Reflections post 2014

As usual I enjoyed the A-Z Challenge. This year I did try to write posts up in advance, I got the first few done but didn't manage to keep up with it which was a problem as we had family staying over for a week during the middle of it making it harder to spend time writing, I did miss a couple of posts and added 2 in at a time on those occasions. Perhaps I should have just done those posts in advance instead of thinking start from A. If I know there will be a disruption like that next time this is something I will try out.

I also had less time all round for visiting as the month went on, though I did do my best, it seems a lot of other people didn't have the time either or lost the motivation they had had in the beginning. I do the first 5 blogs after my place in the list as we are advised, I also like to pick blogs from the list at random to see who I end up with, I find that a lot of fun as you never know what sort of blog you'll get and can find the most awesome blogs that way which you may never have seen otherwise. I always leave a comment. 

One great thing is reading the daily blog for the Challenge itself. They are motivating, not only in content but also because you know there's always a new one there, bar Sundays. It's good to see them. The comments from those posts also keep me going, I love to feel part of a community and the comments from other people here is a big thing for me, reading how they are getting on, if they are also struggling or having a blast or whatever, it's all good. It's nice to see the same names there as you get to 'know' them.

I wasn't going to do it this year but couldn't resist in the end, I bet next year will be exactly the same. If I can sort myself out I'm going to try to think up a theme and start writing months in advance, but if not (read 'probably won't happen') I'll just do the ones where there may be other things going on for certain days.

I'm off to go through the rest of the blog list now - see you there!

The Reflections Post

I am so glad I found out about this challenge. I'm not one for linkys normally but saw a post somewhere or other where this one was mentioned and it caught my imagination. And what a challenge it was. Posting every day even with Sundays off was more difficult than I'd imagined.

Saying that, it was also a practice run for me, that's how I've decided to look at it. Next time there will be a lot more pre-made posts and also a theme - what theme is still to be decided.

Best thing for me about the challenge was meeting other bloggers, especially who were doing the challenge itself as it made for a very close feeling of comradeship, we were all in it together. This feeling was encouraged by the team leaders - Arlee -  who got round to everyone's blogs, and also several of the other team leaders. It was a good feeling to see their names in so many of the comments boxes as I worked around them, as this also gave that feeling of intimacy mentioned just now. Tina, too, with her wonderful email to give us a kinship as part of her team. I've never felt part of any blogging community but this challenge has given me that feeling.

I found a few blogs I have begun to follow, some from the list and some from the comments they had left on other blogs. I'm going to try to work my way through the list for the rest of the year - that's a good idea - leaving the list up giving us all a chance to get round them all.

All in all, looking forward to next years challenge - bring it on!!