Darren Straight's Blog

ICT Enthusiast and photographer.

By - Darren Straight

My 21st Birthday and First Blog Anniversary!

Hey and welcome to my 21st Birthday party, that’s right today I’m 21 years old, and it’s not just my birthday that I’m celebrating as I’m also celebrating the creation of this website and blog, as it was exactly a year ago today on my 20th Birthday that I decided to start this website and blog.

And wow what a great time I’ve had, I’ve done so many new things and meet so many new people that I wouldn’t stopย  blogging for all the money in the world, because though it’s good to have money in life, the experiences I’ve been through with my blog are priceless and therefore irreplaceable!

Just think if it wasn’t for this blog I may have never got to where I am now in the world of beta testing for Microsoft, because previously I had done some beta testing on various programs from Microsoft but It didn’t really take off until I started blogging because that’s when I fully realised that change was taking place within Microsoft, not a bad change but rather a good change a change for the better that is slowly taking away peoples dislikes for Microsoft, especially with Windows Live and Microsoft’s Commitment to the customers!

So what have I managed to do or accomplish in the last year with this blog and my extensive list of good friend connections, well here’s a small list of some of them:

Being invited to test Mail Beta out in its early stages,
Being invited to test a whole range of Microsoft Products and Services.
Being invited to the Windows Live Sessions in London, thanks to Heaven.
Being invited to beta test the new Box.net site, a virtaul storage space.
Being invited to beta test Ziki, a new social networking tool.
Being able to attend the first BritBlog Meet up.
Being contacted by a writer for MSN who wanted to know what I thought about CafeMSN.
Being able to meet new people.

Now though that’s some of what I’ve managed to do and accomplish it’s not a complete list yet as there’s still many more things I would like to do and accomplish and though a lot of what I would like to do doesn’t involve me using my blog, you have to remember that blogs are powerful tools that can help in your process of accomplishing many things, here’s a small list of things I would like to do:

Parachuting and Scuba Diving.
Meet up with some good friends I talk to on msn.
Run the London marathon someday.
Dive down to the Titanic, costly but possible!
Get a girlfriend; yes I’m single girls!
Make even more friends, give me a call!

Now like I said, that list isย only a smallย list of things I would like to do, there’s so much more I would like to do or accomplish but it’s finding the time the money and sometimes the physical and mental strength to do them with, as some things like going to space would be a dream come true but unfortunately I don’t have that kind of money to go there right now.

But hey why the need to go to space when I have so many people here that care about me, family, friends and work colleges, you’ve all been there for me when I needed you the most, thanks a million, I love you all, you’re the best! ๐Ÿ˜€

And special thank to one dear friend called Aleida who even sent me a birthday card from the Netherlands her home country, now how cool is that, thanks Aleida I hope you don’t mind me mentioning your name here, you’re great! ๐Ÿ˜€

Also thanks goes to Laurent for leaving me happy birthday messages on various sites and forums I go too, it was a nice thing to do and I really appreciate it. ๐Ÿ™‚

And last but not least thank you to everybody else who has wished me a happy birthday today, I can’t thank you enough.

Ok so what’s next for me, well I’m not really sure, life is full of surprises, and that’s what makes life so exciting, the fact that you never know what’s going to happen next!

I think I’ll just take it as it comes.

Now if excuse me I have some things to do before going out tonight, funny thing is I have to wear this massive badge, haha!

Thanks again everybody, give me a call anytime you would like to talk to somebody as I’ll always be there for you in times of need.

P.S. I Might update later with some photos and some blog statistics, but hey while you wait why don’t you all let me know what would you like to see me blogging about in the future and why . ๐Ÿ™‚

Update: Added photo!

8 thoughts on “My 21st Birthday and First Blog Anniversary!

Samuel June 11, 2006 at 6:46 pm

wow I read your blog every day. Had no idea I was ~7 months older than you. Way cool.

Laurent Van Winckel June 11, 2006 at 7:30 pm

Aleida’s birthday present is quite original, I like that hehe.
3 things you’ll be able to accomplish:
– london marathon, yes you will!! If you do, I’ll come to London just to participate to the race and meet you.
– meet online friends: duhhh, see above ๐Ÿ™‚
– get a girlfriend: you’re getting closer darren!! Somebody likes you, she didn’t forget about you, and you know who it is, lol.

Jack June 11, 2006 at 7:58 pm

Happy Birthday the cards in the post! ๐Ÿ˜‰

Romain June 12, 2006 at 3:15 pm

happy birthday from Paris Darren !

Darren Straight June 12, 2006 at 6:11 pm

Hey Samuel for a second then I thought you were somebody else I know who is also older than me and also says Way Cool, she\’s female though, but hey I\’m glad you read my blog, it\’s always good to know who does, so thank you for reading and commenting!

And hey Laurent thanks for the offer and yes I am getting closer but not to who you think or is it! ๐Ÿ˜‰

Thanks Jack, shame you dont know my address though, unless youve asked henrik or cathy! ๐Ÿ™‚

And hey Romain thank you ever so much, I should come to Paris again sometime! ๐Ÿ˜€

Robert Gale June 13, 2006 at 8:31 am

Happy birthday and happy blogiversary! Sorry I’m a little late.

Darren Straight June 13, 2006 at 10:34 am

Better late than never Robert, so thank you! ๐Ÿ˜€

My 1000 Blog Post! » Darren Straight’s Blog November 1, 2006 at 8:05 pm

[…] My 21st Birthday and First Blog Anniversary! […]

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