That’s it, then. Just under four months of regular blogging. Over 10,000 hits. Just over 50 posts. The end of 2007.
And any success that I have had has been due to YOU.
I have travelled, at least in my mind, to many places through your blogs. I have visited your kitchens, your markets, your families, your dining tables.
I have tasted, at least in my mind, food from Alaska, Africa, Estonia, Greece, Italy, France, Croatia, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Lebanon, Hong Kong, China, the Middle East, Spain, USA, Hawaii and many many other places.
I have been challenged to try new things, investigate new ingredients, new methods, new combinations.
Thank you to each and every one of you, for your support, your visits, your suggestions, your caring and your sharing. I read each and every one with delight.
It has been an amazing few months. It has been wonderful to focus on food and photography again, and to be able to share it with all of you, my great food friends. I have met so many people, learned so much - not only about food, but about people, lives, customs, experiences, journeys, beliefs and customs.
In my own small place I have been able to incorporate those things in my life that I love - India/Hinduism, food, photography, travel, new experiences, different cultures and beliefs.
What I remember as I sit and reflect:
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Amberjee wrote the first comment on my blog.
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I posted recipes that I tried from other blogs. Each original author supported and encouraged me, and were delighted to see my post and modifications.
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Maninas, whose blog shares that same name as the one that I ran since 1996. She contacted me and was so extremely gracious as we discussed the issues of similar names of blogs. We seem to have a lot in common, even chosing the same theme for our blogs. Luckily, I had already changed the name of my new WordPress blog.
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The issues of plagiarism in blogs, and the challenge of dealing with it in a professional, assertive but non-emotional and non-aggressive manner.
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The wonderful foodies and food photographers who are passionate about what they do. So many that have influenced me.
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Non-foodies who still visit my blog and provide a lot of inspiration and support too. One I love very much is Red Moon. She writes the type of poetry that I would love to be able to write, were I a poet. But all my creative streak goes into my cooking.
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Food Blog Desam, which changed both my access to other blogs, and the number of visits to my blog.
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Oh so many things, and as they pop back into my memory, I will add them to this post. That is what I love about blogging, it is endlessly malleable.
So, what will 2008 bring in my blog?
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A greater focus on good food and my local neighbourhood.
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If I get time, some small changes to photographic style.
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Gradual incorporation of the recipes of my old food site (Food_Matters) into this blog, although I have had to take the decision not to recook each dish so that I can photograph it. So these posts from my past site at bigpond will, in the main, be without photographs. But each dish will still be full of great flavour.
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To continue to only post dishes that I have cooked, or has been cooked in my kitchen.
Some things that are still under consideration:
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The place of food and cooking in my life. I have some ideas. I hope that I have the strength and resolutions to put them in place.
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Posting fewer new dishes now that I have a respectable number of posts in place. And using that time and energy on other activities, related to food, that will serve and benefit others.
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Learning Photoshop. Although my focus in photography will be to produce the best image in the camera (or on the film when I still sometimes use old fashioned technology for what it can give that digital does not), and to use Photoshop only to “iron out small imperfections”.
And the posts that have been important during 2007? So hard. Here are some thoughts.
The Greatest Number of Hits
The Most Visually Appealing to Me
One that generated a lot of interest and comments
The most Googled
The second most Googled
The most common ingredient
Oh happy happy New Year to you all, dear readers. May it be a blessed and joyous 2008 for you and your family.
If we can each remember that we choose our state of mind, we choose to be joyous and happy, that our emotions are not forced upon us, then 2008 will be a fabulous year. Let’s choose anew each morning to be happy and joyous, to love and support those around us, to mind our tongue and to cook great food each day.
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