Do blogs have birthdays?

Mine does....and this is it!

Today, coincidentally close to the other birthday, tsk....wouldn't you just know I'de be born on a 13th, my blog is one year old and for such an occasion should have a particular treat. That treat, coincidentally again came from an unexpected source. Lisa, my long time blog friend, kindly, generously and wonderfully had me an animated header made by blogtogs for the 'other' birthday, which arrived in my inbox just in time for the blog birthday makeover. And who says we don't make real friends in the blogosphere? Thank you Lisa, for one such as me there could hardly be a nicer gift.....methinks she knows me well!

So, a year ago today I began blogging. At the time I hadn't really the vaguest idea what it was all about or what I was getting myself into. I had been inspired by another friend, the commenter 'Only me', who had given me a link to someone's blog. Until that point had you asked me what a blog was I would have made a sound along the line is 'uh'? Hell, I didn't even realise that others gave their blogs an interesting name, hence I saddled myself with the very uninspiring 'gemmak's blogs' which I now can't get shot of, for fear that the infernally flighty web spiders will lose me!

I didn't start off at Blogger, to begin with in my ignorance I hosted it in a cobbled together, home made template hosted on my webspace but it soon became apparent that things needed to be improved and I headed for Bravenet. Unfortunately Bravenet doesn't allow access to the HTML, maybe they do now who knows, but I only hung around for a few days before beating a retreat and making my way to the Blogger we know and love. Blogger of course don't have an import facility so the few weeks post I had were copied into here and and my love/hate relationship with Blogger began in early May.

When I began this as I said, I had no idea what I was getting into. I didn't imagine for one moment anyone would read it, save maybe for one or two loyal friends of old and I certainly didn't expect to make real friends or to feel part of 'something' bigger.

I have loved my first year in the blogosphere, I cant imagine what I did before there were posts to think up and write and of course HTML to fiddle with unendingly! I have made friends here who I count as true friends, have found support when I've needed it, both on the technical and emotional fronts and have been touched by the genuine care that exists in this virtual world.

Some of you have been with me since almost the beginning, you loyal and brave souls!Jennytc was the first and then Magz, Menina, Dale, Lisa, True Willow, Jack, Snowbabies, Kaptain Kobold, Astrantia, WSH and Justitia headed this way. The inimitable BeFrank helped me enormously when he 'advertised' this blog on his and my hits suddenly took a turn for the better.

And so, in the region of 23500 hits later, Lord knows how many words or posts (Blogger stopped counting and I'm not gonna start), more comments than I could ever have hoped for, a baptism of fire where HTML is concerned and probably far too many cat photos, my little blog has reached it's 1st birthday and I thank you all for your loyalty, your friendship and your patience in never knowing if you have arrived at the right place, courtesy of my constant fiddling!!

Without you lot this little patch would have hit the recycle bin long before it made it to a year.....so a big

~THANK YOU~

to you all....

not just those I have mentioned but anyone who has taken the time to stop by and read my ramblings over the last year.

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