Blogging for me started less than 2 years ago, it was a hobby that as it turned out I was reasonably good at. Over time it developed into my job too and I have love it.
What I have not loved about blogging is the fact that it is very insular and at times it’s as nice as it is to send a tweet or read a blog post .. it isn’t quite the same as developing a real life friendship with someone face to face.
Over the last year I have tried to go to as many blogging events as possible to strengthen and form new friendships and the formal ones set up by a brand or company are few and far between although tend to be excellent when I go, It’s the local meet ups that have been my saviour.
Here in Nottingham we have a really great bunch of local bloggers that cover just about every type of blog possible and I adore these ladies immensely but with just one meetup planned this Summer holidays when the ladies in and near Birmingham mentioned a meet up I jumped at the chance.
So last Monday I set of on the road trip to Birmingham with Joshua a picnic and a postcode for the car park and after 2 1/2 hours I was still driving round the centre of Birmingham trying to find the car park … to no avail.
I pulled over and stopped to put in the distress status update to the meet up’s Facebook page and thankfully decided to give it another drive past to see if I could find it going a different way and thankfully I found it! … once I’d parked I also found an offer of help from the lovely Anne from Raisie Bay. (thank you Anne!)
So finally we made it to the Thinktank Science Museum ready to visit Eastside City Park to have a picnic, catch up and watch our children make new friendships and cement previous ones!
The free park was great fun and I have to say it was not just the children that loved it.
After some much-needed picnic and some catching up the children scattered in million different directions and then started paring off and making smaller groups which was lovely to see.
At 3pm the Science Garden is opened to everyone instead of just people paying for the museum so we made the most of it and some of the little ones went swimming in the shallow water features (they were allowed) then tried out some great exhibits.
On the way home my little guy cried all the way .. he wanted to stay with this friends!
We had a fantastic at the meet up and it was so nice to catch up with Anne (Raisie Bay) Zoe (Mama Geek) Joy (Pinkoddy) Erica (92three30) and the lovely Christine from Mummy of 3 Diaries who I met for the first time …. along with a whole horde of children who were fantastic!
Photo Credit: Group photo taken via Zoe from Mama Geek
looks like a fab day im very jealous.
When you have you link up can you add me. Im falling asleep lol xxxx
http://jollyjillys.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/magic-moment-friendship.html
its already up lovely x
Lovely post and pics, looks like you all had a great time x
thanks Jeannette it was fab 🙂 xx
It’s great to know that there are bloggers in the Midlands. I thought I was in a blog vortex! I will check out the park when we’re next in Brum x
yep i am a midlands blogger 🙂 your not alone!! x
How wonderful for you all to meet up. I recognised almost everyone here before reading the names suggesting I too have managed a few blog events now and seen bloggers here at Coombe Mill. It really is lovely to meet in real life and even better that your children are becoming friends too. Looks like a great venue too for the children to enjoy.
thanks Fiona, I so wish i lived nearer i would love to visit Coombemill .. its so nice see those i have chatted to online in person isnt it x
Looks ace and I am so sorry I couldn’t make it this time. The Thintank Park is brilliant – I never knew it opened at three to everyone? I am so going again with my little ones. Glad you had fun and I DEFO want to be invited to the next one xxx
you name is on the list for next time my lovely 🙂 (yep 3pm it opens to everyone!)
Sounds like u had a lovely day I’ve got my first local meet up next weekend I’m bricking it!
awww honey dont brick it .. i am sure you will have the most amazing time!
Oh I am so glad you had a lovely day hun. I wish there were more meet ups too x
i think they are so important to maintain some reality and to make friends xx (hoping to see you soon at an event)
Glad you managed to find the car park! The ThinkTank Science Museum looks like a fun spot to meet up too! x
thanks lovely i am so pleased i went round for another circuit 🙂
Oooo some familiar faces in that photo…….I am coming your way in October and would love to meet up if you’re all up for it xxxx
i am free and i am sure we can sort some others 🙂
It looks and sounds like you all had a fabulous time! I nearly put my hand up for this, speaks the voice of regret! Next time!
next time you will have no choice i will put your name down and come and get you! 😉 xx
This is brilliant! Meeting other bloggers must make it feel far less insular. Looks like you all had a great time despite your initial struggles to find the meet-up point. X
thanks Mel it really was a great time and fab to build friendships x
Sounds like a fabulous place to meet up. Happy to hear you found it in the end x
lol i wasnt sure if would get there thankfully i kept trying!
Aww! Sounds like you had a great time!! Quite a few faces I recognise 😀
it really was xx
As a dad blogger, I always find it interesting to read about various blogger meet-ups. I’ve been umming and ahhing over whether to sign up for BritMums Live next year, but there just aren’t that many dad bloggers and the whole thing looks a bit big and overwhelming, which is why I’m still hesitating.
But I do really appreciate the little communities and friendships that do form online, even though it’s not necessarily the same as a ‘real’ relationship.
there are a fair amount of Dad bloggers out there .. I know of a few really great guys and i am happy to point you in their direction anytime.
I have a ticket to BML for next year .. happy to meet you there 🙂
Looks so much fun – would love to come to the next one, this is my neck of the woods!
#MagicMoments
yay will tweet you with the next one lovely it would be fab to meet you
Aw it looks a fab day! I need to start networking more with parent bloggers!!
Lianne
its great fun and some fantastic friendships can form lovely x
It looks like you were in good company! A fabulous get-together for the adults and an awesome playdate for the lovely children. Like you, I love the connections I’m making through blogging as well.
Maria
its so lovely isnt it Maria .. making it real is a really special thing x
Was great to see you. Haha that slide was really good. Hope to do it again soon.
i loved that you went down the slide! lets not leave it so long! x
This looks so fun! I wish I knew some local bloggers here. It would be so nice to have face to face contact! #magicmoments
thanks honey, i was surprised at how many local bloggers there are really x
How wonderful a time did you look like you had! Love it. I have a blogger meet to go too this weekend coming and we’re all just hoping the weather behaves, as lately all around the UK it’s been pretty sucky! Haha! loved the photos! x
Oh wow, how fab you all had the chance to meet up!
it sure was xx
thanks Sarah it was fab x
Looks like you had a lovely time. Would be great meeting some bloggers in real life – need to find a few in Gloucestershire I think!
i hope you find some lovely .. put a shout out in a FB group x
Aww, looks like a fab day! There are never any nearby me x
thanks honey its been so nice to have some this year near me. Have you popped a shout out in the Fb groups??