One year ago today, I burst onto the blogging world. Well actually, as I described it myself, I ventured out, putting my toe in the shallow end. What an adventure it has been. I have mastered an incredible number of technical skills, thanks to a lot of research but also thanks to the kindness of many who have helped me in the spirit of sharing. I’ve come a really long way down that road I’m glad to say.

I’ve learned a lot about my camera and although I still don’t have “the eye” my photos are a lot better than they were. I also muck about with them a bit before I post them, so that’s been quite the bonus, learning those skills. I have developed from no image posts to some with images from the web to the fact that now, by far the majority of the images on the blog are photos I’ve taken myself. Saturday Photo Hunt is great fun and has helped me tremendously to learn more about photography.

But by far the most positive thing to come out of this blog has been the online friendships I’ve developed over this past year. Four people came out of nowhere to comment on my first post and I’m still in contact with these people. I’ve developed many online friendships from this blog, some more casual than others but I think that has been the biggest bonus of all. What is so amazing is the variety of ages and nationalities and different interests that I have encountered in these friendships and it illustrates what a global village we are today. I think this is what makes blogging so valuable. It breaks down the normal barriers that separate us so that we find out how much we have in common with each other, how much people are the same, no matter where they live. Only good can come of that.

Now blogging is very hard work, if it’s done correctly. It’s not only writing your own blog to the best of your ability, but it’s visiting other blogs and interacting with those bloggers with your comments and exchanges. In that spirit I joined a small group of bloggers at Blogpower doing just that during the past year and that’s been quite the experience.

Blogging takes a lot of time and effort and many things in my life have suffered this past year. Reading has been one of them and it seems that I only read a book a week or every ten days now whereas I read a book every couple of days before, sometimes one in a day. I’ve only made a couple of small quilts this past year instead of the usual number and my house is a total disaster.

Lots of times along the way, I’ve been tempted to quit. I don’t really have anything to say. I often wonder what the heck I am doing here. Sometimes I can’t think of a thing to post and am ready to call it a day. But somewhere along the way, as it got closer to the time, I said I’ve got to do this for a full year at least. But somehow I doubt there will be a second anniversary for this blog. Nobody Important is the perfect title. This age challenged lady is playing at having a blog and nattering on about places I’ve been, books I’ve read and as it says above, going wherever my fancy leads me. Well, you never know, maybe I’ll still be here next year. Chissà? Who knows?

Now a little word about stats. Yes, I check my stats obsessively, just like everyone else. Yes I know that more than 80 per cent of the visitors are google searches for one thing or another. Yes, maybe around twenty five visitors each day are return visitors. But a couple of times I’ve had huge daily numbers, as when I hosted the Advent edition of the Blogpower round-up. Sadly, I set a new record this week. The first time for over 200 visitors on one day to this blog. All because visitors from Brainhell’s comment section came to read my tribute to him. For one day many of his loyal readers came to my site.

But I do want to thank the people who come regularly or intermittently to read this blog and comment, or not. Every one of you is precious to me and you have made this year very special. My family and friends all think I’m crazy with this blogging thing but I know that each and every one of you understands the lure of it all.

So join me in a virtual toast on this, the first anniversary of blogging for jmb. Cin Cin!