Lovely " Going Gently " John's

latest post
thanks his four hundred or so readers
for following his Blog.
FOUR HUNDRED !!!
He has made a list of his variety of readers.


I read John's list and thought I must fall into the category of,
" The odd housewife with a story "
I like this description.
It suits me fine.
I never really know how to describe Blogging to non Bloggers ...
and tend to mumble,
" er well, it's not like Facebook or Twitter...
it's sort of writing about things and people read it and comment
and I read their Blogs & comment
 and you begin to gather a group of Blogs you regularly communicate with..."

When I started Blogging,
it was to write about being a new keeper of hens,
and hence the name.
The Hens have gone now
but the Blog remains
and I enjoy writing about all sorts of things,
experiences I've had,
things I have done
or whatever idea pops into my head.
It never ceases to amaze me that people read it !


Looking at the image I've used above,
reminded me that I've just ordered a large feather duster...
I'm determined to keep my newly painted rooms nice !!!

Amazing what you can order from Amazon
and amazing how excited I am !!!


So I'd like to thank you
for taking the time to read the ramblings
of an odd housewife with a story
whether you comment or not-
thank you.


( I'm not just an odd housewife...
but I do love being home
but you knew that ! )

What the Hell is Blogging ?

 I have been back on the old computer

while my laptop

is in for repairs

 again ...

luckily the staff at Currys

are delightful

so I don't feel it's time wasted.

One of the part time boys goes to college with Jess

( she fancied him like mad when they were at school )

Tash, the girl on the customer information desk is fantastic !

I had one day left on my thirty day repair warranty -

we were counting on fingers & toes

as the guy on the end of the phone at repairs HQ

was being doubtful.

I kept pointing out the bank holidays

but guess the shop stayed open.

Tash was a star & is due an Oscar for her performance !

The big brother of the boy Jess used to fancy was serving us & said,

" Three repairs and they usually give you a new laptop " 

Good-

 mine has always been trouble.

We talked about getting Skype

for when Jess & Hubby do the transatlantic.

Blimey has technology moved on -

I used to send messages by carrier pigeon !

Anyway, to find my Blog on our old computer

I tap in Blogger.com

& a whole list of subjects come up

including a title,

What the Hell is Blogging ? "

So I clicked on it this morning

& it lead to links

other Bloggers have written.

Seeing as I'm on the very old computer

& everything takes ages

I didn't click on any.

Instead I thought I'd write my own

What the Hell is Blogging post.

Not that I'm going to sit here & tell you what a Blog is

cos

hey,

you know that already.

I'm going to tell you

what Blogging means to me

and hope that you'll leave a comment

telling me what Blogging means to you !

Blogging has simply become part of my life.

I probably spend way too much time on it

but it's like a hobby now.

It's made me  think and has tapped into my creative side.

I can be myself on my blog

and I get nice things said to me.

I know this sounds childish

but everyday life can sometimes be challenging

and here there is no criticism, no judging, and no expectations.

I know there can be & I had one sarcastic comment once

but I just thought ' idiot '
and giggled.

I can talk about myself as much as I want to here !
Or I can write about random things
which pop into my head.

If I don't feel like posting

or have nothing to say,

I don't have to !

If I'm feeling low

you are kind & supportive

with your comments.

I have made new friends through Blogging

who are very real.

A non blogger might say,

' Yes, but they are not real friends are they ? '

Well yes they are !

It constantly amazes me that other bloggers read my posts

and it gives me a thrill to see a new comment up.

I always smile.

I said to Jess yesterday,

'I'm fed up with Blogging '

but I'm not really

as here I am...

Blogging again !

 

Its all about...



er no actually...

IT'S ALL ABOUT ME !!!

It's MY Blog.


But....
  does any other forty something mum
find Mc Fly
TOTALLY CUTE ?
especially the drummer-
lovely Harry.

Anyway, I digress, but they ARE cute aren't they ?



Anyway,
Blogging.

It's a place where you can blatantly, mercilessly talk about yourself
and no one minds !

I mean I've gone on & on about my
SORE THROAT FROM HELL
and you haven't minded....
not at all.
I've been able to indulge in my misery
& wallow in sympathy.

In " Real life " I get the sort of raised eyebrow,
" It can't be that bad " look
or
" mine throat worse than yours" expression !
or
" It can't have lasted THAT long ! "

A very dear Bloggy friend once described it as a
Virtual Stroke
when we were talking about how self indulgent our blogs can be.

No one likes a show off,
but here we can show our photos or crafts or culinary marvels,
our new shoes or charity shop finds
and we get praise for our endeavours !

It's the
FEEL GOOD FACTOR.

We exchange messages with people who seem to genuinely like us
and want to spend time with us.
How cool is that ?

So dear Bloggeroos...
Thank you for being there for me
saying nice things to me
and making me feel good.

thank you thank you thank you ....
you're the best...
I love you !



.... I'm getting emotional now.

So I shall stop right now, before I make a speech.

Stop now Penny - it's embarrassing.

blogging

OK I come to do this post disillusioned as I am...whether to carry on blogging or not
 I had it in my mind to do this post and and I come to write it and find...

my whole blog has changed - well thanks a lot blogger !!


The deflated ballon is how I feel right now about blogging


and when I feel like this ...

I ALWAYS
question...



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqH21LEmfbQ

one year on

I started this Blog a year ago today.

I named it

The Hen House

as I was getting hens

& thought I'd write about being

a first time hen keeper....

but I soon started writing about

anything & everything

and what was truly amazing-

you started to read it.

Thank you so much

I really appreciate you taking the time

& I love your comments.

***

Some of you I've " known " here since the very beginning

& some are new faces.

Some of you I know a little better through

emails, phone calls and a meeting

and some I only know through your Blogs

but you are all very special to me.

***

Thank you so much for your recent comments

while I've been going through a difficult time.

I've had an unsettling year really-

in my profile I put that

I'm going through a watershed...

mid life crisis ?

menopause !

***

I've been rather self indulgent recently

& talked about myself a lot-

but if I can't here where can I ?

It is my Blog after all.

Thank you for putting up with me !!!

***

I became inspired by some of the art & craft blogs

to get out my art materials

and try again

but I keep this on a seperate blog-

here I just randomely chat !

***

I'm not sure how I feel about Blog awards anymore

but ages ago

I made my own

& some of the Bloggers

I've known from the very beginning have one.

If you'd like the little Penny Black stamp

and you are a regular commenter here

then please take it

with my thanks for supporting me.

You don't need to do anything

like tell me ten things

but please don't pass it on-

it's just from me to you

to say thank you.

***

So - It's time for a

GIVEAWAY !!!

I once got locked in a public toilet

& had to have the lock cut off

to get out ...

where have you been locked in ?

leave a comment

and I will pick a winner

**

So - what news of Ernest?

My roving rooster.

Ernest was sent off on his gap year in Blogland

several months ago.

Several of you were good enough

to have him stay for a week

then pass him on

and he had many adventures with you.

Sadly, Ernest has not come home from his

last location.

He stayed there over a month

then got lost in the boot of a car

& was posted home over a week ago....

but still not arrived.

***

I'm upset as many of you had put a lot of effort into

joining in with Ernest's travels

& I was looking forward to seeing him

in many more destinations

'til he came home at Christmas.

If you happen to see him

please tell him to come home

to

The Hen House

Blogging year

Just wanted to say a huge thank you

for your recent comments.

They mean a great deal

and have been a terrific support.

I'm coming up to a year of blogging very soon

& shall organise a giveaway.

Thank you to those who comment regularly

It makes it all worthwhile !

Squirrels & Bloggers united !!!

***

Earlier today I received a phone call...

I'd hoped she'd phone

as I'd given her my phone number the day before..

she said, " are you Pole dancing? "

( referring to a previous post of mine )

I answered, " No I'm on the Blog"

I should have said,

"... I'm talking to you "

or even better -

I should have said,

" I'm polishing my pole of course "

***

Talking is the operative word -

we have talked on the blog,

we have talked in emails

and now we have talked on the phone.

Funny to hear her voice...

she calls me Posh Penny

because we own a boat which she calls a yacht.

Anyway we got talking about blogging

& how blog friendships are built.

I have never looked at Face book or Twitter

but I love to blog.

It's simply become part of my life.

***

Thanks for phoning Tracey-

a friend made through Blogging

lovely to talk !

http://tracey-craftyscraps.blogspot.com/

***

I received another award

( it's award season in Blogland I think )

I'm actually quite embarrassed.

As I sad to Tracey,

I just blog about anything & everything !

It's from the lovely Cat here:

http://cornerofcatsmind.blogspot.com/

THANK YOU Cat

I think I have to tell you more about me !

First I'm passing it on..

well - as it's green,

I'm passing it to some Green Fingered Bloggers...

Sue at: Our New Life in the Country.

John at: Going Gently ( yes you John ! )

Randy at: The Chicken Boys

Abby at: Mutterings from the Moor

Melissa at: Little Messy Miss

***

Right ho...

*I HATE Liver-

my best friend's mum made me eat it

& I was sick ALL night !!!

( he he she had to clear it up )

***

*I have hearts all over the house...

( with my birthday on St Valentine's day

I get given a lorra lorra hearts ! )

***

* I sent bad vibes to a friend I'd fallen out with

& the next time I saw her

she had a massive cold sore on her mouth!

I giggled a lot !

( see ! I'm not so nice )

***

*As child I was desperate for a pug or Chiauwawa !

***

* I can't spell !!!

***

* my school friends & I used to

tell the lady in the village shop that

we'd put money in the chewing gum machine & nothing came out-

so she'd give us a pack for free !

***

* I'd be FURIOUS if I found out my kids had done that!

***

I wasn't going to post today ( loads to do ) but an email earlier has made me think..

It was from a blogger worried about her daughter

and my small comment on her post

gave her hope

because our daughters sound very similar.

Mine went terribly shy & quiet at secondary school,

her primary school friends moved on quickly without her

and for a long time I was her only friend.

It was heartbreaking.

Everything has changed, she is happy, confident & has a lovely group of friends.

They got on really well on a school holiday & have remained close.

I can honestly say she has blossomed and those sad years are firmly in the past.

So - has sharing an experience helped someone today ?


On another Blog, I felt I hadn't said enough to someone having a bad day !



So... how do you judge a happy medium of what to comment ?

Can our comments convey enough ?

Can they be taken the wrong way sometimes ?

Do they make a difference ?

Do we get too involved ?

I'd be interested to read your views..

because I love to Blog !