It’s always so much fun to meet a friend in real life, especially one who you’ve been following online and you’ve read most of her books.
And meeting Toni was no exception. We’d been in touch for a while and Toni suggested that the next time I visited Canberra we should catch up, so we arranged to meet in a cafe in the city. We decided we didn’t need to wear carnations in our pockets as we figured we’d be able to recognise each other, which we did without any problem!
Toni is a talented author of many books, a traveller and a grandmother and it was fabulous to meet up with her. We chatted away like old friends and discovered we had so much in common 🙂 She’s just as I’d imagined, a beautiful soul inside and out!
My family are becoming much more accustomed to my meeting up with random strangers (their words not mine) and left us to it! Hardly any mentions of axe-wielding, drug crazed truck drivers as has happened in the past 🙂
I’m a huge fan of meet ups, are you?

It’s harder than you think to go Wordless, so I’ve decided to just give up and just use some words if I feel like it!
Feel free to join in by posting a photo using the hashtag #WordlessWednesday – it’s quite a fun and easy post each week!
All my Wordless Wednesday posts can be found by clicking this link
Enjoy your Wednesday – whatever you get up to 🙂
Deb x
Sharing for the weekly Midlife Share the Love #mlstl linkup
You can also find Deb’s World in lots of other places – stay in touch by clicking any of the buttons below.
Sweet post!
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Thanks, I really enjoyed meeting Toni and love the connection bloggers have before they even meet 🙂
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How lovely for you both, Deb and I wish I had been there. As you know Toni and I went to the same High School but it wasn’t until a school reunion about 3 years ago that we really connected and became friends. What a lovely photo of you both – you are great examples of Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond. Have a beautiful day and thanks for sharing at #MLSTL. xx
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Yes Due, it was so good to meet Toni and I knew of your history! We are both going well and I love your comment ❤️
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Hi, Deb – You know that I love blogger meetups! You and Toni both look fabulous. I’m glad to read that your family (read her ‘the mathematician’) is now getting more comfortable with these gatherings.
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Yes it’s just a jig joke to him these days but he still likes to trot it out each time!! Thanks Donna!
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How lovely to meet up in person. We do make some wonderful friends via the blogging world. Some days words are required xx #mlstl
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Yes I agree, some days words are required. Thanks for understanding 😊
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Hi Deb – A lovely photo of you and Toni. Another proof to ease your family’s concerns about meeting bloggers. I had a few wonderful blogger meet-ups this year, including meeting Sue and Donna at the same table in Victoria. #MLSTL
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Thanks Natalie. We are so lucky to get to met our blogging friends in real life aren’t we? I loved reading your story.
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I love meetups too! My husband was suspicious the first time and insisted on going with me. After that, he was hooked and wants to go because it’s so much fun.
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Yes suspicious minds and all that! But I’ve enjoyed every blogger I’ve met in real life. Thanks Janis.
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Well, not suspicious like that, he just wanted to make sure I wasn’t meeting up with an axe murderer.
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LOL. This post is hardly wordless, but if it was, and you had posted only the image, I would have gotten that you were meeting with a special friend. You two look as if you know each other’s secrets, and therefore are very close. Your smiles seem effortless, not simply because smiling is what you do for the camera. Yep, you probably could have kept if wordless, but I was happy to read of your joy at being with your special friend. Your words made the image super special. For a not so Wordless Wednesday, that’s very good indeed! 🙂
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What a fabulous comment, thanks so much!
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You are very welcome. Highest and Best!💥
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I’m absolutely a fan of the blogger meet-up. We know each other’s voices so somehow it’s easy because of that…
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Yes that’s exactly how it is Jo!
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That is a lovely photo of both of you. I love to meet other bloggers; unfortunately, not many are making their way down to NZ. Luckily for me, I enjoyed the ones I did do in the UK, that includes meeting you. Might have to head over the ditch and catch up with a few of you. #MSTL
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Come over and visit me across the ditch!!
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One day we will, I’ll let you know in plenty of time 😊
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What fun and such a great photo Deb! I remember Toni because she has been a guest on Sue’s blog (Sizzling Sue) and if I remember correctly she went to high school with Sue. I haven’t yet read any of her books but I hope to! I love a meet up with bloggers. Haven’t had one in quite a while though! xo
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Yes they were at school together so it was fun meeting Toni after meeting Sue earlier this year. Hope you’re feeling better now.
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What fun. Glad you had a meet up. I guess that makes me a random stranger too!
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Yes you were a random stranger but now you’re a friend too 😊
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Well that was a bit of a weird moment for me – I always associate Toni with Sue because of their friendship – it looks like the six degrees of separation are much less once you hit blogging circles! Great that you got to meet up and enjoy each other’s company – and that you connected so well.
Thanks for linking up with us at MLSTL and I’ve shared on my SM 🙂
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Yes it actually feels a bit weird having met Toni and Sue and knowing their shared history! Both are lovely bright sparkly women who I now call my friends! Thanks for sharing.
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I’m so glad you got to meet up with a favorite author, Deb. I’m also an avid reader and I think it would be fascinating to meet one of my favorite authors. The closest thing I have, right now, is belonging to a book chat site. Thanks for sharing another interesting post.
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Yes it is always good fun meeting up with writers and bloggers Christina. I asked her lots of questions about how she writes and learnt a lot. It’s great to have your thoughts on my posts. Thank you for being so supportive 😊
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How fun! And I’m jealous. Blogging is a lonely world and I am looking forward to the day I can meet a fellow blogger in person.
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I know what you mean about blogging being a lonely world at times, but I am now in a position to think of my blogging friends as real friends and I love the community I’m a part of. I no longer feel lonely and I hope you can get to that place too. Hope you can meet up with blogging friend in real life, it’s always such fun! It’s a case of reaching out sometimes, so good luck 🙂
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Love the bloggy meet ups and yes, if they are ‘strangers’ to the family they sure are not for us! I hope we get to do this too one day. And BIG thank you for displaying my linky up on your page. Much appreciated.\
Denyse #mlstl
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Yes I hope we can meet up one day too Denyse! Love sharing our blogging connections on my blog 🙂
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You were up for Floriade? We should have caught up for a coffee too… next time
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Yes we should catch up Albert, after I’m back from the UK we will try to make it work.
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I agree with you, Deb, Meeting a friend in real life is fun and better than I would have even imagined. Too funny on the carnations. My husband was slightly wary in the beginning on me meeting “strangers.” Now, he sometimes joins in on the meeting. A great photo of the both of you! #MLSTL
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I’m glad you got the carnation reference Erica! Strangers are just friends we haven’t met yet 🙂 Thanks for the comment on our photo, we posed well!
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Glad to see you stretch the rules on Wordless Wednesday to as-few-words-as-possible Wednesday. It is so hard for me to just post a photo with no explanation. I am envious every time I read about bloggers meeting up. I don’t think there is a blogger within 400 miles of me!! Glad you and Toni discovered so many commonalities.
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Thanks Leslie for your understanding at my stretching the rules for Wordless Wednesday posts 🙂 I do enjoy a meetup and I’m sorry you aren’t able to do it!
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