Melanie22

First of all I have to say a big thank you to all the people who have put the effort into organising all of this and to everyone who took the time to participate. Keeping this level of interest alive and motivating people to keep active on these boards is not easy, so anything that helps deserves recognition! You are appreciated. And I have to say it was great fun voting as well, even though making choices was hard because the quality of some of the pieces out there is awe inspiring. To then be told later that some mad fool had in fact nominated something of mine actually made my day. Don't you just love insanity ..it rocks! Anyway, even though I'm making light of it I am really touched that someone cared enough to put EHS up there.even if expressing how I feel about it in words is hard. Come on I'm British..we don't do this sort of thing!

 

Also at this point I would like to congratulate all the other winners. Some of my all time favourites are here. To see such a variety of styles being recognised and to see old and newer faces there too made it even more special...and gave me hope that these places are in good hands. May you all keep writing for years to come!

 

Reading through some of the great stories by the above mentioned writers and through others posted at the different sites makes me realise how lucky I was to stumble into this world. I feel a little like Alice sometimes, in this alternate universe which feels so much like home. I can't even remember how I got here (never trust bloody white rabbits that's what I say!) but finding a place where I could write and then get replies from all over the world just amazed me, still amazes me! Being a part of this environment is addictive, satisfying and such good fun. So all you newbies out there, thinking of taking the plunge, just do it. Nibble on that God damn biscuit labelled 'eat me' and sip from the bottle next to it with 'drink me' written all over it. I'm telling you once you squeeze through the tiny door into Wonderland you'll never want to come back out. In addition, the weird and wonderful characters you'll get to know and hate (sorry love) along the way will make the experience even more magical.

 

Finally I suppose I ought to mention EHS here as it sort of encapsulates all of the previously mentioned emotions for me. The writing of it spans my time on the boards. The opening to it was one of the first things I ever posted, a one off short story when I first found PoTL. Months later I came back to it, altered it slightly and continued it..so it's sort of old and new at the same time. Now whenever I read through the first chapter it always reminds me of the excitement and nervousness I felt when I first started out...and amazes me I had the nerve to do it! The other chapters sort of stand as markers to the time spent here and the people I've met, especially as the replies get a little more personal and the names of those reading become more familiar. It also, as with all things posted here by myself and others, stands as tribute to our love of all things P/J and I guess at the end of the day that's what it's all about. I just wanted to explore how close I could make our favourite couple during season 4 and still keep events and some of the angst from the show in there..and Joey , bless her, is trying so hard to be good.

 

So once again thank you to everyone who voted, and the organisers but especially to those who keep reading and leaving replies. Long may you continue..and long may these boards continue to flourish.