Now We Are Five!

It is hard to believe the fact that today Savidge Reads is five years old. Where did all that time go? In a weird way it seems like it was yesterday and yet absolutely ages and ages ago. I never thought when I was writing those first tentative words that formed some kind of ‘review’ (though I prefer the term book thoughts) all those years later that it would lead to 1,466 posts (which is what this is, though I did cull some terrible posts a while back) nor did I ever think that anyone, let alone all you lovely lot, would read it. But you do and I am very grateful. The conversations and friendships, some which have led to co-founding prizes, literary nights, reading challenges, podcasts and more, have been the greatest gift a blog could ever bring. This is why I forgive you all for not having sent flowers, cards and presents in the post (the postman just came empty handed, well apart from a bill), although maybe they will be belatedly arriving? Ha!

Anyway, five years… I didn’t realise, embarking on that first Susan Hill review, the world of literature that would greet me through readers, publishers and fellow bloggers recommendations. What started as a diary of what I was reading, my thoughts on each one (which having gone back are a few paragraphs of nothingness truth be told) and maybe recommending them to the ether, as I honestly didn’t think anyone would read it, has become more than just thoughts and a blog but wonderful conversations with you all, though I can be shoddy at replying, and actually a real support through some great ups and pretty rubbish downs in the last five years.

My natural tendency on anniversaries is to look back nostalgically, maybe have a little chuckle and a weep… and then pick fault with myself; like the fact I could be more regular with commenting, how I still don’t think my reviews/book thoughts are up to the standard I wish they were (and invariably get so jealous about how much better other peoples are as I read around), should a thirty year old bookish man really be putting up selections of kitten photo’s even if it is his kitten or do people really care if I have wandered around a spooky wood all day taking pictures which have nothing to do with books? Ha, ha! Today is for celebrating though and that means all of you too. I would like to thank all you readers, publishers, authors and fellow bloggers who have visited, emailed, commented and lurked over the past half a decade. Who would have thought it?

Anyway I shan’t waffle on. I am off to celebrate by myself (as The Beard is at work) with a nice cup of tea, some buttery toast, the cat and a Daphne Du Maurier novel. Thanks again for popping by as you have and here’s to another five years or more.