The Liebster Award

Yey!! I’ve been nominated for an award! A big thank you to my fellow blogger who nominated me, the lovely Lindsay from Live Parent Teach Repeat.

The Liebster Award is by bloggers for bloggers. The award is a great way to “pay it forward” in the blogging community, encouraging us bloggers to keep discovering others in the wide world of the interwebs.

The rules: the nominee thanks (and links to) the bloggers who nominated them, answers their 11 questions, and then nominates other bloggers to answer a new set of questions!

My Answers

1. Do you still have a significant item from your childhood? If yes, what is it?

Oh I’m a hoarder and have many things from my childhood. I have a dress that still fits me from when I was 17, piles of books that I now read to my children, and cups I’ve had forever. However, the most important kept items are my two teddies: Humphrey the bear and Lambie the sheep. Humphrey is well loved and a little threadbare but still solid and the bell in his ear rings. Lambie has lost an eye and isn’t white anymore. They’re both carefully stored in a cupboard (not the loft) and I know exactly where they are.

2. Which word in the English language annoys you?

“within”

It is almost always unnecessary and “in” alone will do. As a technical writer, every syllable counts and clarity is essential. Adding more sounds to a sentence or longer words just for the say of it doesn’t help the reader understand and can be problematic for translation. So I really dislike “within”, its a bug bear that I am completely honest about and I will tolerate its use only by people who I respect or when there’s a clear need for those four extra letters.

3. Have you ever switched allegiances?

I try very hard not to take sides, the potential for conflict makes my nervous and a bit scared. However, despite being a paid up LibDem, I fear that a strategic vote for Labour may be needed to get this country out of the hands of the catastrophic Tory leadership. (Sorry to get political and serious.)

4. Do you dislike something which is extremely popular with everyone else?

Ha ha! There are certain people that are not allowed on my TV for completely irrational reasons. Fearn Cotton. Neil Oliver. Brian Cox (the astrophysics one). I occasionally hiss at the TV or radio when then come on, himself knows better than to choose to expose me to them.

5. Did you learn a new skill during lockdown?

Does “not screaming at my kids while I try to teach both of them different things at once while also holding down a full time(ish) job” count? I think I’ve discovered patience I didn’t know was possible, I think that’s probably a skill.

However, I have not learned another language, make sour dough bread, taken up macrame or started writing a novel (like the brave and awe-inspiring Lindsay).

So maybe “no” is a more honest and accurate answer.

6. Who is the most famous person you have ever met?

I have a photo of me with Lord Drayson at Le Mans many years ago. I don’t know if anyone knows who he is, but that’s the closest I can get to famous.

7. Have you ever been mistaken for somebody else?

Well, my father has been known to call me by the names of my mother, brother, dog and dead dog before getting my name right. I don’t think that’s what was intended by this question though. So I’ll just go with “not as far as I’m aware”.

8. Would you consider plastic surgery?

Hard no.

9. What has been your most extravagant purchase to date?

Probably my £100 running shoes, they felt pretty self-indulgent.

10. Which law would you repeal?

Brexit. Simple, this is on fence that I do not sit on but take my position firmly on the pro-European side.

11. What advice would you give to your younger self?

“Sod them.”

I wish I cared less what other people think about me now, and I wish that I had cared less in the past. It would have saved so much heartache, disappointment and pain. I doubt I would have listened, and even now I know I should “sod them” I don’t.

My Questions

1. What’s your fantasy car?
2. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
3. What small thing are you proud of?
4. Show us a picture that makes you smile every time you see it.
5. When you retire, what would you like to do with yourself?
6. Is idolising someone a good thing?
7. What book from your childhood has stayed with you and why?
8. How would you celebrate a big achievement?
9. Do you have a favourite item of clothing, pair of shoes, or bag? what do you love about it?
10. What makes you sad?
11. Sea, lake, river, or canal?

My Nominees

I would love to nominate the lovely Bill (that’s his actual name in my head “lovely Bill”) from A Silly Place but Lindsay already beat me to it! Along with The Doubting Thomas and Quirky Workin Moms as well. So here are some of my other favourite blogs to read, who I really appreciate and I want everyone else to know how great they are:

Our Favourite Jar – on Twitter @ClaireLomax4

Life with Ktkinnes – on Twitter @kvburton657

Nic’s Adventures & Bakes – on Twitter @rosy_nic

Tea Spansberg – on Twitter @TeaSpangsberg

The Tea Chest – on Twitter @ChestTea

Yorkie… Not Just For Dads – on Twitter @Notjustfordads

A Procrastinating Mum – on Twitter @The_Procras_Mum

Kate Duff Poetry – on Twitter @1000bitsofpaper

Kalin: Abundance of Flavor – on Twitter @AbundanceFlavor

Leooooo | The Anxious Teacher – on Twitter @TheAnxiousTeac2

Mommy to Mom – on Twitter @AliceMommytoMom