Wednesday 2 December 2020

Indulge me a bit more, please

A lot of fuss has been made over me and the WOYWW 600. I’ve loved it, been totally surprised by its apparent importance and revelled in the attention. Of course I have, I’m a human bean that loves to have friends. Please also though, pat yourselves on the back, there is no WOYWW blog hop without you and your blog posts! 

Jan has a place in the story too, bigger and more permanent than she’ll even realise. Despite our differences, and there are loads, we have a solid, enduring friendship. And it is our friendship and her giving that has enabled WOYWW in several ways.

There was a big chunk of time when I was too poorly to post the central link around which we all meet. Jan did it, for months. With good grace and cheer of course. And when it was the right time, she handed it back. Indeed, it was she that noted that getting back into the groove of WOYWW would probably be good for me. And it was.

The Crop movement was motivated by Jan too. Whilst I avoided it and thought no one would want to bother to travel for a day of meeting strangers from the internet, Jan bounced every excuse back at me until I had none left, and found myself believing it could be fun.
And then, as you know, she organised and catered and I hope, enjoyed. She certainly is good at it!
Totally appropriate, the box that the gin arrived in!

I am also indebted to her for some timely straight talking. See, I thought that WOYWW 600 was really only to be noteworthy because of the satisfactory number, after all, we’ve celebrated and had a big old tenth anniversary, so the 11th and 600 would be good evidence of longevity. It was she who told me that there were a few Deskers who thought more of it than that because the community was worth celebrating. It’s not that I’m humble or shy, but I do sometimes need these things to be pointed out, as much as I want it to be all about me, all the time, I don’t always recognise the opportunity. And because she’s my friend, Jan does and points me at it.

And then of course, there was yesterday and those wonderful gifts. Co-ordinated and thought about by Jan. With I might add, quite some subterfuge. Not a word, not a hint, and we speak and message fairly often as you can imagine. So please raise a glass to Jan too, for quite often, I do the talking and she does the walking. 

Note too that however much love and respect she commands from me, I have not actually officially said that she was right.

25 comments:

Annie said...

I’ve been raising glasses to you both all day....hic hic hic......only joking of course cos you know I don’t but I do have lots to thank you both for. I hope you’ve enjoyed a glass or two tonight.
Hugs,
Annie x

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

Yes I indeed raised a glass to Jan as she did a grand job rounding us up for the secret hee hee.. although I think I gave her a head ache with email issues but we got there in the end. Enjoy the love dear Julia, it means a whole lot to me to see a happy face and I know Jan will feel as proud as punch. What a great friend she is, team work certainly makes the dream work lovelies..
I'm holding out for that sleepover btw haa haaa!! Have a zoomtastic Saturday y'all muahhhhhhhhh xx

Stacy Sheldon said...

:) awww dang me you made me teary

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

You’re so right dear Julia in all your observations of dear Lunch Lady Jan, and I was quite grateful she had to stand in for you as it launched her into blogging, and our lives are the richer for that, so humongous thanks to you both from this WOYWWer Downunder! ๐Ÿ˜

Thanks for sharing, and God bless, Shaz in Oz.x

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

Crafting With Jack said...

It sounds as if you have a wonderful friendship with Jan. we all need encouragement and help to keep going from time to time. 600 posts that have had such a following is a huge achievement so well done to both of you x Angela #42 this week

Helen said...

We all need a Jan in our lives and through you we get to share your Jan a little bit! Much love to you both and I really hope we can have a physical crop again soon - meeting strangers off the internet seems quite the norm nowadays, so I think you may have to admit she was right! Enjoy your gifts.

Chrissie said...

Jan is just like a bra... close to your heart and there for support! She is just ace and big thanks go to her as well as to you!
Glad you enjoyed your surprises!

Lillianb said...

Thank you Jan and Julia, its a lovely place to go and I look forward to it every week, Thank you both from the bottom of my heart for all your hard work to keep this blog hop going sending love to you both stay safe and well

Lilian B .13


Lynnecrafts said...

Well said Julia. Jan is a very, very good friend for us to have.
Love
Lynne

Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Susan Renshaw said...

Cheers to both of you!

Zsuzsa Karoly-Smith said...

What a lovely tribute to Jan and your wonderful friendship! I'm a big Jan fan too - her smiles and optimism always brighten my days and I can see how you two complement each other. I know that WOYWW wouldn't be the same without Jan! Much love to you both xx

Sarah Brennan said...

Raising steady glasses to you both. Just hoping my old laptop will handle Zoom as the new one has decided to stop working and is being returned tomorrow. Hugs! Sarah

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Since I didn't even know about the 600th anniversary until Tuesday, I was thrilled to be a part of it. I also appreciate Jan and her taking the reins when you, dear Julia were unable to. Jan deserves a great deal of praise and I, for one, am glad she has been such a constant in YOUR life and in WOYWW's hands, too.

BTW, I need to ask you a question about zoom. However, I'll wait until you don't have quite as much on your plate.

Felicia said...

Julia, I have not been in this group near as long as many of these fabulous crafters, but long enough to appreciate ALLLLL that both of you do for ALLLLL of us around the globe!! My hats of to you AND Jan for your vision for this group and keeping it going for so long!! I don't remember how I got to this group or actually when several years ago, but I am so very glad that I did!! Everyone is so precious and so encouraging and kind and I have to believe that love like that comes from the TOP down!! Thanks to you BOTH!! :)

Morti said...

Hear, hear! Both you and LLJ are an indomitable duo and true, greatful thanks do indeed go to her and are rightly deserved. She truly is a wonderful lady and champion of WOYWW. Can't wait to see you both again xxxx

Sue said...

Thank you for all you guys do. You'll probs never know the impact & influence you've had over the years to so many crafters. Here's to the next 100blogs๐ŸŽ‰๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ˜‰๐Ÿ˜˜

Bridget Larsen said...

Awww what an honour it has been to know you both. Jan you are a gem and so are you Julia. Although I may not post much I do read your posts every week and love it. Someday when I am not working full time and I get my craft room together I will be back. Island life is just too hectic at the moment.
To Jan thank you for keeping the fire going and enabling us in every way possible, love you both from Australia xoxooxox

Catriona said...

Cheers to you both and long may the friendships founded in WOWW flourish๐Ÿ’•.,

Lunch Lady Jan said...

Awww, that made me go all teary ...and then I read the last sentence and laughed out loud!!!! I’ll never win that argument but, you know, that’s ok because I know I’m right too!
Vive la difference, long may it last xx
Love you xxxx

Mary Anne said...

Jan is, was, and will ever be a total STAR. Your friendship is a model for all. Thru the years it shines forth when you speak of each other, in public or private.

You are ever so lucky to have each other, and we are all the better for having both of you in our lives.

Looking forward to seeing you both on Saturday. Sad not to have Jan catering. Not enough time now to arrange for her to mail out hot lunches, is there...??

Mary Anne

Annie Claxton said...

Ah I'm all leaky-eyed now too!! Thank you so much to both of you, for everything you do week in week out through thick, thin and downright weird times. Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow xxx

Heather M said...

Ditto everything that everyone else has said. I am so happy I took the plunge and joined in. Crafting life would not be the same without you and Jan and this wonderful group of kindred spirits. Long may it continue xx

Neet said...

The night before the Big Event and time to raise a glass (or two) to LLJ and YOU! Better now than in the morning but who is to say I can't pop back to the early evening session and raise another one again.
Here's to you and Jan - two lovely friends - and what a team!
Bottom's Up!
Hugs, Neet xx

Ali Wade Designs said...

Fantastic gift arranging by Jan. Run out of words, as usual at the moment! Ali x