I received my renewal notice today from WordPress, which reminded me of my early days of blogging when I thought that the only person that would ever read my blog would be my Mum. Well I got that bit wrong, as she doesn’t!
As a new naive blogger I remember looking through all your sleek glossy blogs with the beautifully written posts and stunning photographs. I never thought I’d ever “get that good” and in so many ways I never will. I still break into a cold sweat whenever I have to insert links and it takes me the best part of the day to get it just right; and I do the happy dance whenever I manage to upload pictures into a post!
Beyond any shadow of a doubt having all of you drop by to share laughter and the odd tear has made this journey, the stuff that dreams are made of. I have so many of you to thank for being there from the very beginning when I was a stranger in a strange land, in dire need of a friend or two. As I tried rather unsuccessfully to master the art of blogging, it truly made a difference reading a “like” or a comment or two. I got a shedload more than I ever expected and I will never ever forget your kindness.
So in true Tinky Town Trashtacular style, this award goes to all of you for sticking with me, it’s been a real rollercoaster of a voyage but it’s been made all that more special by having all of you along for company.
Saw This & Thought Of You!
Please feel free to share the love and pass it on to those extra special bloggers that make your day. No rules, no questions, simply just because you can!
I think that’s the best thank you speech ever (as well as superbly designed award). I love your blog and always look forward to your posts. Keep up the fabulous work. Cheers!
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I’m afraid I can’t take the credit for the design as what I know about Photoshop would fit on the back of a postage stamp and then there’d still be enough room for the The Twenty Third psalm as well! My youngest niece Titch did all the hard work – I just supplied the tea!
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That’s what nieces are for … and I’m in your boat with Photoshop. But still, it’s your brainchild!! 🙂
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I always prefer the blogs that are a bit ‘rough round the edges’ rather than the glossy professional kind. (sorry if that sounds like an insult it isn’t meant as one :))
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I’m not insulted at all as I still consider myself to be a work in progress!
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You had me hooked from the first post I ever read….. (I suppose that’s fitting considering what’s behind the award you posted!) It’s been a pleasure joining you on your adventures. I don’t know about everyone else, but I felt pretty much the same starting out here in blog-land.
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You have been consistently there Gunta and bless you for that! I remember you telling me that I’d regret the chances that I didn’t take and I’ve never forgotten! So here’s to the next twelve months my friend!
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I’ll drink to that!!! 😀
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And it won’t be with my Dad’s dandelion wine either!
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Oh what the hell….. whatever’s handy! Give your dad a hug for me.
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Thank you for making us laugh!
And I am NOT putting that award on my site 🙂
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too classy huh? LOL
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I’ve loved sharing your life through your stories – and what a blog-ster you are! My wordpress renewal came through too and I renewed it despite being a rather lackadaisical blogger! Love the brilliant award to all of us who follow you and thanks for brightening up my day so often! X
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Can’t believe so many of us started at the same time, mine’s due about 22nd April. If I am having a truly awful Poison Pen day I always trawl through the blogs I follow and I guarantee that at least one of you will lift my spirits – meant to ask how’s the precious wee one?
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That award sure looks like it would provide plenty of support.
So now you have me thinking of ah, um..ok, I’ll be back in a little while. 🙂
Oh and I enjoy your blog and all that stuff.
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As you know Phil, we are huge fans of yours at Dyson Abbey across three generations I hasten to add! So thank you for your all your kind words
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Your blog is so fantastic, I enjoy reading it. Keep up the great work!
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You are so kind and clearly caught me on a good day! Thank you so much
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Thank you for creating an amazing space where we are all welcome and valued!!! BTW, that is one of my favourite quotes.
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I feel I’ve won an award as you are truly the Queen of Quotes!!! I love having you all over and it really does make my day
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🙂 Makes my day, too!!!
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Yours is one blog I always read – I won’t mention the ones that are clicked through! Always interesting and a good read. Congratulations, keep up the good work.
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I am so grateful that you do drop by, because I’d certainly miss all the banter
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I’ll be doing the same thing on April 22! One year. Wow, you have really built an audience in a year, Dallas! Now it’s time to put your book together. Find a good editor (preferably a friend who has a vested interest and won’t charge much:) and put your Turkish stories together and make a book. I know you can do this! And you already have a great title, your blog title! You are a very entertaining writer, and that’s what we all need now with so much bad news bombarding us every day, we need to read about human characteristics that touch us and make us smile!
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Crikey Kaye, my very first post was 29th April 2012 – how spooky! My mantra has been this year every day I rock up for my shift is “I am better than this” so I really do need to do something but obviously I’m not very familiar with the wonderful world of all things publishing! I agree with you as well; I think that we all yearn for gentler and softer times where integrity and honesty are badges worn with pride
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MWAH!!! 🙂
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Right back atcha!
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And by the way, I can’t thank you enough for supporting me and “Late Bloomer!” – Kaye http://www.youtube.com/user/kittrellkaye
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You are more than welcome because as you know you have a huge fan base down at the old allotment! Loved the pictures from your new film http://www.facebook.com/AFinalGift, the stills looked amazing too!
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Hello! I love keeping up with your blog and just recently nominated it for the Liebster Award — just wanted to share! 🙂
http://elephantsandgardens.wordpress.com/2013/02/18/we-interrupt-your-regularly-scheduled-programming/
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Thank you very much and thank you too for thinking of me!
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What a nice way to say thank you. It feels genuine and from the heart.
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It most certainly is, nothing brightens my day more than a good laugh shared with some of you
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Congratulations! Well do I remember my early months when hitting the ‘Publish’ button marked the end of a day’s sweaty uncertainty as I tried to figure out how to manipulate the technology, and think of something to say to that empty blogosphere out there – what a success your year has been! 🙂
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I am so glad to hear that there are other bloggers who feel the same as I do. Its been a rollercoaster year for me, moving back to the UK but blogging has certainly softened the blow
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I can’t even remember how I found your blog. I think you may have been one of the few blogs I started following that wasn’t Freshly Pressed (at least I don’t think you were?). At any rate, it’s always a pleasure to read your latest post. And what a beautiful thank you to your readers!
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I’ve never been Freshly Pressed so I’m more than grateful that we found each other’s blogs and I am truly grateful each and every day to you all and of course, to WordPress
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Tinky Town rules and you rock, D.
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Thank you kind sir!
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You will always be one of my favorite bloggers, and I’m glad we’ve developed such a good relationship that began with blogs!
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Marla, the blogging world would sure be less colourful and have less laughter without you
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Lovely post, happy blogversary.
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Thank you Hayley, when did you start yours?
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Two years ago this month. I kept mine hidden for the first year until I got brave enough to say ‘oh what the hell’. 🙂
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Well we’re rather glad you did “come out”!
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Haha thank you!
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I find this definitely uplifting.
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This is what happens when you ask teenagers to help out with the graphics!
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I seriously think you have at least two books going from this blog. Your experiences at home have this wonderful shading to them that is so lovely to read. I start smiling even before the story unfolds. You know how to touch hearts and you communicate your love for your family with every telling. You also have the wonderful Turkish stories that first caught me. I have laughed at what I recognize. You take me from laughing, and sighing for the romance, to aching for the plight of the animals. I feel the bittersweet difficulty in cross continental love. I could see a collection of stories from you and your girlfriends as you interpret finding love abroad (not that I’m calling you broads). I see the book. I even see the movie. It would be a heck of a lot more entertaining than Eat, Pray, Love. LOL All the best, Deb
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I’ve read and re-read your comment because it really touched me and as my Dad keeps saying to me when I’m having a moan about Poison Pen, you never really know what’s around the corner so maybe this year I’ll escape from stacking shelves and start something else instead, although I’m not really sure where to begin. And I love being called a broad!
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A Speech worthy of the Oscars I hope you were sat wearing a posh frock as you wrote it 😀
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I should have done, I’ve got one posh frock and I bought these ridiculously expensive pair of shoes to go with it which I’ve worn once and as they cripple me, my niece has taken them off my hands. Thanks for sending over the link – made my Dad’s day!
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The pleasure is all mine … it’s lovely, relaxing and funny to land here – love the little award … great. That’s so true .. that friends are like a supporting bra – I will show that off in my world. *smile
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I knew you’d like it Wivi and thank you for all the smiles too!
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You’re the one with the big smiles.
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Such an uplifting award Dallas. May the next 12 months be as enjoyable for everyone along for the ride 😉
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And thank you too for all the laughs and the puppy porn! Love sharing in all your journeys too
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😀 Supportive blogger – very funny. If you still panic when it comes to uploading photos, then it’s just as well you’re a brilliant writer and don’t need pictures. Love your blog and so glad you stuck through the initial fear to be here.
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Good lord, I’m breaking into a cold sweat just thinking about having a photoblog – it’d take me a week just to do one post!
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We should be thanking you…
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Bless you Maggie but I’ve had a ball thanks to all of you!
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Well done Dallas, so many blogs disapear during their first year. I’m pleased you kept at it I love seeing a post from you appear in my feeds. The stories bring a smile to my face. Even the sad times you treat with humour and your characters are priceless. I would love it if you can get your niece to help you upload a photo or two every now and again 🙂
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I think we all know how hard it is to juggle everything and keep posting. I lost a lot of my Turkish pictures when my laptop crashed which I won’t be able to replace but I need to start remember to take my camera with me
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Sorry to hear about the lost photos. I would be devastated to lose those precious memories. Hopefully you are going to get more to replace them when you get back over there. I always back up photos onto a memory stick
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Bravo & cheers, Dallas! Wonderfully put (as usual!) I look forward to what you have in store for us in the future until your next renewal! Xx
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Why I thank you, not sure what this year has in store, but one thing’s for sure, it won’t be boring x
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You had me from the minute my eyes hit the first paragraph. Your lovely speech is in part why, I don’t think you realize how much laughter you bring to the rest of us who follow you, waiting for you to post so we can share your journey!
Love the award, it is fabulous.
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What a lovely thing to say! I often laugh aloud when I’m posting one of my Turkish pictures, as I know that we all share the same sense of humour and at the end of the day that’s what the joy of blogging is all about
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I absolutely love the look of this award, Dallas. 🙂 I’ll take it!! Love your blog, as I’m also not a “fancy” blogger. You nearly always give me smile or three, and I’m so glad I found you amongst all the thousands of WordPress blogs. I sometimes wonder just how many there are out there, and whether it’s just luck or destiny that we happen upon blogs that really appeal to us.
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We did get lucky didn’t we! I’m glad you’ve dropped by as I wanted to say you are one of the most supportive of all bloggers. Nearly every occasion when I visit another blog I noticed that you have stopped by to comment whether they have thousands of followers or just a few; so please never underestimate your contribution because I can remember feeling so made up when you consistently read and commented so bless you for that and all your happy pictures x
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Mwah! 🙂
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What a lovely blog!!! I am a newcomer to your blog & love your writing style!!! I only wish I had more time to read more…
I started blogging back in 2005 on 360 yahoo; then went to Multiply & when they said they would close us down last December i moved here last August as 4 blogging pals are here.
now I am meeting so many new peoeple from all over the world & enjoying blogging alot more!!!
Thank you for your blogs!!! I will keep reading 😉
Sincerely, Sherri-Ellen (in Canada) from Nylablue & Sherri-Ellen’s Purrfect Pad.
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Hello to you from a freezing cold Devon in the UK, where I’m camping out for the winter. Thank you for dropping by and this worldwide blogging malarky is great isn’t it! And the awards are for all the amazing bloggers out there who are the cheerleading team for all the newbies, we really really couldn’t do it without you!
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You and your blog are delightful. Thank YOU for sharing with us!
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Thank you so much for always dropping by and it wouldn’t be as much fun without you all
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Congratulations Dallas! I have enjoyed every minute I have spent here. And oh yes, I love your ‘trashtacular’ style 😀
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hey Tinky Town, do they do that Supporting Blogger Award in a x-large size? . 😉 😉
I just use a well-used frase: “you had me at hello”… 🙂
p.s. what is a WP renewal notice? …
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Do you think it’s my colour? It’s my annual renewal when they remind me I need to pay them!
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ah you pay WP?? we are using the free service so far.
well done anyway on your blogging year. 🙂
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One year of blogging!! Congrats to you, and well done on keeping the posts fresh.
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thank you and I hope I can!
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Thank you for sharing your story! I’ve had fun eavesdropping into your world. (I hope that didn’t sound creepy) Keep it up.
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It’s been fun having you over and sharing in yours too! Love all the ideas and wish I was as creative as you!
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It has been a joy to catch up with you today, Dallas. Your posts always bring a smile to my face. I first saw that adorable train with hearts on other blogs, and I was in love with it. It took me a while to come over here to see who was behind that crazy train (because I tend to be nervous about meeting new bloggers), but I’m so glad I did. Congratulations on a year of blogging, and I’m so glad I’ll be here for this next one.
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Best Award EVER! How can you not love an award on a bra?!
Also, it has been so much fun to be on your blogging ride! Your stories are so fantastic, YOU’RE so fantastic!
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What a lovely idea, done with spectacular style, as only you can do! You have a great blog, and are a wonderful storyteller. Thank you for a great year.
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Thank you too, I have enjoyed your posts equally and here’s to the next eventful year
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