Edit: apologies in advance if any part of this post upsets anyone - that is not my intention at all - I had hoped the overall feeling of the post would be a 'feelgood' one. I'm not a great wordsmith like others on the forum, and sometimes I don't say things very well and dig holes. Suffice to say I won't attempt any more posts like this again! Peace and love xxx
By pure chance I just happened to notice my post count sitting at 9999. I know it has become tradition on blonde for those reaching the 10k post milestone to post something intelligent, thought provoking and memorable to mark the occasion. I very nearly wasted mine with my usual drivel (ok, I'm just about to do that anyway!!)
Now the time has come, I don't know quite what to write, but given some of the happenings of recnet days and the huge support I have received from my friends on blonde, it seems only right that this post should in some way pay credit to the fantastic community we have built here.
As I understand it, the blonde forum kicked off in April 2005. I'm not one of the old guard, I joined in February or March 2006, a few days after meeting then moderator Heid at a betfair marketing jobby. I'm so glad I went along to that. I'd been playing poker for a couple of months and, to be honest, didn't have a clue. I occasionally look back and recognise that day as one of those events that occur that is instrumental in shaping ones llife. If I hadn't gone along to that marketing event chances are I'd have given up on the poker a couple of months later, having never improved my game. I'd have never made the friends I have here. There are too many to mention, but special thanks for help/advice/laughs/support/fun over the years go to Tantrum, Laxie, Bolt, Kev, Tighty, Kingpoker, Kinboshi, Dingdell, Madasahatstand, Suzanne and, of course, Matt. Of course a special thanks to Tikay and the other founders of the blonde forum, without whom I wouldn't have met all you wonderful people (and that tag applies to many more of you than the handful listed above).
That's it, I think (although I reserve the right to edit this post if at any point in the future I think of something else cooey-wooey to say about blonde or the blondeites!)
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OK I can't sleep so I have come back to add to this post, as I previously reserved the right to. As I was lying in bed, I was thinking of some of my 'milestones' on blonde. The first one that sprang to mind was not a pleasant one. I don't know what happened that day in December 2006, but things seemed to take a turn for the worse, and I very nearly left the forum. I probably shouldn't mention this on what is suppposed, after all, to be a 'cooey wooey' post, but if this is to be an accurate account of my journey on the forum, then the rough goes with the smooth. Some of you will remember the almost infamous 'female moderator' thread. To this day, I don't really understand what caused the wave of hostility that was directed towards me on that thread by some of the more senior members of blonde. Although to the casual observer it probably looks like just another thread, it cut to the heart of me and upset me immensly. I was accused of being underhand and dishonest and trying to undermine the moderators. I can't really put in to words how distressing it is to be accused of such things when they go so against your very nature and the values you hold dear. I put that down to the fact (maybe mistakenly) that no one really knew me then, and would not reach the same conclusions now that they do. I also presume that there was probably other stressful stuff kicking off behind the scenes at the time. Although it's all water under the bridge now and things and people have moved on, I do sometimes wonder if people still hold those kind of views about me, but I hope now that people know me better they know that there was no ulterior motive (and no, I did NOT instigate the thread, lol!!!!). I don't mention this event to put a downer on things - I mention it because it was at the time that happened, ironically, that I first realised the value of the friendships I had made on this forum and the blonde way of looking out for each other. Then (as recently) I received a flood of supportive PMs which got me through, and persuaded me to stay. I knew that even if the mods didn't like me, plenty of others did, and that was enough for me. That's the last I'll say on that matter, as it's all water under the bridge, and I am not one to hold a grudge. It goes wihout saying that I think the mods do a difficult job very well, and that their work in keeping blonde as it is is hugely appreciated. I should also make clear that I consider some of those people to now be dear friends - as indicated above. I came back to edit this post with the intention of taking out the sections about my thoughts and feelings at the time, but as they have now been quoted that does not seem right or fair. Blonde is like a family, families have spats, and they make up. Yes there may be infighting sometimes, but when it comes to protecting 'our own' we're all in it together.
Other highlights in my blonde adventure include, of course, the blonde bashes I have attended. BB3 in Walsall was my first, and I got to meet many blondites for the first time. BB4 in Luton was just great, and the first time I met the lovely Paulina, Tantrum, who was my roommate for the weekend. Although we'd not met in person before, we hit it off straight away and got on like a house on fire. She is now one of my best friends on and off the forum, and I'm so glad she agreed to share my room that weekend. When I get married again, Tantrum will be my maid of honour
Love you T xx BB4 of course also saw the birth of the might Team Chorlton, the best heads up team ever known to all mankind. We kicked ass. Go team chorlton!!!! That bash was unique, as I actually came home in profit on the whole weekend
BB5 co-incided with my move to my current home. I was a bit gutted about the clash of dates, as I had started seeing Matt a few weeks previously. At the time, he was still living in Manchester and we were doing the long distance thing, which was hard, as we could only see each other every couple of weeks, and I missed him terribly. I knew after about two weeks of us hooking up that I was head over heels in love, and every minute until we would see each other again felt like a day. I managed to make it to Cardiff for a few hours on the Friday night before the bash to spend some time with him, and it was worth every minute of the long train journey
We're still going strong. We've had barriers to overcome, but they have just made our relationship all the more solid and united. Matt - I love you from the bottom of my heart. I'm so glad I found blonde, and then stayed on blonde, and found you. I don't think I would ever have truly lived to my full potential if you had never found your way into my life xxx
Last of the BBs, but certainly not least, was BB6 at
DTD. I'm sure most of you won't have noticed, and will be very surprised to hear, but I was very drunk all weekend. I had the most fantastic time though. With every blonde bash I have been to I think that I couldn't have a more enjoyable weekend, but then the next one rolls around and I get proved wrong. Technically, I shouldn't be able to make bb7, but I'll do my damndest to see to that
OK - that's all my musings for now but, again, I reserve the right to edit if I think of anything else I want to add. In fact, I might stick at 10k posts and just edit this one every time I thinlk of something else I want to say.
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Long live blonde!
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