It's ten whole years since I started this blog.
It was a bit of an impulse, as I realised how easy it was (I already had a Google account). I thought that as well as documenting my modelling projects it might help encourage me to make regular progress with them, and I think it has - although like most people I guess my progress ebbs and flows according to enthusiasm, energy, and other commitments. I'll admit to wandering off-topic occasionally, but I've managed to keep posts reasonably regular.
I started with a post about Southon Yard, my shoebox layout, and then Pen-Y-Bryn Quarry. Both these 009 layouts were built as EXPO challenge entries, and I have since built two more challenge layouts - taking the opportunity to dabble in O14, which I'd been hoping to do since my teens. I've really enjoyed these small, detailed layouts, learned a lot from building them and the stock to run on them, and it's surprised me how many people have said how much they liked them, indeed two of them were challenge winners. Thakeham was also my first layout based on (rather than just inspired by) a real place, albeit not terribly accurately!
However the thread running through this blog for the last decade is Awngate, the 009 shelf layout I was planning when I kicked off the blog. It's met the brief of being an interesting but compact and presentable home layout which can be (and has been) exhibited, and only now am I working on a replacement. As a spin off I've learned lots about fiddle yards (!), couplings, achieving good running, exhibiting, and built some interesting locos and stock.
How long this will last I don't know, my fotopic site disappeared while Google changed Picasawebs into the far less useful Google Photos, necessitating a switch to Flikr. But Blogger seems to be hanging on for now, I'm still enjoying the ride, and there should be lots to post about with a new layout brewing. A big thanks to all of you that read this, and especially the helpful or encouraging comments (on or off the blog). I hope you continue to find it interesting!
3 comments:
Well done! Although I feel the need to point out you are a Johnny-come-lately at this blogging lark! :-)
Congratulation, Michael! Though I should really congratulate all us readers who get to read your posts.
I'm visiting your blog regularly and always find something of interest and inspiration. Looking forward to the next 10 years!
Definitely still find it interesting!
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