Tuesday 25 June 2013

BritMums Live 2013 ... why am I so knackered??

Blimey, but I feel knackered. In a good way I'm happy to say, but knackered all the same. Its not because I've done anything silly like running a marathon or doing the ironing. Its more of an emotionally exhausted kind of cream crackered.

I blame it on BritMums Live.

You might be wondering what on earth I got up to to feel this way... after all its hardly the UN is it? We weren't deciding on the fate of Syria or massing armies to descend on an oil laden principality.If you had seen the blogger delegates waiting to go into the conference you might have been forgiven for thinking we were all queuing up for a PTFA cake sale. To be honest, having been witness to the amount of cake consumed this weekend, the PTFA would have been dead chuffed to have held a sale this popular.



No. We were just bloggers.Mostly women, some men ... all shapes and sizes ... all linked by our love of writing, of sharing our lives, our fears, our skills.

I had decided this year to be chilled about my trip to BritMums Live, and I was. The last thing I wanted was to end up a sniveling snotty wreck like I did last year. I know I set off last year with the hope that I'd have a fab time, but I had ended up eating my bodyweight in chips and mayonnaise, sitting alone in my hotel room, surrounded by tear and mascara stained tissues.

This year, as I rounded the corner to The Brewery where BritMums Live is held, my heart started to beat faster and I felt the tears well in my eyes ... It wasn't a bad feeling, not the dreadful lonely feeling I had last year ... it was the feeling of excitement. I could see women heading like bees to their hive, some alone, some in small groups, some on their phones, some lugging huge bags ... all a riot of colour, nerves and smiles.

This year I didn't even get into the Hub before I had met 2 welcoming faces - the gorgeous Selena from Oh the Places We Will Go! and Michelle from Mummy from the Heart both of whom knew me, welcomed me, made me feel like a superstar!!! Thank you ladies!!! From that moment I didn't look back. I was on my own and I didn't know anybody in real life, but I was determined to look at badges without embarrassment and say hello to all. This might sound a bit naff, but I thought that if I could stop anyone feeling like I did last year,then that would be fab ...

There was not a single person in the whole 2 days whose eye I caught who didn't smile at me. The fact that I experienced that feeling this weekend is enough of a fix to last me a while!

This year I was brave enough to actually go up and talk to people - a massive improvement on last year and I was just blown away by how nice people were. This may not sound like rocket science to you, but for me it was just wonderful. There were lots of people who were just lovely and it struck me how very genuine they were ... unafraid to put their emotions out there and write about what really matters to them.

The theme of BritMums Live, for me, seemed to be summed up by the workshop "Blogging from the Heart". It confirmed for me that I was on the right track with my writing, but it also made me decide to do more ... more for other people, more for charities. I have to consider this, but I really think that while I can still write about my life I want to expand and somehow be more than just ... me.

Hayley from DownSideUp and Pippa from StoryofMum really struck me with their openness and their huge desire to be part of a community. For them blogging seemed to be more than just sharing about their lives ... it was about blogging for the greater good. Maybe I can try to be a little bit more like them ...

Of course the chances are that I will continue to moan about my children and bore everyone to death with endless photos of my allotment, but you never know ..

So, having decided to become a better person and a better blogger why am I so shattered?? You would think I'd be full of energy ... It could be the emotional roller coaster, or the late nights, or the copious amount very reasonable quantity of free champers I consumed at the BiBs. I spent the weekend laughing - thanks to Selena and Gina and crying, then laughing, then being inspired thanks to the brilliant Katie Piper. I had my heart beat like a hammer as I waited to see if I had won the Lifestyle BiB and felt relief as the fabulous Mama Syder was awarded it. (Really?? .....  me on stage attempting an articulate acceptance speech after 2 glasses of free champagne??? It would have been a snotty, sweary mess!!)

Maybe I'm knackered because its over ... maybe because its so exhilarating to be with people who really understand the joy of blogging and now that I am back living my normal life its ... its ... well its still lovely, but I have so much to do!! So many blogs to read, posts to write... I need to master Google+ and leeks ... I have leeks to set ...

Did I mention I have an allotment?




12 comments:

Unknown said...

Lovely to meet you at Britmums Live. I found it totally exhausting and exhilerating in equal measure too!

sarah at secret housewife said...

I am just getting round to reading all the blogs whose owners I met! My house is a mess and I don't care! Just want to read blogs and write my own! Lovely meeting you x

Unknown said...

Great post! I'm so glad it was an improvement on last year. Sad I didn't get to see you and say Hi though :( Next year?!

Alison Rothwell said...

Great post - thanks for sharing your BritMums Live! experience [and that raspberry looks yummy!]

Siobhan C said...

Brilliant post! Best i've read to be honest. Really original. I felt the same as you about the Blogging from the Heart session, although I'd begun to think this way already. Shame I didn't get to meet you :-( My post about the w/e took the humourous angle...www.everyoneelseisnormal.com. PS Love your blog. If only i had time to read all these!!

Unknown said...

Was lovely to meet you! Am still recovering, so tired...x

Carie said...

Lovely post, I had a blast but it tired out my poor little brain cells too!

pinkoddy said...

I'm sorry you didn't have a good time last year. It was my first time this year and much more like you described so can't imagine being like your first year - very glad your second was better.

I am one of those people that hates silence and people alone so always try to make sure that they are on their own because that is what they want.

I've bought my ticket and planning next year - may schedule in recovery time though.

Urban Cynic said...

I remember you had a really shitty time last year so I'm so glad this year was the opposite. These things can be a bit daunting but it sounds like you did a great job and really entered into the spirit of the thing.

My other 2 blogs are more businessy and are both solely aimed at helping people - but this one is just mine. Just for me to rant and vent and let go on. Having a place to go where you can say whatever you want without fear of judgement is vital Sarah so don't forget that if you;'re going to be a bit more sharey - although there is also the 'other place' for that! x

sarah at secret housewife said...

Hello Suzanne! Im sorry I missed you too. Definitely champers next year! X

Hi Alison. Thank you! And yes the raspberries are delish!!

Hello Siobhan. Thank you! What a lovely thing to say! I shall pop over and read your blog! X

Hi Helen! It was lovely to meet you too!! I am typing this and my plan is to start on chapter 2 of your book when I've been thru my comments! I am really enjoying it so far!!
Hello Carie! Thank you!! Isn't it weirdly knackering!!! X

Hi Pink Oddy. Thanks for commenting! I think I saw you on the Saturday in your tshirt and nearly said hello but you were deep in conversation. Next time!! X

Hello Urban
Thank you! Yes Im glad I have my other place too!!! Things are really good at the mo so haven't been there in a while! ! I always appreciate you coming over to both! X

Sarah xxx

Storyofmum said...

Ooh just read this and so touched by your comments, thank you! Was so lovely to meet you, Sarah, you have a hugely infectious smile too. Look forward to seeing what you do next, and meeting up again soon I hope! xx

Older Mum said...

So glad you had a much better time this year. Gutted that we didn't meet. Next year? It was a great conference. I couldn't write/do anything for the week after I was so tired. Just getting my mojo back now! XXX