Six word Saturday

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One hundred Six word Saturday posts!

Shall we celebrate with cake?

Shall we celebrate with cake?

I first joined this challenge on 7th January, 2012.  I had only been blogging for a couple of months and didn’t really have a clue what I was doing.  I simply knew that I wanted to write about travel, and that I needed to extend my readership.  I loved playing with words, too, and the challenge gave me that opportunity.

Two years later, and where am I?  Well, I’ve travelled all right.  Remember Barcelona, or even Porto?

Was there ever a stranger landscape?

Was there ever a stranger landscape? I loved Gaudi’s Barcelona

A very special city for me, Porto

A very special city for me, Porto

I’ve taken you with me many times to my lovely Tavira, and to Poland to meet the family.  We’ve wandered around the streets, stately homes and cliff tops of England (and over the border to Edinburgh, too)  We’ve made some strange discoveries together.  Remember Saltburn-by-the-Sea?

Knitted mermaid on the pier at Saltburn-by-the-Sea

Knitted mermaid on the pier at Saltburn-by-the-Sea

And, of course, you’ve met my lovely daughter and been introduced to the concept of Steampunk. Those cakes in the header were consumed in her presence (no, not ALL of them!)

Lisa in the teacup fascinator she made.

Lisa in the teacup fascinator she made.

In the course of my journey I’ve met some wonderful people.  I’ve learned a little about all kinds of subjects.  So many of you are good at crafts!  My lovely friend Viv has taught me to appreciate poetry, and provided me with cheerful company at Northumberlandia on a bitterly cold day.  And along the way I seem to have picked up an obsession with photography.

A Monkey Puzzle tree in close-up

A Monkey Puzzle tree in close-up, from my “Green” series

I must have done a few things right because this morning my number of “followers” topped 2000!  What can I say except thank you very much to each and every one of you who has liked or commented on one of my posts.

Since joining Six word Saturday I have contributed every week, unless I have been abroad.  I’m well aware that my direction has changed since the beginning, and that 6WS may not be the best vehicle for what I like to do.  I have to thank Cate at Show My Face for her tolerance in allowing me to push the boundaries of six words.  You could say “gentle manipulation”?  I hope you’ve all enjoyed my company as much as I’ve enjoyed yours.  If you’d like to see where two years has taken me, click on my Six word Saturday page.

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95 comments

  1. I just love going on your lovely tours and see the world through your eyes sweetness. Thank you for sharing it. 😀 *big hugs*

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  3. Congratulations on reaching 2000 followers Jo! I was so happy to be introduced to you via the Gallivances. Lucky me. Travel on and I look forward to reading for many years.

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    1. I feel quite tired reading that statement, Sue 🙂 I haven’t even started on “the plan” for 2014 yet. (disapproving looks from the husband when the subject comes up)

      Thank you very much for your kind words. I consider your blog quite a find too 🙂

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      1. Thanks Jo I take that as high praise. I confess that the day you signed on as a follower I let out a squeal of delight. 🙂 Sounds like our husbands might be able to start a eye rolling support group.

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      1. A perfect place to celebrate an anniversay (many congrats to Lisa, by the way). I’ve only been to the one in Harrogate and I remember it being pricey, but rather magnificent, too.

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  9. I like your travel blog, Jo. It takes a lot of blog work keeping a large readership. Not just posting but also answering comments and reading your readers’ blogs. I admire you. And I am sorry for all your rain and flooding. We see parts of it on TV and Internet news. Upstream Thames not far from London looks really bad. Will London be okay?

    Also I like the places you highlight. We’ve been to quite a few but not much Portugal. Madera we did in pretty good and will do the Azores and Lisbon this coming April. Poland across in a bus and seaside cruising and excursions.

    I’ve posted 146 6WS posts and have four drafts never published for some reason. I think it was a time constraint or for a future, now forgotten about, post.
    ..

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    1. 🙂 Oh yes, I meant to comment on Gaudi. We didn’t go in, just stood outside and ogled and photographed from the sidewalk. It is pretty, but ‘gaudy’. Did you know that English word was derived from his name?
      ..

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    2. You’re a sweetheart, Jim 🙂 It is very time consuming and I often think I should “get a proper job” but I love it. And much of that is because of nice comments from people like you.

      I’m sure London itself will be ok, Jim. The Thames Barrage should help. But there’s going to be a big clean up job in a lot of places when this is all over. So sorry for those people whose homes are under water.

      The Azores! I’m jealous 🙂 And no, I hadn’t made the connection with the word ‘gaudy’. Another fact to squirrel away!

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  12. All lovely photos here. I first thought, oh that mermaid is the cutest, and then I saw her delightfully playful hat! Just too cute!

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      1. I know, Jo! I’ve been busy, still caught up in job applications and my novel. Sadly I haven’t done much with the travel writing… yet! I’m getting ready to do a post on San Francisco, today I hope! Get to do my 2 posts a week. 🙂 Also, I am walking a lot and keeping track of calories on MyFitnessPal and have lost 6 lbs so far!! 🙂

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      3. Those cakes looked yummy and I don’t think I would have shared one if it was presented to me. Right now, I’m just trying hard to avoid being tempted by these kinds of things. At least my clothes are fitting better and I feel better about myself! 🙂 xxx

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    1. How did you guess? I started this post as a farewell to 6WS, Elaine. But when I got to the bottom I hadn’t the heart to pull the plug 🙂
      Many thanks for your kind words.

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