I’m going to keep this short and sweet, because let’s be honest, if you’re a blogger yourself, you’ve probably read plenty of these write-ups already. And if you’re not a blogger, you probably don’t give a damn that I met a load of other bloggers last weekend. Did you even know that blogging conferences were a thing? I know I didn’t, before I, Beta Mummy, became immersed in this strange, slightly egocentric, very friendly, and exceedingly nutty world.
An on-the-go doodle that I quickly sketched on arrival at BML16… I felt like I was surrounded by Alpha Mummies as everyone looked decidedly more glam than me!
Anyway, on 25th June 2016 I went to Britmums Live, or #BML16. I’m sure you care very little about the ins and outs of my day and the various talks I went to, so I’m going to keep this very brief, and focus on the peripheral highlights.
- Food and drink – lots of food, including a magical never-ending tapas platter over which I was pleased to “meat” the very nice Papa Tont, one of the extremely outnumbered Dad-bloggers. Loads of cake, tea, and prosecco – it was basically my promised land.
- Lots of freebies, most of which I had no particular use for, but my kids enjoyed raiding my bags when I got home. It was a bit like the Fresher’s Fair at Uni…
- Emma from Island Living 365 won the Fresh Voice category at the awards ceremony, which I was really happy about because I love her blog – it is a magazine blog about life living on Jersey, and is immersive, amusing and just generally gorgeous – I’d definitely recommend taking a look if you haven’t already.
- I met the wonderfully funny #chucklemums (my favourite blog link-up/share) hosts, Sarah aka The Mumzilla, and Fran from Whinge Whinge Wine, as well as dozens of other lovely bloggers – I can’t possibly name them all (sorry, please don’t hate me!) The best part for me was the way that on the whole, people’s writing totally reflects their personality, so sharing a sense of humour on the page meant we had a great laugh “in real life”, too.
- I managed to hunt down the fabulous Jo Sandelson, who I was determined to meet as I so admire her as an artist and all-round funny lady. I was not disappointed, and we had a lovely time getting to know one another. I even plugged her for a few tips of the trade – result!
Jo and I thought it would be fun to do a “when Beta Mummy met Jo Sandelson” picture…all credit to Jo for her Photo Shop skills!
All in all, it was a great weekend exploring my new hobby and meeting people, putting faces to names. It has whetted my appetite for more of the same, so I’m looking forward to the next one!
It was fabulous to meet you. I was scanning the drawing looking to see which one might be me! Love the pic of you and Heir Raising. #tribe
Oh this is brilliant Beth! I’m honoured to be on your post and, even though I had a hand in it, looking more glam than in real life. Why don’t we do it again sometime – meeting you was one of the highlights of BML for me. Your opening para sums up perfectly the whole world of blogging – you are clever to be both funny and brief. Mine’s going to be interminable. X
Ha ha well I look forward to reading it – I’ll set aside a good while! 😉
Yes, let’s definitely do it again, soon! 🙂 x
I am sure you are far more glamourous than you let on!! Love the sound of the freebies and meeting everyone and love the sketches 🙂 #triballove
Errr….self-deprecating I may be, but glamorous I definitely am not…! 😉 x
Oh I love! Thank you for the shout out it was bloody brilliant to meet you. And that pic of you and Jo is AWESOME.
It’s good to hear you had a good time! I do want to go next year. Hopefully I can. #TribalLove
I wish I could have been there! It sounds like you had a fab time – I’m definitely going to attend next year.
It’s really nice to read a positive experience. I am hoping to come along next year 🙂 #Bloggerclubuk
What a brilliant blog post and that cartoon of the two of you meeting is truly inspired although I love your sketch of you in the crowd too. I miss drawing but am taking it back up as a result of attending Sketchbook Club at BML xx
Sketchbook club was fab wasn’t it?! I really enjoyed it. Thanks for commenting 🙂 x
Ive read such nice things about the BML’s Im glad you enjoyed it too! Never ending tapas? erm, yes please!! cute pic at the end too! 😉 #bloggerclubUK
This is great and I love the drawing. It was a lovely day, and I hope we can all do it again (maybe just the eating and drinking part?).
I’m popping back from #KCACOLS. I hope you do come all the way to Funbridge Wells in January as I know some rocking* places we can go! (*shit)
Wishing I was there! Jealous just reading (and thinking about all that cake……). Hoping I can make it next year! #BloggerClubUK X
Love the drawings as always! It was a good day wasn’t it. You’ve got me thinking about that Tapas platter now….yum! #triballove
Glad you had a great time. I wish I had have gone. Next year yes! #bloggerclubUK
Sounds like a fabulous time! Love the pic. #triballove
Aw, lovely to finally meet you! I had such a lovely time but I think that was because I found all of you and felt connected already 🙂
Oh, Pooh! I always forget…#BloggerClubUK
It was lovely to meet you – it all went by very fast! Love the drawing of you and Jo too x #tribe
I have seen pictures and I can honestly say, you are certainly just as fabulous as everyone else!
Lucy xx #triballove
Wish I’d have been able to go, sounds like you and the tribesters had a great day! #BloggerClubUK
Sounds like many people go for the community as opposed to the sessions themselves. Hopefully one day I will be able to attend. #BloggerClubUK
Fab that you had a good time and met so many people. I love the cartoon of you and Jo 🙂
Thanks for linking up to #BloggerClubUK 🙂
Debbie
Looks like you had an amazing time and I love your when beta mummy met jo sandleson mash up pic! Hope that I will get to meet you at a bloggers event in the near future so I can see if I can spot myself in one of your drawings!
#triballove
I am glad you had a good time. The Tapas sounds so good, that is it I am going to have to go next year 🙂 maybe see you there xxx #BloggerClubUK
We didn’t get to meet but I’m glad you enjoyed it. I certainly did and we chatted to many of the same people. Next year! #KCACOLS
Great little round up I hope to be there next year and meet over a glass of fizz! #kcacols
Sounds like you had a lovely time. I have been to BML previously and loved it too – hopefully i’ll be back one day. and yay for unlimited tapas and tea!
Ah it was a fab day, lovely to meet you. I thought you were looking glam for what it’s worth. And I love the pic of you and Jo…two of my favourites! #KCACOLS
So great that you had a good time at your first blog conference. Now the question is, which one will you go to next? #KCACOLS
I’m thinking Blog Fest in November… 🙂
I’ve never been to one of these, but I’m sure it’s really cool to be able to meet some of these people that it really seems like we already know #KCACOLS
I’m getting serious blog meet envy after reading all these posts!! Like looking at people’s exotic holiday photos on Instagram!! Maybe next year… #KCACOLS
Sorry we didn’t get to meet. Love the pictures! See you at MNBlogfest in November perhaps! x #KCACOLS
Love your drawing collaboration with Jo, ya both reet talented x
Glad you had a great time at #BML16, I missed you unfortunately, but the meeting people was definitely a highlight for me! The picture of you and Jo is fab! Thank you for linking up to #KCACOLS Hope you come back again next week xx
It sounds like everyone had such a wonderful time and I’m quite jealous! I’m so glad you were able to meet up with our tribe and get to know everyone a bit better.#KCACOLS #TribalLove
I am glad that you enjoyed it. I hope to go to a blogger conference at some point, it would be lovely to meet the people behind the blogs I read x
#KCACOLS