Monday 30 November 2020

Indulging...

I’ve been very self indulgent over the last couple of hours. It didn’t involve food either, but I don’t rule out a cuppa and a biscuit now that I’ve mentioned food! There’s a bit of momentum gathering over the 600th edition of What’s On Your Workdesk Wednesday this week and so I’ve done some looking back. It has, for eleven years been a weekly story of how messy my desk can be. And, it seems to me, a lot of words about how I might improve in the tidy stakes. Well, we know by now that it isn’t ever going to happen!
Still mastering the decoy photos!
Back in the day, I used to routinely post at about 9am. Now that has changed.  There was a period when I had to schedule every WOYWW post because I was always out on a Wednesday. I can’t put my finger on when, but that stopped. There have been times when I’ve posted a picture of whatever I was helping with in the joinery, because my desk was (still untidy) empty of anything crafty. Each year at about this time, the posts become filled with ‘to do’ panics because as we all know, the days between November 10th and Christmas Day seem to compress into something close to a week. Of course, there was the few months that Jan did all the Wednesdays whilst I went through and recovered from that surgery; we’re all still grateful to her for that, huh. In the first couple of years, the participating numbers were huge, some weeks over 100 desks to visit. Better bloggers warned me to make the most, enjoy the attention because it would wane and eventually contributors would stop. Others advised differently...make it a membership thing, offer editorial spots, offer to review products...all sorts of things. It’s not that I took it all in my stride and continued because I had a focus and knew what I wanted out of it. It’s been a very evolving thing, WOYWW. I’m not good at rules, firmly believing that nice people do the decent thing. Membership is a given..if you link up on a Wednesday, you’ve joined, and it doesn’t matter if you link every week, once a month or three times a year. We get to know you. If you stop linking, that’s OK. Its been lovely to find some previous Deskers on social media, it’s just nice to know you! Life changes and causes change, it’s natural to dip in and out, isn’t it. Consistently, the only thing I’ve asked and gently policed is that bloggers who join in don’t blatantly promote their own or their sponsor’s products..the odd link here and there is interesting. A link every line is irritating and my blog isn’t the place. A good post and some stunning samples on your own blog is the place to do that. Because actually, the WOYWW section of my blog is about you. Your desk tells a story about you, your words add to that picture and we who read your posts get to know you. And that’s it, plain and simple. About two years after it all got going, I found these words from Elizabeth Jane Howard, novelist:
‘Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one’.

12 comments:

Helen said...

I say you have every right to be indulgent! you (and Jan) are the glue that keep us together and what an 11 years it has been... I've been around for quite a few of them although in the early days I didn't add links to my posts so always have trouble finding the first time I joined in. I've probably said for more weeks than not, that I need a good tidy up too- like you, it ain't gonna happen! Enjoy your biccies!

CathyC said...

I recently re-discovered WOYWW and was very happy to see it still going!
I had a little giggle with myself yesterday ..... I had to tidy up my desk so that I could make room for the laptop for a Zoom meeting .... and I thought I should have taken a photo before I tidied up! Looking forward to seeing post 600 :)

Robyn said...

thanks for the look back. I'm going to pull out all my WOYWW trades for the Wed post, and so so so look forward to seeing y'all on the 5th!

Christine said...

That quote is so true. I am very hit and miss on the laptop nowadays....always seems to be something to do. I read and comment when I can, rarely manage to remember to link up and crafting....well, gone to the wall! It will all get done 'soon' so you carry on with this magnificent group, network, bunch of friends!

Lunch Lady Jan said...

How lovely, I hope you found some things you’d long forgotten about - did the crochet elephant resurface? ;-). I never think to go back and reread mine, I should really cos it’s amazing how much we’ve made over the years and the friends that have come and gone.
Hugs LLJ xxx

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

OMGOSH. I can't possibly miss the 600th edition. I must figure a way to show up, even if it's late, because I share my Second on the 2nd tomorrow.

Kathryn Frantz said...

And I thank you! I need a family! I’m an only child and my children have grown and gone...

We were so lucky to meet up with you when visited your sis.
We value your friendship, both of you!

Happy Tuesday!

Ali Wade Designs said...

I occasionally look back through my blog posts and nothing really changes. I still never do as much actual crafting as I say I will, and it is always last minute! I suddenly remembered I haven't done any ATCs for this celebration. Can't remember if we discussed doing anything special? Oh well, it is enough just to sit down on a Wednesday and read through the blogs. Ali x

Caro said...

I found you and this group just after the 1st anniversary and then bobbed out again for a few years. Just so lovely that you kept going and I have been able to reconnect with several people both on here and on social media. I feel so blessed to be part of this family. I look forward to tomorrow and especially Saturday. xxx

Chana Malkah said...

I just joined last week and I already know that it is my kind of "tribe!" I am not big on rules either and I try to keep my two challenge blogs as rules free as possible.

I am looking forward to the coming weeks and months because on my first trip around the blogs, I found all kinds of wonderful things to inspire me to step outside my comfort zone in 2021!

Thanks for keeping this going and trusting your own instincts!
Hugz,
Chana Malkah Harri

ShazInOzCardsCalligraphy said...

Oh dear lost comment. Start again, trying not to grit teeth... 😳😕
Well I've been WOYWWing since Jan 2011, so almost ten years.
I've really enjoyed the sharing caring place that WOYWW is... even met many in the flesh which is even more amazing in that miracle trip!
Hope it goes for many more years..

Thanks for sharing, and may God bless and keep you and all whom you love safe and well.
Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz. X

{Wonderful Words of Life - Shaz in Oz}
{Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}

Crafting With Jack said...

I do agree with that last quote. I have to tell you that my grand daughter replied, when told her room was messy - "I can't help it, I'm an artist!" So take comfort from messy desks, we are only being artistic :) I really should have put that on my blog. Congratulations on your 600th post, a big well done from me xx Angela #42