesn't really matter what other people think and if I just keep myself and my family happy, that's the main thing!
    I really enjoy your blog and can relate to a slightly chaotic household, it is just like mine! Have a great day! Julie:)

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    1. It's funny isn't it? I've started to find that the blogs I enjoy the most are the ones where people clearly do it for themselves and not for attention, more natural, more fun. You're so right about the accountability too! Once it's out there you have to finish that project!
      Thanks so much for stopping by!
      Sx

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  2. Hi Sandra,

    Yes I too enjoyed sitting just on the outer edge of cool!! I preferred to think of it as alternative...haha. I have found as I have gotten older I really don't give a hoot what people think. I've only recently started blogging and yes I'm not quite sure why. I think it is just that contact world wide that you have with people with similar interests. Yes it isn't a competition or anything but it is nice when people read what you write and leave a comment. Enjoy :)

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    1. Hi Anny,
      I can't begin to tell you how inspired I've been by lovely people in Blog Land - what a resource! I've learnt to crochet, been inspired to make my own bread and granola regularly, start sewing, and my next plan is to learn to knit! I love seeing what other people are up to but I'm very bad at commenting - serial lurker!
      Sx

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  3. I don't think there are any people I actually know who read my blog, just people I've 'met' since I've been blogging.

    My hubby doesn't really get any of it, and it sometimes makes me wonder why I started, whatever the reason was initially I have been totally bowled over by the reality. There I was thinking I was the only one who thought the same as me, but not so! Reading other people's blogs is like sitting down with an inspiring magazine, I've challenged myself, tried new patterns, made new food, been affected by people's lives, and that can only be a good thing.

    Love to read your blog, it feels very real and whether you meant it to turn out like it has or not, I reckon your 98 followers are very glad you started.

    Love the swimming pool pics, I can't imagine an outdoor pool in Scotland, or around me for that matter!

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    1. How funny, I have friends who read through a link to Facebook who comment over there so I get a really different response that way. Also Husband actually comments if I haven't written anything for a while ( he wasn't overly impressed with the last post about thongs, think he was looking for a bit more content!)I even overheard him recommend it to someone recently!
      I actually gave up my magazine habit a year ago and replaced it with a blog one - at least it's free...
      Thanks for all your lovely comments, sorry I'm rubbish at returning the favour, must try harder!
      Sx

      ps we used to go to a pool in Perth (Scotland!) which had an outside bit if you felt brave enough...

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  4. Happy birthday Sandra's blog!

    Gosh I totally relate to your paragraph about blogging. It sometimes baffles me as to why I have a love hate relationship with it. What I mean is I love to write it, I love reading comments, I love replying to comments, I love reading everyone else's blogs and commenting but sometimes there's just not quite enough time in the day and I feel stressed when I have an inbox with over a 100 unreplied to emails and I haven't commented on others blogs much. But I do love this crazy cyber world. How else would our paths have crossed?! Your family life makes me realise mine is just as normal and lovely as it should be. I enjoy how you give a balanced view of the highs and lows of motherhood.

    better dash, baby is chucking his breakfast up the wall!

    xxx

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    1. Sometimes it's just good to have an outlet for all the thoughts whizzing around my head I think! The nice thing is not to feel so tied to it that you resent it maybe.
      I'm glad to help people feel they are normal - we often have offered the example of our feral children to make others feel better about their own! I think/hope they will turn out ok eventually...!
      Hope baby managed to eat some breakfast too!
      Sx

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  5. I'm with Cuckoo and all the other commenters! Blogging is a bit of a mad way of life - I think I've been blogging for about a year too and I never expected it to be like this either.
    I love the opportunity to see what lots of other clever people are up to and to meet up with like-minded souls. But yes, I think it can be a bit stressful too.

    Have a lovely week- we've on half term, so the pace will slow down a bit, which is much needed!
    Xx

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    1. Congratulations on your anniversary and your new shop venture! We used to go to Arundel when I was little, I remember boating somewhere?
      Hope you have a lovely half term,
      Sx

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  6. Yep, I hear you about the blogging. I blog just so I can get all of my thoughts out of my head; never expecting anyone to read it. But it's been great getting to 'meet' people from all over the world and to share the experiences of life, scrapbooking, Project Life scrapping and shoe shopping with them.
    I love reading your blog. And your friend was right;reading your blog is exactly like listening to you from all those years ago at uni!
    happy Blog Birthday x

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    1. Hey Jules!
      It's a funny old world with the internet! It's been so nice to catch up with people from school and uni, thanks for stopping by, just think if it wasn't for you, there would be no blog...
      Sx

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  7. Oh Happy Birthday to you Chaos, Kids, Crochet & Cake! I have thoroughly enjoyed your posts over the past year, happy to say I've read most of them too :o) I know exactly what you mean about the blogging world, it is like a big school yard sometimes, but like yourself, I am happy to sit on the outskirts and just do my bit. I feel blessed to have met so many lovely people through blogging and at the end of the day I also started my blog for myself, nobody else. Look forward to the next year of wonderful posts from your Sandra :o) Love the photos on this post xo

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    1. Thank you!
      You are always so encouraging and lovely, it makes my day and I'm sure many others feel the same way!
      Sx

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  8. Thanks for sharing this! It was just today I was think about how I was designing a quilt to get attention rather than just as an expression of myself, something I would like. Glad to hear someone else yells at their kids. :) I've been wondering what the neighbours think too lately...

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    1. Hello Jodi,
      I think it says a lot when the kids say "are you going to blog about this?"! I have to stop myself sometimes and think "Am I doing this for us or to write about?"!
      It's been lovely to read your blog recently, thank you,
      Sx

      ps I like to be the person to make everyone else feel better about their parenting...!

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  9. Happy Blog Birthday! I can't believe it's just a year, seems longer somehow, perhaps because your blog has always come across as natural and well established. I like being able to have a nosey into similar but different lives in other countries. I wouldn't have started crocheting either if it hadn't been for discovering blogs, now I can't stop, haha!

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    1. I think nosiness has been one of my reasons for reading blogs, along with inspiration obviously! It is great to get insights into how (and why) people do what they do, which has always fascinated me.
      I'm always impressed with the beautiful things you make although your bike rides always make me a wee bit homesick!
      Sandra x

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  10. Ah, happy birthday. My blog's birthday was yesterday - how spooky that so many people started at the same time! I'm with you and all the other commenters re how I feel about blogging - it's such an amazing, creative place and it really inspires me, but I do think I'm hanging around with the cooler kids and not really fitting in to the gang. I sometimes feel like it's another thing for me to add to my never-ending 'to do' list, but then I hate having long periods away from it because I feel like I'm missing out...Gaaah!
    Emily x

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    1. We must be a great bunch of gals! I'm sure balance is the key, as soon as I feel obliged I think I'll stop all together but in the meantime, I'll continue to read and lurk and post when I feel like it. I'm certain I will continue to be inspired and challenged as well as having a laugh!
      Sandra x

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  11. Happy blog birthday! I just found your blog through retro mummy :) Looking forward to reading more and following you :)

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  12. Hello there, I too found you through retro mummy, I am a mother of 6 and I feel your pain and joy. I am always in and out of chaos and guilt and I cannot wait to read your blog, when I have time that is,,,Happy 1 year blog birthday. I shall be following you. Oh and Happy Valentines Day.

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    1. I sometimes wish we'd had 6, I don't like odd numbers!
      Thanks for popping by,
      Sandra x

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  13. Happy bloggie-birthday! Glad you remembered in time to celebrate. That's some great stats too. It's funny, I posted one of those '10 Qs' things the other day and one of my answers was about feeling a bit like the new girl in school around all these great blogs! So I hear you loud and clear. Great thing you have going on here. Keep at it! x

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  14. Hey Sandra, Congrats on your blogiversary. I always love all the chaos over here, seems quite real and likeable to me! Take care xxx

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  15. Olá Sandra,

    I have found your blog a few days ago and I love it.

    Regards from Germany,
    Sandra :o)

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    1. Nice to meet another Sandra, what an excellent name! Thanks so much for popping over

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  16. Hi Sandra, I am nominating you for the Versatile Blogger award, should you wish to take it! :-)

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    1. Thank you so much! I'm constantly surprised by things like this and very grateful! Well done to you too!

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Please feel free to leave comments, I'll do my best to get back to you!