Received Two Awards

I have been  given the honor of receiving two different blog awards!  Now, I do love getting these but there’s  fair amount of work required to acknowledge them here on the blog.  For that reason, I’ve decided on two courses of action.  First, I’ll be overlapping those I nominate to receive these rewards, rather than trying to nominate twenty-six different blogs!  Second, from now on, I will  not post awards received more than once in any given month.  That means that I’ll not post any other award(s) I get during July – they’ll have to wait, if I get any more, until August.

On to the essential details!  The first award is the Inner Peace Award from the courageous Ajaytao.  Investigating the rules imposed on accepting this award, I discovered there’s only one: say something nice about your nominees.  No numbers were mentioned by the originator, but Ajaytao suggested 15.  I’ll do my best – but there are never guarantees.  The second award is the coveted Liebster Blog Award, from the very kind Jen Christopherson.  This carries the following rules:

1. List eleven random facts about me.
2. Nominate eleven bloggers for the Liebster Blog Award.
3. Notify the bloggers.
4. Ask eleven questions the bloggers must answer upon receiving the nomination.
5. Answer the eleven questions you were asked when you were nominated.
6. Link back to the person who nominated you.

Again, I will essay the challenge!

Starting with the Liebster, I’ve already covered number 6, above!  I’m going to be difficult and take things out of order now.

#1 Eleven random facts about me

1. I love England but despise my home town and the national Government.
2. I’m better at dreaming things up than executing them – so I can design a beautiful concept but could never take it into something material.
3. I eat because I must, but I love inventing new recipes (especially vegetarian ones)!
4. I abhor the The Lord of the Rings movies!!  To me, they are abominations.
5. I love the Narnia movies.
6. I love languages but can only speak one – though I know random words and phrases from others.
7. I’m not a great fan of ‘comedy’.  I prefer the humor that is a natural part of life and relationships.
8. I am virtually self-taught in everything I do, including using a computer (which I began doing almost as soon as PCs first appeared in the UK).
9. I’m a big fan of the TV series Leverage.
10. I used to play lawn bowls with a proficiency that surprised even me – not being very able in sports.
11. I adore cricket – all forms!

#5 Answer eleven questions asked by Jen Christopherson

1. Do you want to be rich and famous?

No.

2. If yes why and if no why?

Such things always carry a price that I’m simply not willing to pay, in loss of privacy and control over your own life.

3. What is the most important day of the week for you?

I’d have to say Sunday, because it’s the ne day of the week that my wife never has to work.

4. What is your favorite dessert?

Ouch!  That’s impossible to answer!  There are so many!  Deep-filled Morello cherry pie with lashings of custard is very high, but so are so many others.  Eve’s Pudding made with tinned rhubarb instead of apples – with the syrup from the can drizzled over it.  A fruit pudding full of blackberries, a little apple, raspberries, currants (red, black and white), and gooseberries, with a thick (Veggie) suet lining and lid.  Fruit pie like the pudding and served with thick custard.  Macaroni pudding made with evaporated milk… I’d better stop…

5. How long did it take you to feel good about writing?

I’m not sure I really get the question.  Once I discovered writing, I felt good about it, and have done ever since.

6. What is your favorite time of day?

I don’t have one beyond lunchtimes and early evenings, when my wife gets home from work.  Other than that, I have very little sense of time.

7. Who do you depend upon?

My wife!   She’s my rock.  I have no idea how she copes with me, even ignoring my health problems!

8. Has anyone ever let you down?

Yes, several people, and some hurtfully.

9. Where on Earth do you think is closest to heaven?

I think that’s an intensely personal opinion, really.  And it isn’t simple to answer.  I’ve known places that are the epitome of heaven – but only in that moment.  Then I’ve known beautiful places that I would have thought everybody would have seen for what they were – and they’ve been destroyed by building homes or roads or some other authorised vandalism.  I can imagine somewhere like Tuvalu getting close – a tropical island with negligible economic or crime problems.  But many places look and/or sound heavenly, until you get up close.

10. What was the most valuable advice anyone ever gave you?

Slow down and be silent.  Walk with a light step and listen.  Don’t blunder through or look to leave your mark on everything and every place.  You’ll learn more, be wiser and stronger, and enjoy everything there is to be enjoyed.  And who knows?  Maybe you’ll see things others never can or will.  (The essence of my father’s advice)

11. What is the most indulgent gift you ever received or given?

Indulgent?  I’m not sure I could say hat I’ve ever received anything like that.  Or given anything of that kind.  I’ve often received and given gifts of no purpose, random things that made no statement and filled no need.

#4 Ask eleven random questions for nominees to answer

1. Which would you prefer to possess  – power or wisdom – and why?
2. What invention do you think has been the most important to Humanity?
3. Which would you rather have – the ‘perfect’ body or the ‘perfect’ mind – and why?
4. Do parents have rights over their children – or duties to them?
5. Your child asks you: “I want to be a footballer but I want to be an artist  too.  My teachers say I have to choose one.  What do I do?” – What’s your reply?
6. You have the ability to write the greatest epic novel of all time – given a great deal of time  – or you can write a hundred bestsellers in a few short years.  Which do you do, and why?
7. You can go to the swankiest, most expensive, top-ranked chef’s restaurant – cost no obstacle – or you can go to a small family place with traditional, all freshly made, home cooked food.  Which one, and why?
8. Traditional animation or CG?
9. What’s your favorite tree?
10. Your children/grandchildren:  a field, a bat and a ball or their school ports day?  Which is the most fun?
11. Which: lying on a perfect beach beside a perfect sea or getting bramble-scratched and nettle-stung picking fruit with family?

#2 Name eleven nominees

1. Chris The Story Reading Ape, for so much support and wonderful humor.
2. Jane Risdon, writer, photographer and much more.
3. The Day Dreaming, Candy Eating, Red Headed Bookworm, for a superbly eclectic reviews blog.
4. Maya Panika, a very special person.
5. The Life of a Thinker, working hard at thought and Life.
6. Tim Flanagan – Author, for supporting other authors.
7. Jane Dougherty Writes, an excellent, fascinating blog – not to be missed.
8. Morgen Bailey’s Writing Blog, for so very much information and great support of authors.
9. Thomas Rydder, writer, for bringing so many authors to our attention.
10. write meg!, a truly dedicated book reviewer
11. Alana Munro – The Author who loves to interview and support all authors , says it all, really!

All the above eleven receive both the Liebster Blog Award and the Inner Peace Award!

In fact, I’ve decided to stop there.  It seems fairest, to me.  So there won’t be an additional four nominees for the Inner Peace Award.  I’d also like to say that I think that eleven is really the absolute upper limit that these awards should be suggesting.

If you visit any of these blogs from here, please  don’t assume that you’ll see a blog award post!  Some may choose not to accept any, and others may simply be too busy to post about it.

All my best,

Steve

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