Out & Proud At 700

Only one person at my old Company knew I blogged. It was the most wonderful IT Manager in the whole world, the esteemed JG. He somehow made the connection between my log-on password & this blog through a Google search & voila, my cover was blown! I never told my colleagues about The Hedge because I wasn't too sure how they'd take it, a dilemma many of you have blogged about over the years.

My first day at the new job last Monday required me to front up to a State Meeting with a room full of complete strangers. At the end of the Agenda, I was asked to introduce myself & tell everyone a little about myself. I quickly ran through my work history & achievements & then the Devil took control. I added 'On a personal note I'm the Mum of 5 sons, am in the midst of a total house renovation with MOTH, I love to write & oh, I blog.' Immediately the room was filled with twittering derisive laughter & loud sighs. Then comments like these came thick & fast - 'Oh God I can't understand why anyone would want to do that!', 'I couldn't think of a greater waste of time.' 'That's so gross!' - you get the drift. With that the group wandered off to lunch & not another thing was said.

So that's it, I'm out & despite all the negativity - I'M PROUD!!!! Nothing I've done in the past 10 years or so has given me so much personal satisfaction, pleasure & enjoyment as blogging has done. This is my 700th post & I'm almost disbelieving of Bloggers stats. Those 700 have gone in a flash & thank you to everyone who has so graciously & generously contributed to the 10,316 comments that sit here at The Hedge. Its the weekend, so go enjoy!

Image: Tokyo Graphics

I'm Cured

I've sort of eluded to the fact here before that I'm a reality TV devotee. It's a horrible little secret that I kept hidden for a long time & if MOTH had his way, I'd still be in the reality closet. To say he doesn't share my 'enthusiasm' would be a gross understatement. I just love the fact that for an hour or so I can escape from 'With a bandwidth of 18MHz & full pulsed digital fluoroscopy of 1,024 matrix, equal horizontal & vertical resolution can be resolved with a 4-5in. FOV.' & other stuff from work that's normally floating around in my head.

Well this morning I've got some pretty wonderful news - I'm cured of my reality TV addiction thanks to the above couple. Yep Laurence, Jackie, Cecile and Hermione Llewelyn-Bowen are the ones I need to thank for this miracle. I was plonked in front of the telly last night, when the ABC aired their show To The Manor Bowen. After 40 minutes of total 'What the......?' coming from the very core of my being, a force beyond reckoning took over my body & I actually flicked the power switch on the remote control & send the L-B's & their entourage of dodgey hangers-on into oblivion. And God it felt good! My moment of ephipany came when Mrs. L-B uttered for the umpteenth time that all Mr. L-B wanted to do was lift her skirt.

So to all my blogging chums in the Mother Land, thanks from the bottom of my ex-reality TV heart for sending this cure to those of us addicts in the Colonies. I don't know how I'll ever be able to repay the favour.

Image: Zimbio

Nel Tempo La Distanza.

This cute little Fiat & I have a lot in common. We both came off the production line in 1956, are 600 models & have lasted the distance.

It's The Hedge's 600th post today!

Dance 'Til You Drop!

The highlight of the blogging calendar each September is of course, Willow's Annual Willow Manor Ball. Willow is one of bloggy world's Superstars, a beautiful gal with the kindest of hearts, quickest of wits, sharpest of intellects & like moi, is a '56 vintage showing impeccable quality & great depth and richness. Her cyber Ball is attended by thousands of her dedicated fans & I warmly invite you to join us for a stellar night. Just drop by the Manor on the night, visit others who create a post especially for the occasion or join us by adding you own post via the Mr. Linky widget on the Manor's home page. I posted last year here & received visits from so many fellow party-goers, it was a grand night. Be prepared to spend at least a couple of hours hopping from post to post seeing what everyone else is wearing & most importantly, who they invited as their partner.

As dear Willow says 'Do some glamorous cyber shopping for that perfect gown or tuxedo and plenty of bling. Feel free to take the above poster to advertise on your blog. No need to brush up on those dance steps, since we all dance like Fred and Ginger in cyberspace.' For more information please visit Willow here. See you at the Manor next Thursday for another fabulous night of fun & frivolity!

Is 500 The New 100?

If, as they tell us, 50 is the new 30 in girl years, is 500 the new 100 in blog posts? A resounding YES from me! Today's post is # 500 here at The Hedge & truly ruly, it just feels like my 100th. Don't posts fly when you're having so much fun.

As Miss Norma Desmond said ' You see, this is my life! It always will be! Nothing else!'

Image: Read Jack

Little Red Dress

MOTH & I take turns each Valentine's Day to do the full catastrophe at home. Plan & prepare a speccie dinner, choose the accompanying wines, create that special ambiance & set a REALLY romantic table. This year it was my year & we had a truly gorgeous time. Each year MOTH reminds me that on our first date I wore a little red Thai silk mini dress with spaghetti straps. Each year he asks where that little number is & each year I fudge the answer. The truth is that in a fit of pique, after a particularly big 'tiff', I grabbed it from it's hanger & tossed it in the garbage bin! One year I know I'll have to spill the beans, but for the moment, all he needs to know is that 'It's somewhere in the wardrobe I suppose.' Thanks to Valentino for the LRD memories!

Image: Style

I Can't Be 400!

(Fast forward to 2084. The world's oldest female blogger Millie from South Australia turned 128 this year. Her 5 unmarried sons aged 98-105 who all live at home, said that their Mother was always blogging & was becoming increasingly aggressive when asked to relinquish her chair at the computer. Millie's 138 year old husband MOTH, declined to comment other than to say that by his calculations, his wife's refusal to use Ad Sense on her blog has cost him approx. $127m. over the 76 years her blog has been active. He is considering legal action.)

Blogger tells me this morning that I'm 400 - well back at ya Blogger, I don't feel a day over 53! Actually all I feel is a huge sense of embarrassment, that I've gone on & on & on mostly about nothing, occasionally about something & on that very rare occasion, there's been an accidental winner (that was the day the poor old Washington Post accidentally stumbled into The Hedge by mistake, thinking it was some swankie swisho design blog thingie!). I bet they wish they could rewind that tape! From my very first post in May '08 I knew I'd found something that was going to add something really special to my life & by golly IT HAS!

So to all my lovely Hedgies, delightful new chums & the dearest of old friends, thank you from the bottom of my heart for EVERYTHING that you add to my life. Visiting your blogs is such a treat - all the beauty, wisdom, humour & fun that each of you create every day is so awesome! This year life has chucked a couple of unexpected 'challenges' at me & your support & friendship has helped me through those times in ways you'll never know. Each time I hit New Post, I still get that little tingle of excitement, & while I'm still tingling, The Hedge will continue to amble/lurch forward. MOTH often asks me how I can find something new to post on each day. A rather silly question really - if only he knew!!

P.S. Pics of Saturday's wedding tomorrow.

Image: UZ Daily

Some Days Are Diamonds....

and today is one of those! In actual fact the whole week has been a gem because

.......this gorgeous girl released her new book

.......this chick is in the pink 'cos just when she thought she'd scaled the dizzy heights of record sales in Aug., Sept. sales blitzed even those. Amazing what can be achieved working part-time 3 days a week! I'm still shaking my head. My lovely clients are the best.

.......the pink chick's brand new 'baby is on her way from Melbourne, arriving today! Son # 3 captured the moment on his cell phone yesterday. Accompanying the pic was 'Hey Mum, you'll love it! It's totally awesome!' That's good Darling because I've bought it sight unseen & undriven on your recommendation!

So I 'no whinge' today, life's great!

Image 1: World Wide Diamonds Image 2: Paris Expat

Starting The Week With A Winner!

Good Morning & welcome to the results of the draw of Millie's 300th Game! give-away. The draw was conducted under totally uncontrolled circumstances here @ The Hedge last night.

Everyone who left a comment was eligible.

After an afternoon of slaving away in the Bathroom-From-Hell, MOTH went & had a shower for the occasion, donned his favourite Rugby top which just 'happened' to come from his mate Jason's Company Unicorn Brewery & poured himself a beer to prepare himself for the draw.

Hamming it for the camera as usual, he made sure he wasn't peeking as he fossicked around in the 'barrel'.

Yep, he's selected the Winner & it's............

Amanda from Small Acorns in New Zealand! Amanda is the owner and creative force behind Small Acorns - a boutique store in Wellington, New Zealand which specialises in homeware, interior design and gorgeous goodies from NZ and around the globe. If you haven't visited her blog, I can really recommend you do, you will receive a very warm welcome. Amanda please email me at thelaurelhedge@gmail.com & let me know the address you would like me to send your prize, the lovely book Two Dogs & A Garden. Thanks to everyone who left such beautiful comments, I wish I could send you all a copy to enjoy.

300 Games!

Well who would have thought it - 300 posts!

According to my Coach MOTH, 300 posts is just like 300 footy games, which by his reckoning really puts me near the end of my blogging career & living on borrowed time! As it stands, I got to my 300th fairly quickly because of an almost injury-free run & no Referee reports (although a few of you may have quietly given me the occasional red or yellow card!). There's been the occasional biffo/melee incident with the odd snarky anonymous comment, but the Reject Comment button has resolved that nicely thank you.

There's been the odd fall-out or 3 with the Coach, but they've mostly happened 'behind the play'. I've also fielded offers from opposition clubs (Typepad & Wordpress most notably), but since there was no money attached, I've stayed loyal to my original club Blogger.

And we won't even discuss the scandal on the 2008 End-Of-Season Players trip. I could go on......media offers, dodgy sponsorship deals (from Banner Ads. wanting me to promote all manner of 'performance' enhancing gadgets). For the sake of decorum after consulting the Coach, I did decline all these offers.

So as I run through the 300th game banner today, provided by The Hedge's very loyal Cheer Squad, it weighs heavily on my shoulders that you may have to endure another 300 rough & ready posts, the occasional great win & a few monumental losses!

The 2 comments on my very first post came from 2 gorgeous girls, the wickedly wonderful Heidi from HeidiClaire & the sensationally stylish Anne-Marie from The House That A-M Built. Amazingly, they are still around here at The Hedge, leaving the most fabulous & supportive comments. A huge thank you to you both - I cherish the bond of blogging friendship we have built over the past 300 posts. And of course, to all Hedgies (lovely readers of The Laurel Hedge!), whether you've supported me from Day 1 or are new to The Hedge, thank you for keeping me on my toes, for your warm & supportive comments & your own lovely blogs.

Two Dogs & A Garden

So to celebrate this milestone please join in my Giveaway. The newly-released Two Dogs & A Garden is a sumptous book filled with passion, beauty & truly gorgeous photographs. It is the story about an extraordinary & unique property on the Central coast hinterlands of New South Wales & the trials & tribulations experienced by those living there - Professor Bob Cherry, his wife Dr. Derelie Cherry & their dogs, Jessee & Trudy. Everyone who leaves a comment on the 300 Games! post will be included in the draw for this delightful book. The winner will be drawn fairly & randomly on Sunday July 26th & announced here @ The Hedge on Monday July 27th 2009. Your prize will be gift-wrapped & posted/shipped to your home address & readers anywhere are warmly invited to participate. Good Luck!