Here is my acceptance speech which I meant to deliver in December but I drove 1100 km to England for Christmas and spent a month watching ‘Downton Abbey’ and ‘Midsomer Murders’ repeats with my mother. Then I drove 1100 km back here and went on a restrictive regime and lost some weight and yet still I… Oh for goodness sake! There are no excuses. Just my own base inefficiency so best I draw a veil and simply say:
Finally and formally and full of enthusiastically I need to say thank you for being given a Very Inspiring Blogger Award. My thanks for this award go entirely to the utterly fabulous Mel of ‘France Says’ – a genuinely inspiring blogger whose work I have read and adored for over a year. If you have any sense at all (and I am confident that you do) you will follow my lead and seek out and follow her blog. Her tales of a love-hate relationship with her adopted country (the clue’s in the title) are always piquant and funny and sometimes poignant. Long may you ride, Mel!
Here are the rules for this award:
- Thank and link to the person who nominated you
- List the rules and display the award
- Share seven facts about yourself
- Nominate 15 other blogs you enjoy, then comment on their posts to let them know that you have nominated them
Here is the award (I rather love it and it will be displayed with pride on my shelf … aka the side-bar)
Next I need to tell you seven things about me … this is actually quite difficult for me since I am not really very keen on talking about me at all (no honestly, I actually don’t). But in the spirit of the award I give you:
1. I am English and live in Southern France in one of the least populated places in Europe
2. I brought up my four daughters on my own – they appear to have survived the experience
3. Osyth is my pen-name but is also my real name
4. I once played Sinbad the Sailor in an appalling play written by a friend of Roger McGough
5. I have been known to make home-made custard creams which taste exactly the same as shop bought ones and cost twice as much to make … but it’s therapeutic
6. When I was a child I could fly. No-one believes me but I actually could
7. I was once told that I have an affinity with pigs. I am happy with this.
And finally, the most important and frankly most exciting bit …. my own nominations for Very Inspiring Blogger in no particular order (as they always say on those awful shows that showcase ‘talent’ for the voting masses):
1. Melanies Playground – She lives in France, travels the world and produces the most beautiful world of her own based on love and happiness. Extremely well read, her ethos is simple – you will die so you might as well enjoy life and why waste it on unpleasantness. Adorable!
2. The Venomous Bead – Witty, informed, extremely bright and a very very good writer, Helen lives in Costa Rica and engages on whatever she feels like engaging on whenever she feels like engaging
3. A Life Moment – Alice lives in England and writes wonderfully enticing recipes and throws in life and beauty tips along the way. Quite honestly a yummy blog!
4. Reads By Red River Banks – Jenny is a mum, mum-to-be and talented writer living as an expat and loving all things under-water
5. Pursuit of Happiness – JF is the youngest ‘old guy’ I have ever encountered. His energy and undoubted intellect not to mention his joy in trying out new things whilst simultaneously taking joy in all around him AND throwing out the wisdom of ages long before him is intoxicating
6. Carter Vail – Carter is an artist in the truest sense – poet, writer, photographer, observer, sufferer and delighted survivor
7. Blog sur Aude – The trials, tribulations and traumas of making a beautiful home in the south of France as lived and documented by a very talented interior decorator – feel the pain and glory!
8. Albert the Dog – Albert writes with wit and style which eclipse the talents of most humans.
9. Cotswold Views – Sue is a commercial copy-writer and has begun her blogging journey using the tools prescribed by Blogging 101 …
10. 2Far2Shout – eclectic, funny, visual and according to the writer outstanding in his own field … I’d say he has a point
11. La Petite Maison Bijoux – living in Haute Loire making beautiful jewellery inspired by the nature all around her, this blog has been a favourite of mine from the start of my own blogging journey.
12. Life on La Lune – Vanessa Couchman is a writer living in South West France these past nearly two decades. She writes of her place and particularly of its history with great style and engagement. Unsurprisingly she published a wonderful historic novel, ‘The House at Zaronza’ set in Corsica last year which I read with as much delight as I read her blog
13. Susie Kelly – is a hugely successful author and hardly needs any awards but I have to include her here because I so love her blog … life in France, dogs, places – beautifully written as you would expect from a bestselling writer
14. Aileen Hunt – is an Irish writer. I love Ireland as it happens but more than that I rather love her writing
15. Oh to Go a Wandering – Oxford Graduate who writes and dreams of travelling and owning a sky blue aga in a cottage with roses round the door (who doesn’t) and has fun in the kitchen and with a camera
PS: My tardiness is even more impressive than I thought …. ‘France Says’ actually nominated me in November 2014 but I’m confident that this was terribly worth waiting for!