Monday 25 March 2013

I am such stuff as dreams are made on


Nothing is forever.  I know that, you know that, we all know that.  Life is all about change and transformation, metamorphosis in its many forms!  I was once Clio the Muse on Wikipedia.  I awoke almost four years ago here as Ana the Imp.  But now I am breaking free of that chrysalis.  It’s time for me to dry my wings and fly away.  There are great changes coming in my life.  Most important of all I’m expecting a little imp!  At one time this is not something I thought I would welcome.  But now I do, a new challenge, my own offering to the future.  I have so much to think about and so much to do, new foundations to put down.  I just want to thank everyone who has contributed here, friends old and new.  Goodbye and good fortune to you all. 
Our revels now are ended. These our actors,
As I foretold you, were all spirits, and
Are melted into air, into thin air:
And like the baseless fabric of this vision,
The cloud-capp'd tow'rs, the gorgeous palaces,
The solemn temples, the great globe itself,
Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve,
And, like this insubstantial pageant faded,
Leave not a rack behind. We are such stuff
As dreams are made on; and our little life
Is rounded with a sleep.

66 comments:

  1. Just saw this Ana!

    Heart-felt congratulations . . . you will be a wonderful mother!

    If anyone can redeem the Campbells, it will be you! :)

    Very best wishes, your friend Chris

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    1. Thank you, dear Chris. I really appreciate that. :-)

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  2. Ana, congratulations on little imp! All the very best for the adventures that lie ahead.

    It has been a true pleasure getting to know you through these pages. I hope our paths cross again in the future.

    JR

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  3. My very best wishes for a brilliant future, Ana, whatever challenges await you. Some of the topics you have shared with us have been joyful, and some troubling, but there is so much to be hopeful for, and to work towards:

    The world is full of a number of things,
    I think we should all be as happy as kings.

    Until we hear from you again . . . good luck. CSQ

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    1. Thank you, Calvin, for your good wishes, your interest and your consistent loyalty.

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  4. I've enjoyed following your thoughts and adventures these last few years, Ana. I hope all goes well with the little one, and you have happiness in your private realm.

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    1. Thanks Mark. I've enjoyed your thoughts also. :-)

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  5. Congratulations Ana. I'll offer the same advice that I always offer prospective parents: don't listen to any advice. I know this is logically incoherent, but I think you will know what I mean. I will miss your blog: best read of the day.

    By the way, if you're ever in Hong Kong, do feel free to look me up.

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  6. Congratulations Ana! Extremely sorry though to read of your departure. Always read your work but seldom commented.

    My best wishes for the future - you will be sorely missed.

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    1. Thank you, you lovely voice from Witney. :-)

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  7. Ana, that's wonderful news!!! The most life-changing, all-encompassing challenge you will ever face! I'm sure you are more than up to it!

    You have here run a most fine salon, where intelligent and civil conversation and opinions have always been given their due, and where rigour never, but never, gave way to tedium! It has been a great pleasure to read your words of wit and wisdom over those years. I'm sure you will continue to be a voice of civility and reason and decency in a world that has mostly gone mad.

    In any case, thank you for the inspiration and your part in all the discussions - and all the very best for the most exciting and wonderful next stage of your life!

    Dominic

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    1. Thank you, dear, dear Dominic. Your generosity moves me.

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  8. Congratulations Ana!

    As the proud father of three children of my own I can safely say that it is both a life-changing and a life-affirming experience, the only true way we can achieve any kind of personal immortality as we pass on our values, our thoughts and our genes to our offspring.

    And I hope you will still find time to tweet even if the blog writing is now on hiatus.

    So congratulations once again and best wishes for the future!

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  9. Goodbye and all the best for the future.

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  10. Congratulations. I will miss your articles very much.

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    1. And I will miss your thoughtful thoughts. :-)

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  11. I don't like goodbyes so I leave you with this: Pray to the moon when she is round, Luck with you will then abound, What you seek for shall be found, On the sea or on the ground...As Above, So Below

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    1. I don't like goodbyes either, Anthony. I'm now feeling a little sad. I will miss you, one of my most consistently loyal readers. Thank you for those lovely words.

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  12. Congratulations! I hope you have a good pregnancy and a beautiful child. Do let the unwashed masses know where we can find you next, reading your posts has been very interesting.

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  13. Congratulations, Ana. Life changing events indeed.

    Thank you for all your interesting insights into your world.

    Take good care of yourself and the little one.

    With kind regards,

    Aramina

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    1. Araminta, how wonderful! Thank you so much. :-)

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  14. Congratulations and enjoy your motherhood.It will take you to new heights (and lows sometimes)


    Best of luck

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    1. UT, I'm both exhilarated and a little apprehensive. I suppose there is nothing new in that. :-) Many thanks.

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  15. Goodbye Ana.

    It has been great reading your posts. Sometimes I disagreed, sometimes they were challenging, sometimes they caused an "Oh God! Why didn't I write that!!" moment. But they were all purposeful and articulate.

    You have a great deal of ability. Please ensure you use it in the future in defence of our ravaged little land. But in the meantime have a great time as a mother.
    Farewell.
    Love & Kisses
    Billo

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  16. Feeling that way it is just how it all starts. It is hard not to,especially for a women i presume . Exhilaration though, will take the lead of the two once you hold your baby in your arms. I have known you for a very short time and through this very fine internet corner ,but I am confident you will make a superb mother.


    Cheers


    Alban.

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    1. Alban, I'm so moved. I do not say this lightly.

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  17. so exciting- I WILL give you some advice- there is a wonderful book called the Baby Whisperer that transformed my daughter's and her 6 week old son's lives. i have always been an intuitive and perceptive mum rather than a mother who tries to force outside schedules on babies but this book goes even further. For example babies have four different cries one for pain, hunger, tired and a burp - it makes mothering so much easier
    all the best, all my love, this baby will be the most wonderful thing you have yet experienced-trust me
    -motherofnine9

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    1. Thank you so much, Melanie. I've now ordered this book on your advice. :-)

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  18. I just came across this Ana. Congratulations. I am so pleased for you.

    This has been one of the best sites I know and I will miss it badly

    You'll still be reviewing books, I trust? I can't think of the Web without you.

    Lots of love from your

    Badger
    xx

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  19. Just saw this. Congratulations Ana!

    This has been one of the best sites I know; I'll miss it.

    You'll still be reviewing books, won't you? Say you will.

    My Web life won't be the same without you.

    Love from your

    Badger
    xx

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    1. Thank you, dear, dear, Badger. For you I shall from time to time.

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  20. Do keep in touch, sweetie. I'll miss trying to make you blush, and trying to sound smart enough to keep up with you. Love and Merry Part, Joe aka Coll

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    1. Thanks, Coll. Ah, there is no merry part for us. Always we shall be merry in meet. :-)

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  21. Our past defines us.. Our future drives us..!

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    1. And we should do our best to define it well. :-)

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  22. Another good blog bites the dust.
    My blogs folder is getting very thin now.
    But, having said that, have fun whatever you decide to do.
    Enjoy your family life. In 30 years time your child/children will be grown up, but will still be children to you.

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  23. Kids are a blessing, surely. There is something new to do with them at each age. Its like you get to show someone everything you know, and they actually kinda care. Sometimes I can't get my son to watch what I used to love to watch, but that's okay. Anyways, I stumbled upon your blog, dear stranger, when I googled the word aviatrix. And just the same, life is ups and downs, and there is something to see in both places. Sometimes I reflect on the "worst" time of my life and miss it, somehow. Regrets turn into lessons learned, and fears into wisdom. Muhammad, sallallualaheiwasalam said that only good can come from good. In other words if you do good things (righteous things) it can only lead to good things. And sometimes what seems 'bad' is for a reason, it ends up being good. whatever challenge a person has to face. Anyways, kids are always good. the worst thing is they grow up. its like when you are a kid you cant wait to grow up. when you have a kid you want them to be more independent (not that they dont do cute stuff the whole time, but damn, change diapers and feed them and clothe them)and you want them to be older so you can do more fun things with you, but then they get old and they rebel against you and then ditch you and its sad. Then they get a little bit older again and they come back. then you get old and you depend on then. something like that...

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    1. Alan, I hope to pass on all of the wisdom and love that was once passed on to me.

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  24. Ana I am sorry I have been remiss in visiting your site. I would like to wish you every happiness and success in all you do, it will be remarkable, of that I am assured, I think you already are a mother,and far more too.

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    1. Thank you Richard. :-) You are always welcome; you always will be welcome.

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  25. Ah Congratulations Ana!
    I'm kind of excited about the kinds of post that will come after you give birth.
    I bet you will have some very insightful ways to your new life that are ahead of you. :)
    In a good way of course.

    Let me just say that the first art of being a parent consists in sleeping when the baby isn't looking. So make sure you do that! :D

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  26. Spring greetings from Poland. I invite you to watch of crocuses.
    http://marciento.wordpress.com/2013/04/15/finally-spring-crocuses-2/

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  27. I just stumbled throughout your blog as I had been looking on Yahoo. I need to thanks for using the time for you to share your ideas in your weblog. I will be sure to bookmark your website for long term reading through.

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  28. All the best and much good luck, Ana.

    Nobby.

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    1. Thanks, Nobby. It's so nice to hear from you. :-)

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  29. Thanks for the great articles!! I'm sure your child will receive much love and intellectual food :-)

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  30. Congratulations, Ana. What an exciting change.
    I wish you all the best.

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  31. Hello friends, my visit to your
    greetings introductions,
    I am happy to find your blog very good
    and I've been following your blog to ()
    If you do not mind please visit my blog and follow back
    greetings to your success and thank you

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    1. Yes, sure, but I've retired from the blogosphere.

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  32. oh dear, this is tragic - I just joined this blog, and saw it was already over. Hope you read this sometime. I was actually just checking out your blog to simply *beg* you to return to wikipedia, even just once in a while. Ok, there's this thing with the baby, and, oh well, that takes some time. But any spare moment you can spent banishing silly crackpots and trolls, and gifting us with your golden prose, would be so welcome. Just a desperate thought, but Wikipedia is generally my solace, and was so much better when you were there.

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    1. Dem, you are so kind. I'm generally quite tired - my baby is due next month - and finding it very difficult to cope with the other tasks before me. Still I will give your request some serious thought.

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