Sunday, March 14, 2010

Five Years, Five hundred posts and a Giveaway!

I wrote my first post on this blog on 14th March 2005 - it was about seeing Dab Chicks on Cromford Canal. When I first started I had no idea keeping a blog would be so interesting and rewarding. I felt so nervous as I clicked the publish button on my first post. When I first started I didn't add any photographs to my posts - I didn't know how - but I've learned so much since that first tentative step. Most of all I've appreciated all the people who visit and read my blog, all the followers, some of whom don't have blogs themselves and all the people who leave such lovely comments. Thank you so much!

This is also my 500th post so I'm having a double celebration. To show my appreciation to you all I'm having a giveaway. I've never done it before so I'm learning something new again. As I'm living in Stoke-on-Trent at the moment I decided to go shopping in some lovely factory shops where I found some things you might like.

First up was Emma Bridgewater's shop and I've bought a lovely bright and cheerful tulip mug for you. Made using designs from Matthew Rice's watercolours this mug supports the National Garden Scheme.

My next stop was the Churchill china shop where I found the two mugs below. They are 'crush' mugs designed by Cath Kidston. There were so many designs it was hard to choose but finally I decided on a spotty one and a strawberry one.


So that is three gifts for you! I hope you will leave a comment and enter my giveaway. First name out of the hat will receive the tulip mug, second the strawberry mug and third the spotty one.

I'll leave the giveaway open for a week and announce the winners next Sunday - good luck!

17 comments:

  1. Congratulations Rosie! Yours was one of the first blogs that I found when I started blogging so it is fitting that I should be first to enter your competition.

    I have enjoyed learning more about my own neck of the woods through "Corners of my mind", and look forward to the next five years ;-) xx

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  2. Well done Rosie, thats a lot of Blogging! I also enjoy reading your posts, always lovely photos too. Also many places to go locally that I don't always know about.

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  3. Gosh Rosie, I hadn't realised you'd been blogging for so long. I'm really new to all this - only four months - but I agree with you about how interesting it is to dip into Blogworld. I've met some lovely new friends and I love keeping up with everyone's news.

    Lovely giveaways too Rosie.
    Here's to your next five years!!!
    Love Kathy xxx

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  4. Many congratulations Rosie. You certainly have staying power!!! I would love to be entered into your giveaway for a chance to win one of those lovely china mugs. I bet you receive loads of comments!!!x

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  5. Congratulations on your 500th post and 5 years of blogging. I love your blog as you are always visiting places, going for walks and thanks to the description and photo's making me feel we are almost with you. You have also reminded me of so many of the places I frequented in my younger days.
    I along with lots of others are looking forward to the next 500 posts xx

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  6. Well done, Rosie, on reaching 500 posts on your blog, and on achieving five years too, that is some commitment, isn't it, and a lot of fun too, learning all these new and different things.
    I enjoy following your blog, Rosie, because it maintains my connection to Stoke, and the surrounding area. My husband was born and brought up in Stoke, but since his mother died we do not have an easy way of keeping in touch with the area, so are always interested in your activities out and about. Thanks for all your really interesting news.

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  7. You'll never guess what - my 1stblog post was the 14th March - last year!!! How spooky is that!!! Ive always loved you blog Rosie, we do seem to have many "likes" in common - especially places. I'd love to enter your giveaway. xxx

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  8. Wow...5 years and 500 posts...congratulations...I hope I'm still blogging 5 years from now. May I enter your very generous giveaway please??? Lucey xx

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  9. Hello, please may i enter your fabulous giveaway,500 posts WOW how good must that feel ,i am new to blogging but addicted! your prizes are gorgeous..fingers crossed........hugs jackanne xx

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  10. 5 years!I have been blogging for 1 year but 5 years! gosh!
    well what a lovely give-a-away please put my name in the hat for the draw, I love them all and with this give-a-way there is 3 chances of winning!
    Love
    Lyn
    xxx

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  11. Hello Rosie! I just wanted to wish you a very happy blogoversary! Have a great week! xxxx

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  12. Well done,blogland is a wonderful place and it never ceases to amaze me how many wonderful people are involved. I would love to be included in you lovely giveaway.
    Karen

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  13. Hi Rosie. It would be nice if I could win one of the crush mugs to match the one you use for tea. They are big enough to not need a top up!

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  14. Hello, may I just ask where the Bridgewater / Churchill shops are in Stoke? I would like to go for a browse!
    Thanks, and well done on the five years!

    Louise

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  15. Rosie, I didn't realise you'd been blogging since 2005! You must have been right at the very forefront. Congratulations on reaching the dizzy heights of 500 posts. I always enjoy popping over to see what you have been up to. This is a very generous giveaway you have given us the chance of winning. It must be a dream to walk around those factory shops. x

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  16. That is incredible Rosie -five years! Hope I make it that far:) You managed to keep your posts interesting -my hat off to you! (don't know what the comparable saying would be, but it's a transliteration of what I would say in Dutch)
    Love your new header too!

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  17. Well, as there hasn't been anymore comments for the last two or three days I think I'll close this now and ask my neighbour to pull some numbers out of a hat later today - I'll post the results tomorrow - thanks so much for all your lovely comments and kind words - good luck everyone:)

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