If We Were Having Coffee – After The Bloggers’ Bash Special

It’s been a whole week since the first Annual Bloggers’ Bash and the first Annual Bloggers’ Bash Awards were held in London.  However, the day itself is still very much on my mind.

weekendcoffeeshare

If we were having coffee I’d be telling you about the Bloggers’ Bash.  Haven’t seen the video yet of all the bloggers who attended, introducing themselves? Then click here and meet the group.

I was very nervous when the day finally arrived.  I’d only ever spoken to Sacha, Ali and Geoff via Google Meet Ups.  However, I received the biggest hugs I’d ever received from people I’d never met before and Geoff presented me with a lovely bunch of sweet peas from his garden.  By the time we sat down and were eating breakfast you could have sworn we’d all known each other for years.

The Bloggers from The First Annual Bloggers Bash - London, August 1st, 2015
The Bloggers from The First Annual Bloggers Bash – London, August 1st, 2015

Realising we were running late, it wasn’t long before I left the other three committee members and made my way to the courtyard at the British Library where we had told everyone to meet.  Dylan, who had joined us for breakfast, kindly walked me to the area and, upon arrival, a small group of people walked towards us.  They’d recognised the T-Shirt design we’d told everyone the committee members would be wearing.  Before long I was deep in conversation with people I’d only ever chatted to via the comments section on WordPress, or via the occasional tweet.

Within an hour most of the group were assembled, photographs had been taken, introductions had been made, and we were one big happy family.  Even when I announced that I wanted everyone to stand in a long line and to announce themselves to the iPhone I was pointing at them, there was no hesitation from the group.

Sacha does her speech
Sacha does her speech

Inside Pizza Express, I found myself sat next to Marj, Conny, Helen and Mel. According to Marj, I never shut up.  I was chatting away and firing all sorts of questions at them about why they blogged, why they published posts at certain times of the day, and who they knew really well in the blog world, amongst other things.  I apologise to them now.  They must have thought I had a wind-up key attached to my back and that I would not stop talking until the key stopped turning around!

Awards were announced and I was surprised not only to hear that Hugh’s Views and News took joint fourth place (with the wonderful Ali Isaac) in best overall blog, but that it had also taken second place in the funniest blog category.  A big thank you to those who nominated me for these awards and to all of you who voted for me.  I was so shocked that I could not eat the rest of my pizza!

Lucy wins an award
Lucy wins an award
Suzie wins an award
Suzie wins an award

When we finally made our way to the pub that key in my back had been wound up again and I started firing questions at more unsuspecting bloggers. Here I got my chance to have a catch-up with Suzie who I had previously crushed with a ‘Hugh Hug’ the moment she appeared in the courtyard at the British Library.  We share a similar wicked sense of humour and laughed a lot about the four-hour twitter conversation we had had a few months earlier with Steve while watching The Eurovision Song Contest.  I still have the whole conversation on Twitter and I’m sure the BBC could make a fantastic sitcom out of it.

Me & Suzie
Me & Suzie – yes, both look like we’d had a few!

The day seemed to fly past and it was not long before people started to leave. I was successful in stopping Sherri and her husband leaving by persuading them to let me buy them both another drink but, unfortunately, I lost the battle with some of the others.  Obviously the key in my back had been wound-up again and people were making a run for it!  I was delighted to have met Sue Vincent and to have been able to talk to her about her wonderful and inspirational son Nick.  He’s a hero of mine (click here to find out why).

Here’s a full list of everyone that attended the First Annual Bloggers Bash.

Geoff Le Pard  – TanGental

Helen Jones – Journey To Ambeth

Sacha Black – Sacha Black

Ali Isaac – Ali Isaac Storyteller

Ellie Marinova – A Writer’s Caravan

Suzie Speaks – Suzie Speaks

Graeme Cumming – Graeme Cumming Dot Net

Conny Kaufmann – Study. Read. Write

Marjorie Mallon – Kyrosmagica

Esther Newton – Esther Newton Blog

Lucy Mitchell – Blonde Write More

Melissa Barker-Simpson – Melissa Barker-Simpson

Julie Lawford – Julie Lawford/ A writer’s Notepad

Dylan Hearn – Suffolk Scribblings

Stuart France – Stuart France, Writer

Sue Vincent – Daily Echo

Sherri Matthews – A View From My Summerhouse

If we were having coffee I’d be telling you that I did not want the day to end. Of course, like everything, it had to end, but it’s a day I will never forget.

Oh, there’s the little matter of “The Truth App” as well.  What started out as a short story has now become a bit of a serial.  Why?  Because many of you wanted more.  Thank you to everyone that has read, commented and liked the story.  Part 4 will be published next week.

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81 thoughts

    1. Thanks for sharing this Sally. I’ll certainly be there next year and hope you will be as well?

      That’s it from me about The Bloggers’ Bash now. Unless, of course, those poor bloggers who attained the event in ‘The Truth App’ get more than they bargained for with that mysterious iPad. 🙂

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    1. Me thinks they will put you and me on our own table should we not be able to shut up 🙂 Then again I have a feeling that a lot more people will turn up at next year’s event, so I’m guessing we’ll all be shouting over all the noise. The UK had better get itself ready.

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  12. Hugh, this was an amazing wrap-up to the Blogger’s Bash! I loved it. You all look how I had imagined in my mind. Thank you so much for sharing all your lovely photos. I wish I could meet you all in person! ❤ Hugs to you all!

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  13. Pingback: Recognition! | But I Smile Anyway...

  15. Lovely post, Hugh! Can’t believe it is already a week ago. And that it is still being posted about, it clearly had quite an impact. It’s the strangest thing, how comfortable it actually felt to be among all these people we had never met before. I keep thinking about it too.

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    1. It did indeed Ali. I never thought that posts about the event would still be published a week after the event. People already enquiring about next year’s event. I guess Sacha will need to assemble her team again sometime in the coming months. Let’s hope she’s not sacked us 🙂

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  17. Hugh, I wish we were sitting having coffee. I’d wind that key a bit tighter and let you tell me all about the fabulous meet and greet at the blogger’s bash. Hugs, my friend.

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    1. Thanks Marje. Those quick fire questions were all the nerves coming out 🙂 Thanks for putting up with both them and me! Unless you’re a blogger I don’t think other people understand what it’s all about. We seem to belong to quite an elite group. I think we’re all proud of that 🙂

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  20. Wow! What an incredible experience, Hugh! I have fantasized many times about doing something like this. There are so many people on that list that I would love to meet in person. You’re also someone I would love to meet in person. Maybe someday it will happen. 😀 xx

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    1. Arr, thank you Vashti. It was an incredible day and it was so nice to meet the people behind the blogs. I hope it happens somewhere near you someday soon. It does take some organising, but is well worth all the hard work. I was so pleased to have been asked by Sacha to join the committee that was organising the event. Maybe this first bloggers bash meeting will go down in history one day?

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  22. And if we were having coffee Hugh, I would tell you what a wonderful write up this is of a truly wonderful day! Love your photos and also, and huge apologies for being remiss in saying so before, many, many congratulations to you on your winning placements in not one but two categories! Richly deserved, most definitely. The day still sits with me too, and I am already looking forward very much to the next bash. And next time, it will be mine and hubby’s turn to buy you a drink 🙂 Oh, and how lovely of Geoffle. Sweetpeas are one of my absolute favourites too. As I said before, I am just sorry I missed the first part, but it was certainly a day to remember for a long time to come. Thanks again Hugh, you’re a star ⭐ 🙂 xx

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    1. I’m so glad you enjoyed my wrap-up of the event Sherri. I think the day will be on my mind for a very long time. Of course it all went far too quickly but it was wonderful to meet everyone there. We’re already talking about next year’s event and are planning on announcing a date so that everyone can put it into their diaries. I was thrilled to have met you. I feel like we’ve been friends for years. 🙂

      That’s about it from me on the Bloggers Bash now. Apart, that is, from The Truth App, where the bloggers bash will still feature. Oh dear, I do hope it’s going to be all Okay for us bloggers in that story.

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  27. Thanks for the post. You all obviously had a great day. I hope to go to the next Bloggers Bash (quite easy as I live and work in London). However I had already agreed to meet Friends at the Ealing Jazz Festival so was not able to attend this time round. Kevin

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    1. Plans are already underway for next year’s Bloggers Bash, Kevin. You’ll certainly be seeing details on my blog in the not too distant future. I look forward to meeting you at the event and hope you will be able to join us all.

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    1. Hi Jill, yes, it was such a great success and we got so many people asking if we were planning another event that we’ve decided to go ahead and plan another. The date will be announced soon although, as yet, we have not decided on a location.

      I wish you all could have come along but until somebody invents that machine on Star Trek which whisks you to another place in seconds then I guess it’s not going to be possible. Still, I know you’ve met one or two bloggers yourself and I’m sure you’ll agree it is such a very special experience.

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