Official: Liebster Award Nomination

 

Wow – thanks to ‘A Girl that Blah’: https://blaho08.wordpress.com/ for this Liebster Award Nomination!

Being a relative newbie on the blogging scene, I’m proud to have been nominated, whilst feeling slightly daunted, as I’m now aware that there are some ‘official rules’ which I need to follow (detailed at the end of the post).

I apologise up front if I get this wrong (which is a strong possibility and if so please feel free to let me know!).

Well – I think I’ve got rule 1. right as I am genuinely grateful to ‘A Girl that Blah’ for her nomination. (I’m not sure I got the ‘link’ bit right – Any tips for how to improve this PLEASE let me know?) 

So now for rule 2.  – Display the award on your blog using a ‘widget’ or ‘gadget’ – Oh dear…. off to do a bit more research to find out about widgets and gadgets.……

Ok – so now I’m back.. I tried copying the award logo from ‘A Girl that Blah’s’ site but didn’t succeed so I’ve managed to find some other logo’s on a google search and hopefully these will be ok instead (as added at the top of the post)… Hopefully another Tick in the box 

Rule 3. Answer 11 questions about yourself posed by ‘A Girl That Blah’:  

Q.1 Who is your favourite blogger?

Answer: Ok – so this is a tricky one – I obviously love ‘A Girl That Blah’ for nominating me for the Liebster Award!

One of my other Favourite Bloggers is the author of In The Autumn Of My Life as she has tactfully, humorously and VERY patiently, supported me in my quest for learning how to ‘do social media’ (still work in progress….). She also shares some thought provoking ideas on her own site about life in general and has lots of brilliant suggestions and tips to support women going through the menopause. We often share a ‘blogging tea and biscuit’  together (well she eats and I dream of eating as I’m on my ‘healthier lifestyle journey……ok – I admit it –  I have had the odd one…): https://intheautumnofmylife.wordpress.com/

Q.2 What do you WANT to do , to change the world?

Answer: I suppose here I should say something really profound like “bring clean water and improved sanitation, to all people around the world” (I would love to be able to do this as I think it is incredibly sad that as a ‘WORLD’, we can send people to the moon but we can’t provide clean water across our own little globe).

However, in my much smaller world of family, I recognise how lucky and privileged I am to be surrounded by my extended family and I try to share the lessons I’ve learned over 55 years to help support them when they face their own life challenges and to encourage them to follow their own pathways to lead happy and fulfilled lives..

Q.3 Who is your role model?

Answer: I really can’t narrow this down to one person. However, on some personal development work recently, I considered a range of ‘qualities’ about different people who I respect and admire and brought them together in my mind to create ‘my ideal role model’ as follows:

• Joanna Lumley (actress, philosopher and activist) – I love her easy and elegant sense of style, glamour and confidence, combined with a genuine determination to do ‘the right thing’ in line with her deep held values and beliefs. I greatly admire her spirit of humanity and compassion. However, I also see myself as her ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ character and there have been some recent circumstances where I’ve imagined myself ‘in character’ with fag in mouth (I don’t and never have smoked so this must be my naughty side coming out in my dotage..), slightly tipsy and sticking two fingers up… haha!

• Anthony Robins – For his amazing ability to inspire so much positivity amongst a massive worldwide audience. In situations where I need to deliver presentations or feel ‘confident’, I imagine myself walking and talking with the confidence of Tony Robins. I listen to his CD’s as I drive and ‘punch the air’ in my ‘hour of power’!

• Albert Einstein – For his knowledge and deep thoughtfulness about the world we share and from the photo below his obvious sense of humour!

My mum – who was very glamorous and had a great sense of humour. Although she could be a slight Jekyll and Hyde character, I appreciate many of the lessons we learned from her, more so as I get older myself and I often hear myself repeating her words (as you may have noticed in some of my blog posts) e.g. What’s the use of worrying…

Mum

 

My sister Bev – for her amazing creativity, spirituality and ability to do the things that others may laugh at and scorn but which secretly they’d love to do themselves e.g. become a mermaid as per photo’s below!! Yes I admire those qualities in her and she inspires me to find that sense of “I’m going to do it because I enjoy it and I don’t care what others think” in myself… work in progress!!

Crystal Mermaid

Sea Goddess

I package up the great qualities of these very different individuals into one ‘ideal’ role model and I ‘step into’ those different qualities when I need them in a given situation to help give me the confidence, knowledge and skills I need ….

Q.4  Do you love yourself? If yes, then why? (If no, then please do)

Like many people, I haven’t ‘loved myself’ as I should have done over the years, working very long hours etc. and this eventually impacted negatively on my health and wellbeing.

I’m now on a journey focussed on improving my health and wellbeing including improved eating; mindfulness (thanks to The Autumn Of My Life for her suggestions); relaxation/meditation etc. It’s working – my blood pressure has returned to normal levels, I’ve lost over a stone in weight and I’m hoping the re-test of my blood sugar in a couple of weeks will also show some improvement too!

I would encourage others to ‘love themselves’ throughout their life and not try to be superhuman!

Q.5 What is your latest goal?

Answer: Linked to Q4

 

Q.6 How much are you passionate about your future?

Answer: Very – As I get ‘older’, I feel strongly about ensuring my time is used to really enjoy life so I’m currently re-designing my life, trying out new things and spending time creating happy family memories. Starting my Brilliance Within Blog was one of my ambitions now ticked off the list.. Vlogging here I come!

Q.7 What is in your bag?

The most exciting thing in my bag apart from the usual makeup, tissues, receipts, purse, hair grips etc. is the order for a new camera – I’ve ordered the Cannon G7 mark ll which I’m hoping will improve my blog photo’s and enable me to include some ‘vlogging’ once I’ve mastered the necessary skills. It’s not too late for me to change the order as it’s out of stock so I’ve not paid anything yet and if anybody has a better camera suggestion please let me know ASAP!

Jpeg

Jpeg

Jpeg

 

 

Q.8 You want to stay independent or dependent? (Make a wise choice)

I’ve led a very ‘independent’ life. I think possibly being too independent at times in a quest to be ‘superhuman’! I forget the pleasure it can give for others when they are able to help and although I know myself that I love helping others, I still deprive others of this opportunity to help me.

As a country we have a big choice to make tomorrow (23/6/16) here in the UK i.e. In or Out of Europe. I’m erring to independence on this one too.. I’m sure a lot of people will disagree but it’s a very evenly split debate in the UK at the moment – the ballot boxes will reveal our future on Friday!

Q.9  Your favourite show is…?

It’s got to be Coronation Street – It’s based and filmed in Manchester where I live and has become part of the British Institution. (Well actually they’ve just recently moved the set from the City Centre Manchester a couple of miles down the road to the newly built Media City in Salford).

Wendy – Far Left behind the Rovers Return Bar!

When I was a child my mum didn’t allow us to watch Coronation Street as she thought it was ‘unsuitable viewing’ until she was forced to actually watch it because she was laid up in bed with a bad back and as a result, she couldn’t change channel (1970 – before remote controls)  and became an avid fan!

Q.10 Who your fashion idol?

Twiggy – she was the first model I became aware of in the 1960’s and I had some of the iconic Bibba posters which featured Twiggy on the wall of my bedroom in the early 70’s.

Also Shirley Bassey for her ‘glitzy glamorous’ style which I developed a love for in my youth.  I think you can probably see the lasting impression her glittering gowns had on me in my post 50+ Fun and Flirty NOT Frumpy! – check out my red sequin dress – haha!

 

Q.11 ENDING WITH, how much serious you are for blogging?

Answer: –

Very Serious!!!

I’m loving my new learning journey and I challenge myself daily to learn and develop new skills in order to ‘master’ this new form of expression. It never ceases to amaze me how I can publish a post that is then picked up and read by people all around the world – it’s pretty miraculous really and opens up such fabulous opportunities to learn and gain insight into the lives of fellow humans around this amazing world we all live in together.

Hopefully in time, this sharing of our lives across the globe via the internet will help break down some barriers and enable us to live together more harmoniously instead of tearing each other apart with terrorism, war and extreme violence…

 I sound like someone who’s just won the ‘Miss World’ competition – hahaha!- Maybe I should have put that as my answer to Q2…. We can but dream! 

OH GOSH! – This is turning into the longest post… sorry!! And so it continues:….

Rule 4: Provide 11 random facts about yourself (I’ll try to keep this shorter..) (I didn’t succeed – don’t say I didn’t warn you!!)

1. I first saw my husband (to be) at my sisters first wedding – I was 14 – he was my sisters husband’s brother (yes – life is never straight forward) – they were getting divorced as we got engaged!  Yep – this really was classic 1970’s style – and if this photo was in colour you would see hubby’s Auburn hair!! They say love is blind and this probably proves that theory! (hope he doesn’t read this – oops!)
   

   

2. I suffered a series of ‘panic attacks’ in the late 1990’s when I went for job interviews. I went for hypnotherapy to help me (it worked brilliantly) and it inspired my lifelong interest in the power of the mind. I went on to qualify as a hypnotherapist myself in 2003 and have since helped lots of people overcome their phobias etc.

3. I used to be in a Choir  and in 2004, I travelled with the Choir to Orlando in the USA where we sang with the Walt Disney choir at the Epcot Centre as part of the Nativity Carol Services.

4. I love all things sparkly – clothes, home furnishings, ornaments, jewellery etc. as you can probably tell from some of my photo’s!

5. I have an ‘inspiration space’ in my garden which I call my ‘Brilliance Within’ hut. It’s a space I love to spend time in and it has an amazingly peaceful feel to it. I often write my blog posts while sat in there.

6.  I love ‘Rom Com’ films – I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched ‘Pretty Woman’ and ‘Love Actually’ – much to hubby’s disgust!!

7. I often say “I can’t paint” – then I came across this plate that I painted at China Painting Classes that I attended in the 1980’s and it reminded me that maybe I can if I try again!

 

8. I’m occasionally a bit of a ‘prankster’ and a few years ago whilst at a Xmas family/friends party, I chopped up some pickled beetroot and added it to a portion of sherry trifle which I then ‘kindly’ presented  to an elderly guest – she was so polite and ate the trifle regardless, much to my and my nieces and nephews amusement – I know – I was MEAN!! (but it was very funny..)

Does pickled beetroot normally go in trifle?…

 

9. When I was about 6 years old and on a camping holiday, I was bouncing up and down on an airbed mattress in the tent singing: “These boots were made for walking” and I bounced a bit too much and bit right through my tongue (to be gory about it – there was SOooo much blood) I had to have several stitches and a diet for several days of mashed banana and evaporated milk (showing my age now.. ) and ice cream – every cloud has a silver lining!

10. When I do self hypnosis or relaxation meditations I visualise myself on this little beach at East Prawl, Devon UK. I first went as a child in the 1960’s. I returned with my husband in 1982 when we spent our honeymoon camping close by in a field on our own – with only the sheep for company! We subsequently returned with our 2 sons and are planning a return trip now with our 2 granddaughters. It definitely became a ‘favourite place’ where lots of happy memories were created.

11. Last but definitely not least – I have 2 gorgeous granddaughters who bring absolute joy to my life. We are so lucky that they only live a few minutes away and they spend most weekends having ‘sleepover at Nanny and Grandy’s house’. I am truly blessed!

 

Rule number 5: Nominate 5 bloggers who have under 1000 followers for the Liebster Award. 

For those I nominate, this is a pretty time consuming blog (or maybe it was just me writing too much..) so please feel free to accept or reject my nomination as I appreciate you may be too busy.. I have enjoyed recalling some lovely memories though so it is good to do…

I had a quick check to see if you’d been nominated previously and couldn’t see that you have and also hopefully you all have the required ‘under 1000’ followers. If not – sorry!

I nominate in no particular order..

Victoria – https://victorialise.com/

FrankieFancies – https://frankiefancies.wordpress.com/

In the Autumn of my Life: https://intheautumnofmylife.wordpress.com/

Alamelu at Silk Quilling Colours: https://silkquillingcolours.com/

Starts with Myra: https://thosesecretswekeep.wordpress.com/

Rule number 6: The 11 questions I nominate you to answer are as follows:

1. What’s the most unusual thing about you?
2. Where is your favourite place to go?
3. What is your earliest memory?
4. What is your most annoying habit?
5. What makes you laugh?
6. What 3 pictures would you stick on your Dream Vision Board (see my post: How to Create a Dream Vision Board)
7. What do you love to do?
8. What makes you mad?
9. What would you secretly like to do but don’t maybe because you’re too embarrassed or you think people may laugh at you?
10. What is your ambition for the future?
11. What is number 1 on your bucket list of things you’d like to do/achieve before you pop your clogs?

 Rule 7 – Publish the official rules   

The Official Rules Of The Liebster Award 

If you have been nominated for The Liebster Award AND YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT, write a blog post about the Liebster award in which you:

1. thank the person who nominated you, and post a link to their blog on your blog.

2. display the award on your blog — by including it in your post and/or displaying it using a “widget” or a “gadget”. (Note that the best way to do this is to save the image to your own computer and then upload it to your blog post.)

3. answer 11 questions about yourself, which will be provided to you by the person who nominated you.

4. provide 11 random facts about yourself.

5. nominate 5 – 11 blogs that you feel deserve the award, who have a less than 1000 followers. (Note that you can always ask the blog owner this since not all blogs display a widget that lets the readers know this information!)

6. create a new list of questions for the blogger to answer.

7. list these rules in your post (You can copy and paste from here.) Once you have written and published it, you then have to:

8. Inform the people/blogs that you nominated that they have been nominated for the Liebster award and provide a link for them to your post so that they can learn about it (they might not have ever heard of it!)

OMG – so sorry this has been such a long post and thanks for sticking with it to the end! – Final Rule 8.. I’m off to inform those I’ve nominated for this challenge! Good Luck xx

And as a bonus for those of you made it to the end of this post I’ve got one last tip…

Always carry a plastic carrier bag with flowers on if you’re travelling in the UK – you may need it!!!