Hold All Tickets

That sound you hear is the uncorking of cheap champers. The cracking of party poppers.

Here in the Executive Offices of the Hold All Tickets corporation, there’s a celebration underway. Our highly paid researchers and writers are letting their sometimes unwashed hair down.

This week, the little blog that usually makes little sense chalked up 100 posts. If you still need the kids to turn the computer on for you, that means I’ve churned out 100 often nonsensical stories

Yep, we’ve hit three figures. And apparently, in the high-powered blogging world, this is something of a big deal.

To mark the occasion, I thought it would be a grand idea to look back at some of our ground-breaking bits.

It all started on March 23 last year. Me, stuck on the lounge, with a dislocated ankle pointing north. Bored to within an inch of my being.

It was suggested that writing a blog would be a good idea. Who for, I’m still not quite sure. So, under the influence of a belly full of powerful yet legal pain relief, the scribbling began.

In that first piece, I promised there would be no home renovation advice, or pasta recipes. I’m happy to say I’ve been true to my word.

What started as weekly ramblings about the racing game, soon expanded to include the chaos that is my life. From one post a week, to two.

We’ve covered all the big issues since day one. From my favourite daytime television shows (Prisoner re-runs), to starting Saturdays with Hannah Montana. (If you don’t know her by now, it’s too late).

A few of you giggled at my hard-luck motoring stories (the only man to start his car with a screwdriver), while others got a kick out of the weird and wonderful friends I found on early morning walks.

Sport has featured prominently. Racing, of course. My initial piece on Black Caviar went out in that very first week. We’ve been celebrating her greatness ever since.

There was State of Origin fun. And lots of debate, on how many years it takes for a bloke to call himself a true Blue Maroon. That will be on again in a few months.

Some of my favourite pieces have involved digging back in time, to recount precious memories with Mum and Dad. It never ceases to amaze me how many of you enjoy such flashbacks. There’ll be more reminiscing, as long as my fading brain cells continue to co-operate.

It must be said, however, that the most popular segments have involved my girls. The Teenager and Daughter Two have become the stars of these pages. By doing nothing more than growing up.

You seem to enjoy my pain, trying to negotiate the rocky yet delicate path that is fatherhood. Especially as I stumble, time and again.

Who would have thought that the bumbling efforts to hide my two junior beauties from young, dangerous males, would give you all such guilty pleasure?

The girls themselves have put up with the madness with good grace. Yes, I know that might change anytime soon. In the meantime, I’ll continue to carefully outline our fun and games.

The wonderful thing about this blogging caper, is your feedback. Everyone has an opinion. Some positive, some negative. All welcome.

I find myself reading other blogs. Some by incredibly talented colleagues sitting a few desks away. Others by people I’ve never heard of, on topics I’ve previously had little interest in.

It seems we all have stories. I’m enjoying telling mine. Sometimes you might doze off halfway through. That’s ok. You might like the next one.

Hopefully you’ve been tickled by something along the way. Even inspired. And if it was just a nod over your Corn Flakes, that’s fine too.

Here’s to the next 100. There’ll be change around us, of course. Sadly, nothing stays the same. We’ll do our best to battle on. And keep writing.

From the entire team, thanks for your support. And tell your friends. Possibly the ones you don’t like. Who knows, if you play your cards right, there might even be a pasta recipe on the way.