#TheBloggersBash 2017 – My 3rd time!!

On Saturday 10th June I caught the train to London in the early hours of the morning and travelled to the much-anticipated Bloggers Bash.

 

I bought a new dress, jewellery and even did my nails….

 

In typical Marje fashion I did some nutty things on route, starting with trying to get through the barriers with an invalid, outdated ticket. This gave me a mini case of palpitations until I realised that I had the correct ticket in my wallet! Thereafter, I had a sneaky feeling that something else would happen and it did. I jumped on the tube at St Pancras without checking what I was doing. Of course, this meant that I was now headed in the opposite direction to the way I should have been going, so I jumped off, gave myself a stern talking to and sorted myself out!

Phew…. thereafter it was easy peasy. Blogging pal, committee member Geoff’s instructions were great … Though, I didn’t hear any giggles to follow, so that was a bear faced, or in Geoff’s case, a pink beard face lie! Miraculously, I arrived at the hotel with time to spare.

Thereafter, it was a blast. So many faces, both new and not so new. Bloggers from far away, bloggers from London, bloggers from just about every neck of the woods. Have bloggers will travel.

It was fantastic, my third event. Here’s my impressions of the First,  and Second Bloggers Bash.

A big thank you to the committee for organising this labour of love: Sacha, Geoff , Ali  and Hugh.

I failed miserably at taking photos during the event – Bloggers Bashes do that to me – obviously I struggle to talk and take photos, but there are loads of photos on Facebook on the #bloggersbash page: Facebook: Bloggers Bash & ABBA Awards.

But I did take this one of Sherri, Sally, and Mary.

Can you believe it? Three years of bashes!  This year’s bash felt grown up. It occurs to me that, in retrospect, the first bloggers bash reminded me of those first baby blogger steps into the unknown,  the second bash involved toddling off confidently and now we’re all grown up and have progressed to an International Bloggers event! Very posh.

So, who knows what the fourth bash will bring? Exciting times ahead. I just hope they get proper name badges next time rather than those sticky labels that refuse to stick to your dress and travel up your arm, waltz around your skin and end up being worn as a bracelet.

If you haven’t been to a bash before and would like to come, here are several reasons why I think you should:

  1. You will learn a huge amount. At this event there were discussions about social media, Pinterest, and many blogging tips from the panel of experts: Suzie, Elena and Christoph.
  2. It’s fun.
  3. You’ll meet loads of like-minded people.
  4. It’s a great opportunity to network with other writers and authors.
  5. We are all introverts so we know what it’s like to come to your first event.
  6. You’ll feel welcome. Everyone is very friendly.
  7. There are cakes, (this has to be a good thing,) biscuits, tea and coffee,  and alcohol too!
  8. You will find that there are hugs a plenty, from huggable Hugh who is our resident king of the hugs,  but newsflash – Hugh may have competition. Our inspiring Shelley is huge on hugs. She gave me a real bear hug as I was leaving – it took my breath away.

After the talks and discussions I rewarded myself with a great big carrot cake cupcake  – just one of Ritu’s delicious recipes which she brought along. It melted in my mouth – so delicious. I had a ‘wee’ drink but not too much, as I had a sneaky feeling that getting home inebriated would be a bad idea for someone who can’t even find their way whilst sober!

The lovely Ritu, and Willow accompanied me from the venue, until sadly we drifted off our separate ways home. I ended up on the slow train to Cambridge which stopped at every bl***dy stop. This meant that I had to walk about a mile to my bus stop from the train station in my (for me,) high heels, to catch the last bus to the back water I call home. Yes, our sad little village has a last bus home at 8.40pm, thereafter you have to wait until 10pm for the next one!

Guess who I saw on my way home ? My youngest riding towards me on her bike. So I asked her where she was going. Bad idea, I should have run, but in those heels, I had no chance. She had forgotten her keys so I ended up going back home with her and taking her out in my car. What a sucker, such a soft-hearted mother, that’s me. Luckily, I had only had one drink, so could drive!

The story doesn’t end there…

No, there were chips, and a very dodgy scampi supper to consume. I wish I hadn’t. The scampi oozed milky liquid which really didn’t look edible. Still, I survived, I have a tough old stomach that can consume such dubious delicacies with no ill effects.

And… In the short while I was away… a mere day, my hubby decided it would be a good idea to let my daughter have her first driving lesson. He let her reverse his car out of our very tricky driveway. Whatever possessed him? So, wonder of wonders she had a bit of an accident. He said ‘crashed,’ but I checked the damage and luckily it is a mere scratch! It could have been a lot worse!

So the moral of the story? Next time, I will be staying over in London so no one can find me, or assault my stomach with a chip supper or request that I lift them anywhere in my car, even if it means that my hubby does something crazy!

Ha ha!

Sorry for that waffle, un-bloggers bash yarn. I thought it was funny and hoped you might do too!

Who did I chat to? Loads of folk…  methinks they were… perhaps…

Ritu, Graeme, Noelle, Sherrie, Helen, Mary, Eloise, Jools, Steve, Sue, Ellen, Lance, Sally, Suzie, Icy, Matt, Susie, Adam, Ruth,  Shelley, Jessica, Willow, Christoph Allie,  Jo  and the committee of course!  If I’ve left anyone off, just give me a stern telling off next time you see me.

It was such a shame that Esther couldn’t make it this year as she was moving house that very day and of course there were many others who would have loved to have come but couldn’t join in the fun. They were sorely missed too.

But there is always another year, another opportunity.

The date has been set for next year’s bash so don’t forget to put it in your diary:

9th June 2018. It sounds a long way off but don’t believe it, before you know it I’ll be on a tube going the wrong way again.

Bye for now, much love,

unnamed

85978B3EEB2A2F45468E6707CEAFE70D

My social media hang outs:
My New Facebook club : Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club

Twitter: @marjorie_mallon

Goodreads

Instagram

Twitter

Facebook

Tumblr

 

 

 

 

 

 

Published by

Marje @ Kyrosmagica

Hi. Welcome to my blog: M J Mallon - Kyrosmagica Publishing. A blog about magic, books, writing, laughter, and much more! I'm a YA fantasy author, poet and reviewer. My first YA fantasy novel The Curse of Time - Book 1 - Bloodstone is set in Cambridge and Book 2 - Golden Healer is now out too. As well as this, I have contributed to several anthologies, created my own with some amazing international writers, bloggers and creatives during the pandemic: This Is Lockdown and written two poetry collections: Lockdown Innit Poems About Absurdity & Mr. Sagittarius Poetry and Prose. I write book reviews on my blog and on Goodreads, book bub and on my bookstagram. I have a penchant for travel and have relatives in far flung places, Australia, Malaysia, and Singapore, (my birthplace.) I grew up in in Bonnie Scotland, in Edinburgh, and now live in Cambridge. I love sunny, hot places, particularly Rome, Venice, Portugal, Barcelona, and I forgot to mention the sun drenched beaches of the Caribbean, how could I? I am lucky to have been blessed with two lovely daughters and a husband who I fondly refer to in this blog as my black sheep. Family joke! With my passion for travel, culture, beautiful beaches, good food, books, theatre, writing, and humour, I hope to keep you entertained. I'm loving every minute of this creative journey, please join me.

53 thoughts on “#TheBloggersBash 2017 – My 3rd time!!”

  1. You sound like you had as many mishaps as me but hey that’s the spice of life! It was brilliant meeting up again ! Perhaps next year we should all meet up and stay over together to avoid travelling and returning home mishaps! 💗💖😉

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. Gosh you had an eventful day, Marje! Yes the BB has certainly changed from that first random get together, but I have very fond memories of it. Looking forward to the next one!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  8. Before we know it we will all be on a blogging writing retreat maybe on a campsite ! Campers, motorhomes, tents and barbecue’s. Spendour money on cases of cheap Belgium beer and fizz. We’d spend the days sorting eachothers blogs troubleshooting and branding, sharing our strengths and strengthening our weakneses. . By night we’d sing around the barbie and plan the next year, we’d all go home winners clutching classy cirtificates and virtual badges on our blogs. Whoops I may have got carried away *sigh* like a child not wanting her birthday to end. I returned full, satiated and content looking forward to meeting you all again. 😇

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Wow, that sounds awesome. Love it! I know what you mean about not wanting it to end. It just seemed to fly past this year. I’m definitely staying over next time! A bbq sounds fabulous! An idea to propose to the committee!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      1. No apologies necessary Marje. I know how easy it is to get caught up in the festivities and only wish later we’d taken more moments to capture on camera. 🙂 xx

        Liked by 1 person

  12. Great share…lol…trains – that’s why I bus everywhere as you can guarantee I would end up somewhere totally random. Pleased you had a good tie and enjoyed yourself too 🙂 xx

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  13. Pingback: #TheBloggersBash 2017 – Time to turn virtual hugs into real ones. | Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life

  15. Thanks for sharing. Sounds like a fun day. 🙂 Sorry I couldn’t be there. Just a thought on the name stickers. Perhaps everyone should laminate a business card and get a lanyard to wear – no need for extra stickers, and great for self-promotion. Those stickers never stick!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  16. Oo-er, you had quite the adventure it seems, and not just during the Bash! Glad to hear you didn’t suffer much from your chip supper, that would have been an unpleasant end to the day!
    It was wonderful to meet you and I enjoyed chatting to you about your books. You are now one of the many bloggers and writers I will be referencing in order to give myself a good kick up the bum whenever I am falling into a writing slump. Thank you for being both inspiring and excellent company on the day 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  18. My goodness, Marje, your day could be made into a movie and a book with what happened to you. It was so great to see you again. One of the original attendees of The Bloggers Bash. I still remember that day so well, along with the story of the soapsud creature you had written about just before it.
    Thanks for sharing your version of the day with us.I’ll be editing the video later, and am so looking forward to publishing it. 😎

    Like

    Reply

  19. Having arrived early for the Bash itself, I seem to have been very late to every post about it. Good to read your own experiences, though. And it was good to see you again, though we didn’t get to chat as much as previous years. Good luck with the book launch!

    Like

    Reply

  20. I found this piece on what happens at a bloggers bash very interesting to read because I have never been to a bloggers bash mainly because as I have never been nominated for an award plus the train fair from Ashford Kent to London is quite expensive. Although I would love so much to chat and meet other bloggers at a bloggers bash. But sadly it would only really worth my while going if I was up for an award. I am really glad there is tea and cakes as I am such a big fan of tea and cakes. Maybe I am a bit too early but I do wish every blogger who is up for an award in 2018 all the very best. Suzanne xx.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.