2012 in review

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

19,000 people fit into the new Barclays Center to see Jay-Z perform. This blog was viewed about 68,000 times in 2012. If it were a concert at the Barclays Center, it would take about 4 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

90,000 hits!

How has this happened?

How have I managed to lure in 90,000 hits to my blog?

Okay – it seems that cups of English tea have helped along the way… I’m not joking (I check my stats and how they find me).

 

I’ve been really ‘absent’ recently. I just haven’t had time to post – but my stats keep going up? How is that possible?

I really need to get some new stuff on the blog though.

 

Inspiration…

I need inspiration.

 

Bear with me people! More will come soon!

Dancing Through Life

So, my niece is also a blogger…. A recent discovery of mine, but one I want to share with my readers too.

Francesca is really keen on snapshots and photos – it’s quite different from my blog, but take a look and see what you think.

Read it here.

What did you think, guys?

Preparing for my BIG GAY 10K

I used to hate long distance running. I would watch runners go past and envy the fact that they could do it – and wondered why they liked it.

Strangely enough that all changed earlier this year. I had heard about an App for my phone which could help you get from ‘couch potato’ to a runner (possibly good enough for the Olympics… okay, I can dream).

I have stuck to the challenges and kept running a few times a week (once every two days when I’m being really good).

A friend of mine in London posted information about the first Big Gay 10K in London on Facebook and I was hooked…

A real challenge for me. Will you support me? Here’s my page.

What have I got myself into? The next thing I knew I was signing up for my very first ‘proper’ run. I am currently running distances of 3-4K. The 10K might just finish me off…

Here I am – Looking my most sporty….

I have set up a Just Giving page so that you can track my progress and see if I am still alive. Of course, I’ll be blogging more about it here too.

In short – this is what it’s all about.

  • It’s the FIRST ever Big Gay 10k run in London.
  • The run takes place on 30th September 2012.
  • The 10k has been put together to raise money for some of the UK’s leading Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender health and well-being charities.
  • The charities organising the event are London Friend and PACE.
  • The route will go along the River Thames – It means I get to run past icons like the London Eye, Tate Modern, Big Ben and Westminster! Fab!
  • You’re allowed to RUN it, WALK it, MINCE it…
  • It’s a great excuse to get my legs out.
  • I may not make it to October…

I would love it if you took the time to check out my Just Giving page – You may even like to make a small donation for the wonderful charity. (That’s the easy bit – I’ll be the one running around London in September).

20 things that make me happy

Life can be so simple if you allow it to be. There are so many things which make me happy, but these are the best ones.

In no particular order…..

  1. Waking up on Saturday morning (there’s nothing quiet like it)
  2. Bas. Spending my life with him makes me happier than I’ve ever been
  3. Arriving home when it’s been pouring down. Putting on the heating and curling up on the sofa
  4. Cadbury’s chocolate (the English cadbury’s)
  5. Opening birthday and Christmas cards from my mum
  6. Buying new clothes
  7. Packing for a holiday
  8. Visiting new countries
  9. Watching favourite films on the sofa with Bas (The Holiday, Love Actually, 27 Dresses, Devil Wears Prada)
  10. Getting emails/messages from old friends
  11. Organising trips away (especially the ones to the UK)
  12. Christmas with the family
  13. Walks in forests (I LOVE that smell)
  14. Snow, especially when the sky is blue and the sun is shining on the fresh snow
  15. My cats, Fudge and Cooper
  16. The first day of the summer holiday (every year I am amazed at how good it feels) – the joys of teaching
  17. Finally being able to speak Dutch with confidence
  18. The Eurovision Song Contest and counting down to it (this starts 6 months before the actual show)
  19. Listening to music on iTunes
  20. Bike rides

Looking back at my list there aren’t many which need a lot of money. Just to show that you don’t need a lot of money to enjoy life.

Jumbled Jittery January

2012…. How did that creep up on us all so quickly?

I am still recovering from the shock that Christmas arrived and went by in a flash. I’ve almost finished my Christmas chocolates. How many days has it been since that lovely day with the family? More to the point – How many days are there until next Christmas?

I’d better get my Christmas list ready…. (just kidding)

I’ve not been blogging very much recently. I have lots of excuses (all good ones). Here are a few:

  • I am such a popular boy – I have to deal with my fans.
  • I’ve been in England for two weeks and was unable to blog.
  • I enjoyed Christmas with family and great friends.
  • Work has been manic.
  • I’ve been hit by the old ‘wordlessness’. Eeeeek.

But – Fear not! I am back and aim to keep you all entertained with fresh and funny little treasures over the next few months.

Keep you eyes peeled – I’ll be making you all smile soon.

J x

I’ve got my QR code

I barely even knew what a QR code was a few months ago. But – after seeing these odd squares with black and white checkerboard patterns inside I became curious.

These odd barcodes are everywhere! I see them at tram stops, in magazines and on shop windows.

Good old google explained all.

They’re called Quick Response codes

If you have a ‘smartphone’ then you can download an app which will scan these new-style barcodes, a matrix code – QR codes. You can read more about QR codes here.

And…

Here is the code for my blog ‘One Life’.

Feel free to share it with someone. Don’t tell them where it will take them if they scan it – sometimes a little mystery is good.

Communication Status: Out of Order

I am barely coping!

I’m not at home as I type this.

Broken!

It’s all broken.

I didn’t mind last Thursday, to begin with…

Then came the weekend…

Then came Monday…

It’s Tuesday now and I’m going through ‘cold turkey’.

My internet – television connection and phone connection are all out!

OUT!

No more!

Nil connection.

How can I blog? How can I Facebook?

I’m having to talk to people. I’m reading books… I’m getting all the jobs done that I never got around to.

My poor little ‘One Life’ blog is suffering though. I like to be prompt with my replies.

Sorry peeps!

So, keep your fingers and toes crossed that the magical engineer can fix everything tomorrow!

I’ll be back – As that Austrian guy once said.

I mean Arnie – not that other one!

My ‘One Life’ Blog Reaches 20,000 hits!

How fantastic that this milestone also coincides with my 150th posting on One Life. I am utterly stunned that so many readers have read, and continue to read my scribblings on WordPress. I have calmed down somewhat from ‘eager poster’ to the more chilled ‘reflective blogger’.

I’ve spent lots of my time scouring through the wonderful words from others online. There is so much great content out there that it’s almost impossible to pick something to share.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has been reading. I’m not going away! I’m here to stay – I’m have too much to say. I only expected to reach 10,000 by the end of 2011, so this is such a wonderful shock.

I couldn't resist the snapshot.

I’ll finish with a question. Feel free to take part in answering with a comment (if you wish).

Which three words would describe my blog best?

Keep it friendly. It may to spark a new post for the near future. xx

🙂

I have the answer to everything. Well, sort of…

I’m so glad that I asked for some questions on my blog last week. I’ve had some great responses. I widened my question-search a little wider with the use of Facebook and Twitter. Thanks to all those who helped. Your questions and responses are below. Don’t expect anything profound. It’s light hearted reading. Here goes…

This was me. Deep in thought. 🙂

Kiwidutch was first to respond with the ice-breaker question:

If you had total freedom of opportunity to really follow one of your passions and leave a lasting legacy behind you that benefited the city/country/world, what would you do and what would your legacy be?

Okay – I need to draw a deep breath before answering this one. Talk about starting with a toughie! If I had total freedom of opportunity to follow a passion it would involve children. I’ve always wanted to work with children, so that part is already coming true. I’d like to be involved in developing schools (I used to think that I could only do this in the UK, but since working overseas I realise it can be done anywhere). With enough money and support I’d like to develop education and opportunities for children all over the world. The Jamie Foundation: providing hope for the future….. I’d hope that the children would be the lasting legacy.

Image from Wikipedia

Ashley with her cheeky 2-in-1 questions:

If you could go back in time and change one thing, what would it be? Why? Oops…… Looks like there’s 2 questions here. Don’t mind the why then. It could be anything, of yourself or the world history.

Cheeky Ashley indeed sneaking in two questions. Time travel: A dangerous tool to have, but one I would love. On a personal level it’s tricky to choose. All the things that have happened in my life, both positive and negative have helped to make me the person I am today. I would possibly choose that my grandparents had not died when I was a baby. I never knew them and I would have loved to know them.  In world history: I would choose that Adolf Hitler had never been born.

Picture from Google.

Terri (pushing it with three questions, but because it’s Terri I’ll allow it….)

My questions for you:
1. When are you coming to Vegas? Would love to meet you!
2. Do you have any pets?
3. If you have dinner with one famous person, who would it be?

Ah Terri, three questions (naughty).  So, Q1 includes an invite to Las Vegas? Wow, you never asked me….. Haha. I would love to come over to USA and see more of the sights. Would love to meet my first blog friend too.
Q2 Pets: I do indeed. I, well I should say we….have two cats. Fudge and Cooper. They are adorable. I miss Eddie terribly, he was Fudge’s brother but was knocked down by a car outside our house when he was 18 months old.
Q3 Dinner: I would throw all sensible invites out of the window and invite……Alex Pettyfer. Of course it would be for the high-brow conversation…..

"Hello Mister Dinner Date!"

Sarsm (my happy WordPress friend):

My question is: If you could visit 5 countries in the remainder of your lifetime – which countries would you choose and why? (can be somewhere you’ve been or somewhere new)

The travel question (yay!).I’ll choose 5 countries that I have never visited.
Japan: I have always wanted to go there. I’d love to discover more about the country as I really don’t know that much about it. I had friends who lived there, but never managed to go.
China: The future super power of the world. China has so many wonderful things to see. How could it not be on my list?
Brazil: I want to visit Rio de Janeiro. Oh to stand at the foot of the Jesus Christ statue and look out at the coastline. Immense!
South Africa: I’d choose any African country to visit (having not been there). I want to travel through Africa by train, do the safari and experience something entirely new.
…..and the last one……. This isn’t easy…..
Australia: I want to see the Great Barrier Reef. That means diving, which I’ve also never done. But I would find it so exciting and invigorating.

Who doesn't want to go here?

Helen C (Work colleague and Twitter friend).

If you were to make your favourite three course meal, what would the courses be?

Food question – Yum!
Starter: An set of amuses to begin with. 3 shot size glasses each with different tiny soups. I always love that for starters.
Main Course: Duck. It’s my favourite meal. Not the crispy duck, although I adore that. It would be roast duck with a fruit sauce. Carrots (mashed with orange and brown sugar) and potato gratin.
Dessert: Warm chocolate and fudge cake, drizzled with extra hot chocolate sauce.

Okay, now my mouth is watering.

Lekker!

Chris S (Fellow Actor, world traveller and blogger).

How do I make my blog as good as yours?

8 months of practise and watching ‘what’ people are reading. The blog I set out to create has continued to evolve since Day 1. People don’t always read the blog posts that have taken the most time and effort. It’s all about keeping with the readers I suppose. ‘Know your audience’.

WordPress - the place to be.

Liz J(Work colleague, friend and IT whizz).

How do you see the handheld device in five years?

Seamless technology that has replaced PCs, mobiles and other technology. Used in schools, homes and in the wider community. Will it work by finger? Will the mind be controlling it by then? Will they indeed be ‘handheld’ at all?

Using handheld devices.

Louise G: (Work friend and glamous puss).

If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why? X

Living: see above answer. Dead: Diana (just because).

Diana, Princess of Wales.

Liz J: Back for more…..

If you could invent something really handy what would it be for?

I would invent a fool-proof system for ensuring the fairest possible outcome in the Eurovision Song Contest.  That would be really handy eh?

Ah, yes ESC. Who could forget it?

I hope you enjoyed reading the questions. Did I get all the answers you wanted? Feel free to share or to ask me more questions in the comments section below.