Versatile Blogger Award

 I’m honoured that the very talented blogger Charismatic Baking nominated me for a Versatile Blogger award (check out the Pumpkin and Vanilla Swiss Roll – unbelievably good). It’s my first award and I’m excited out of all proportion. I try not to judge myself by how many people read and comment on my blog, telling myself that the mark of a truly content person is someone who doesn’t look to the outside world to provide emotional sustenance. But in truth I’m not nearly that emotionally fit (yet!) and my ego is basking in the warm sun of the Charismatic Baking’s approval…

The Versatile Blogger award is awarded by fellow bloggers for the quality of writing, the uniqueness of subjects covered, the level of love displayed in the words on the virtual page. Or, of course, the quality of the photographs and the level of love displayed in the taking of them.

Bloggers honour those bloggers who bring something special to their life whether every day or only now and then.

Anyway, according to the rules I must (as well as my nominees):

• Thank the person who gave you this award. That’s common courtesy.
• Include a link to their blog. That’s also common courtesy — if you can figure out how to do it.
• Nominate 15 bloggers for the Versatile Blogger Award.
• Finally, tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself.

Any excuse to talk about myself – so here are seven things you might like to know about me…

1. As a child I ate the corners of books. Like a mouse I would nibble at pages, a little at a time, until my gnawing threatened the words. For the record, The Famous Five books taste the best.
2. I dislike Rav4 cars. There was a girl who I always felt intimated and jealous around when I was younger. She drove a Rav4 so I still irrationally judge all Rav4 owners, and Toyota as a whole, through her.
3. I’m a terrible gardener – I’ve recently been picking white ‘fungus’ off my baby lime tree, only to come back from a week away to find one of them flowering. Yup, I was picking off the limes.
4. I had New Kids on the Block posters all over my room when I was about 11 years old. On the walls, the ceiling, absolutely everywhere. I still know the words and moves to most of their songs.
5. I love reading with a passion (and not just for sustenance). My favourite books of all time are The Secret History by Donna Tartt and Perfume by Patrick Süskind. My favourite author of feel good is Debora Geary.
6. I play computer games. I started playing Skyrim just before my son was born and I dearly miss having hours to kill dragons and bargain for potions.
7. I studied music at the Royal Academy of Music in London from the ages of 11 to 19. I was the best sight-reader they had because I never practised. It should be no surprise to anyone that I’m not a professional musician.

And in no particular order my nominees are:

Essentially Being

The Family Meal

Spontaneous Tomato

Sunshine and Salad

Leaf and Twig

Toemail

Cold Tea and a Little Spew

Psyren

Chez CateyLou

Memoirs of an Amateur Cook

Lattes and Leggings

I Am The Milk

Peas and Cougars

Book of Words

The Little Loaf