Today, February 21, 2011, marks the four year anniversary of my blog. The following is the first ever blog I wrote, fours years ago, to the day.
Challenging The 'Inner Critic'.
"Greetings friend,
This is my first blog. This is another positive step forward in getting on with my life. I challenge my 'inner critic.' The 'master' that dictated that I had no self-worth. The master who told me not to impose myself on society. Now I question this negative authority. I have given myself permission to be positive. I shall no longer be a recluse. The world has so much to offer.
Have you ever woken up from a dream and didn't like the way it ended? Did you ever try to go back to sleep and change the ending? Many a time, my life felt like dreams with sad conclusions. The more positive me visualises a better ending to my dreams. I focus in my mind on just how good life can be. We all have the right to a happy ending. Our dreams, our goals, our aspirations are valid. Our spirit and our empathy will encourage us to make our positive plans an exciting reality.
In my postings I shall endeavour to be transparent. I will verbalise my thoughts in an open and honest manner. I must be true to myself and I must be true to you.
I look forward, with positive anticipation, the sincere interaction that we will share. When we help each other, we help ourselves.
I thank you for your time. Warm regards klahanie."
I believe that I have maintained my ethos. My blog has, and always will be, open, honest and transparent. I want to clearly demonstrate that my mental health issues are only a small part of who I am.
Today, coincidentally, is the birthday of my well known Vancouver playwright, brother, Andrew Templeton. Happy birthday Andrew and here is a link relating to my brother, Andrew Templeton .
Now then, this being my fourth blogging anniversary, I've decided to have a contest, an idea inspired by a recent contest on my dear New Zealand friend's site W.M. Morrell's Musings From Down Under. So, thanks to you Wendy.
This contest will have a suitably English prize to be posted to the winner. And no, the prize will have nothing to do with 'toad-in-the-hole', 'bubble and squeak', or even 'spotted dick'. I was thinking of including an autographed photo of myself, but I don't think the winner would believe their luck...
So, the first person to correctly answer the following question will win an English prize. The winner and the prize will be announced in my next posting. All I ask is that anyone who enters this contest is a 'follower' of this blog.
Thus, here is the question : I have lived in a place that is mentioned in a nursery rhyme. The first person to correctly identify the nursery rhyme I am referring too, will win that suitably English prize.
Anybody seen this dog? Penny the outlaw dawg aka 'Penny the Sundawg Kid'. Thanks Wendy for this photo. Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet star, was most amused! 'Arf, arf..' :-)
Hmmm....
ReplyDeleteLondon bridge is falling down?
Is it London Bridge? I was wacking my brain when I caught Misha's answer. I have to admit that is logical, but sure didn't occur to moi. Honestly, I have no idea and only stopped by to congratulate you on 4 years. That is fabulous. Now, do I win a free trip to the UK or what!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Bloggiversary!
ReplyDeleteHappy Bloggiversary! And just to be completely off the wall, I'm going to guess something really out there like Gloucester! (Dr. Foster went to Gloucester in a shower of rain. He stepped in a puddle right up to his middle and never went there a-gain!). And just in case I am the winner, please hold the tea and crumpets - and send fish and chips instead! LOL
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day, Gary!! (take off, hoser! eh?)
Congratulations on your 4th anniversary. That is an amazing accomplishment! Here's my guess: Ride a Cock Horse to Banbury Cross.
ReplyDeleteSt. Ives.
ReplyDeleteCrikey ... a nursery rhyme? Hmm ...may have to borrow Penny's Thinking-Cap/headphones...
ReplyDeleteI think I may have to come back actually.
Oh, congratulations on four years blogging! Says a lot about you, Gary. Well done :)
I will be back ... if that's alright? :)
YORK!
ReplyDelete"The Grand old Duke of York he had ten thousand men
He marched them up to the top of the hill
And he marched them down again.
When they were up, they were up
And when they were down, they were down
And when they were only halfway up
They were neither up nor down."
:-)
HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY!!!!!!!!! Penny's poster is fabulous!! Yay for Wendy aka Quillfeather!
Take care
x
Four years!!! You're like a blogging pioneer. It looks like your bright readers are already onto the Mother Goose possibilities. Any chance that the nursery rhyme giant wrote about leeks?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Gary! Writing a blog is an amazing accomplishment, let alone for four years. You, Penny (the cutie pie on the wanted poster) and your blog are truly dear. To four more years! Hear the cling of the glasses?
Happy Bloggiversary!!!!
ReplyDeleteHappy Blog Birthday, Gary! I loved your first post ever. Thanks for reposting it. It is a great expression of how you felt. I can relate to a lot of it.
ReplyDeleteNow on to the contest...Did you ever live in a clock? (wink)
Happy Four Gary! I'm blessed to have met you through your blog and to have you as a friend.
ReplyDeleteI sang London Bridge to my children and now sing to my grandchildren all the time...the three of us (Misha+Joylene+me) will see you in London eh.
That's a nice poster of Penny by Wendy there.
Congrats on the four years of blogging! That's a long time! Thanks for the awesome award!!
ReplyDeleteElyse and Riley
Congratulations on passing this highwater 4th Anniversary, Gary. You have maintained and I'm sure will continue to maintain your ethos...but, readers will respond to your humor and humaneness. As to the contest, as you might know Edward Lear in his nonsense verse used quite a few place names, so I can only chose one:
ReplyDeleteThere was an old lady of Leeds,
Who was always a'doing good deeds;
She sat on some rocks with her feet in a box,
And her neck was surrounded by beads.
Just a guess!
Congratulations, Gary, on the four year mark. Quite an accomplishment. You've kept to your honest and high standards, I must say. Before I go on, I'm going to suggest that the nursery rhyme connected to your place of birth, it was a a not widely known nursery rhyme called Doctor Foster's Poem... Which goes like this:
ReplyDeleteDoctor Foster
Went to Gloucester
In a shower of rain.
He stepped in a puddle
Right up to his middle
And never went there again!
I bet I'm wrong but it's worth a shot. Or maybe it was Ring Around The Rosie? Damn it! I want that signed autograph! Or at least a jar of your finest marbles. I know you've lost a few. If you find mine laying around, please do the same.
Anyways, Happy Anniversary!
Oops... meant to say rhyme based on where you have lived not where you were born. Forgive me. My cheese has slipped off it's cracker, lately. Btw, interesting that you're brother is a playwright. That's a pretty cool factoid. Take care, dude.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your four year anniversary! That's a huge milestone and I admire your staying power. I haven't been a follower for long but I agree that you've continued to do what you said in your first ever post. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteJai
Congratulations on your 4th year of blogging!
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for blogging, for it is always so inspiring reading everything you have to write.
Ohhh nursery rhymes, where do I even start?
I think you've lived in YORK :D.
Hmmm. A nursery rhyme? Have you lived on a hill? In a clock? In an old shoe? As you can see...I'm stumped.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the first four years, Gary. Here’s to the next four.
ReplyDeleteGreetings, my most excellent friends.
ReplyDeleteAs you may know, I normally attempt to comment back to each person, individually. However, on this occasion I would like to thank each and everyone of you for your most welcome congratulations and your guesses at the answer to my question.
I think it only fair that I inform you that someone has indeed guessed correctly and I shall inform them.
I will announce the winner and the prize to be forwarded to them, in my next posting.
Of course, if you wish to continue to congratulate me, shy and humble me, hey, that's cool! :-)
Thanks again.
In kindness and respect, Gary.
Warm wishes, the 'wee folks'.
Positive thoughts your way from a collection of stuffed animals.
And yes indeed, pawsitive wishes and doggy kisses, your way, from Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet star :-) xx
Dear Gary,
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your four years of blogging, my friend. You thoroughly deserve all your followers, awards and enormous amount of comments (do I sound jealous? Moi, of course not)
As for the nursery rhyme/where you lived scenario, I haven't got a f****** clue, which is just as well, because someone has already guessed correctly.
Anyways, congrats once again and thank you for all you've done to get rid of the stigma surrounding mental illness.
Best Wishes and some electro-shock therapy (maybe not), your way,
David.
P.S. Hello to Penny and the rest of your family. I hope things are going well.
Dear David,
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for the congrats. As we both know, the amount of followers really has no bearing on how good a blog is. I know blogs that have hundreds of followers that personally I think are a load of shit, but they know how to market and self-promote themselves.
Cynical? Maybe. David, you write a superb blog and have few 'followers'. I detest the word 'followers'. Yet, I think your blog is vastly superior to mine!
All will be revealed in my next posting as to where I once lived.
My friend, you and I shall continue in our determination to eradicate the unfair stigma attached to mental health issues.
And you want irony? I put up my four year anniversary blog and I have lost a 'follower'.
Take care dude and talk soon.
Kind wishes, Gary.
Well, Gary, you have me at a loss about the nursery rhyme - but, my, you have many great ones offered you!
ReplyDeleteEnormous congrats on your bloggiversary. Here's to many, many more years on the blogs!
Blessings to you (and Penny),
M.
hi mr gary! wowee! four year of being a cool blogger. it was neat reading that first ever post. for sure youre just real honest and i like that sooo much bout you. im just real glad i got at your blog and me and you are blogger buddies. :)
ReplyDelete...hugs from lenny
Sorry Gary, but I always seem to be arriving late these days. I've been a bit busy!
ReplyDeleteFor the record my guess would have been 'Banbury Cross' as in 'Ride a cock horse to.....'
I was impressed to see that you hit the ground running with your first post and seem to have maintained the high standard ever since. Congratulations.
Bazza’s Blog ‘To Discover Ice’
Hi M,
ReplyDeleteAh yes, the nursery rhyme. I shall, of course, reveal what place it was in my next posting :-)
The you very much for the congratulations. Very much appreciated and I do look forward to this positive interaction and indeed, the therapy that my blog provides.
Kind wishes, your way, Gary and Penny :-)
Hi bazza,
ReplyDeleteAlways a pleasure to get a comment from your good self.
Oh yes, I've heard that nursery rhyme.
And thank you for such a flattering compliment. I do believe, four years later, than I have maintained the original ethos of my blog. Never have done my blog for ego purposes...well, maybe a little bit..:-)
Cheers bazza and I hope you have a most pleasant week.
With respect, Gary.
Hi Lenny Lee! :-)
ReplyDeleteReally cool that you think I'm a cool blogger!
It's kinda' neat looking back at my first ever posting. Young dude, I've always tried to display honesty and interact with really awesome bloggers like you:-)
You do a real cool blog, yourself, Lenny and it's really great knowing you are one of my blogging buddies!
Thanks Lenny and have a really neat week.
Hugs and smiles, Gary and Penny :-)
Hi Y'all,
ReplyDeleteOh Penny, you sweet Jack Russell,are you so full of mischief that someone made a wanted poster of you!
Penny you are a very special and endearing soul. That is a lovely poster.
Congratulations and thank you to your Human for reposting his initial blog post. It was a wonderful post.
My Human too would prefer my and my Papa's company to that of other Humans. She has to force herself to socialize. It's wonderful for me.
I don't know any nursery rhymes. Can you believe my Human can only think of "rock a bye baby in the tree top"? :)
Thank y'all for stoppin' today.
Y'all come back now,
Hawk aka BrownDog
Well done on your 4th blogoversary, Gary.
ReplyDeleteHmmm...can't think of many nursery rhymes involving place names, and the ones that I did think of have already been mentioned, so I'll have to concede defeat on the competition front.
Incidentally, I've started my own little blogging experiment in positive thinking at Count Your Blessings.
Hi Y'all, back to you, Hawk aka BrownDog,
ReplyDeleteYes sirree, my dawgie buddy. They all is coming to like get me! 'Arf, arf!' And like that poster was made by a gal in lil' ol New Zealand :-) Ya hear!
And congratulations to you for getting my 'lil ol award! :-)
Yeah, the human dude, who I sometimes allow to post on here, did a mighty fine job with his first ever type posting.
And I just know y'all are looking after the humans who live with you.
I'm wondering if, 'you aint nothing but a hound dog'. is a nursery rhyme?
Thank you for stopping by. My goodness, me Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet star, has never barked in American, before. Thank goodness Hawk wasn't a French poodle. Ooh la la!
Hi Ian,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the congratulations. Much appreciated.
Yes, someone has indeed guessed the correct answer. Thus I must go and get their suitably English prize. And no, it wont be 'spotted dick' :-)
I shall check out your blogging experiment, later on.
Thanks again and have a wonderful week on Vancouver Island.
With respect, Gary.
Has anyone said Banbury Cross yet? Congratulations on your anniversary.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the shout out, Gary! Not sure how well-known I am...
ReplyDeleteAnyway, congratulations on your blogiversary and here's to many more years (and photos! Keep the photos coming).
And I'm wondering whether a baked good might be in the answer...
Hi Gorilla Bananas,
ReplyDeleteYes they have and there has been a winner as mentioned in a previous comment. All show become clear in my next 'eagerly anticipated' posting.
Thank you for the congratulations. That is most appreciated.
Kind wishes, Gary :-)
Hi Andrew,
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure to make reference about your good self. And, of course, coincidentally, my first ever blog was published on your birthday.
You're a legend! :-)
Thanks for the congratulations and I will indeed fill the space up with more photos.
Well, there certainly is a baked product with the name of the place in said baked product.
Cheers Andrew and happy playwrighting.
Happy Anniversary and on my birthday too Yay!
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I'm guessing Banbury Cross? :O)
Hi Madeleine,
ReplyDeleteHey thanks :-) And a belated happy birthday to you :-)
Someone has correctly identified the location mentioned in the nursery rhyme and a few others, after that, mentioned the same rhyme.
All shall become clear in my next, 'eagerly anticipated' posting :-)
Take care of yourself.
Kind wishes, Gary :-)
That was a beautiful first post, and a tremendous success in staying true to the ethos for four years and running. Congratulations, keep it up!
ReplyDeleteHi Chris,
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for your kind and thoughtful words.
And, my friend, I shall endeavour to maintain my ethos and try to be an integral part of this great blogging community.
Thanks again :-)
In kindness and respect, Gary.