Today, my stats show that The Hazel Tree has reached 100,000 views. What a fantastic total! What this means to me is that this blog is being read and enjoyed regularly, attracting new visitors, and giving lots of pleasure and interest to thousands of people. That is something I never thought I would be able to say!
One of my first posts was about Skipness Castle in Kintyre
I would never have dreamed, when I started off in July 2011, that I would get so involved with it, find so many new friends, and have such a ball. Doing this has transformed my confidence, and shown me quite clearly where my interests and passions lie. I still have a hard job trying to describe exactly what I do write about. “History, geology, wildlife and one incredibly nosy little cat” – either you’re going to think I’m crazy, or you’re going to take a look!
If you are one of my friends and followers – and if you’re reading this, I’m sure you are! – this is a very big ‘thank you’, for liking, commenting and sharing my posts so regularly, and for helping The Hazel Tree to flourish. I’ve had so many nice comments, both here and on Twitter and Facebook. Thank you, because they mean a lot!
I was delighted to be contacted last month by a lady called Maggie McNab who is compiling a history of the McNab clan in Australia; she had come across my post about the McNab graveyard in Glen Dochart purely by chance. A couple of weeks later, I had an email from another lady, Moira Goodman, whose McKinlay ancestors are buried in that beautiful little graveyard of St Bride’s, near Callander, which I wrote about recently. Mrs Goodman was kind enough to send me a photo of the same graveyard, taken in 1910, and I have updated that post with the new image. How wonderful, to have such a lovely place in your family’s heritage. I was absolutely thrilled to hear from her.
St Bride’s in 1910, courtesy of Mrs M Goodman
And there have been lots more people who have written to me over the last few years, saying that they have a family connection with Kintyre, or Islay, or Lismore, or Skye… and they have been able to find out more, through The Hazel Tree. This is a blessing that I never foresaw at all! If you have a link with any of the places that I write about, I would love to hear from you.
As for Purdey, she now has the worldwide following of a true celebrity, which is why she’s asleep on my office chair and I’m making do on any old chair that I can find. I can truly say that stardom hasn’t gone to her head, because she already had all the aristocratic self-assurance of Downton Abbey’s Lady Grantham. The Dowager Countess, I mean.
“Well, of course, these days, servants are very hard to find.”
I hope you’ll stay with me and Purdey for many years to come!
0 Comments
Mike Howe
Congratulations Jo, I love your blog, it’s so fresh, positive and interesting, I’m glad so many other people think so too 🙂
Jo Woolf
Thank you so much, Mike! That’s very nice of you to say so. I am equally lucky to have come across so many other great blogs, including your own.
Chris Robinson
Congratulations, and a lovely post too!
Jo Woolf
Thank you very much, Chris! 🙂
Sansom Wedding Photography
Congratulations, you totally deserve it and you should be very proud! I can’t wait to see where else it takes you! x
Jo Woolf
Thank you!! 🙂 Since it was your idea originally, you deserve some credit too! 🙂
Diana Vandiviere
Wonderful news, and well-deserved!
Jo Woolf
Thank you, Diana! That’s kind of you to say so! And I know that you are one of Purdey’s many ladies-in-waiting. She sends her warm regards to your own fabulous felines! 🙂
Marcy Erb
Definitely well-deserved! I thoroughly enjoy reading the posts and looking at the gorgeous photographs. Thank you for all the hard work!
Cheers,
Marcy
http://illustratedpoetry.com
Jo Woolf
Thank you so much, Marcy! So glad you enjoy it, and you are very welcome. It’s a pleasure to be able to write about things that fascinate me! 🙂
Jim Cunningham
Jo – I rather feel it is us who should be thanking you! Your magnificent photographs and commentary takes us, if only by whimsy, to each place you choose to share with us and the reward is most assuredly ours. Thank you for taking us along, we look forward to many more fun and informative trips with you.
God bless
Jim Cunningham
California, USA
Jo Woolf
Jim, you are too kind! It’s a delight to share my interests (and occasional silliness!) with so many lovely people worldwide. Bless you, too!
Packy
Congratulations Jo. I’m a newbie, but that means I have a lot of old posts to explore! The numbers speak truth, it’s a great blog. Looking forward to lots more.
Jo Woolf
Thank you! 🙂 Very kind of you, and I’m delighted you’re following the blog. I have lots more up my sleeve too, and a long list of places to visit.
http://vivinfrance.wordpress.com
On the contrary, it is we, your readers, who owe you thanks for the beautiful blog!
Love,
ViV
Jo Woolf
Haha, you are most welcome, Viv! I have such lovely readers! 🙂
Susan Abernethy
Congratulations my friend!! Wonderful news. Looking forward to your next adventure and article. 🙂
Jo Woolf
Thank you, Susan! 🙂 I’m enjoying following your own adventures in the footsteps of Mary Queen of Scots!
Ash
Brilliant Jo! Well done! Your lovely pictures & clear words are a great way to enjoy the landscapes you visit encouraging the reader to get out there & do likewise. I look forward to receiving many more of your posts.
Jo Woolf
Thank you so much, Ash! That’s really nice to know, because it’s exactly what I hope to do. 🙂
blosslyn
Wow thats a lot, and is lovely to think that you are helping some people with their family history as well as take us lot on your lovely tours and all the other items that you blog about which are all so interesting. So really just to say thank you and a bigger thank you for all your likes and comments which make you a very special lady. Well done Jo 🙂
Jo Woolf
I know, it’s incredible. I have been really touched by all the comments on here, including your own! Thank you, Lynne, and I’m so glad that I have found your own blog, too! 🙂
tanaramccauley
Congratulations Jo! Your success is well deserved and I wish you even greater success in the years to come!
Jo Woolf
That’s really kind, Tanara, thank you! 🙂 And the same good wishes to yourself, with your own writing!
mia C
Don’t remember getting much Scottish history when I was @ school, so learning & enjoying now. Ta, much.
Jo Woolf
You’re most welcome! I’m glad to hear it. I remember being pretty bored in history lessons. I can barely remember what we studied!
dave
Thank you, Jo, for all the wonderful passions you share with us. And for all the Intelligent, thought provoking & sincere words you pen.
Jo Woolf
Dave, that’s so kind, thank you. I shall have to come back and look at these comments regularly, if I am having an off day! 🙂
Laurie
Congratulations Jo! You write so eloquently about the many facets of beautiful Scotland. As an American who has visited Scotland many times, but, sadly I’ve not been back in nine years-your blog brings me back to a land that is quite special to me. I feel as if I’m a bit closer when I receive ‘The Hazel Tree’ in my inbox! Thank you for creating this blog, and wishing you continued success. ?
Laurie
Jo Woolf
Thank you, Laurie, that’s so kind! It’s what I love doing most. When I started out, I never realised that I would be bringing people closer to Scotland in this way, and it’s such a pleasure to do so.
miciacat
Congrats! and thank you for a great blog!
Jo Woolf
You are most welcome, and thank you! 🙂
Hank.
WHOOOPEE! A well deserved congratulations to you from afar!
Jo Woolf
Thank you so much, Hank! I can hear it from here! 🙂
Colin MacDonald
It’s an excellent blog, I’m not surprised! Well done! (Post more history articles please!)
Jo Woolf
Thank you very much, that’s very kind of you! No shortage of history ideas! Plenty coming up! 🙂
christinelaennec
Many congratulations on that milestone. Your blog is always so finely crafted, and interesting. Thank you for all the work you put into it, for us your readers!
Jo Woolf
You are most welcome, Christine, and I just love doing it. Thank you for your lovely comment! 🙂