The British Berliner is 6 years old. It’s my birthday and I’ll sing if I want to!

It’s my blog birthday!

Hip! Hip! Hurrah!

OMG!

I can’t believe that on Monday, October 21st, my blog was 6 years old.

Honestly, I can’t quite believe that just 72 months ago on an Autumn Sunday evening, I decided to put pen to paper and open up a social media thingy.

I mean, when I first started, I didn’t even know what social media was all about, and I had never ever met a blogger.

Never, ever.

In real life!

And apart from Facebook and who isn’t on Facebook? I knew zilch about social media.

Yep! Yours truly had known nothing about Twitter. Nothing at all!

I mean, I knew it, but I didn’t know it – know it!

But I quickly learnt.

I went to the ITB in Berlin and one afternoon, the Head of the European Branch of Twitter did a workshop and showed us step-by-step how it worked. And that was it!

My Twitter page was open and ready to go!

Tweets by britishberliner

Oh, I used to have a travel diary that was purely set up for friends and family, but this blogging thing was something else.

This.

Was.

Real!

Six years.

Wow!

So much has taken place that I can hardly stand it.

As a result, this week’s post is going to be about that journey from when I wrote my first blog, to right now. Six years later. Here we go!

THE BRITISH BERLINER IS 6 YEARS OLD. IT’S MY BIRTHDAY AND I’LL SING IF I WANT TO!

Before we go on, why did I start this blog anyway…..?

At the beginning of 2014, I told you that The Tall Young Gentleman was a member of the Boy Scouts of America: Troop 46. Some of the American mothers were new in town and not only was I the only British parent but I was also the New Parent Co-Ordinator at the time….

One of the mothers asked me about skiing in Europe. I recommended the Czech Republic.

Lots of my corporate clients ask me about Britain, I recommend London and my original home-town – Manchester.

Thousands!

OK, hundreds of people asked me about Germany.

I recommend Berlin of course and then I thought, why don’t I write about my favourite places and they can see for themselves?

So here we are!

My blog is six years old.

Golly!

It’s been an amazing ride. In fact, the last six years have been fantastic!

My blog is a flourishing toddler.

And I am exceedingly proud.

I’ve had an amazing collection of marvellous stories, visits, and adventures like how I met Prince William.

As you do!

A lot of people, bloggers in particular, don’t like the notion of luck and quite frankly, I’m not one to talk of fate, but when I happen to be in the right place at the right time, I don’t know what else to call it.

So I’m going to say it as I see it.

Are you ready?

Here it comes!

My toddler blog has been a resounding success because of the jolly good luck I’ve had, flowing with masses of enthusiasm, buckets of really hard work, and shaken and stirred with all the people I have met along the way, who have helped and supported me on my quest to being a fabulous British blogger.

There. I’ve said it!

But before we go any further, I would just like to thank some very important people.

You!

Yes YOU!

All of you.

Where would I be without your comments, your likes, your opinions and your reads?

Without you this blog would just be an empty piece of cyber-paper floating in the blogosphere. You have all been so amazing and supportive, reading my blog every week, and sharing it with all your friends, family, and associates.

I’ve even had people smiling and recognising me on the streets.

In Berlin.

One woman’s smile was so wide, when she discovered that I was just about to sit opposite her on the commuter train! Another guy saw me on my residential gentrified street and screamed outside his van window “Are you that blogger? The British one!” In German of course, so it sounded rather different!

A group of teenaged girls followed me about and giggled as I went shopping in my local supermarket. And being that I live in Berlin and not New York, I got thumbs up, the gruff “I saw you on TV” and appreciative looks when running around town with my signature stripped, dotted or Union Jack pop socks!

• I’ve spent an evening with Prince William & Kate Middleton
• I’ve been flown to London for the BBC
• I was invited for the Royal Reception of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle!
• I’ve been on TV as a sub-presenter on a panel of British experts – Die Queen in Berlin
• I’ve been featured in documentaries. Not just once, but quite a few times!
• I’ve been on British radio
• I’ve been on German radio
• I’ve been in the newspaper
• I’ve been in lifestyle magazines
• I was invited to join an international press team to promote Explore HANSA in Sweden, Estonia and Latvia
• I was invited to visit Georgia, by the Tbilisi City Hall
• I’ve been put on the postgraduate recruitment poster of my university!
• I’ve been invited to the German Parliament (Bundestag)
• I’ve spoken at serious academic panels on the issue of Europe, British people abroad, and Brexit
• I’ve been given awards as an expat writer
• I’ve even been in an independent film!

And I’ve travelled to 8 countries this year.

So far!

And in the era of Brexit, I’ve spoken about Brexit a million times over on TV, on live radio, in the German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel (my bit was under Berlin-Brexit Stories #2 on 15th January 2019 – 17:56) but sadly, it’s the gift that just keeps on giving ‘cos the mess and chaos isn’t over yet or likely to be for quite some time!

I’ve written a very comprehensive piece about what to do if you’re British and have no way to obtain dual citizenship, permanent residence, or any other thing. And sadly, what to do if it’s all too much and you simply want to go home.

As well as how to get German citizenship, if you’re British!

And all because of you.

Thank you so much! I love you all!

So let’s go back in time.

WHAT IS THIS BLOG ABOUT?

The British Berliner is a lifestyle expat travel blog about culture, history, travels around the world, Brexit, the Royal Family, Europe, and being British in Berlin!

It’s about a British girl from Manchester living in Berlin with her German husband and her half British – half German son, her promotion of British-German life, culture, history, literature, theatre, style, Europe, travels around the world, what she does in normal every day life and where she goes.

THE MOST POPULAR POST EVER

The most popular post is still the one that I wrote about Poland.

It was very tongue-in-cheek.

Most people got it, but at the same time most didn’t, so I got a lot of abuse for it.

Ah well!

The blog post was called: Going to Poland: 10 reasons not to go! This post shockingly went VIRAL and I have received 342 comments and up to 308,426 hits in my social media feed!

Three hundred and eight thousand, four hundred and twenty-six (308,426)!

That’s well over a quarter of a million views, hits and shares!

Wow!

Can you imagine that I wrote it five (5) years ago? And it’s still going as strong as ever!

Absolutely Amazing!

Thank you Poland!

I looooove you!!!

THE MOST IMPORTANT AND UTTERLY RELEVANT POST

As you all know, I’m a very proud British person.

However, after the very disappointing result of the Brexit Referendum in 2016, many of my fellow British citizens began to wonder whether the discussions and talks would lead to a better understanding of British / European relations, or a hardline stance.

Indeed, I even told a reporter of the Bloomberg newspaper that the only way you would get me out of this country, would be kicking and screaming!

But the writing on the wall was crystal clear, that British – European relations wasn’t going to get better anytime soon, but via Brexit, effectively worse.

I’ve written about both how to be British and how to be a German so it should come as no surprise when at the end of 2016, I decided to apply for dual British-German nationality, and then wrote this post: How to get German citizenship if you’re British – How to be a German via Double Nationality!

It seemed you all agreed ‘cos that article was so relevant in the ugly politics of Brexit, that it went VIRAL too!

And gosh!

I received close to 100,000 (one hundred thousand) in the figure of 95,964+ views, hits and shares on a post I wrote just a year ago!

Thaaaaaaank you!

THE MOST POPULAR BRITISH POST

Apart from the post: How to get German citizenship if you’re British – How to be a German via Double Nationality, the most popular British post was about me.

Literally About Me!

It seems that you’re all interested in me as a person.

You like what you see as I received 158 comments, and close to twelve thousand (11,676) views, hits and shares!

THE MOST POPULAR GERMANY POST

The most popular post is still actually the very first post, that I ever wrote on my blog! The title: Germany is Boring.

Ooops!

Yeah, I got insults and abuse for this post. Mainly from people who never read it.

It received 144 comments and over 50,338 views, shares and hits!

I wrote it exactly six (6) years ago, and it still hits a nerve!

Ah well, I’m famous now.

Right.

Right?!

THE MOST POPULAR BERLIN POST

I’ve been living in Berlin for more than 17 years and it really is a lovely city.

But it wasn’t always so.

And I should know.

Because one day I got scammed in the stupidest way ever.

And did I learn my lesson?

Not really, because when I tried to get my money back, I got scammed.

Again!

Incredible!

The post I wrote was: How I got scammed in Berlin!

Haw! Haw! Haw!

You obviously found it hilarious as up to five thousand readers viewed, hit and shared it!

Yay!

THE MOST POPULAR INTERNATIONAL POST

This title went to posts about Amsterdam.

I wrote three (3), but two (2) of them seemed to hit a nerve!

Eek!

You’re all pretty much liberal-minded and are tolerant on the European lifestyle circuit.

You were shocked, but not too upset to read the following post about what happened at the sex-show in Amsterdam!

Here it is: I went to a sex-show in the city of red lights and thin canals: That’s right. 48 hours in Amsterdam!!!

Having said that, you also seemed to be able to distinguish between family-friendly Amsterdam, and “the other one,” with this post: How to visit Amsterdam in two days. With a teenager!

I received 132 comments on my blog, but I have absolutely no idea how many comments were made throughout the social stratum as I couldn’t follow them anymore.

I also received more than 71,390 hits in my social media feed!

THE MOST POPULAR MOTIVATIONAL / ADVICE POST

You obviously love, or want to travel, and need help doing so, as the most popular post of advice was: How to visit Amsterdam in two days. With a teenager!

You also liked: How to use the train in Europe 2019 – 10 tips to help you!

Wow!

I have been asked to consult and give advice to people, because of the anxiety people have about terrorism throughout Europe, and to calm people’s fears.

If you’re concerned about travelling in Europe, and need a helping hand, I can advise you for an initial introductory fee of €50.00 for 60 minutes.

Communication would be either in English or German.

Send me an Email with your details, and we’ll take it from there – victoria@thebritishberliner.com

LET’S EXPLORE AND TRAVEL THE WORLD!

At the beginning of every new year, it’s the norm to think about what you did last year and what you’re going to do this year.

Travelling and living a life of quality struck a chord with many of you, as readers were worried about how to travel on a budget, how to get holidays / vacations, or even how to take the first step, so I told you how I do it in this post:  How I can afford a life of travel. Don’t choose. Have it all!

And this post: How I can afford a life of travel. Don’t choose. Have it all! But you have to take action to get it!!

And also this post: How I went to 8 exciting countries, went to India, lost my luggage & got trapped and confused in Delhi!

And most recently of all,

• Don’t do what I did: How I got scammed in Berlin!
• And if you want to travel to a place unknown or even, destinations where loads of other tourists go, you must read this, and learn: And while we’re at it – 7 other common travel scams to avoid!

Most of my readers are professional upper-middle-class people. Just like me.

Staying at a €5.00 hostel or jetting off to Cambodia on a whim, just isn’t an option these days. I mean, who would look after the dogs, cats, guinea pigs, rabbits or giant iguana?

No seriously.

Who?!!

Nevertheless, I shouldn’t fail to tell you that the post that totally changed my career from being just another blogger to being totally awesome was: A light, a camera, and a broken arm: Action and drama at the Berlin Music Video Awards That post was written in May, 2014. A little after the 6-month mark!

You were fascinated by the fact that Queen Elizabeth came to Berlin and I got to be a part of that story, and had more requests of interviews that I even knew what to do with. I actually had to turn some of them down!

As well as the fact that I got to meet Prince William and Kate Middleton!

And why?

How I met the future king of England – Prince William, Kate & the Many Faced God! That’s why!

I hope I did you all proud. You seemed to think so!

I’m delighted!

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

THE TOP 10 MOST POPULAR COUNTRY, OF PEOPLE WHO READ MY BLOG IN 2019

• USA
• Great Britain
• Germany
• Poland
• Canada
• India
• Latvia
• Australia
• Holland
• France
• And Singapore for the exotic factor!

Surprisingly, I also get a significant number of readers from Spain, Sweden, Italy, Ireland, Switzerland, South Africa, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand!

It’s amazing that even though I only blog a couple of times per month, I still manage to attract a huge number of subscribers and happy Twitter fans who read my blog on a daily basis, and all my funny two-line quips!

You too can join in the fun and games right here!

Not too shabby I might add!

COUNTRIES I HAVE BEEN TO IN THE LAST 1 YEAR

• Norway
• Greece
• France
• Italy
• England
• Georgia
• Poland
• Ukraine

THE MOST POPULAR GROUP PRESS or FAM TRIP

Even though I have been to many a press trip, my third huge FAM / Press Trip to the Philippines seemed to resonate with you most!

It was a press trip that took place after the TBEX Asia-Pacific 2016 bloggers’ conference!

However, it wasn’t the press trip itself that you seemed fascinated by but rather, what I did in Manila, the capital!

That most popular post is: Is Manila a crime-ridden place or is it something completely different?

I’m so honoured to have been invited. It was great, but bloody hard work LOL!

The readers have spoken, now what do I think?

MY TOP BLOG ACHIEVEMENTS

• Starting this blog. Hurrah!
• Meeting Prince William & Kate Middleton!
• Getting an invite to the Embassy Royal Wedding Reception of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle!
• Getting a MA – University of Chester
• Becoming The British Berliner
• Helping you to get German dual citizenship, if you’re British!
• Helping you to get German residency if you can’t!
• Giving you advice if you’re British and you’re simply fed up of Brexit!
• Best Expat Blog – Germany!
• Top 30 expat bloggers
• Top 100 expat blogs on the planet!
• Getting on prime-time German TV – Live!
• Being flown over to London by the BBC!
• Making a documentary about being a lifestyle, expat, travel blogger
• Becoming Germany’s answer and expert on modern-day Britain and the monarchy!
• Being in a feature by Germany’s largest Sunday newspaper!
• Talking on German TV about Brexit
• Doing various newspaper interviews about Brexit
• Getting interviewed on the radio. In German!
• Acting and making an independent silent film with an aspiring German/Finnish film director!
• Getting featured as one of the selected travel bloggers, invited to be a part of the editorial content for the Visit York Annual Visitor Guide, 2018!
• Promoting and showing you Berlin
• Getting newspaper interviews
• Getting official invitations to Berlin Fashion Week
• Hanging out with VIP’s at the Berlin Music Video Awards
• Organising Victoria’s Summer European Challenge Campaign!
• Being invited on my first press trip to France!
• Being invited on my second press trip to Bristol / Bath!
• Being invited on my third press trip to Luxembourg!
• Being invited on my fourth press trip to Usedom!
• Being invited on my fifth press trip to the Philippines!
• Being invited on my sixth press to Sweden!
• Being invited on my seventh press trip to Slovenia!
• Being invited on my eighth press trip to Hamburg-Germany!
• Being invited on my ninth press trip to Sweden, Latvia & Estonia!
• Being invited on my tenth press trip to Georgia!
• Going to four (4) new countries in 2019!
• Keeping things light but still throwing in tiny issues about the disgraceful situation of Brexit
• Being invited on discussion panels to talk about Brexit and Europe
• Being invited to take part in a Twitter conference
• Being an active member of Travel Massive (the Berlin Chapter)
• International Travel
• Regional Travel
• Local Travel
• People believing in me, encouraging me, and motivating me
• Updating my blog website image, logo & business cards
• Hanging out at the Berlin Film Festival (the Berlinale)
• Attending the TBEX (Travel Blog Exchange) conference – the holy grail of the travel blogging world – for the second time
• Being recognised among my peers
• Making an established name for myself as The British Berliner
• Meeting other real-life bloggers. That was awesome by the way!
• Talking to and hearing from YOU. Yes, YOU

MY TOP 9 FAVOURITE POSTS, IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER!

• How to write and publish a book – Introducing The Bee Hive!
• How I can afford a life of travel. Don’t choose. Have it all!
• How I met the future king of England – Prince William, Kate & the Many-Faced God!
• The Queen came to Berlin. I’m British so pass me the Pimms!
• The time that I fell off the ski lift in the Czech Republic!
• The beginner’s guide to going up a volcano: because going up a volcano isn’t for everyone!
• I went to Korea, but I should have been in Qatar!
• How I got scammed in Berlin!
• I went to Romania. It didn’t wow me!

THE BRITISH BERLINER IS 6 YEARS OLD. IT’S MY BIRTHDAY AND I’LL SING IF I WANT TO!

Thank you so much everyone. I really appreciate it lots.

Thank you for making this blog real, reading, commenting, and connecting. You’re all amazing.

Here’s to the next blog year. Cheers!

For travelling across Europe, or from Germany, please take a look at the tabs at the top of the article, my country destination page and book your hotel here!

The leaves are falling!

Yay!

This article is not sponsored. It’s my blog birthday!

Thank you so much everyone. I really appreciate it lots.

Thank you for making this blog real, reading, commenting, and connecting. You’re all amazing.

All content will continue to remain free of charge but if you feel like buying me a cup of tea, I will graciously accept!

Cheers!

If you want to write your own blog, here’s my link to a $25 or €25 discount in credit with any paid plan with WordPress. Don’t say that I don’t give you anything!

Here’s the link again: http://wordpress.com/refer-a-friend/qyyjJjnfWBnRGPVRj0V

Don’t forget, please SHARE this post!

I really appreciate it.

The British Berliner is 6 years old. It’s my birthday and I’ll sing if I want to!

Tweet

Note! I never travel without insurance as you never know what might happen.

I learnt my lesson in Spain. And obviously, in countries like Qatar, where technically the risk is higher, I can’t imagine going that far beyond WITHOUT INSURANCE. No siree! You can get yours here, at World Nomads!

So what are you waiting for?

Thanks a million!

Do you have a blog? How long have you had it? Was there anything that you found surprising? Comment away!

See you in Berlin.

If you have any questions, send me a Tweet, talk to me on Facebook, find me on LinkedIn, make a comment below or send me an Email: victoria@thebritishberliner.com

If you like this post, please Share it! Tweet it! Or Like it!

• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Vimeo
• WordPress