Today was a day of opened eyes and inspiration

22nd September 2014:

I’m ready and raring to go. I’ve got my bag packed. Products ready for me to evaluate and obliterate. My beards done. I’ve memorised awesome quotes and excerpts I want to say and my nerves are cool as ice. I’m set.

23rd September 2014

“Chris you’re late”…. Shit shit shit shit…. My alarm didn’t go off!! Okay so I’m already half way there but what do I do next… Okay Chris get yourself together man.. We’ve got a busy day! Wait I’m still in bed. Why isn’t my body moving?? Okay, start again!! GO!

Okay I’m up, shower done, teeth done, hair perfecto… Check the time, missed my train.. Okay not to worry. Next ones fine. Daisy-Ella squeaks in the corner of Kerry’s arms… As if absorbed into her robe and giggling away. ‘Awehhhh’ I pick her up for a quick good bye cuddle… auf Wiedersehen, salut, arrivederci I’m off for an adventure of my own… But how can I? The way my daughter looks at me as if saying “let’s play” and “I’m cute, feed me” is just to much to bare. “Okay, take her, here you go”, I proclaim to my wife “I have to go now”. So we’ve got to the train station just in time to get some food in, get my ticket and ponder on the day.

I’m shaking a little.

Wow, I’m generally not a good group speaker but my nerves have kicked in as if I’ve downed a Mel Gibson amount of monster energy drink. Not sure why but a Mel Gibson amount seems a lot to me ha. Babum babum… Relax, just relax.

So train ride was cool if not a little laborious.. I had the paper in hand to catch up on all the days news and sport.. Manchester United give me a good laugh on this one (sorry Twinsdaddyo) and I’d calmed down a bit… My wife sending me messages of support and pride brought a grin to my erratically forlorn demeanour. I was back in the game.

London bound and London ventured.

Now this is a monstrous city to venture in to. If your not accustomed to the local etiquette, you could quickly and easily be gobbled up by the intense atmosphere oozing from every inch of the place. There are people. People EVERYWHERE. I’m a small city boy. It’s different okay.

Manoeuvring my ample frame through A erratic crowd as if no care in the world. Singing and whistling to the beat of Peter Hollens – Parting Glass. I’ve become care free and unstoppable… Wait wait wait… What?? Where did this come from? It was like hitting a light switch and moving from the light to the dark where there’s definitely that monster outside your door. Okay fine… It’s working but I’m not blending in..

I’m here, or so Google maps informs me.. 19….27,29… Where’s 25? I ask around but nobody seems to know what on earth I’m talking about. Seriously, 25 is not there, 15 minutes of complete confusion I decide to ask one of the chaps cleaning the windows of an establishment just opposite from me… “Oh this is 25″, “but it says 24″ “oh yeah, it is 25 though” never been so confused.. Turns out this venue was one of those ‘cool, hidden’ venues. They exist… I feel like I’ve just unlocked the door to Mordor.

*elevator lift music eradicates my happy go lucky feeling*

So the story of my adventure seems a bit over zealous and rambunctious. Possibly. The bigger story starts in the #Tamar event I’ve been invited to be a panelist for. I walk in to meet a little group of dad bloggers I’ve become accustomed to recognising by their facebook profile pictures before you click them. I met with Henry Ellis (Henrysblog), Robert McIntosh (thirstforwine) and Chris Rothwell (Twindaddyo), it was so easy, the last 3 months we’ve bee. In and out of #dadblogger chats and felt like I already knew these guys already. We sit, ready and prepared to give our insight into our life’s in the blog world and Within half an hour I felt completely out of my depth. I’m sure sure whether this weekends events have put me in this position, but this position, I was in. I felt more like a student than the teacher, listening to all the experiences and tips from all the bloggers included on the panels. I believe I held my own when asked questions directed at me… Tattoos, alternative views were my niche and felt I held my own. It was a great experience watching how small fry I was in a lions world. The one debate that held quite a lot of notice was the debate of ‘competition’ and how each genre within blogging seems to have its own ‘community’ you can always rely on and feel included in. #Dadbloggers is definitely at the forefront of this ideology. All in a I believe today was a success and hope to be involved in these events again in the future.

I’m back home now!! Had way too much London Today..

I’d like to thank Tamar and Henry for an incredible experience and believing In me.
 

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