Gulp, I’m Going To BlogFest

Eeek. I’m going to a Mumsnet parent blogging event. Eeek.

Although this blog (or it’s predecessor) have been going for almost five years now, I’ve never made much effort to put myself out there in the Mummy blogging world. Doing so seems to require a fair bit of time and there is only so much of that that I can devote to a hobby. My science rants in particular take a long time to research – so there goes my window.

OK, that is partly just an excuse and I could make more effort, but to be honest, self promotion terrifies me. SouthwarkBelle has just been an outlet for rants. A place where I can type them out and send them off into an infinite, digital world. Rather than have them all crashing about inside my one little skull. It’s also a place where I can save up all these memories that my kids keep throwing out. The big things like holidays that I’d probably remember anyway and the silly/funny/infuriating every day stuff that I wouldn’t. It’s all here in my little personal treasure trove of massive over share.

But I would like more readers. I had one little moment of fame when Kirstie Allsopp promoted one of my posts on twitter but otherwise it could well just be my Mum and a few facebook friends reading this. So, I need to put in some effort. *Deep breath* I’m going to a blogging event.

I’ve always avoiding these things in the past. The idea of trotting about with a name badge on and “networking” fills me with a quiet, despairing resignation when it’s work related. So paying to do it in my spare time has never really appealed. But the programme for this event has finally tempted me out of my safe little online cave. As well as a whole pile of successful bloggers there are authors such as Lionel Schriver (We Need To Talk About Kevin), campaingers, including Laura Bates of the Everyday Sexism Project and even a few science/techy types including Professor Tanya Byron. Oh and it’s all topped off by my local Comedian Jo Brand (hmm wonder if she’d be up for sharing a cab home…)

So, *another deep breath* I’ll be there! Even though I know almost no one else who is going. If you see a stupidly tall woman standing on her own, probably at the bar,* pretending to be engrossed in twitter do say hello. If I instantly say something nonsensical, forget who you are two seconds after you told me or fail to recognise the name of your mega successful blog, please forgive me. I’m a newbie (and have been for some time now).

SB
* Is there a bar? There is a bar right? I don’t get out much…at some point there will be a bar???