The Unicorn Glitter Award

The inimitable Lucy Coats, storyteller extraordinaire, has bestowed upon me a lovely, glittery award. In fact, none other than the Unicorn Glitter Award. You may recall that I interviewed the lovely Lucy a few blog posts ago. If you didn't read said blog post, go and read it now! Forthwith!



This special Glitter Award is for bloggers who post in the spirit of the enchanted mists. So if your blog includes:

fantasy & science fiction (books, films, games),
fabulous artwork,
poetry,
spiritual stuff,
magic,
myths and legends,
enchanted creatures,
anything else mysterious, beautiful or otherworldly,
you might see one come your way!

As with all awards, there are rules and the rules of this award are...

1. Pass this award on to a maximum of five other blogs you think would make the horn glitter. If you only want to pass it on once, that's fine - but the magic dies if you keep it under your bed for too long! And don't forget to leave a comment on your chosen blog(s) to let them know about it.

2. Add the award to the sidebar of your blog with a link back to this blog/post.

3. Tell us your favourite:
Book
Film
Poem or song
Myth or legend
Enchanted creature

So, first off, let me pass on this award to five other lovely, glittery blogs. First up, is the amazing, remarkable and incredibly special and talented Tessa Edwards of Aerial Armadillo. Next is Val of Monkeys on the Roof who gives us stunning words and images of the beauty and mystery of wild Africa. Then there is the remarkable Candy Gourlay, a wonderful and talented storyteller, and Jon Mayhew, another wonderful teller of tales. And finally there is another magical storyteller and Chinese brush artist, Cindy Pon. May your horns glitter brightly!


And now - my favourite book... I think it must be Elizabeth Goudge's The Little White Horse, a children's classic.

My favourite film - Stealing Beauty because I can't resist the Tuscan landscape the wonderful coming of age story and romance.

My favourite poem - TS Eliot's Little Gidding V - you know the one...

We shall not cease from exploration

And the end of all our exploring

Will be to arrive where we started

And know the place for the first time.

Through the unknown, remembered gate

When the last of earth left to discover

Is that which was the beginning;

At the source of the longest river

The voice of the hidden waterfall

And the children in the apple-tree

Not known, because not looked for

But heard, half heard, in the stillness

Between the two waves of the sea.

Quick now, here, now, always--

A condition of complete simplicity

(Costing not less than everything)

And all shall be well and

All manner of things shall be well

When the tongues of flame are in-folded

Into the crowned knot of fire

And the fire and the rose are one.

Favourite myth or legend - I'm really not sure why, but it must probably be the story of Momotarō, the little Peach Boy from Japanese legend.

And finally my favourite enchanted creature - no prizes for guessing, for anyone who knows me - it's the Pegasus - and for all sorts of reasons which I'm not going to explain here!

Writing, rewriting and an award

So, the rewrite is complete, several edits on the rewrite have been done and now it’s ready to go back to the writing agency for another review – a more generalized one this time. I’m not sure what to expect from the experience – a part of me knows that in all likelihood there will be still more rewriting to be done – and dreads the prospect – and a part of me looks forward to perfecting the manuscript, in the hope that it will ultimately find itself a “home” – i.e. an agent and a contract.

Of course, given all things writing, recessions, trends and Lady Luck, it could be that even after all this work - and no doubt still more - the manuscript may not be accepted anywhere. What then? Who knows but I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it – armed with a sharp sword with which to deal with the crocodiles. What do you mean what crocodiles? The Crocodiles. There are always crocodiles – didn’t you know?!

In the meantime I have another manuscript to work on. The first draft was completed last year but I’m well aware that the plot needs deepening and the characterization needs strengthening. I’ll probably, once more, hold the original story in my head and start from scratch. As it is, the first couple of chapters that I’ve already dabbled with are turning up in a completely new “voice” – which is proving to be both interesting and considerably more “immediate”.

But enough writery stuff – I was given an award last week by Keren David, a debut YA author, who’s first novel, When I Was Joe will be published in the UK by Frances Lincoln books in January 2010. And in time-honoured fashion, I’m suppose to a) pass on the award and b) share seven things about me.


The award is the Kreativ Blogger award and the rules are:

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
2. Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
5. Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.
6. Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know they have been nominated.

Seven things about me - which you may or may not find interesting...

1. I am an “only-child”. Yep that’s right, no siblings.

2. Although I love writing for children, I’ve never been remotely inclined to have any of my own.

3. My favourite dog is the Golden Retriever.


4. I have nearly died on two completely separate occasions – makes you wonder what I’m still doing here, right…

5. I am currently researching material for a non fiction article on porcupines who live amongst some vines… the vines below, in particular.


6. Although writing is my passion, I still wonder what I’m going to be when I really grow up – if I ever grow up.

7. I’ve consumed far too much chocolate this winter.



As you know I don’t usually pass these awards on but I’ll play nicely this time…

So, the Kreativ Blogger Award goes to the following seven people (why only seven, it’s so totally unreasonable!):

Tessa at Aerial Armadillo
Lola at Aglio, Olio & Peperoncino
Val at Monkeys on the Roof
Janey at Wittering On
Mandy at Fire Byrd
Carol at Not Only in Thailand
Lori at Lori Times Five

(and no, the list isn't intentionally sexist - sorry, boys...)

And now let me attend to the squirrel who is tapping impatiently at the window for his supper.

BAHB! Birthday, Award, Holiday, Bo!

So, a slightly rushed post this on the eve of getting yet another year older, a tiny bit greyer and a wee bit more wrinkly... Just a couple of years off my half century and starting to feel like a serious cricket score… Of course, all this only matters if you actually believe in time – which I don’t, unless it’s to compare it with lumpy custard – but that’s another story entirely! As far as I'm concerned I'm still as much of a kid as I was at 12! Well, okay, maybe not quite 12...


So all sorts of bits and pieces in this post, given I’m off on Tuesday to more northern climes. Which means the old blog will be having a bit of a holiday - since I’ve no intention of posting while I’m away. But, that said, I will be back and hopefully with lots of piccies, including some of blogging buddies and writer friends. Yep, that will be one of the coolest parts of my trip – meeting up with old and new friends – so, so, so looking forward to it. See you soon, guys!


And then, perhaps the best news possible… Ms Bo appeared in the garden this morning – with a beau – the saucy minx. She’s grown considerably and looks like a really strong young bird – mind you with that head start of maggots and mealworms she’s had a good base to build from. She looks almost full sized now but is still very neurotic. She doesn’t seem to be part of a big group yet but appeared to be on the fringes, possibly, of the Ba-Kaaka Nostra – who were chasing her something rotten. Still, she’s been away from us for two weeks and is clearly fending just fine for herself. I’m really hoping that now she knows there is always food here, she’ll come back a little more often.


It really was so amazing to see her and we both recognized her instantly – there was just something about the bird on the lawn – and then a closer look showed us her white claws and that confirmed it. As was the fact that she took off when I called her by name. Yep, Ms Bo ain’t having anything to do with being a domesticated bird! And you know what? Good for her, I say.

And finally, to leave you with a little something while I’m away... Carol from Not Only in Thailand very kindly bestowed upon me the Kreativ Blogger award. And this time I’m going to break my rules and actually pass this one on.


The rules say I have to list seven things that I love… Only seven? That seems totally unreasonable. Oh well, here goes…

My beloved D – my very best friend and my home.
Friends, including the furry and feathered ones in the garden – they are the bubbles in the champagne of life.
Writing – even when I’m dozing I’m writing stories, non-fiction or potential blog posts in my head.
Reflecting – I’m a ponderer and a wonderer frequently considering awakening and awareness.
Photography – seeing the world through the lens of a camera is to see the world in an entirely different way. And it’s incredibly healing.
Reading – there’s an adventure in every book, irrespective of the nature of the book.
Cooking – my paternal great-grandmother was a cook, my maternal grandfather was a chef – what can I say, it’s in the blood and I find it creative, fulfilling and wholesome fun.

And this time I’m going to break my rules and actually pass this one on to some particularly creative souls:

RL Bourges of Ici, Graulhet

Lettuce of Lettuce Eating

Val of Monkeys on the Roof

Tessa of An Aerial Armadillo

Rick of Kyklops (yes, honey, you for those great photos)

Pat from Write Up the Hill

Jane of Wittering On

Baino of Baino’s Banter

Lola of Aglio, Olio & Peeroncino and,

Vesper of Chick with a Quill

So, there you go, until I see you in a few weeks time, take care, have fun, live abundantly, soar high and be blessed in all that you do.

The Noblesse Oblige Award - and why I blog... and some bees...

It’s award time again and this one seems a little different – requires some thought. Which means a bit of effort for those of us who are fighting with travel arrangements and other such related bureaucracy, and trying to forge ahead with a story that feels like it’s lost its way. Actually, the story hasn’t lost its way, but the writer has, temporarily, at least.

Face to face with a bee...

But on and on.

So here’s the Noblesse Oblige Award, given to me by Val from Monkeys on the Roof who weaves magic with her words about the African bushveld. Thank you, Val – now just get out there and write that book, girl – it will be something truly special, I know!


As Val said on her blog, this feels like a particularly special award – in that it makes you think about why you’re blogging.

The blurb accompanying the blog says:

The recipient of this award is recognized for the following: 1) The Blogger manifests exemplary attitude, respecting the nuances that pervades amongst different cultures and beliefs. 2) The Blog contents inspire; strives to encourage, and offers solutions. 3) There is a clear purpose at the Blog; one that fosters a better understanding on Social, Political, Economic, the Arts, Culture, Sciences, and Beliefs. 4) The Blog is refreshing and creative. 5) The Blogger promotes friendship and positive thinking.

The Blogger who receives this award will need to perform the following steps: 1) Create a Post with a mention and link to the person who presented the Noblesse Oblige Award. 2) The Award Conditions must be displayed at the Post. 3) Write a short article about what the Blog has thus far achieved – preferably citing one or more older posts to support. 4) The Blogger must present the Noblesse Oblige Award in concurrence with the Award conditions. 5) Blogger must display the Award at any location at the Blog.

Feasting bee...

I have to say, I’ve never thought of my blog doing the things listed above, mostly, I guess, because I first started blogging as a bit of a laugh with Atyllah the Hen, a fictional alien Chicken with Attitude. Let’s face it, as far as Atyllah was concerned, nothing was sacred and everything humanly was worthy of a potshot and a sideswipe. The blog, I know, ultimately offended several people as Atyllah called a spade a particularly blunt shovel. Still, I like to think that perhaps the old bird made people sit up and think about things more than once. She had, and still has, her place. Be warned.

Upside down bee...

By the time I moved on to blogging as Vanilla, I was tired of “being someone else” as it were and wanted to be able to blog more as myself, multifaceted beast that I am – I wanted a place to be able to express thoughts, opinions, share photography and artwork and just generally “witter and warble”. I will also admit that blogging has been something of an experiment in social networking and “marketing”. As an ex-marketing sort and a writer I was curious to see what sort of exposure a blog could provide and how one had to work it to gain maximum reach. I’ll tell you this much for nothing - a blog is bloody hard work and is, I often think, nearly unsustainable!

As to what the blog has achieved thus far – well, it has led me to “meet” some interesting people from far and wide – and that tells me that we’re far more connected and at one than we ever were – and that, I believe, is a huge and important step forward for humanity. The more the people of the world connect, the more we realise we are more the same than we are different, the more chance we have of creating a global harmony and oneness.

Drilling bee...

As for what else the blog has achieved – I tell you what – why don’t you tell me what you think it’s achieved – share your thoughts with me so I can know how the blog impacts upon you – if it indeed does.

I’m not going to cite old posts, there are really too many I could point you to – my personal experiences of nearly dying, experiences of xenophobia in South Africa, my recent posts on the elections in SA, short stories that I’ve written, photographs that I've taken in the African bush and on foreign shores – the blog takes no particular form and was never meant to.

And as with all awards, I presume I’m meant to pass this on. If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you know my thoughts on that. I believe that every blog I read offers something of value, something that inspires or encourages – be it a predominantly photographic blog, a blog of ramblings, a blog about writing, a humourous blog. I don’t believe that anyone I blog with doesn’t in some way, great or small, promote a better understanding on a social, political, economic, arts, culture, sciences or belief level.

Honey bee...

So, when I say I award the Noblesse Oblige Award to you – yep, that’s you reading this blog, right now, this very minute - then I truly and deeply mean it from the bottom of my heart (not the heart of my bottom…). So this award goes to you – and that means I want to see it posted on your blog and I want to see you writing a Noblesse Oblige post. All good children will get a gold star (or not…).

But yes, the award goes to you. Yes, I do mean, you, oh doubter (you know who you are, you think because I’ve not mentioned your name I don’t mean YOU – well I do!) So, yes, you.

And a bug...

Award Time - and the award goes to... YOU!!!

It’s award time again in the blogosphere and the red carpet has been rolled out.

The lovely Vesper awarded me the Sisterhood award. The glorious domestic goddess Lola gave me the This Blog has Heart award and the golden-hearted Aerin bestowed upon me the Proximidade award.

In time honoured fashion, I’m supposed to pass these all on. But here’s the thing: while I do love giving and receiving awards, I really, really don’t like the process of singling people out - and thereby leaving others out of that process. All the people I blog with are special; to say you or you or you are more special in some way than the next person is the sort of stuff that creates divisions and I think we already have quite enough of that in the world. While there are well some people that I have a greater affinity and closer connection with than others, as is entirely normal, I know the disappointment that people feel when they don’t perhaps see their names listed below a particular award.

So, to be a complete party pooper in terms of the blogosphere code of conduct (whatever that might be and besides, since when did I give too much of a fig about rules), I’m dishing these out to YOU. Yes, that’s YOU. Yes, you.



The Sisterhood award is self explanatory – it’s about that sense of bonding and connecting. I’m extending it to be a brotherhood award too. Let’s face it, when it comes down to the brass whatsits, we’re all in this together and we’re all interconnected whether we recognise it or not. As an only child, I rather like the idea that I’ve gathered so many siblings out here in cyberspace. So there – brothers and sisters – take the award, it’s yours. Just remember, play nicely with the other kids too!



The Your Blog has Heart is pretty self explanatory too – and all your blogs have heart – if they didn’t they wouldn’t exist. Every blog that I read has heart in it, it’s what makes it what it is, it’s what gives it life. So there you go! Take the award and pass it on.



Now the Proximidade Award probably does need some explanation – and the explanation is this:

It’s an award that goes to a blog that invests and believes in the PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement! Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated.

Erm, I’ve modified that marginally by lopping off the end of the “speech”.
I honestly think the whole thing about the blogosphere is about the proximity it creates – it brings all of us closer together, creating communities and friendships in cyberspace – and in doing so, it shows our interconnectedness, our “linkedness”, our commonalities. Time and space are concepts, what supercedes them are the relationships, the connections made, that don’t trouble themselves with - and that override - the strictures of the concepts.
So I think this is an award, like the others, has to go to YOU. You may not have set out to make friends or be part of community, but hey, you know what, you have made friends and you are part of a community! Cool!

Fire and Ice - and an award

Well, what can I say, blogging is sporadic and infrequent - and is likely to become more so as the creative juices start to flow... Yep, I think I am finally finding my way clear to start working on a huge rewrite of my Young Adult paranormal novel. I still have a lot of research that I want to do - instead of being "original" like everyone insists, I want to revert to the classic mythology and then move forward from there. So please do bear with me if I become even more absent than usual.


It's strange actually because February is always the month when ideas really start to flow for me - something to do with harvesting perhaps, it being the end of summer... Who knows.

But even if I am a little absent in the blogosphere there will always be words, because words are what I do - I can't seem to help myself. So here's a little something I scribbled the other morning, after stepping outside... Just words...

Fire and Ice

There’s an uncharacteristic chill in the hazy February air, as though autumn and its wispy mists have arrived early. But it seems unlikely. An unearthly yellow-orange glow filters the sunlight, washing the trees and the grass with an artist’s pale watercolours. Is it indeed fog, I wonder? Or is it smoke? I can’t smell fire.

Yet as the morning unfolds and the sinister orange glow refuses to pass and the vapours shrouding the mountains don’t lift, I’m made to wonder again.

I want to try and capture the eerie light, though I hardly feel I’m able; I’m not an impressionist behind a camera lens. I venture outside, stunned at the way the light filters through the leaves of the grapevine.

And then I smell it. The unmistakable smell of burning bush. The smoke lingers high in the sky. It swathes the mountains in gauzy arms, blocking them from view. You shall not see what I am doing here.

The scrub has been tinder dry all summer.

I had said when the season began that we should expect fires. You could feel it in the air, in the tremors of breath beneath the earth, in the sap that surged through the trunks of trees. There was a restlessness on the mountain slopes that slunk down into the suburbs and jostled with dreams to be noticed.

Of course, I was being fanciful, wasn’t I…

But as the acrid bite of burning scrub tickles the edges of my nostril, I am reminded of what I sensed, of what I knew.

Fire.

Just as gazing on the Australian cherry trees I know it’s going to be a bitter winter. Three successions of blooming in one season. More cherries than I have ever seen. Oh it will snow this year.

Icily.



And then, and then... there was an award - from both Lakeviewer of at Sixtyfivewhatnow and Angela at Letters from Usedom. Thank you so much for this very special award.

The Best Blog Thinker Award

In the words of the person who created it:
"This award acknowledges the values that every Blogger displays in their effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary, and personal values with each message they write. Awards like this have been created with the intention of promoting community among Bloggers. It`s a way to show appreciation and gratitude for work that adds value to the Web."

And of course, in time honoured tradition, I must pass it on.

And so this award goes to... (applause, please ladies and gentlemen!)

Debi Alper who is currently reliving her experiences of the Grenadian revolution on her blog. Debi is an author and reading about her experiences is both riveting and eye-opening.

Kim at Mouse Medicine, who always has something wise and insightful to say.

To Sue Guiney who takes us with her on her journey of creative expression and writing with tremendous insight.

To Steph of The Biopsy Report who has written tirelessly and courageously about illness and the Irish health system.

To Renee of Graulhet Bonjour who gives us a unique insight into life in a small French town and so broadens our horizons - and of course, one must not forget her intrepid hound, the sleuth writer, Ms Cybele Christie - this award goes to her too!

And finally to Ernest of Rub2Neurons who claims to abhor awards and all the sycophantic behaviour that goes with them. He thinks, he postulates and he is insightful, outspoken and decidedly witty - see what I mean by visiting his other blog... The God Diaries.

To put the award on your blog, this in case you are technically challenged... Right click on the blog award image above and select "save as" - save it to the file of your choice on your pc and from there, in the usual manner of posting images to you blog, well, post it!

An awful lot of stuff in one post

See, this is what happens when I get tardy - I end up having to post a mountain of stuff in one go.

So... today we are doing: awards, a meme/wordgame-thingy and what you could do to help Angela.

Let's start with Angela's problem with the exploitative job situation. I am already on the trail of several courses of action, which I'll tell you about another time. But for those who have expressed a wish to help in some way, the best thing you could possibly do for now is to write to the International Labour Organization.

You might say something like this: "I am aware that while much has been done to uplift the lot of workers in South Africa, one group remains underrepresented and prejudiced - and that is domestic workers. It has come to my attention that there are several companies in South Africa which openly exploit domestic workers by using their labour to provide char or "maid services". In doing so many of them pay below the minimum wage and none pay a decent living wage. Some delay payments to their staff, others make unwarranted salary deductions. A few cause workers to live in appalling conditions. Most threaten their staff. This untenable situation will regrettably continue until such time as the South African Department of Labour changes the policies which regulate the so-called "labour broker" services offered by these domestic services agencies. At present these agencies are only required to procure a license and provide a list of the employees in their service. This lack of regulation means that domestic workers, many of them refugees or people from rural areas who are in desperate need of employment, are preyed upon while the owners and managers of the agencies ride roughshod over the South African Labour Relations Act. I would appreciate it if you would be kind enough to investigate this matter and bring pressure to bear upon the South African Department of Labour so that situation might be changed for the benefit of all domestic and allied workers."

You can send your email to: ilo@ilo.org

If you do choose to take this action, let me know so that I can in turn advise the trade union which whom I've been in contact. You will find my email address on my profile page, or let me know in the comments.

And moving on.

It's been a bit like the Oscars around here recently and I've been blessed with two awards.

From the wonderfully creative Tessa at An Aerial Armadillo and also from word weaver extraordinaire Val at Monkeys on the Roof comes the Lus en el alma Premio award (Light in the Soul). Thank you so much, Tessa and Val! The award goes to all those who have light in their souls. That's a tough call because of course all of you have light in your souls. If you didn't, you'd be dead! The soul after all, is pure light. (Well that's my take and I'm sticking to it.) Now I know many of you have already received this award and so I need to find some new people on whom to bestow this - if somehow you're not on the list below and have not yet received this award - please consider it yours! (The one thing I truly hate about these awards is having to single out people - it strikes me as being totally unreasonable!)

Light in the Soul

Debi Alper
Janey at Wittering On
Saaleha at Afrocentric Muslimah
Storm at A Beautiful Girl Inside
Canterbury Soul
Vesper at Chick with a Quill
Aerin at In Search of Giants
Lettuce at Lettuce-Eating
Princess Haiku
Wanderlust Scarlett
Gaye at Gaudiumdegaea
Bart at Daze of our Lives
Lane at Lane's Write
Renee at Graulhet Bonjour
Baino at Baino's Banter
Gail at Gail at the Farm
Rambler at Virtual Ramblings
Steph at The Biopsy Report

The second award comes from Mouse over at Mouse Medicine and is for Superior Scribblers. You notice that I seem to be paying no attention to how many people these awards should go to... Ja, well, no fine, as we say here... As if I ever gave a fig about rules. Again, I know many of you have already received this award and if you're getting it twice I think you can safely assume that you're a superior Superior Scribbler!


Tessa at An Aerial Armadillo
Val at Monkeys on the Roof
Karen at Border Town Notes
Angela at Letters from Usedom
Lori at Lori Times Five
Sue Guiney
FireByrd at Bird on Fire
Red at Red Dirt Mule
Vesper at Chick with a Quill
Oh and everyone else!

And finally, a meme-word-game thingy from Val. Pant, whew, puff, gasp. I need a cuppa tea, I don't know about you. Yeah, well, we'll just call this a marathon blog post, shall we - teach me to get all slack. Though frankly, I don't know what any of you did to deserve this monster post...

I have to choose ten words beginning with L that are important to me. Val had the letter R, Firebyrd from whom she took over the game had the letter B. If you want to play, let me know in the comments and I will assign you a letter. Okay, last leg of blog post. Wheeze, gasp, puff, pant... And in no particular order...

LOVE - without it we are nothing, it is the very energy from which we spring, in which we exist and to which we return. Let me share something: "Love is all that exists. Love is the universal communication. It is the energy that has created the universe and is keeping it going." (from Emmanuel's Book compiled by Pat Rodegast).

LAUGHTER - it makes the world go round. Laugh and the world laughs with you. I love larfing, laffin', laughing and I love to make others laugh. It is a wonderfully healing tonic and they say that a laugh a day may keep a heart attack at bay. Right, all together now - LAUGH - ha ha ha ha haaaaaaaa!

LIGHT - it brightens our world. Like love, light is part of the essence of who we are, that from which we spring and to which we return. Moreover, light creates rainbows - and can you think of anything as beautiful as a rainbow? Lenses, lasers, mirrors, colour, reflections and solar power are all dependent on light. Without light we would not exist.

LENSES - this is the photographer speaking... I am completely potty about my big 300mm lens. It allows me to take really close up shots without necessarily getting trampled by an elephant or bitten by a puffadder. Lenses enable me to take the kind of photos I want to create and from behind the lens of a camera I am able to see an entirely different world - a world in which the beauty of this thing we call life, is brought into sharp and focused magnificence.

LETTUCE - okay, so this may sound a little odd but I love lettuce and I particularly love lettuce sprinkled with a little sea salt and dribbled with walnut oil. Yummeeeeeee! Moreover, lettuce contains lactucarium, a chemical which aids sleep. Who needs sleeping pills when there's lettuce!

LITERATURE - where would we be without it. It reflects the world we live in, it shapes our thinking. I love reading and I love writing. I tend not, despite a degree in English literature, to think of it as "literature" but as stories. And as Terry Pratchett puts it so beautifully in Witches Abroad - "People think that stories are shaped by people. In fact, it's the other way around."

LULLABIES - they are so magnificently soothing. As a child I used to love the pink poodle music box which lay on my grandmother's bed and when wound up, played Brahms' lullaby. Even today, when I'm feeling really stressed and can't sleep, I hum this little tune to myself.

LILLIES - I love lillies, there is something so evocative and mysterious about them. They can be pure simplicity, they can be magnificent, flamboyant beauty. My favourite flowers are St Joseph's and Stargazer Lillies.

LEOPARDS - when I went to the Kruger National Park last year, all I wanted to see was a spotty lying in a tree - I think they are the most beautiful creatures. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be. I've had two close encounters with leopards out in the bush - in one instance I had one sitting politely behind me in a bush while I lounged on a river bank - I say politely because it wanted to get to the water and I was in its way but it just waited until my husband, who'd spotted it, came and rushed me away, saying, "Just don't look back!" In the other instance, I startled a spotty who growled most ferociously and sent me hurtling down the hill into a field of wild pigs!

LAZING - I'm all for lazing, especially on a tropical beach while hot and cold running waiters bring me iced mango juice. In fact, talking of lazing, after this very lengthy post, I think I'm going to do some of that!

And I'm very sorry but I have to add one more... LINDT - dark chocolate - mostly because I have just discovered "A touch of sea salt". Finally, I have met the chocolate of my dreams, the chocolate I want to marry. Thank you, LINDT!

Housekeeping - of widgets and awards

Given all the virtual traveling we’ve done for the past few weeks, a few things have managed to slip in and have been given no attention. Time to remedy that before returning to “regular service”.

First of all, I have to share with you the coolest and most addictive widget to hit the internet. The widget was created by the Stray (who is fast becoming a victim of her own success!) of Chasing Sheep, for the delightful Caroline of In Search of Adam – as a marketing tool for Caroline’s new book Black Boxes.

The Black Box widget – see my side bar - is connecting like-minded souls all across the great interwebloggy thing. You can read all about it here and by following the related links. The word blackbox has already morphed into a verb and bloggers are telling each other, "Hi! I blackboxed to your blog". Move over Scotty, no one needs beaming up anymore!

All around the world, bloggers are happily reporting increased stats and are having all sorts of fun making new blogging buddies. Go and try it - click on the "Decide" button, make some choices, leave a choice for others to make, and follow the mystery blog link! It’s great fun – but don’t blame me if you spend hours playing!

Then there are some awards which have come my way and which need passing on.

First, from Sue Guiney, author of Tangled Roots, comes the Perfect Blend of Friendship Award. Thank you, Sue!

Although I hate singling people out, I hereby pass the award on to,

Baino

Janey

Sameera

Bonnie

Kim

Scarlett

Debi.

Then, from the lovely Sameera and the delightful Scarlett come two awards –

the I love your Blog Award...

and

the Wylde Woman Award

You girls are such sweeties. Thank you! Big Mwah!

First off, I’m changing the name of that last award and from now on, by the laws of this blog (and supported by the rulings of that wicked chicken, Atyllah the Hen – and you don’t want to argue with her!), it is known as the Wylde award – none of this gender defining stuff, please!

Again, these awards are also supposed to be passed on. But because I totally loathe singling people, I’m bucking the trend. Each one of you is special, I enjoy every blog I read (or I wouldn’t read it!) and you are all equally deserving in your own special way. So I’m giving these awards to all of you – and especially to all those extra-special Wylde Men!

I notice I’ve also been tagged for a meme by Susan at Gottawritegirl – that’s going to have to wait a few days though! Too much other catching up to do after all that virtual safari-ing! And yes, yes, I know Baino, you want more! Later – maybe, if you’re good and my budget allows!

An award and a meme

Awards time again. This time an art award from Sameera


The blurb reads as follows:

Art Prize and Award
"This prize has arisen from the daily visits that I dedicate to many blogs which nourish me and enrich me with creativity. In them I see dedication, creativity, care, comradeship, but mainly, ART, much art. I want to share this prize with all those bloggers that entertain me day to day and to share this prize with those who enrich me every day. Doubtlessly, there are many and it will be hard to pick just a few, the people I will name today deserve this prize, as do the very long serious list of bloggers I also enjoy to read, but I will name the first 10 and will leave the rest of the work to all the bloggers that visit other's blogs and are nourished by them."

The usual rules apply, post award on blog, pass award on to five others. You know the drill.

I've been struck by some of the most stunning photography in blogosphere, so I'm giving this award to some people whose images just blow me away.

In no particular order:

Reya
Jefferson
Kyklops
Merisi
the Mouse
Julie

(Yeah, I know, I can't count.)


And then there's this meme that's been going around blogosphere and the coolest thing is that no one seems to be tagging anyone else to do it - just the way I like it!

The rules are:
1. Pick up the nearest book (of at least 123 pages).
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.

So here goes:

"Yet however hard ego may try to sabotage the spiritual path, if you really continue on it, and work deeply with the practice of meditation, you will begin slowly to realise just how gulled you have been by ego's promises: false hopes and false fears. Slowly you begin to understand that both hope and fear are enemies of your peace of mind; hopes deceive you, and leave you empty and disappointed, and fears paralyze you in the narrow cell of your false identity. You begin to see also just how all-encompassing the sway of ego has been over your mind, and in the space of freedom opened up by meditation, you glimpse the exhilarating spaciousness of your true nature."

From: The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche (10th Anniversary Edition Revised and Updated 2002. Published by Rider)

And I'm not tagging anyone, but if you want to do it, go for it.

And now back to my new manuscript.

Roll Out the Red Carpet - A Night at the Vanilla Awards

Okay, so I know there are a few who read this blog who have views about awards and posting those that I receive on the blog. Well, today I say to you, too bad - get over it, life is too short to worry about poor food and wine, and blog awards. It's all done in a sense of camaraderie, support and good fun.

After the trauma of the past few days, I am only too delighted to have, and am hugely appreciative of, the love and support of fellow bloggers - and I need to spread the goodwill because frankly the last few days have been beyond shitty. To say that I have been stressed out of my skull since the attack on my mother, would be the understatement of the year. So, now it's time for some levity.

The awards have been flowing and frankly, I'm not even sure how I'm going to pass them on. The lists are long. Please ensure you're wearing your party clothes and sipping champagne!

From Bonnie at Bonnie's Books comes the You Make My Day Award.


And I duly pass this award on to some of you who constantly make my day.

Reya
Kimy
Minx
Sameera
Rambler
Baino
Verilion
Kyklops


From Verilion, I've received another Roar for Powerful Words. This means I will undoubtedly be roaring at double crescendo in future! Be warned!


I've already dished out some Roars for Powerful Words, but I'll dish out some more - and again! The words written by the bloggers below are all very different, some produce more seasoned words than others, but every one of them has something valid and powerful to say in their own way be it through stories, thoughts, poetry, wisdom, insight, compassion, wit or, a combination of all.

Pisces Iscariot
DBA Lehane
Rambler
Jefferson
Steph
Minx
Vapours
John, the Carver
Witnessing I am



From Kimy, Minx and Sameera, I've received the The E for Excellent Blog Award.


The description of the award is:

"I love being a part of the blogging community and part of all the friendships that I've formed so I wanted to give a blog award for all of you out there that have Excellent Blogs. By accepting this Excellent Blog Award, you have to award it to 10 more people whose blogs you find Excellent Award worthy. You can give it to as many people as you want but please award at least 10. (And yes, okay, so some of you already have the award... )"

Shameless
Verilion
Jefferson
Taffiny
Marie
Debi
Reya
Baino
Laquet
Gaye
David
Steve
Vesper
Bonnie



And then from Sameera, I also received:

The You Are Totally Awesome Award


The Best Blogging Buddies Award for Global Communities


The Friendly Site Award


and

The Biggest Heart Award

Frankly, I'm not sure how to pass these on since you are all totally awesome, you are all my blogging buddies and you all have friendly sites! And so, I pass on to you - yes, that's you - really, I do mean you, yes, yes, YOU! the Totally Awesome Award, the Best Blogging Buddies Award for Global Communities and the Friendly Site Award.

I am, however, out of this bunch I am going to pick out the Biggest Heart Award to award to some people who are very special me - and who I know to have huge hearts.


They are:

Kimy
Verilion
Sameera
Reya
Bonnie
Debi
Jefferson
Kat
Vesper
Baino
Rambler

Now can we please have a loud and prolonged round of applause for everyone reading this blog! Yes, go on, clap for yourself too! ;-)

Erm, Vote for Me... at Santa's Blog of the Day

Unaccustomed to and uncomfortable as I am with shameless self promotion.... (and believe me when I tell you - adding this in as a post script - that this post does indeed make me deeply uncomfortable. Please see * at the end of post.)

The very sweet and generous Sameera has nominated me for Santa's Blog of the Day for the 19th of January - and because Sameera is such a honey, I thought I'd play along.

Yes, I did say Santa and I did say blog. Santa, it appears, has his own blog, his own web page and all sorts of other things going on. Santa, it seems, unlike many others of my acquaintance, has "got with the programme" and is doing his thing in cyberspace. Now that's what I call moving with the times.

It seems too that Santa hands out awards for favourite blogs. Now, I don't know if my blog is a favourite of yours but if it is, perhaps you'd like to get together with Santa and vote for me HERE



Christmas may be over - for now - but it seems the love is still flowing! ;-)

And oh yes, the editing is going very well!

Postscript: I remain in two minds as to whether to remove this post or not.
Posting this nomination has made me extremely uncomfortable. I am really not into this kind of self promotion. The ego is a damnable thing and this sort of thing just panders to it. However, at the same time, I know and appreciate the spirit in which Sameera made this nomination and for that reason, and to honour her intent, I will leave this post up. I will, however, have to rack my brains overnight to come up with a new post for tomorrow, so this one doesn't stay on top for long. I hope you'll understand my "logic" on this and not find this post offensive.

A Night at the Awards

Let me start by saying that reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated. I am not dead. See, just in case you were beginning to think I'd fallen off the planet, I haven't. I'm still here, doing a lot of decluttering and thinking and trying to get myself focussed for a huge push on a very big edit of last year's manuscript. No, that's not the one I'm currently writing - it's the one I finished in 2006 and edited in 2007 and now have to re-edit yet again following on really good feedback from my critique partners and an invitation to submit to an editor with whom I'm very keen to work. (Yes, please keep fingers and toes crossed for me!) And of course, once that's done, which I'm figuring will take a month or two, then it's back to the current work in progress. And I'm also hoping for feedback from the same editor on an earlier manuscript that was submitted at last year. I suppose what I'm saying is that blogging is going to have to take it's rightful back seat while I concentrate on doing the things I really have to do. So, expect posting and visiting to be sporadic, I guess - though of course, I never say never...

Now that aside, while I was out of blogosphere pondering all sorts of things, award time was happening and I'm overwhelmed at all the "gifts" that have been heaped upon me - I feel like I've had a night at the Oscars - but without all the gumpf that goes with that! Thank you so much to Celestine, Sameera and Bonnie for respectively gifting me with "The Colours of Friendship Badge", "Bloggers of the World" and "2007 Inspiring Blog", and "Mwah!"

As is the way of these things, I'm to pass on each award to five others.

COLOURS OF FRIENDSHIP

This award goes to those who have especially touched my life with their warmth, laughter, friendship, love and kindness this past year - both on and off blogosphere:

Verilion
Debi
Minx
Red Dirt Girl
Sameera
Vesper
Baino
Laquet
Gaye
Jefferson

(yes, I know, I can't count! ;-) )

BLOGGERS OF THE WORLD

I'm going to copy Sameera here and award this one to ALL of you - because if ever there was a new world tribe, you're it; the embodiment of coming together and interconnectedness despite nationality, culture and religion. Bloggers of the World - yeah!

INSPIRING BLOG

The Inspiring Blog Award goes to some people whose words, images and thoughts I find particularly inspirational:

Reya
Kimy
Alaleh
Mother Wintermoon
David

MWAH!

The purpose of this award is motivated by:

the desire to hand some of that love and kindness back around to those who have been so very, very, very good to me in this bloggy world. My hope is that those who receive this award will pass it on to those who have been very, very, very good to them as well. It's a big kiss, of the chaste platonic kind, from me to you with the underlying 'thanks' message implied. I really do appreciate your support and your friendship and yes, your comments. ... Mwah!

And so I pass on a great big Mwah! to:

Debi
Kimy
Reya
Verilion
Sameera
Scarlett
Canterbury Soul
Vesper

(yes, yes, I know, I still can't count).

YOU MAKE ME LAUGH!

And now I'm going to post another award to those who so often leave me chuckling - and who certainly have been known to brighten my day in a more humourous way.


Although these bloggers don't necessarily set out to be witty or humourous, they all have a wicked sense of humour! So, this one goes to:

Mutley - a very dirty dog
Kyklops - who has clearly been abducted by mushrooms at some point in his colourful past
Minx - who is irrespressible and incomparable
Jon - who personifies nuttiness
Wilf - who is a small boy with a wicked sense of humour, though he'd possibly disagree
Scarlett - very particularly for her rainbow chicken post!
Baino - for her whacky ozzie humour :-)


Hope you're all enjoying a wonderful weekend - and Blog On!