I just scrolled back to my 2008 Christmas Eve post(s). I had Shakin’ Stevens and a rant about the housing market. Whoop-dee-doo. Surely I can do better in 2009?
2009 has been a barnstormer of a year. Certainly I’ve had my down points, but overall I am way up on 2008. Why? Well… Materially I am neither much better off nor much worse off than I was twelve months ago. However I can safely say that spiritually I am healthier than ever. Dare I say it much of that invigoration has come – directly and indirectly – via these pages. A close ally of mine describes this business as “catharsis”. But it’s more than letting off steam.
This year I have interacted with many of the contributors to this site and even had the honour of meeting a few of you in the flesh, as it were. I could not wish for a better bunch of people. I still joke (yes, it’s probably getting a bit stale) to a good mate of mine that all I need on my business card is “I know ..”. A written list of those I have come into contact with via the blog would be an embarrassment of riches. Some of the best people in the world have been known to pop by to say hello.
I wish I could shout your names from the rooftops because you are amazing. You are all people with whom I would not normally have come into contact. Some might say it was a bit sad to make friends over the wires, but I say we are more able to find kindred spirits in a global village. We don’t need to leave it to chance to meet like-minded people. And isn’t a world where people aren’t distracted by looks or accent or class or dress or restricted by physical location rather enticing? A place where we can share our thoughts without the risk of being shouted down by the pub bore or the office idiot?
Thank you to you all, you know who you are. And to those of you who I haven’t yet had a chance to get to know, here’s hoping for next year, eh? The comments and the stats and the occasional email make this site worth the seconds it takes to bash out a post, and the interventions bring it to life for everyone. Keep up the good work.
To those of you who aren’t spending time with family or friends over Christmas for whatever reason, a particularly warm greeting. To those of you in front-line services who have to work when you should be eating and drinking with the rest of us, a big thank you. To all of you: Merry Christmas, and have a mince pie on me.
BE
“And isn’t a world where people aren’t distracted by looks or accent or class or dress or restricted by physical location …”
nor smell.
An excellent post and a Merry Christmas to you too !
Kev.
PS, am I the only one who gets migraine whilst typing in your reply box ?
Some of the best people in the world have been known to pop by to say hello.
You’re welcome.
Lovely sentiment Blues, and it is always a pleasure to call by!
And no, it’s not sad talking over the wires, one of these days and there’ll be a big bash in London Town, and I want to meet everyone there, but not yet, there’s not enough reason to celebrate, and probably not enough under the mattress for the moment…
Have a great Christmas Blues, you’re up there with the best!
You may well meet up with the bestest people, but people like me will always sneak in as well!!!
Have a great ‘un, mate.
Dickiebo.
Merry Christmas Blue Eyes, Happy New Year and all you wish for. A pleasure to have made your acquaintance, and your blog has become as essential to my morning as the first cup of coffee.
Best wishes, Blue. Just had my first mince pie; the rest of the packet is in the office kitchen if you want one.
Considering the predictions for 2009 we all did rather well just being here today and being he optimist I am I can only hope for an even better 2010 for us all…Merry Christmas indeed.
Merry Christmas Blue,I echo your sentiments entirely.
I too, feel priviledged to have made so many friends
over the internet.
Scrobs idea of having bash in London, to meet up is a
good one…There could be lots of surprises in store
for many of us!
It’s been a pleasure meeting you in cyberspace and
I wish you ‘all the best’ for 2010.
Di.xx
Wow what an overwhelming response!
What a jolly nice message…and I thought you took hours to do a post.
As the in-laws are snowed in over in Cumbria, my offspring are 250 miles away and I am working late on Christmas Eve in currently six inches of snow, it will be different this year for us. We have more than enough of everything so if you are abducted by aliens and find yourself relocated in Poshnortherntown area confused and trouserless, join us for dinner (I have spares)! As long as you’re not allergic to 2 furbags and a muttley
2010 will be our year to meet and greet.
That is very kind of you indeed, but I am safely ensconced in Posheasterntown with no snow but plenty of food and booze to make up for it!
Merry Christmas BE. Your presence in the same pub as me is always welcome, and I look forward to further boozy explorations of the limits of human endurance.
As an aside, your blog has quickly changed from a well written semi-political rant to an eloquent, passionate and moving personal blog that also has an interest in intelligent politics.
I approve whole heartedly and look forward to reading your posts for the coming twelve months almost as much as I look forward to our next pub outing.
“I look forward to our next pub outing”
Area, don’t make threats you aren’t willing to carry out
Happy Christmas, BE. That mince pie was quite delicious.
Loved the interaction this year – Happy Christmas – Keep up the “Good work”
SOC
Happy Xmas to you Blue. I am sure you had me at the back of your mind somewhere – and I agree – blogging probably literally saved my life a few years back.
Merry Christmas to you and yours Blue Eyes.
And here’s to a better year in 2010.
Thanks everyone!
Aw, what a sweet post. And true, too. I’ve met fantastic people on the WWW, people I would never have met otherwise. Its all good!
Happy New Year to you and yours.
If I am in any way “sweet” it is in the lemon-ish way. Luckily a small proportion of the six billion are fans of my variety of lemon-ish writing! Happy Christmas and a very Merry New Year to you!
If life serves you lemons then make lemonade….
Hope you had a merry Crimbo, Blue. Wishing you a happy new year.