Thursday 3 January 2019

Reflections 2018

As another year appears, I feel far behind but am also amazed at how much has happened (collapsed) this year (oops, I must get used to saying "last year").   At home we had the oven repaired, a new heater, a new switchboard and a new modem.  My computer had problems twice and my blog was hacked twice.  Even at work we had a huge office move.  And it was a tough year with ill health and hard times affecting those around me.

Not surprisingly there was less baking but we did have Netflix for the first time this year.  Sylvia was a bit more independence, with learning to bake pizza and cakes, she tried scouts but preferred gymnastics, and she was a huge fan of Coles little shoppers.  It was great to have time out on a few trips away: Ocean Grove, Sydney, and Mount Hotham

Statistics
In 2018 my blogging energy was lagging.  I was surprised to see that I had posted slightly more than the previous year (thanks to participating in Vegan MoFo):

123 blog posts
29 photos accepted on FoodGawker
10 cafe reviews linked to Zomato
432 likes on FaceBook

My stats are ok but my energy for commenting and blog events was certainly lower.  So it seems I am still posting but am connecting less.

For example there were less links to my blog from other round ups than other years.  It feels like perhaps this is a result of the competition for such round ups getting tougher as the internet gets more beautiful and more instagrammable.  But I also know it means that I have less energy for putting myself out there, for social media, and for making great photos and recipes.

So bouquets to sheknows.com, tin and thyme and vegan mofo for linking to my blog in round ups and brickbats to those who shall not be named and shamed; those who missed the discussions on blog ethics and have felt happy to take my images but not link back to me.

And as usual many thanks to the blog events I have been featured in, especially In My Kitchen, Eat Your Greens and the sadly departed We Should Cocoa

Most popular recipes of 2018
As I have found previously, Google Analytics and Blogger numbers are very different.  According to Blogger my stats went down substantially from March but not according to Google Analytics.  Did Blogger change some algorithms?   Here is my top ten recipes from Google Analytics:

1. Sloth slice
2. Vegan haggis burgers
3. Tree house birthday cake 
4. Sushi with broccoli, edamame and pickled carrots
5. Thai pumpkin, corn and chickpea stew
6. S'mores slice, vegan marshmallows, Graham crackers
7. Watermelon poke salad bowl
8. Lentil, chickpea and tomato salad
9. Sweet and sour tofu
10. Malted chocolate cake

My best of 2018
This is my personal reflections on what I encountered this year rather than what was published this year:
    Never got around to blogging this Ottolenghi cauliflower salad
    What we enjoyed eating in 2018

    Happy New Year

    Finally I turn to the new year.  I am very lucky to be able to take holidays for all of January and am enjoying days of long sleeps with no rush to get ready in the morning.  We will have some time in Sydney and I expect there will also be days at the pool, the beach, the movies, coffees, playdates etc before I try to remember where I work and what I do there!

    I hope I will have some time for blogging over the summer holidays - I already have a few Christmas posts to catch up on.  We planned a gingerbread house for Christmas day but finished it just in time for New Year's Eve.  So I am chasing my tail but getting stuff done!

    Resolutions aren't my thing!  I plan to keep blogging but expect it will not be at any great rate.  Life just gets busier and busier.  It is not what it was when I started blogging almost 12 years ago and that makes me sad but there is still so much joy and inspiration in blogging.

    Gratitude is however something I will happily indulge in.  As such I want to send huge thanks and appreciations to you for hanging in there to read each next post, to comment, to like, to send feedback any way you can. (And there are just so many ways to connect these days that it is confusing so I am grateful to anyone who navigates the digital maze to find me.)  I am grateful to those who have discussed recipes with me, shared food and go E who has done the dishes to keep my head above water over the festive craziness.  I am very grateful to have a daughter who loves cooking and will make pizza to be ready to eat when I get home from work!

    So I wish you a happy new year of robust health and frequent laughter, of fun discoveries and cosy comforts, of good food and good company.  I look forward to you returning to my little corner of the digital world and sharing the foodie conversations and connections.  Happy New Year!

    18 comments:

    1. Johanna- what a great post documenting an action packed year! I have added your favorite books to my to-read pile. Wishing you and your loved one a most wonderful 2019!

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      1. Thanks Nupur - hope you get through all the books - highly recommend them. Have a great 2019

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    2. Dear Johanna. Thank you for your lovely blog. It is one of the earliest I followed years ago and I have enjoyed reading about your life and family. I love the type of food you cook and have tried many of your recipes. I hope 2019 is a good year for you.

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      1. Thanks Melissa - thanks for commenting - so lovely to hear that you enjoy my recipes and my blog - many warm wishes for 2019

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    3. Happy new year, Johanna! Fantastic that you have all of January off work, I hope you're able to rest and refresh in that time.

      I can relate to the lower blog energy you've described. I like to think that I'm going for quality over quantity these days. :)

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      1. Thanks Cindy - I have had some nice long sleeps and am now trying to catch up with people and to tackle some mess around the house. I like the quality over quantity approach - think I might be heading that way! Love how your blog is still delivering lots of stuff I want to read - have a great 2019

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    4. Great round up Johanna. It is good to look back on what you have achieved during the year. Fantastic that Sylvia cooks for you. Happy New Year!

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      1. Thanks Cakelaw - I enjoy these reflection posts even though they take a while - I actually sometimes look back at them too more than individual post!

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    5. Happy new year! I hope this comment works as I always have problems commenting on blogspot blogs :/ A great roundup and look back at the year-- you did heaps!

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      1. Thanks Veganopoulous - glad that blogger let you in - you know I always would! It does look busy when I look back!

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    6. Happy new year Johanna. It is lovely to log on and step back into your kitchen / reflections and hear about the highlights of your 2018. I have lots of tabs open with posts to read and comment on at leisure but will start with this one and wish you a very happy year ahead.

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      1. Thanks Kari - lovely to hear from you - if you only read one post in the year, this is probably the one to read - happy reading!

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    7. Happy new year! I'm glad you're still blogging, however you busy you are - any posts are appreciated over here. I love the recipes, I love your random thoughts and music recommendations, and I love visiting your corner of the internet. Looking forward to more in 2019.

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      1. Thanks Joey - it's always lovely to have your thoughtful comments and I am every bit of appreciative of your interesting blog posts! Looking forward to having you over this year and spending time in your corner too!

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    8. Happy New Year! I am so glad you keep posting here and wish you enough energy for everything that comes your way in 2019!

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      1. Thanks Alcessa - lovely to hear from you - hope you have a great 2019

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    9. I say it every year and I will say it again. I love your blog Johanna. I understand the low energy for blogging, but appreciate it when you take the time to do so.
      PS we are fans of Guy Pearce (I actually fancy him, don't tell D) and look forward to seeing the third series of Jack Irish (we buy it on DVD). Warmest of wishes x

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      1. Thanks Shaheen - please keep saying it, always makes me smile! I am a bit fan of Guy Pearce too - and love Jack Irish - can see why you would buy the DVD. It is a lovely view of Melbourne (he lives in Fitzroy where I used to live and goes to UniMelb which I love in this series - but my life was never so exciting or dangerous)

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