Ali Isaac, Sherri Matthews and your truly
This time last week my bag was packed, my outfit chosen, and I was looking forward to attending another Bloggers Bash. I’d decided to stay over this year, as in previous years it all seemed to end too quickly, conversations cut short as the day flashed by.
And I’m so glad I did. The day dawned sunny and bright, and I headed into London on the train, getting off the Tube one stop early so I could walk through the streets to the hotel. As I came into Vincent Square I was greeted by the bucolic vista of the Westminster Boy’s School cricket ground (at least, I think that was what it was called) – hard to believe I was in the heart of London.
When I got to the hotel the first person I saw was Ali Isaac, my roommate for the night. And before our squeals of greeting were finished I saw Noelle from Sayling Away… After that it was a bit of a blur, seeing old friends from previous years, including Graeme Cumming, Lucy from Blondewritemore, Suzie from Suzie Speaks and Sue Vincent, who I hadn’t seen since the Silent Eye weekend I attended last September. I also met other bloggers for the first time, including Sally Cronin, Ellen Best, Elouise De Souza and the lovely Allie Potts – such a pleasure to turn digital conversations into real ones. And of course the rest of the committee – Hugh, Geoff and Sacha – I know I’m going to leave out some names so I do apologise. Let’s just say it was a fantastic crowd of bloggers from all over the world!
The day began with awards, then we were treated to the first of two masterclasses. This was presented by Suzie from Suzie Speaks, about how to monetize your blog. Her ideas were simple yet effective, and certainly gave me food for thought. Then Elena Peters, Canadian Pinterest queen extraordinaire, gave an inspiring class on how to use Pinterest in conjunction with your blog. Both classes were well worth the ticket asking price – in fact, I would have paid more to see both as they were so informative. More awards were given out, Lucy and I managed to sneak out for a lovely chatty lunch in a cafe down the road, there was a lively panel discussion and Ritu won Best Overal Blog (as well as baking a wonderful array of cakes for the event – where does she find the time!?)
All too soon it was over and people began to disperse. But, instead of being one of the people leaving, I checked into my lovely hotel room and returned to the lobby, where the rest of those who were staying had congregated. I had a chat with the wonderfully effervescent Susie Lindau, then a group of us wandered out into the warm evening to find dinner and continue the conversation, which lasted, one way or another, into the night.
Me, Allie Potts and Lucy Mitchell
The next morning, after breakfast, Ali and I checked out and walked to Victoria Station, where Ali went on to the airport and I took the Tube to Euston and then home, getting in around lunch time. It was over, for another year… I had the most fabulous time and can’t wait for the next one (June 9th, in case any of you are planning to attend). Congratulations to all the award winners!
PS I also saw Christoph Fischer, Icy Sedgewick, Shelley Wilson, Steve Tanham, Adam Dixon, Marjorie Mallon, Sherri Matthews, Jools Lawson, Lance Greenfield… Sorry, I know I’m forgetting people – it was such a fabulous crowd!
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Helen Glynn Jones 
I can’t believe it is almost a week since I was able to meet so many for the first time. At least I think it has only been a week. I’m jet lagged at the moment and don’t quite know what day it is. 😄
Glad you got home safe, Allie – it was so lovely to meet you and spend time with you, felt like greeting an old friend 🙂 So glad I got to see you at Sacha- I mean, Nica’s, too xx
It was a great day and flew by too quickly. See you next year! 😊
Oh, it went so quickly, and I left so much out of this post! Had such a lovely weekend xx
Me too. 😊
Lovely to meet you – I am skimming my email whilst spending time with friends in Prague!
Lovely to meet you too, Noelle! Hope your trip is going really well 🙂
I now keep thinking…”This time last week…!” It was so great to meet everyone! I do hope that I can try and stay next year so the chatting can go on!!! Great to meet you finally Helen!!!
Great to meet you finally too, Ritu, and huge congratulations again on your win 🙂 Yes, do stay next year- it was so much fun afterwards, and so lovely to be able to chat longer 🙂
Thank you 😍 here’s hoping eh!!!
Fingers crossed! 🙂
woof, who’d have thought it was so lovely again… good to see you Helen, though all too briefly
It was all too brief, Geoff, though I’m glad I stayed over and got to have dinner, at least 🙂 Had a great time
Thanks so much for making ‘The Bloggers Bash’ the success it is, Helen. Without all of you bloggers attending, we’d not have an event. It was lovely to see you again and, like you, I’m so glad I decided to stay over in London for the night. See you in 2018 (if not before? – who knows?).
Thank you, Hugh, for all the hard work you and the rest of the committee do to make it such a great event. It was lovely to hang out afterward and have a proper chat – will definitely see you next year (if not before) xx
Sounds like a good time.
It was a fab time, Craig 🙂
Thanks for the write up, I’m so sorry I ended up missing it. I bought a ticket, but in the end couldn’t get away from home for the day.
Next year I might actually make it!
Yes, I saw you were coming and was looking forward to finally meeting you – so sorry you weren’t able to make it. Here’s to next year, hope to see you then 🙂 x
Reblogged this on Suzie Speaks and commented:
The Bash was over a week ago – can’t believe how quickly time has passed since then! Here’s Helen’s take on it – please don’t like or comment on my reblog, hop on over to Journey to Ambeth and say hello!
Thanks for sharing, Suzie – it was a fab day, wasn’t it? I didn’t share our duckface photo but I thought you’d be okay with that 😀
Hahaha! Thanks! The last time you put out duck face picture up that was the picture that everyone shared Hahahaha!
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Nice to meet you and I am just sorry I didn’t get time with everyone, but next year is in the diary. A better bunch of bloggers I’ve yet to meet.
It was lovely to meet you too! Here’s to next year 🙂 And I agree, it’s a fab group of bloggers!
What a lovely day (and night), Helen. 🙂 Love the photos! I am so happy to have met you, briefly, via video. ❤ That was awesome. Next year…in person?
Ooh, I hope so – in person next year would be so cool! It was awesome to chat to you via video though – really sort of took my words away, it was such a nice surprise 🙂
Great post, Helen. It does fly by, doesn’t it? Maybe it should be a weekend event next year!
Oh, lord, let’s not give her any ideas! 😀 It does fly by though, as you say…
Nice write up Helen. Somehow, we didn’t get so much time to chat this year. I definitely want to stay over next time! Until the next One…
Yes, bring on next year’s Bash! And hopefully we’ll have more time to chat 🙂 x
Yes, definitely. 🙂 x
Hi Helen… Great post here… It seems the Bash was great. I saw you in Hugh´s video. You looked so beautiful! Sending best wishes, across the miles ! 😉
Thank you so much, that’s so sweet of you to say 🙂 It was a fabulous day, such a wonderful group of bloggers – would be lovely if you could attend one day. Sending best wishes to you too! xx
I enjoyed following along the event via Social Media…. Thank you so much, Helen. I´d love to be there one day too…. 😀 xx
I hope you can make it one day 🙂
❤ Totally! 😀 xx
Sounds like much fun. One day.
It was great fun – hope you can make it one day 🙂
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I just found this post through Hugh’s flipboard! It so enjoyed meeting you too!
Thanks, Susie! Yes, it was a pleasure, and great fun too 🙂
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