My journeys through the dramatic paddy fields of AOL Utopia and now Facebook have been interesting, thoughtful, joyful and bloody annoying.

Social media and the Internet has given me a lot of joy and a lot of frustration at times, but on the whole I have always found it a useful tool to catch up with old friends and also to meet new people, who (if they play their cards right!) could also end up being friends! LOL

I have met some really wonderful people through the media of social media (I like that!), which in turn has led to me meeting them in real life.   I have met acquaintances, friends and, on occasions, lovers too!

Some of the people I now class as good friends (and in one very important case – my partner!) I have met online.. the online part being the beginning of the friendship and real life meetings and camping trips confirming the relationship.

Some of my original online friends have seen me through a number of bad times in my life .. heartbreak, losing my business and my house, the death of friends and family and I am truly grateful for all the time and patience they have given me.

They have also seen me through some naughty times .. but I won’t mention them on here!

So to all my online friends ..    THANKS! .. and here is to many more years, meets and camping trips!