15 Years Blogging

Facebook reminded me today that it’s my blogiversary. November 10th. 15 years!!! The frequency I post might changed from daily to twice weekly but the love and gratitude for this virtual diary of mine has not. Here, I can share whatever’s on my mind, and still it provides me with an income alongside my other work.  

What began as a medium in which to simply write without expectation or end goals, after a traumatic birth with my first son, Oliver, who turns 16 in January, has grown into a platform that I hope continues to help those who read it, whether they stumble across a searingly honest post about my attempts to juggle three kids with work or attempt a traditional recipe for Greek spinach pie! 

Pivoting from a hard-won career as a screenwriter and director into accidental content creation, I could never have forseen what was to come. So focused on what I had lost initially: my first career, it’s a full circle moment to now appreciate all that I have gained thanks to taking a leap into this digital world.

It’s impossible to include every highlight of this time, and what a privilege it is to admit that: the press trips, family getaways, interviews with film stars and pop bands alike, cooking with culinary greats and being paid to shoot and write but I’ve noted some for posterity below, omitting the tougher times of which there have been many. The self-doubt, the rejection and sometimes, the lack of direction. 

So here goes with the positives:

Writing two bestselling books, a non fiction debut: Mumboss (Hachette UK), released in the US and Canada as The Working Mom and a recent children’s book retelling 20 Greek Myths (Scholastic UK). In depth research, a commitment to storytelling and of course sharing and promoting my work with book tours, events (many which moved me to tears) and press pursuits. 

Speaking in Parliament about birth trauma, maternal rights and the online safety bill, respectively. 

Seeing parts of the world I’d not considered such as the breathtaking Bavaria. 

Interviewing Kim Cattrall, Westlife and Jamie Oliver amongst others. A drawing masterclass with Oscar-winning director Brad Bird. Listening to Oprah Winfrey in person, speak about her career, “Let them underestimate you” was the key takeaway and what she attributed to her initial success and garnering huge shares of her debut talk show. 

Working with brands I’ve always shopped at since I was a kid from supermarkets to skincare companies and beyond!

It goes without saying the friends I’ve made, some of whom have been there from day one, almost, hello The British Gas Big Dip event and my forever pal, award-winning author, Uju, of Babes About Town. Florence’s godmother and my wonderful rock, Dr Juliet McGrattan and fellow Harrogate local, Rachel founder of stunning Meadowfarm amongst many other fab friends I’ve met along the way.

The stimulating TV appearances, podcasts and radio shows, the ability to reach people far and wide thanks to this democratic internet, and importantly the chance to show up even when it was challening to do so, to learn and adapt… The wish list has huge red ticks all over it and I’m amazed of what is infinitely possible with hard work, dedication to one’s craft and a spot of manifestation… The viral reels and TikToks that blow my mind because I found 200 followers hard to fathom when I first joined Twitter, now X, so will never fully grasp 47.8 m watching a single video of mine! What a ride it’s been and continues to be.

Now let’s see what might come next because I really am ready! 15 years! Cheers to that.