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Wednesday 20 April 2011

The Gallery - My Blog

I really enjoyed taking part in The Gallery last week so am having another go. This week's theme was challenging again. How does one sum up a blog that is quite diverse in content?



I decided to pick items from around the house that say something about my blogging.

I knew I had to relate this image to my late Mum in some way. She was the catalyst for this blogging business. One drink-fuelled night over Christmas 2008, she told me I must pursue my writing "even if it is just keeping a diary". She was most insistent and that is how this blog came into being. Within weeks, Mum was telling me she was terminally ill and by the time the blog was a year old she had died.

So the first thing to do is show you Mum and you can see her picture on my Gallery contribution.


The picture of her shows her on her trip on the Orient Express which I got for her and my Dad for their Golden Anniversary treat. She had always wanted to go on it and ruled it out for herself. How often do we do that? If I have done one vaguely good thing, I ensured she had that trip. In this picture she looks so serene and at peace.

The little blue cushion is there for two reasons. Mainly, through the "Come in!" it represents the fact that I am very open on this blog and welcome you in to my thoughts and feelings. I don't find it as easy to do this in the "real" world. Funnily enough, on the other side it says "Stay Out! and too often in life that is my attitude resulting in isolation all too often. Finally, there is cat on the cushion and when I am blogging, there is often a cat trying to sleep on my keyboard!

The dictionary is there as I love using the power of words on my blog and in life generally.

The stickers are to say how I have found that the whole blogging experience gives me a sense of validation. Comments, followers and Twitter friends effectively are saying that I have done a good job or have tried my best at least. So my children get stickers and I get comments. That will do me. If you are a follower, a commenter, a Twitter friend or any of my lovelies out there, give yourself a virtual gold sticker from me.

The rolling pin was the first item I chose for this random selection of objects. It belonged to my Mum who was a keen cook and a fantastic pastry chef so that connection remains with her. It has being in my life always and as this blog reflects on all aspects of my life, that seems apt.

Rolling pins flatten and shape dough. Sometimes when blogging, it seems like I am making some sort of shape or sense out of the past and the present. I find that very therapeutic and have the same sense when baking too. Rolling pins come in different shapes and sizes for different uses just like blogs and bloggers themselves.

Baking like blogging is a creative outlet. Also, traditionally, rolling pins are associated with angry housewives. In the 21st century, have angry mums put down the wooden rolling pins and started ranting in their blogs instead?

The final item is a thermometer and just for fun, I will ask you to say what you think that might represent about my life as a blogger.

MAD Blog Awards 2011

23 comments:

  1. I love your interpretation of the theme and how you picked random objects to portray what your blog is about.

    I'm going to say that the thermometer signifies the highs and lows we all have in life, and that through the ups and downs, your blog is there for you to write about it all.

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  2. I love this! It's interesting to hear about your reasons for starting and keeping a blog and about your mother, that's a real "memory in a picture".

    I am going to follow you on twitter now so I'll take that gold star too! ;)

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  3. This is a really lovely post!

    I think you would be well represented by a magical 8 ball. If you had a serious question about life it should probably be disregarded, but for the fun stuff I think it would suit you!

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  4. Thermometer - the ups and downs? the highs and lows? The weather??? Surely not!
    I lvoe it and am so glad your mum coerced you into starting up

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  5. What a lovely tribute to your Mum and a very visual way of describing what your blog is about. I would say the thermometer might signify being hot and cold. Cold being writers block, hot bursting with ideas!! :-) x

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  6. great post, the thermometer is either cos you are a hypercondriac! or you blow hot and cold! anyway here is a large gruffalo sticker from me (these are the ones my little lass likes best at the moment!). ps loving the rolling pin comments!

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  7. I love the rolling pin analogy. I'm with Metal Mummy, in that the thermometer represents highs and lows in your blogging life.

    Love the comments being like stickers too.

    xx

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  8. No idea about thermetor love rolling pin for squashing shapes and angry women!

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  9. Admirable attempt at summing up such a diverse blog in a single image. Well done, both for that - and for touching my heart with your words about your mum. She's sounds like she was one in a million.

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  10. Great idea for a 'montage' picture and a great way to sum up. Loved "my children get stickers and I get comments" that just about says it all! :)

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  11. What a wonderful legacy to your Mum!
    Thermometer? How the whole world stops when a child is ill or feverish?

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  12. Aww I think you do your mum proud! That was a lovely interpretation and explanation of your blog! Bravo! x

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  13. wow what a deep and meaningful interpretation of the theme, Im sure your mum would be very proud to call you her daughter.

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  14. I was just reading through my comments and wanted to thank you for yours on my post. Its lovely to know that there are other people in the same position. Most of my friends have just 2 children and I'm the one who turns up with unbrushed hair and no coat ( kids obviously look immaculate :-) ). Its reassuring to know its not just me struggling along.

    I'm following you now. x

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  15. I love the idea of a blog being a big kiddie sticker chart. Yes, mine is too! lol

    Mich x

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  16. And I bet your mum was extremely proud of you x

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  17. I'm so glad she got to make that trip. Lovely photo and words x

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  18. I thought the thermometer was a pregnancy test at first! You are quite right about the rolling pin too, sometimes I want to wallop someone with mine!

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  19. awww that was just lovely :) x x x

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  20. I liove hw the contents of your photo relate to the contents of yur blog. The rolling pin/ baking connection is just genius! I bet your mum was very proud of you and would be flattered to Be such an inspiration to your blog.

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  21. Great photo and I loved reading about all the items.

    I think the thermometer is about the highs and lows you've been through in life.

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  22. hello... meant to comment on wednesday... i loved this post... and when i saw the thermometer my first thought was fertility planning ;)

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