Well, I did it! I made the Annual Bloggers Bash 2015 in London by the skin of my teeth.
Hubby and I caught the train to Waterloo Station on Saturday morning, then the Underground to Euston Station; a short walk and three hours later, there I was.
Not outside the British Library as planned (family commitments meant I missed that bit unfortunately), but outside the Pizza Express across the road.
I said goodbye to hubby as he left to spend the afternoon bimbling here and there around London as he likes to do, while I took a deep breath and entered the restaurant.
Busy and noisy, I scanned the room for my fellow bloggers. I noticed a group seated at a long table hoping to recognise someone, not having met any of them in the flesh, so to speak. Was I at the right place? Were they still at the library? Had I got the wrong day?
But all was not lost. The next thing I knew, someone called out my name and I was greeted with a wonderful hug from blogging friends Hugh Roberts, and then Geoff Le Pard (sporting a dyed-red beard and forevermore now known as ‘Geoffle’).
With a spare seat for me at the end of the table, it was great to meet long-standing blogging pal Dylan Hearn. He lives in Suffolk so it was great to reminisce with him about my old stomping ground.
Dylan gave me some great advice about Twitter (I’m still resisting), Geoff and I talked about our writing backgrounds and they both said some lovely things about my blog. Wow. Humbled doesn’t even cut it. Thanks so much guys!
I also chatted to Ali Isaac and Julie Lawford. I hadn’t met either of them through blogging, but I had seen Ali around here and there in blogland. Ali came to the Bash all the way from Ireland.
Both our daughters live with disabilities and I was proud to tell her about my Irish grandmother and of my hopes of travelling to Ireland one of these days.
It was great to meet Sacha Black who as requested by Charli, took this selfie:
Annual Blogger’s Bash 2015
Sacha, Geoff, Hugh and me
Courtesy Sacha Black
Sacha did such an amazing job of organising the entire event and announcing the Annual Bloggers Bash Award winners with the help of her wonderful committee members, Hugh, Geoff and Ali, all of whom gave warm and humorous speeches. Thank you so much Sacha!
Many congratulations to all the Award winners, and thank you again dear friends for your kind votes and also for the nominations.
After the meal, we made the natural progression to an Irish Pub just down the road where the Bash continued until late into the afternoon. It was great to see blogging friend Esther Newton and meet Ellie Marinova (who grew up in Morocco and has lived in London for five years) and chat with them both about writing and blogging and myriad other things.
I met brand new to me bloggers Graeme Cumming, Sue Vincent and, albeit very briefly, Suzie Elliott. Sue and Suzie have some great photos of the day on their blogs.
I wish I could have talked to everyone, but time ran out and Hubby and I had to think about getting our train back to Somerset. But not before he turned up at the pub and Hugh so kindly bought a round of drinks. So we had to stay a bit longer, naturally.
Not to mention, Hugh and I had some catching up to do with a promise for hubby and I to meet him for coffee next time we are down in the Brighton/Hove area.
After saying my goodbyes and sharing loads more lovely, warm hugs with one and all, hubby and I left the pub and headed out on the Underground back to Waterloo. After a delicious meal at a Thames-side grill along the South Bank, we caught our train, arriving home just before midnight. The end of a wonderful day.
Blogging friends met, new ones made, and I’m already looking forward to the next Annual Bloggers Bash. Bring it on!
A View From My Summerhouse 
It was wonderful to meet you, Sherri. Such a special day xx
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It was a very special day, and likewise, wonderful to meet you too Esther 🙂 xx
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Fabulous! What a wonderful time you guys had. Maybe next year, more of us will be able to join in.
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Oh I hope so Debby, I would love to meet you! Glad to share here with in the meantime! 🙂
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Lovely to have met you… and however briefly, your husband, Sherri! It really was a good day 🙂
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Thanks Sue, and you too! A wonderful day 🙂
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🙂
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Isn’t it wonderful to meet up with other bloggers! That looked like a fun day and now you can look forward to next years event feeling more secure that you have already a room full of friends!
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Thanks Pauline, and yes, you know only too well the joy of meeting other bloggers! 🙂
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I’m so happy to have met you, Sherri, and I have made a start towards getting to know your blog already. I love how you write with such honesty and openness. All the best to you and your family. Xxx
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Thank you so much Ali, it is wonderful to have met you too and I am really looking forward to exploring your blog also. How wonderful to have made a connection thanks to blogging! I hope you had a good trip back to Ireland. How very kind of you, and I would wish the very same to you and your family also 🙂 xxx
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Sounds like a good time was had by all!
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Thanks Sue, it was a great time, even though I was a bit nervous at first when I first walked in the restaurant. It was a shame I missed the ‘meet and greet’ at the British Library, that would have helped a lot. But bloggers are such a kind, welcoming and friendly bunch that it doesn’t take long for the jitters to disappear 🙂
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Glad to hear it, Sherri!
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Thanks Sue 🙂
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Thanks for sharing your bash with us, Sherri! How fun to meet up with old blogging friends and meet a few new ones. I have no doubt, you were the life of the party! 🙂 xoxo
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Thanks Jill, glad you enjoyed reading about it. Haha 😀 it was a wonderful experience and I had a lot of fun 🙂 xoxo
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Now wasn’t that just great! And it was both a relief and a joy to discover lovely bloggers = lovely real people. Sooooooooooooooooo glad you came and conquered! Veni, Vidi, Sherri as they used to say!
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Haha!! Yes, that is so true, real people behind the blogging persona, and so lovely and genuine and amazing 😀 Thanks Geoff…me too, loved the day, it was so great to meet you and everyone else. I hope next year more of our international friends can make it, wouldn’t that be great?
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I think the House of Le Pard may have to become a hostel for the weekend to encourage them to come. It is a bit expensive, staying in London otherwise.
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House of Le Pard…I give it 5 stars 🙂
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Reblogged this on HarsH ReaLiTy and commented:
Sounds like the Annual Bloggers Bash was a huge success! It also sounds like you had a lot of fun! Thanks for sharing with us that could not go! -OM
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Hi OM! Many thanks for the reblog, really appreciate it! It was a wonderful day, I’m delighted to share, truly honoured to have met so many lovely and amazing fellow bloggers and only wish more could have gone. Here’s to next year 🙂
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So glad you made it! Sounds like, by all accounts, it was a wonderful time. 🙂 Thanks for the highlights of your trip (and the awesome selfie!) I’m looking forward to the next one, too, and hoping I can go!
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Oh Sarah, wouldn’t it be great if you can go to the next one! You must, you simply must 😀
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Oh, what a fun time! That sounds wonderful! But bimbling?! What is bimbling?!
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Me too, Luanne, I was gonna ask that same thing!
Melinda
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Haha…! Bimbling is an expression meaning walking or travelling at a leisurely pace, wandering about as it were 🙂 Hubby likes to do that around London, take his time, visit off-the-beaten-track places and find little gems of architecture or a historical building or a pub 😉
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A short walk, and 3 hours later! haha
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LOL 😀
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So glad you had a nice day and connected with so many people.
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Thanks so much Denise. You should come to the next one 🙂
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Glad to read about this on so many blogs. I’m going to have to make the trek up there from Cornwall next year.
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Thanks so much Ellen, glad you enjoyed reading about it here and there. It would be lovely to met you next year 🙂
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How lovely to put faces to names and prove that we are really all 3D!
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Yes, it is great to know that we are all in fact 3D! Maybe you can go next year Jenny… 🙂
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It really was a lovely day. Can’t believe we finally met so many of our long standing friends 😊😊😊 and what a lovely write up too. Hugs
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Thank you so much Sacha! Yes, it was a wonderful day. Hugs right back to you 😀
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Oh Sherri, what a delightful day! It looks and sounds like so much fun. I’m pleased you all enjoyed it. I stand with Dylan urging you to become a twit, like the rest of us.
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Haha…I know, I have put off becoming a twit for a long time now 😉 I think I need to just hold my nose and jump right in 😀 Thanks so much Norah. It was a lot of fun. I still wish though I could have met you when you came to London last year (was it last year?). But never say never…the opportunities are endless aren’t they? 🙂
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I don’t think we’d met prior to my London visit last year. Though it seems we’ve been connected forever, our friendship is only new in time. One day we may have the chance of meeting in person. What fun that would be! 🙂
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I think we met right after didn’t we? What a shame! But yes, there is always next time (and oh what fun indeed!) and here’s to ongoing blogging friendship and SMAGness of the highest order 🙂
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Sounded like a perfect day Sherri, must have been nice to meet other bloggers. I wish I could meet some here in Australia. Most of my blogging friends come from OS.
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It was a lovely day Kath and it was wonderful to meet so many lovely bloggers. I hope you get the chance one day to meet some, it is an incredible experience. Meanwhile, we have blogland in which to connect for which I am so grateful 🙂
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This sounds like such a wonderful experience Sherri! I’ve often thought about attending a blogging event, but I’ve never actually made it happen. Sounds like you made some wonderful connections while you were there. What a fun day!
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It was a very fun day indeed Heather, and I didn’t think I would be able to attend at one point, it was wonderful to be able to meet so many lovely fellow bloggers 🙂 I hope that you get the chance to attend one day. Maybe next year in London? How wonderful would that be? 🙂
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What a great day you had, Sherri. It must be really wonderful to meet with so many bloggers and share stories. Lovely photo of you. I’m going away for a few days, but will visit your links when I get back. xx 🙂
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Thank you so much Sylvia, It was a lovely day indeed and it was a wonderful experience. Wouldn’t it be great if you could be in London for next years, hint hint 😉 Have a lovely time with your family and I look forward to catching up with you when you get back 🙂 xx
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Green. I am green with jealousy as I would LOVE to meet you sometime. But, I am also so happy for you that you got to meet so many friends and have a lovely memory. You deserve it.
Love,
E
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Oh Elizabeth, how I would love to meet you too! How about next years Bloggers Bash in London? How great would that be 😀 Thank you so much for your lovely words, you are so very kind. Love right back to you…
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London + a Bloggers Bash = WONDERFUL! Thanks for sharing these great details, Sherri, and the group picture is delightful.
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Wonderful indeed Marylin! Thank you so much…I’m so glad I could share the day with you all, as my heart was as close with you and those who couldn’t be there as with everyone I met in person 🙂
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Sounds like you all had a great time. So glad to hear you all get together and enjoy 🙂
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Thanks so much Lilka, it was really wonderful experience 🙂
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Dropped by your blog after Hugh introduced you by video. Sounds like you had a very nice time at the bash!
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Thanks so much for coming by the Summerhouse, it’s lovely to meet you 🙂 I cringe at my video though!
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I would have if there was one of me. I find yours charming!
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You are very kind…but I am still cringing!! 😮
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Wow! That sounds like it was a lot of fun, Sherri. Glad you got out for some great fun with friends! 🙂
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Thank you so much Patsy…so glad to share the day with you and others who couldn’t be there. You were there with us in spirit 🙂
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You’re welcome, Sherri! Awww, that’s good to know! I would so still love to meet so many of my blogging friends! 🙂
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Never say never Patsy, that’s what I always say 😀
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Wow, Sherri, you are so energetic, travelling hither and thither for meet-ups with fellow bloggers. So glad you had such a fun time 🙂 xxxx
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Haha…well, it was a whirlwind weekend and I was pretty tired by Monday, but it was worth it! Next up, will be sharing your wonderful blog post about our visit! I’ll be in touch with you about that before hand, later in the week. Great to see you back Sarah 🙂 xxxx
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I’d forgotten you hadn’t shared it already. Thanks for waiting until I returned from my sabbatical. And, of course, I’m looking forward to seeing you again at some point 🙂 xxxx
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Hi Sarah…phew, another crazy week and am barely managing to get my hedgehog post out shortly, if Daughter can show me how to get a video from my phone embedded. Will be in touch next week re our meeting post, so sorry I couldn’t get to it this week as I had hoped, but I want to give it justice and not rush and also I ‘ve just realised, I haven’t even commented over there yet, as I was waiting for your return! I shall be there, very shortly, and yes, I hope we can plan another meet very soon, will be in touch about that too! 🙂 xxxx
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So much to do, so little time but you made the best of it. Sounds like so much fun was had by all. London and blogging friends-delightful! 🙂 ❤
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It was a whirlwind weekend as you know, and the time flew. It was a lovely day, so glad to share it with you too my friend 🙂 ❤ xoxo
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It is extraordinary, the warmth of the blogging community, isn’t it? 🙂 Good time had by all (even hubby 🙂 )
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Yes, it really is extraordinary Jo, we have an amazing blogging community don’t we? I am humbled and honoured to be a part of it. And yes, even hubby got to have fun with us bloggers too 🙂 😉
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Sounds like a magnificent – and productive – day! Fun! And I’m still resisting Twitter, too – I’ll wait for you to go first!😀
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Hi Shel! Lovely to see you again. And thank you, yes, it was a wonderful day indeed. Haha…well, when I let out my first tweat, you’ll be the first to know and we can compare notes, or characters, or whatever one does on Twitter 🙂
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Good for you! Glad you made it. I never attended such event but a friend of mine did, here in the USA, and loved it for the connections and camaraderie. Great pic, Sherri!
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Thanks so much Evelyne, I was so glad to make it after all. It was a wonderful time had by all and I hope that oneday you will get to do the same. Maybe next year in London? You never know, ha! 😉
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I’d love too. 😊
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😀
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Can you just crop my smiling face into the pic with you. I’d love to skip over the pond and settle down to tea and crumpets with your lovely fellow writers and bloggers. What fun!!
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I would love to Renee! Tea and crumpets it is! What a wonderful day that would be 🙂
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It was lovely to finally meet you Sherri. I don’t know why but I knew I had to hug you as soon as you walked through the door of Pizza Express. That must of been a complete shock for you (especially with my knees in full view!)
It was lovely to meet hubby as well. Did you notice that it was you and me sat at the top ends of the table? I’m so pleased we had a chance to catch up with each other at the pub. I know it was noisy in there but all that noise did not prevent me from enjoying talking to you. I’m so very pleased you decided to come along to the event. Next stop for me is to meet Clare at the CupCake shop.
I look forward to seeing you and hubby again soon. The kettle will always be on if you are passing through Hove. You have my mobile number (I think), so just let me know when you are next both visiting the area.
Best wishes to you both, and thank you for such a great write-up about the event.
Hugh
xx
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Hugh, I am eternally grateful for your hug, you can be sure of that! I was just about to turn around thinking I was in the wrong place, and there you were! I didn’t notice your knees, only your lovely smiling face 🙂 Not a shock, but a lovely, welcoming surprise and you made me feel at ease straight away! Lovely to at last meet you too, you are every bit as warm and kind and smiling and wonderful as I expected you to be…and thank you again so much for the drinks!
Haha…yes, we were at the head of the table weren’t we?
I wish I had been able to make it for the meet and greet at the Library, but still it worked out in the end. So glad you got to meet hubby too and yes, we really will call in, that will be so lovely to meet up again and soon.
I have told Claire that you will go to her shop later in the summer and we can be in touch about that too!
Thank you again so much for all your hard work, and of course to Sacha, Geoffle and Ali too, you all made the day so very special. I’m so glad you enjoyed reading this write up, it’s my pleasure, the least I can do!
It’s been a crazy week and I’m behind again, but I will be catching up with you as soon as I can, but meanwhile, very best wishes to you too Hugh and I hope you have a lovely weekend 🙂 xx
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I’ve been in catch up mode as well Sherri. Coming back to no wi-fi last Saturday night was not at all welcoming. It was back on at 1pm on Monday afternoon, but I felt like I had lost a week rather than a few days.
Hope you have/had a lovely weekend. The sun is shinning and I really should be outside enjoying it, but this blogging lark is just so addictive 🙂
Best wishes to you and the family.
xx
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That is the trouble isn’t it, a day lost from internet really sets us back. Hope you are getting caught up now. I am attempting to do so! Had a lovely weekend thanks, hope you too. Gorgeous on Saturday wasn’t it? Raining today though..oh well, we need it, so not complaining. Just hope it holds off for Michael and Claire though, they are moving today, still in Lewis though 🙂
Ha, I know what you mean! It’s so hard to blog when it’s sunny outside…but that addiction kicks in and there it is!
Looking forward to reading and getting up to date with you Hugh, and best wishes to you too for a great – internet up and running I hope – week ahead 🙂 xx
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It’s just so wonderful the kind of love that exists between bloggers. I’ll love to pop in to another event of this kind. Glad you guys had fun. We live in a wonderful world Sherry!
Love and blessings to you! 🙂 🙂
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Ahh, thank you so much Seyi, we certainly do, and yes it really is so wonderful! There is always next year 🙂 Have a lovely weekend my friend, and much love and blessings to you too 🙂 🙂
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This is so great to read! It’s so good that you got to meet-up with people in the blogging world and I’m impressed with the awards and the amount of organisation that went into it all. It’s wonderful to give people some recognition for their efforts.
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So glad you enjoyed reading about it Rachel, thanks so much, it’s great to share the experience through blogging whether there in person or not. Sacha and her committee did an awesome job indeed, really wonderful 🙂
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It was an absolute pleasure to finally get to meet you, Sherri. You are just as I imagined (and that’s a very good thing). I just feel sorry for those at the other end of the table as Geoffle and I did monopolise your time. I think next year we need to play musical chairs halfway through so we get a chance to talk to everyone.
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Phew, I’m glad about that! And I would say the very same about you Dylan, I was so glad to at last meet you, it was great getting a chance to chat with you and Geoffle, and it really meant a lot to me that you took the time to encourage me about my blog and also I loved having the chance to bend your ear about Suffolk. Thank you so much for letting me ramble on! I really appreciate you and Geoffle not talking too much about cricket, I hope I didn’t cramp your style though, ha! I think musical chairs is a great idea, so that we all get the chance to meet everyone. The day flew by didn’t it? I hope you had a good journey home, and I look forward already to seeing you at the next bash 🙂
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Sounds like you had a good day and met some good people, Sherri. Maybe one day, I’ll attend such an event. Never say never!
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Thanks so much Tom, it’s lovely to share the day with you and yes, definitely, never say never 🙂
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Sounds like great fun! Wish I could have been there!
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Me too Donna, how fun that would be 😀
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Sounds like great fun Sherri, introvert that I am, I admire your bravery walking into that pub, but what a great welcome and some great links made 🙂
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I was a bit dazzled when I walked in at first, it felt surreal! You would be fine Andrea, you could sit next to me and we would have a great time! Bloggers are so kind and welcoming and you would surely be embraced by lovely friends 🙂
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It sounds like it was a great event and awesome to meet in the flesh those that you have conversed with and others new to you. Did you feel as though you knew the bloggers you had conversed with on the blog?
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It was a wonderful experience Irene, you will have to come along to the next one!! We will meet, one day, I am sure of it my friend 🙂 Yes, I did. It was like meeting up with old friends, carrying on where we left off, very natural and not awkward at all…once I got past my nervousness of walking into the pizza place 🙂
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Are they planning on holding them every year? I’ll have to plan my trip to co-incide.
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I know there are talks of one next year Irene, and assume every year thereafter. Oh I can’t wait to see you when you take your trip, I’m excited already!!! 😀 😀 😀
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Don’t hold your breath Sherri but I am planning. ❤ 🙂
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😀 🙂 ❤
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