Over the past few years, at the end of December, I’ve looked back over my blog and created a review. The year has, on the whole been a good one, we’ve travelled to new places and done some fabulous things. This is my 235th post this year, up considerably on last year. I’ve discovered that writing about something is better than writing nothing. So it was only when I was away for the whole of July that I didn’t write at least twice a week. I’ll write more about stats when I post about my plans for 2020. But now, this is my year – 2019 in review.
January
The year didn’t start especially well for me, a hangover as it were from 2018. The unfinished business was radiotherapy for my breast cancer. The treatment itself wasn’t bad, but the cumulative effects – physical and emotional were. This post sums up the month. I haven’t written for the Sex Bloggers for Mental Health meme often and this is something I plan to rectify in 2020.
On 10th January I wrote this Friday Flash post and although I haven’t written much fiction in 2019 I managed two in January. My goal in 2020 will be at least one piece of fiction per month.
Being mainly confined to home, I wrote 27 posts in January, which set me up pretty well for February photofest.
February
My 7th highest post / category of all time is my February Photofest one for 2019. I posted 36 times, so it obviously wasn’t all about the images. I began to show bits of my body, and especially noticeable are the radiotherapy burns visible on any photo showing my chest.
Tell me about, which is co-run by Missy and Sweetgirl, have led to some reflective and thought provoking posts in 2019. This one, about showing my own vulnerability, is no exception.
Love Lock, is a fiction piece about genital piercings used to provide female chastity. I’ve now linked it to my most popular post ever – Chastity, does a girl need to be locked in? Something I did following a talk by Girl on the Net at Eroticon (more of that event below).
March
There were 19 posts in March, and two of my favourites are photos posted for Sinful Sunday. This one, Double Exposure was for the prompt week at the beginning of the month and Birthday Breakfast at the very end on Master’s birthday. Both were taken in hotel bedrooms and I am thankful that we have the opportunity to travel both here and abroad and to stay in some fabulous places. In these relaxed environments I have begun to feel able to share photos of my body again.
The other notable event was Eroticon, which I wrote about here. As the conference rolls around again soon, I am really excited to catch up with old friends and to meet new people.
April
Once again I joined in with the Blogging A-Z, this time using my blog history to examine how my journey has progressed. I found it a useful reflective tool which showed me how I have changed (or not) along the way. I posted 29 times, often combing other memes with the Blogging A-Z one. While I said afterwards that I wouldn’t participate again, I have an idea so I just might!
Favourite posts from this month were this one, of Master in the Swing of Relaxation and this one entitled Kinky. Both include images taken at STOXX which is sadly no longer available to rent.
May
Of the 22 blog posts for May, several are especially memorable. On 1st I wrote my Confessions of an unruly slave for The Erotic Journal Challenge. Brigit’s prompts are thought provoking and now they are monthly I’m better able to join in with them all. I think that particular post sums me up. I want to be the perfect slave, but often fall short.
Unmentionable has turned out to be particularly popular in terms of traffic. This is in no small way due to being placed in the top 3 posts for Elust #119. I would highly recommend submitting to Elust to help broaden your readership.
At the end of May we toured around Holland and Belgium for a week, during which time we were lucky enough to meet up with Marie Rebel and Master T. We enjoyed a lovely afternoon / evening together which I write about here. I’m looking forward to seeing both at Eroticon in March.
The following day we travelled to Amsterdam where we stayed in the Kinky Suite. My review is here.
June
Once again I joined Every Damn Day in June on Hy’s blog, and while I didn’t manage to post every day I did manage 29 posts. I participated in my first Lingerie is for everyone meme with this post. There’s new lingerie for 2020, so, I will be participating again soon.
I discovered a friend had passed away in April, but didn’t know until mid June. I wrote about him here.
July
We left for France at the beginning of July. Somehow I had run out of steam and was a bit out of love with writing and posting. So, there wee only 4 posts, one of which was Elust. Lazy days and hot nights sums up the month.
August
We were away for the majority of August too. But despite being on a boat with no Wifi for a week I still managed to write 12 blog posts. My favourite photo, posted for Sinful Sunday was this one – Topless. At last I was getting my mojo back!
On 29th I wrote about some issues I’ve been having with elusive orgasms. I’m pleased to say that the strategies we have been taking since seem to be helping.
September
This month we returned to CMnf after a break of a year and my mastectomy. I wrote here, about the wonderful reception I received. Sun kissed skin was a favourite photo, posted for Wicked Wednesday. How I love the feeling of the sun on my skin. Something to think about in the middle of winter!
The Smutathon took place at the end of September and while I wasn’t a participant, I wrote this post about abortion to link in with something that I consider a very important cause.
October
My Kissing Vignettes post for Food For Thought was in hindsight a way of edging myself back towards writing fiction. The post is based on some happy memories, but with a little artistic licence thrown in. The other of my 15 posts during October that I want to highlight is this one.
I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer last year during awareness month. My Breast Care Nurse warned me at the time to steer clear of the internet and I can understand why. This year, May More contacted me to ask if I was happy for her to write something to raise awareness, which of course I was. She inspired me to write the post above.
November
My Sinful Sunday post for November didn’t conform to the set prompt. But having the image available to use, I just had to post it. Molly and many others retweeted my post and then it and then it was chosen as one of the top Sinful Sunday posts that week, despite not being related to the prompt. I still feel proud and positive about this image. It has gone on to be the 6th most viewed post of all time (not just this year). And was partly responsible for my best ever blog stats that month.
My post – Submissive Training is it necessary for Tell Me About has proved immensely popular, and is currently number 8 on the all time list. The other of my 19 posts for November to highlight is this one. Bedroom Talk is another post based on reality, but which lends itself to a kind of faction (when you kind of remember stuff but have to elaborate). I posted this on Masturbation Monday.
December
That Bedroom Talk post inspired me to actually write some fiction. I’m really proud of An Advent Diary and am thinking of making it into a rolling story through the year. Perhaps the next instalment will be around Valentines……
At the beginning of December I was happy and proud to find that I was once again recognised in the Top 100 Sex Blogger List. This year I am at 32. My aim is for a top 10 spot, which will need some work both in terms of content and blog structure. I’m up for a challenge,
Well thank you for highlighting me and the Tell Me About prompt. You have achieved so much, congratulations. 😊
I’m excited you’ll be joining in on #LIFE again soon! You’ve had such a busy blog year and I always enjoy reading you xo all the best for 2020 xo
Thanks, I’m also planning to join your January jump start. Best wishes for 2020 to you too xx
Wow. What a year and what a roundup of your achievements this year. I have really enjoyed getting to know more about you this past year and look forward to that continuing this next year. Thank you also for highlighting Tell Me About and for all you contributions to it. You have been a great supporter. 😊
Thanks Missy, I’m looking forward to contributing next year too.
I will be doing the A to Z this year again too — with a theme! (go me!) — and will be inviting folks in our community to have a mini-linkup with me (as opposed to getting lost on the main site’s list of 400+), so please watch for that. I will come support you! 🙂
I’ve really appreciated your candid discussions around your breast cancer diagnosis and treatment; I think it’s so important for women to have access to REAL, non-clinical dialog about the things that happen with/to our bodies, and to feel not-alone. Especially when “what’s happening” is such a life-changing thing. I recognize it was probably difficult to write about at times, and that makes me appreciate your forthrightness all the more. Thank you.
You’ve had quite a prolific year in blogging! Congratulations!
Happy New Year!
Thank you so much for your kind words. The mini link up is a fabulous idea, I’ll definitely join in with you. I agree about the real life cancer stuff. It’s tough to write, but when you read back you realise that it was necessary. If it helps one person I’m happy xx
What an amazing post! I love how you’ve taken it month by month. This is great reflection activity for any of us to follow! I’m planning to do a better job of reflecting on my blogging/writing this year. I even got a planner that kind of encourages me to do an end of week wrap-up. So maybe that will help me do something sort of like this next year!
Thank you Brigit. I too have a new planner and am going to try to get better at SoSS posts highlighting others in the same way. But it would also prevent me needing to trawl through my entire blog as I did this weekend.
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That’s quite a packed year – 235 posts including a month off !!
I do look forward to you writing more for #sb4mh. Best wishes for 2020 🌹
Wow Julie, you have had a serious jam packed year! I think you are right with the whole “writing something is better than nothing” – I really need to remember that this year.
Much love and here’s to a kickass 2020 x