About a year and a quarter ago, my favourite breakfast spot closed down (RIP Vanilla Pod) and I was annoyed with myself for not telling more people about their fantastic breakfasts and wished I’d tweeted a food blogger to tell them about it so they too could spread the word. 

I decided, a few months later, to put my money where my mouth was – quite literally – and started my own Instagram page under the alias ‘the wee food blogger’. I told my boyfriend about it but kept quiet to everyone else – half embarrassed that I’d turned into a cliche and half scared that everyone would think it was a load of shite. My wee Instagram page reached more people than I ever expected so a few months – including people I knew, who I then had to come clean to about my alter ego when my friends started following me! So a few months after ‘the wee food blogger’ was born, I decided to go all out and start my website. 

Today marks the one year anniversary of theweefoodblogger.com and what a year it has been. I’ve met friends, forged relationships with other bloggers, made Instagram pals, had people I respect and admire like what I do. I’m not entirely sure I would be where I am right now if I hadn’t started the blog. 

I’ve been invited to restaurants who value my opinion, I’ve been invited to places that just wanted some free advertising and I’ve battled against the ever changing current (read: algorithms) on Instagram to keep my little blog going and put myself out there.

I do believe that if you really want something you can go and get it. If that’s a blog, a career change, a city change, a country change, a house change. Coincidentally all of these have happened to me in the last year. My only advice is to be yourself: be unashamedly you, be authentic. 

I’m starting afresh in Edinburgh which is equal parts daunting and exciting – so many new places to try but so many new places to try. Where the hell do I start?! But I’m hoping that the wee food blogger will continue to go from strength to strength and so will I, because the best parts of my alter ego are becoming more me and more of me is going into the wee food blogger. 

The blogging community is also a pretty inspiring place with people getting opportunities through doing what they love and taking the next step – like Foodie Eshe who plans to travel the world in a caravan, one meal at a time, and Jess and Josh Cook who are taking over the kitchen at The Square. These are people who are going out there and pursuing their own dreams. 

And, if all of that wasn’t enough, I’ve eaten some fucking amazing food in the process and that alone is good enough for me! 

A few months ago, my ‘views’ count ticked over 10,000 and a year ago I was ecstatic when I got 20 likes on an Instagram photo. It has completely surpassed what I even dared to imagine when I started out and I’ve loved every minute. And I hope, if you’re reading this, that you have too! 

💛 the wee food blogger