A Small Celebration: 500 Followers

You might have seen that the number of followers on this blog has slowly ticked around to 500. Sometimes a lot of people seem to sign up to follow in a short time. Sometimes, the number sticks at something like 386 forever. But over the years, people like you have continued to follow the blog, and I hope you've all enjoyed what's here.

500 followers sounds like it should be a milestone.  It almost feels like it should be part way to something bigger.  Well, possibly ... but not quite.  I thought I'd spend a moment about what blogging means to me.

This blog started as a way of giving back to the hobby that I have loved for decades now. It started with just a hope that I could share my experiences, mistakes, frustrations and confusion with making some trench terrain for a participation game at Salute in 2009. The blog then spread to after action reports, painting guides, book reviews and other things which I hope that someone, somewhere found at least slightly useful.   I've tried to concentrate on a few wargaming periods, with an emphasis on the visual aspects of wargaming.  But as you probably know, I've sometimes been diverted and distracted!

Over the years, my blog has drawn its inspiration from many, many people.   You probably recognise bits of ideas, terrain or painting from yourself, or from your friends, on here.  Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen - I'm guilty as charged!  I've shamelessly borrowed ideas and themes from giants in the hobby writing in magazines, from clubmates who were bemused about what on earth I'm doing, from friends who I’ve met across the table just a couple of times, from games I've seen at wargames shows ...  

 In so many way, this blog has been a sum of parts, the best of which came from all of you. 

  

And the blog's been inspired from other blogs and websites.  It's hard not to be inspired by such a creative and helpful community.  And, right back at the beginning, it was inspired by the words of one blog post from 2010 - "if you think you don't have anything to blog about, think again".  I haven't found a better inspiration to starting, and continuing, a blog than that. Thank you again, Mel !

I've really had no preconceived ideas about what to blog about, or how often to blog. Ideas and inspiration have come from time to time. Some seem to have worked, others …. perhaps less so.  

I hope you've really enjoyed the past four and a half years of the blog. With over 500 followers, and 370,000 page views, I feel a bit humbled and definitely unworthy. I don't think I'm anyone special in the hobby. I just love the hobby, and the people who share it with me, whoever and wherever you are. And to each of you, I'd like to say a huge thank you for reading, viewing, commenting and following. Without you, this blog would be nothing.

And so, to the future. Next up is our Verdun participation game at Partizan on 1st June 2014. Expect more posts on a Verdun theme over the three weeks as we lead up to the big day for Operation Gericht.

And to round off this post, here's some of my favourite memories of the past few years of blogging ...