Tag Archives: awards

Well, It Is Award Season………..

mrscarmichael's catchall, , , , ,

Having watched the Baftas and heard reportage of the Grammys last night I have decided that it behoves me to prepare and publish my own acceptance speech.

Not having funds, where-with-all or appropriate ball gowns to travel in person to collect my trophies I intend to make one overarching acceptance oration, honour those who proposed and voted for me and pass the baton on quick smart – all with a humble mien.

I haven't got a sister so this is cool (mrscarmichael)
I haven’t got a sister so this is cool (mrscarmichael)

As an honorary member of this select sisterhood JB, the eponymous hero in The Adventures of Justin Beaver has seen fit to nominate me for The Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award. Perhaps it was just a burst of good old Kiwi Christmas ozone or possibly the fact that our national bird cannot fly and therefore not threaten to hole his favourite lederhosen but I’ll take it any which way and even loose. Thanks, Justin.

To comply with the rules, like the Grammys, I have to, whilst typing, wear an outfit that does not reveal décolletage or derriere. Check. I must link to my nominator. Check. Post pic of award. Check. Answer ten probing questions. These along with my responses follow shortly. And nominate 10 – 12 soon to be gleeful recipients.

But wait there’s more.

it's like a dollar bill only nicer (mrscarmichael)
it’s like a dollar bill only nicer (mrscarmichael)

ShopTwinkle a sister who not only shops with intent but writes about shopping, fashion and the occasional bargain has nominated me for The Very Inspiring Blogger Award and just this very snowy morning in London Town I opened my computer to find that DETERMINED34 has done the very same thing. Awesome! I’m in trifecta heaven.

Now Mrs Determined obviously has much more willpower than Yours Truly (visit her blog to see why) but we are agreed on the fact that it’s lovely to win awards.

There are similarities in the rules: Link back. Check, check. Display award. Displayed with pleasure. Tell the blogosphere seven things about me. About to. And nominate 15 people to, in their turn, receive the accolade.

I figure that by answering the ten Sisterhood questions you will know more that enough about mrscarmichael. Agreed? Then here we go.

1 what is your favourite colour? Orange but not burnt orange. I find the incendiarisation of any colour offensive.

2 what is your favourite animal? How could I say anything other than man’s best friend? He’s standing here right now judging my responses.

3 what is your favourite non-alcoholic drink? I didn’t know such a thing existed.

4 Facebook or twitter? Facebook but only because it’s an easy way to stay in touch with friends and fam across the seas. That said I would love you to follow my tweets.

that's me in the middle (Butterick/ebay site)
that’s me in the middle (Butterick/ebay site)

5 what is your favourite pattern? Butterick Girls Rockabilly Party/Day dress. I swear I had this one.

6 do you prefer getting or giving presents? Both.

7 what is your favourite number? 7, like most of the rest of the world. And it’s the seventh question as well. Karma.

8 what is your favourite day of the week? Nothing matches a Friday for promise.

9 what is your favourite flower? A perfect blousy pink peony.

10 what is your passion? It was all going so well. Reading (I once had to leave a Greek Island a day early because I’d run out of books) or winning an argument.

I am now going to bestow my awards. Men you are eligible for the VIB only. Ladies take one or both with my blessing.

One final rule for both. Those nominated must be informed in time for them to accessorise their acceptance outfits. I’m on to it right now.

On Discovering I Am Nominated for Blog of the Year 2012 and Choking on My Morning Mango

mrscarmichael's catchall, , , , , ,
utterly chuffed
the stars are shining bright tonight

It’s tipping it down in The South East of England and I’m informed by pretty girl on the TV that it shall be thus until and through Christmas day :(. But as I rush to a) imbibe my morning hit of black coffee while b) catching up on Don’s antics in series two of Mad Men (yes I’ve started from the beginning again. I love you, Don. You know I do) and c) surreptitiously checking my overnight blog hits (#ourlittlesecret) I nearly choke on the first of my five a day. Because Exceeding the Speed Limit has nominated me for my first star in the blog of the year 2012 🙂

Oh yes, air punch quickly followed by dance round the kitchen, extra piece of toast for the one remaining dog (he loves good things happening to me) and another pot of black coffee to retain the good feeling high.

Now the Milkwaukee mum who has made my day writes a blog that I can identify with. She writes about her family, her beliefs and her country and always speaks sense. Her last post, The Blue Tissue Paper Christmas, brought a tear to my eye (in a good way) and made me realise that although her memories are American and mine a combination of English and Antipodean, although she has sons to my daughters, we have shared a similar time in this life and have much in common.

the one
the one

I can remember the first time I heard the term ‘blog’. Rather idiotic word, I thought and parked it away because I was busy doing other things. But this year, determined to get back to writing more than shopping lists and because I had some things to get off Germaine’s eunuch that is my female chest I enlisted help from Sweet Thing who knows a thing or two about things. She pointed me towards WordPress. And the rest, as they say, is history. I love blogging and I love the friends I’ve made. Yes, that’s you. You in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland, Canada, Switzerland, Japan and of course, America. And all those other countries that I want to visit as well.

An aside: I am not nominating Sweet for this because she still hasn’t replied to my Liebster award and there have to be consequences, don’t there? This may be just the fillip she needs. Stick, carrot, carrot, stick.

The ‘rules’ for the Blog of the Year 2012 Award (from the creators of this award) are simple:
1 Select the blog(s) you think deserve the ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award.
2 Write a blog post and tell us about the blog(s) you have chosen – there’s no minimum or maximum number of blogs required – and ‘present’ them with their award.
3 Please include a link back to this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award –http://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/our-awards/blog-of-the-year-2012-award/ and include these ‘rules’ in your post (please don’t alter the rules or the badges!). I took special notice of that rule.
4 Let the blog(s) you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the ‘rules’ with them.
5 You can now also join our Facebook group – click ‘like’ on this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award Facebook group and then you can share your blog with an even wider audience.
6 As a winner of the award – please add a link back to the blog that presented you with the award – and then proudly display the award on your blog and sidebar … and start collecting stars…!
You can find the award designs here: http://thethoughtpalette.co.uk/our-awards/blog-of-the-year-2012-award/

Here are my nominees for Blog of the Year 2012:

The Eternal Traveller  My Australian word/ photo buddy and I chat like friends now and her Justin Beaver posts make me laugh so much.

the dancing professor because almost every day I know there’ll be something interesting, insightful or just gear grindingly normal to digest and savour in my reader.

Tales from the Reading Room Victoria’s was one of the first blogs I followed and is still one of my favourite reads. A literary voice with an errant other half. Mr Litlove (her present husband) needs, I believe, the same firm hand as Mr Carmichael (#femalebonding).

Dianne Gray author I love reading the musings of a published author. Dianne’s posts and comments are real value for money. I am also enjoying being part of her ‘new’ life in Darwin.

Where’s my backpack? Every week I try to enter Backpack’s Travel Theme photo spot and love doing it. This and the WordPress weekly photo challenge has made my handbag heavier (#cameraonboard). Ailsa’s recent journey through the Badlands of America have reignited my desert desire. I am not talking about puddings.

Backpackology I’ve got a backpack theme going here! The photos of Kazakhstan are amazing and show there’s so much more than Borat to that country.

And finally Victoria Elizabeth Barnes ⋅ who I’m sure has stars aplenty but whose blog I adore. Also she has been gracious enough to concede that I have won the battle for Don Draper (#donlovesawinner).

I shall smile through the wet dog walk, the food shopping, restocking the empty toilet roll holders round the house and, sans doute, wine time this evening.

Thank you and congratulations.