Ever since starting my PBASE odyssey I have been amazed and awe-inspired by the things that have happened.

One of the first things that happened after I started was deeply unpleasant and I almost stopped posting stuff straight away. But I decided that I was on a mission to continue this journey and so I persevered. Later I got thrilled by getting more and more hits on my pics. I also found I liked getting positive messages from strangers, many of whom I now count as friends. That goes for both PBASERs and non-PBASERs alike – ‘meeting’ Teresa has been such a happy/sad experience – happy to find a friend from the other side of the world and a deep sadness at her terrible story that I have recounted already. I also correspond with a number of other folks from outside PBASE and (duh) only realised relatively recently that a lovely lady called Susie who often comments (and I sometimes get my act together enough to send her a reply) is Jeanne’s cousin!!! As for the PBASERs – well, what a brill lot on the whole…..(except for Mr Angry – guess who – who winds me up by blaming me for all the ills of the PotD community for some weird reason????!!!!).

Then I found myself with a no 1 gallery in the populars and that was very satisfying because I didn’t start this for the photos, I started it so I could write my stuff. I don’t regard myself as much of a photographer at all. Mind you, I do believe the experience has made me a much better photographer than I was at the start. As I’ve said before, DM calls me the master of illusion – he says I photograph stuff that’s not there. (Which I regard as a compliment.) When he says to me ‘today’s pic is fantastic’ I know it’s really good because he’s a hugely critical and highly competent photographer. Lately he’s commented on my election day pic and my broken heart pic. Woo hoo.

I’ve also had my share of stupid/spiteful/plain daft guest comments as everyone else has too. (But the delete button is a wonderful thing.)

But the phenomenon I find myself a part of now is just so bizarre that I felt I must comment again. I had an idea for a pic a few weeks ago that I’d got stored up for a quiet day. That day happened two weeks ago and I took the first of the ‘handbag pics’. Since that day, there have been women (both PBASERs and non-PBASERs) who have wanted to share the contents of their bags too – the gallery is growing and the interest is too. I really didn’t think it would become such a ‘cult classic’. I am so thrilled by this strange and wonderful thing that I’m quite taken aback.

So, a toast to all the handbag brigade – I salute you all – thanks for making a dull-day’s pic so much fun! Oh and if you want to send me yours…..pmail me.

This photo is opportunistic in as much as I needed an image to illustrate my story and was scraping around looking for something. I came across these on the dining table having used them in a prop for ‘Vote for Me’. Eureka I thought, perfect to illustrate my story.

Oh and Jeanne - this is the key you need - not that big old thing in your pic of h/cs!!!