Fifteen years ago I wrote the first blog post on my newly-minted blog. It stated that:
After much prompting ... and not a little reluctance on my part ... I have decided to take the plunge.
I have now joined the world of the self-publicising, self-centred, self-indulgent blogger.
I intend to share my thoughts on wargaming (and other related matters that crop up) with a wider audience ... probably much to the relief of my wife and wargaming colleagues. So watch this space ... and come prepared to be bored!
Over the past fifteen years I have written well over five thousand blog posts, my blog has been visited more than four and a half million times, and there have been in excess of forty thousand comments ... and blogging has enriched my wargaming in more ways that I can count! It has put me in contact with numerous wargamers from across the globe who I may well never have met – and will probably never meet – whose ideas, feedback, and encouragement have enriched my enjoyment of wargaming To them I say a heartfelt ...
THANK YOU!
PS. I hope that I haven't been too much of a self-publicising, self-centred, self-indulgent blogger, and that I've never been too boring!
I'm looking forward to more of the same Bob. Thanks for being there.
ReplyDeleteMaudlin Jack Tar,
DeleteCheers! As long as my regular blog readers still enjoy reading my ramblings, I’ll continue to write my blog!
All the best,
Bob
Congratulations, Bob!
ReplyDeleteJonathan Freitag,
DeleteCheers!
All the best,
Bob
Well done on 15 years of Blogging Bob and you generate way more posts and comments than me, which takes a lot of time and effort as we all know, but nice to be able to 'meet' gamers from all parts of the globe as you say:). Here's to many more years of Blogging!
ReplyDeleteSteve J.,
DeleteIt doesn’t feel that long. Over recent months my blog post output has diminished somewhat, but I’m hoping that once my radiotherapy is completed, I’ll be able to blog a bit more.
All the best,
Bob
Hi BOB,
ReplyDeleteYes, fifteen years can go by very quickly- interesting the stats you have stated- I've always been inspired by your postings and certainly appreciate the fact that you reply always to your readers comments - well done. I've had my first Doctor WHO Battle- which I've named 'Tilberry Meadow' and posted it on my Blog featuring the Cybermen - I'd be interested to know what your thoughts are about the battle. Regards. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteLooking back to 2008, I was still working full-time in a school teaching IT to post-16 students. Blogs and blogging came up as topics on the syllabus that we had to cover and I decided to create a blog so that I knew what it entailed … and the rest is history.
I made in a policy from the very start that I would always answer comments if it was at all possible, and I think that has been one of the reasons that my blog is still going.
I read your Dr Who battle report and thoroughly enjoyed it. UNIT certain seemed to acquit themselves well in their first encounter.
All the best,
Bob
BOB,
DeleteThank you greatly for the quick reply and comment made on my Blog post- hope things are going well for you. Regards. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteJust got back from my thirteenth session … and I’m absolutely shattered!
I left home at 2.30pm and didn’t get back until just before 6.00pm! The traffic on the way home was terrible, mainly due to several sets of roadworks with traffic lights … which were completely out of sync with nearby traffic light- controlled major road junctions. I actually sat at one set for nearly fifteen minutes … and when it was my turn to go, a police car with its blues-and-twos came through and I had to give way and lost my chance to get through the junction … and had to wait for another five minutes!
All the best,
Bob
Congratulations! Your blog has been insightful not only for wargaming but other things as well. Looking forward to many years more.
ReplyDeleteDan Foley,
DeleteCheers! Thanks for your congratulations and very complimentary comment.
All the best,
Bob
Congratulations - looking forward to many more years of insightful posts.
ReplyDeleteGreg
El Grego,
DeleteCheers! Thanks for your very kind words.
All the best,
Bob
Congratulations! I only discovered your blog A few years ago but it was what led me to the Portable Wargame, which was exactly what I was looking for! Thank yoh for your many contributions to the Hobby!
ReplyDeleteMark Cordone,
DeleteCheers! I may have come up with the basic PW concept, but it’s people like you who have taken it and made it into something exceptional … so I would like to take this opportunity thank you for everything that you’ve done.
All the best,
Bob
Thanks, but none of it would have been possible without your game and willingness to allow us to tinker with it. Thanks again!
DeleteMark Cordone,
DeleteIt is very kind of you to put that in a comment. I appreciate it very much.
All the best,
Bob
I am honestly impressed with the amount of self publishing you have done Bob, it's even been a little inspiring. Thanks for sharing your time, thoughts and interests with us.
ReplyDeleteMr. Pavone,
DeleteCheers! Getting such excellent feedback from regular blog readers like you makes me feel that all my efforts are worthwhile. Your encouragement helps to keep me thinking and writing.
All the best,
Bob
No Thank you Bob. It has always been a pleasure to read your post. Congrats.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Pete.
Pete.,
DeleteCheers! I look forward to continuing to entertain, inform, and inspire my regular blog readers.
All the best,
Bob
Well done on achieving such a superb milestone, I don't comment too much but stop by a lot as there is plenty of great material to peruse, again well done sir!
ReplyDeleteDonnie McGibbon,
DeleteCheers! You may not comment very frequently but I really enjoy the ones that you make. Please keep reading and enjoying my blog.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob
ReplyDeleteQuite an achievement, and very well deserved. Those stats speak volumes. The one I am particularly impressed with is "forty thousand comments". You must be doing something right.
The achievement is considerable, but the important thing is that all of your followers come back week after week.
Long may it continue
Paul
Thistlebarrow (Paul),
DeleteCheers! Thank you for your very kind comment.
I happen to think that if someone takes the time to read my blog and comment on it, I am beholden to reply. By following this policy, I’ve managed to build up a dialogue with my regular blog readers … and I often get inspiration and ideas from their comments.
All the best,
Bob
Congratulations Bob on your fifteen years of blogging - and thanks, you have given me much food for thought almost daily since I started reading hobby blogs online back in 2015/ 2016 (and I have also enjoyed reading back through your 'back catalogue' of previous posts from before then.) I look forward to another fifteen years of posts please ...
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Bob! I can't recall how I came to find your blog, but since I've been reading it my wargaming has been blessed in many ways. Many thanks for everything you do!
ReplyDeleteDonjondo,
DeleteCheers! I’m very pleased that you’ve enjoyed reading my blog posts … and I hope that I’ll be able to continue to entertain, inform, and inspire you for many years to come.
All the best,
Bob
I have long enjoyed your blog. Cheers and congrats! And best wishes with your treatment!
ReplyDeleteFitz-Badger,
DeleteCheers! Thanks for your kind comment.
I have my fourteenth treatment session today … and have twenty-three more to do. I’m also scheduled to have my next COVID injection on Saturday to make sure that my treatment won’t be disrupted.
All the best,
Bob
Congratulations Bob, over the years I have come to regard this blog as my portal into the wargames world !!!
ReplyDeletePDL,
DeleteCheers! Thanks for you kind words … and I hope that you’ll continue to read my blog on a regular basis.
All the best,
Bob
Hello there Bob,
ReplyDeleteThat is a staggering achievement and worthy of celebrating - especially as you are still managing to maintain the pace and quality inspire of the challenges you are/have facing/faced! There is always something of interest to be found and I am certainly not alone in thinking so!
Very well done and I hope to be the first to congratulate you when you hit 5,000,000 page views.
A magnificent achievement!
All the best,
DC
David Crook,
DeleteThank you very much for your kind words. There have been times when blogging has helped me to keep my mind off my personal health problems, and I’ve been staggered by the response and support that I’ve received.
Will I ever reach five million ‘hits’? Hopefully … sometime within the next twelve months.
All the best,
Bob
Fifteen years and 4.5million views is some achievement. In that time you've managed to fulfil the BBC's charter to educate, inform and entertain.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Bob, and long may it continue!
Nundanket,
DeleteI never thought of myself as rivalling the BBC … and it’s nice of you to have made the comparison.
All the best,
Bob
Adding my congrats, Bob…and MANY THANKS for both an interesting blog and some great rules concepts - over the last few years these have been (quite literally) a ‘game changer’ for me. Eternally grateful 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼.
ReplyDeleteMartin S.,
DeleteCheers! Thank you very much for your kind comment and I hope that I can continue to make my contribution to the hobby for many years to come.
All the best,
Bob
Dear Bob, hope you are going well with everything, life and living is a constant change and struggle. What another glorious milestone you have achieved with the blog thank you so much for sharing. We have been hectic busy these last few months with work and family. Just reading some of the posts I missed. Foremost of all I hope the medical treatments will help you to continue to do what you enjoy and that you have a successful recovery. Thank you for taking the time to write and sharing as always. Best wishes- Quinn
ReplyDeleteGlory to Ruritania (Quinn),
DeleteCheers! To use Churchill’s saying, I am still b*gg*ering on as best I can.
The treatment itself is very quick: I’m usually in and out of the treatment area in about fifteen minutes. What takes the time is getting to and from the hospital … which -depending on the time of day I am travelling - can take between twenty minutes and an hour. I have to get there about thirty minutes before my treatment time so that my hydration can be checked and - if necessary - so that I can ‘fill up’ with water. I also have to drink at least two - and preferably three - litres of water a day.
I am currently suffering minor side effects from my treatment. These include some minor change in skin colour in the area being zapped as well as mental and physical fatigue. Part of the cause of the latter is very poor sleep (all that water has to come out at some point … and this is currently happening at least twice each night) but I’m told that I should be back to normal by Christmas.
I hope that you’ve managed to fit in a bit of wargaming during your recent busy time. I can manage to do some wargame-related stuff since my treatment started and I find that it really helps to keep my morale up.
All the best,
Bob
Respect! Well done, plenty more to come!
ReplyDeleteGeordie an Exiled FoG,
DeleteCheers! I hope to get back to blogging regularly once my course of radiotherapy is complete.
All the best,
Bob