Wednesday 10 August 2011

Milestone: 200 Posts and another give-away!

I  have got a few good reasons for a give-away with this post!  Firstly, this is my 200th post; they seem to have gone by in a flash and I have really enjoyed writing them! Secondly, another birthday is just around the corner and I don't want to think where that time has gone!  Thirdly, this month sees our 30th wedding anniversary and what an amazing 30 years it has been.  Sadly, we will be  spending the day in different countries, but we can drink to each other over a video call on Skype. Celebrations will come later!  What would we have done without Skype during our long periods of separation? - life would have been even more difficult, so a big thanks to them!  I would like to say thank you so much to Nigel for a very happy 30 years,  I hope it will be very soon that we are together in France and separation  will be a thing of the past.  We have done so much together, but so much apart; retirement, hopefully, will be a long and happy period of togetherness.

I have made the choker, bracelet and earrings, shown below, to give away; all you have to do to win them is to be a Google follower of my blog and comment on this post. Easy!! I will then select the lucky winner in two weeks time with random.org and notify you all of the result.  The winner can then  provide me with their postal address  and I will send the package off!


I will finish this post with a few interesting statistics from the last 199 posts and my thanks to my loyal followers:-


All time history of page views = 26,890

Number of comments to date: 6,953


Blog with the most views = Mystery French classic car update 401 viewings
Second = Some bugs and insects around our Charente garden 205 viewings


Top 3  page views (by country) =
United Kingdom   6,245
United States      6,124
France                4,770


My blog has been viewed in 105 different countries; I am amazed and delighted but I think there are still another 60 countries out there which I must attract!!


At this milestone, my sincere thanks go to all my followers for their  dedicated interest and comments to date; however, the most viewings from one person, have  been made by my blogger friend Jean , so my thanks  and appreciation go especially to her. I hope I can continue to find and write about subjects which will continue to attract and interest my followers.


Good luck with the give-away competition! 

46 comments:

  1. Diane

    Congratulations on your 200th post!

    All the best

    Keith

    P.S. Have I won the bracelet?

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  2. Congratulations, Diane. I know so enjoyed getting to know you through your blog. You for you and Nigel, 30 years....congratulations. Skype is indeed wonderful. My husband and I are always together now that we have retired, but it is wonderful to keep in touch with grandchildren, children, and friends. Your jewelry is beautiful. I would wear it proudly. Susan

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  3. Hi Diane, let me congratulate you on your 30 years of happy marriage! May you have many more. I also want to wish you a happy birthday and say, well done on your blogging.

    The necklace, earrings and bracelet are simply beautiful. Best of luck to all your readers on the giveaway.

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  4. Dear Diane!! Your summer is full of nice moments and memories, I wish you the best on your Anniversary, and I completely understand you, because my husband and I have spent so many important days far from each other, Internet and Skype has certainly been of great help the last years. You will sure find the right moment to celebrate with Nigel.

    I loved the beauties you made with your own hands! good luck to all your readers!

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  5. Hi Diane - many congratulations on your blog and also your anniversary! Many more to the both of you... and I hope that you both are in France TOGETHER soon!

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  6. Congratulations on your 200th blog. Wow, you have had a lots of views. I can only dream of those numbers. Blogging is great though isn't it, I love it and your blog is so interesting to read.
    What a month of celebration for you. Happy birthday when it comes and happy anniversary. Hope you and your husband manage to get together soon.
    Your jewellery looks lovely. You are talented.

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  7. Hiya Diane. Well I would like to congratulate you on your birthday, 30th wedding anniversary and your 200 posts. I have enjoyed reading them and getting to know you. I look forward to meeting you in person one of these days. But in the meantime, best wishes for your milestones! The jewellery looks fab so please count me in for the competition! X

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  8. Hi Diane,
    Congratulations on all three counts.
    200 posts is quite an achievement and your huge following is a testimony to your lovely blog, which is always fascinating. You have to be dedicated and thorough to continue to produce such interesting posts and you deserve the recognition you get for it.
    Whenever your birthday is I hope you have a lovely day. I wish I could be there with you and bake you a cake (and eat it with you).!
    Last but not least, congratulations for 30 years of married life - a rare and admirable thing these days. It's a shame you will be apart on the day but I see that you are philosophical as usual about it. When we are chez nous we will drink a toast to you both and even though it might not be on the right day, it's the thought that counts !!

    I will never forget the day you joined my blog as a follower. I was sitting in my car in the disabled parking space by the phone box in the village square, feeling guilty because I am not disabled but nobody else seemed to need the space. I logged on, using the unprotected broadband that my friend had told me about, having no internet in our little house but being desperate to catch up with my comments and followers ~ and there you were !! I am so glad we met earlier this year and as you said at the time, feel as though we have known each other forever.

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  9. My warmest Congratulations to both, you, Nigel and the blog on your various anniversaries. I hope you will be together full time again just as soon as possible. I love your blog comparing your expat life in France to ours in Italy. I love the jewellery but I do not deserve to win as I do not have pierced ears.

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  10. 200 posts! Congratulations and keep on going - it's a pleasure to read your blog.

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  11. Hello Diane , wow ... 30 years married .. congratulations to you and Nigel, such a shame you are not together , you soon wiil be x xxx happy anniversary to you both ..xx

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  12. Oh congrats on such a milestone! What a great month to you - and happy anniversary to you and Nigel!

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  13. Daine, big congratulations to you, this is a month of celebration for you, lucky you. Hope to win your lovely gifts. Nice to know you via blogging.

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  14. Congrats on your 200th post. Great blog.

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  15. Hi Diane,

    Congratulations on your anniversaries!

    I have really enjoyed reading your posts, and looking at your beautiful photographs. You describe your life so well, giving us all a flavour of what life is like in your little corner of the Charente.

    You are also very generous in the support and interest you show in the fledgling blogs of others. Thank you!

    Tim and I also celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary at the end of August, so will raise a glass of sparkly to you and Nigel.

    Keep up the great work Diane ...

    Gaynor x

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  16. Congratulations on your 200th post, your upcoming birthday and your 30th wedding anniversary, so much to celebrate! I celebrate my 3rd wedding anniversary on Monday, can't wait! xxx

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  17. Isn't it amazing how many places and people come to visit a blog? It really amazes me. I'm sure you found your most viewed post a surprise... mine's about Secretariat 20 times over anything else... and I know it has nothing to do with the food! It is a favorite of mine too.. must admit.

    I loved your bug post and see why it was a favorite. Congrats on 200 (I am just barely over 100). Here's hoping you get the other 60 countries!

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  18. I used to use the post stats to figure out what to post next that would garner the most visitors or comments or both. Now, I don't much care. I think I am growing up.

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  19. so much congratulations and much more celebrations to come! Wishing you and Nigel a very happy, healthy and loving time together always! Have fun!!

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  20. Ah, they look pretty... congrats on your 200th post. Here's to many more *clinking of champagne glasses* . Well, have a wonderful wedding anniversary too... May He guide you and guard you along this journey called life. Take care.
    Karen.

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  21. Oooo...Diane, CONGRATULATIONS on your 200th post and also to your 30th Anniversary. So sorry that you're both unable to celebrte it together this year. Oh well, there's always next year. Wishing you the very best & enjoy your day. Wish I am the lucky one! :o)
    Blessings, Kristy

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  22. Happy 200th, early birthday, and anniversary! The jewelry set is beautiful!!

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  23. Congratulations on your anniversary! Reading your blog makes one of the most pleasant moments of my day.

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  24. I'm not the only one who loves visiting you! Happy 30th anniversary, first and foremost (I know what an accomplishment that is), Happy birthday soon, and happy 200th!

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  25. Hi Diane. I tried to write a comment here last night, but it vanished!! Can't remember exactly what I said, but congrats on the 30 years,and that 200th post of course! Hoping that the retirement and togetherness happens soon!!

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  26. With all you do in your garden and in your kitchen, I am amazed that you find the time those lovely pieces of jewellery!
    You are very creative!
    I am happy for you that our blog has this huge success, it must be thrilling to communicate with so many people from all those countries!
    Good luck with the follow up and I wish you all the best!
    Cheers!
    XXXXX

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  27. Hi Diane and many congratulations on your milestones, especially your anniversary; hope you and Nigel are together again very soon.

    We have just returned to the UK after three wonderful weeks in Montemboeuf and could quite happily have stayed there! Actually explored Chasseneuil this time, and visited the church. I was really surprised to see 'my' saint in a little stained glass window - St Bernadette (I had to choose a saint's name when I was confirmed many moons ago!).

    Once again, congratulations and I will raise a glass to you tonight x

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  28. Jacky I wish I had of know you were so close, I could have cycled to see you!! Diane

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  29. Awwww, congratulations to those great milestones in your life and also in blogging. The jewelry you made are gorgeous! I wish you and your hubby more years of blissful time together. I am following you with yahoo now as well.

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  30. Congratulation on 200 post, and today i am also following you, from New Zealand :-)

    ciao
    Alessandra

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  31. Diane, congratulations on your 200th post! That's definitely something to be proud of. It sounds like you have enjoyed writing them as much as I enjoy reading your posts. You are always informative with gorgeous photos, except for some of the "bugs." LOL!!! Keep up the good work and happy anniversary also!

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  32. A BIG and warm hug from me.:-) Stina

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  33. Congratulations Diane - and happy anniversary to you both. Fingers crossed that you will be together soon - for ever and ever. xxxxx

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  34. Hi Diane, will be over full-time from next Spring and your blog keeps me going while we're away :)Hopefully we will meet up in 2012. In the meantime, keep posting and having an interesting life :)

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  35. Happy 30th anniversary Diane, happy "around the corner" birthday and congratulations on your 200th post. Lots of celebrations going on all at once... Any South Africans following your blog?

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  36. Nadege after France the figures read

    Canada (CA) 724
    Australia (AU) 583
    New Zealand (NZ)351
    Malaysia (MY) 336
    South Africa (ZA)320
    Italy (IT) 295
    Ireland (IE) 168
    Good luck in the draw.

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  37. Congratulations on the 200th post, Diane! Isn't this blogging thing just wonderful?!

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  38. Congrats on your milestone Diane! It is fun to find out all about who reads our blogs. I just wish my computer was faster and I could read a lot more! Good luck to reach many more!

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  39. Congratulation on your 200th post! And also on your wedding anniversary! Very soon you guys will be together in the same country. Your give away looks really beautiful! It will be very hard for you to ship the beautiful gift to me so please don't consider me for the give away.

    I think it is your personality which is reflecting in your blog that attracts so many people. Not SEO or the technical stuff. You are very kind to people. I think you take each of your follower very seriously. I was really flattered when you could not get into my blog, you took the pain in finding another blog of me which is not listed in my Blogger profile. You could have easily ignored mine. The number of page views, comments and followers you have are just the reflection of your kindness.

    You have a beautiful Sunday!

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  40. Congrats dear by your 200th post, Diane Im from Chile, you know... you have a nice blog Diane, gloria

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  41. Congratulations on everything! What a lovely set and I am sure whomever wins it will always think of you when they wear it. I will check and be sure that I am a follower but I think I already am.

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  42. Now those are what I call causes for celebration and what a lovely way to mark the occasion! Here's to the future and your time together in this lovely country. Health and happiness to you both!

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  43. Hi Diane - well done 200 posts! and being read all over the world.
    Thank you for taking us along for the ride between the UK and beautiful France. xx

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  44. Congratulations Diane. That is a lot of posts in a short amount of time. Your stats are very impressive. Great job.

    I've never used Skype. Guess I'll eventually have to give it a try. If it's kept you two together, then I know I'll love it.
    Sam

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  45. Congratulations , 200 posts.,well done..I am a bit late, but wanted to wish you the best..You do beautiful work..

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  46. Diane - I'm commenting by using Firefox as you suggested and pleased to be back on your commenting list.
    Always enjoy your posts and am amazed with your following. Congrats on your miles stones, both the blog and the bloke.

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