It’s been a busy few weeks – and I am delighted to have been nominated for several more blog awards – at this rate I will have to build a virtual trophy cabinet to hold them all – but at least they don’t require any dusting!

I am glad I have waited to put these all together in one post – as several require me to tell you 7 things about myself … I think I can manage 7 … but 28 .. or more things … would be too much!

And I have recently started following some new blogs – so that means I can forward these awards on to some very deserving – and enjoyable – blogs.

So here goes…

Tell me about yourself award

This was given to me by the wonderful Brenda Youngerman – whose books I can highly recommend (and she didn’t pay to me to say that – I have happily paid to download her fab writing onto my Kindle!)

The rules for this award are very simple…

1. Thank the person that nominated you and link back to their blog.

2. Tell the world 7 things about yourself that you have not shared, yet.

3. Nominate 7 fellow bloggers and let them know.

So thank you – very much – Brenda – here’s the link back to her original post (sorry it took me a while to sort this one out!) Wednesday Award Day

My 7 things about me are at the end of this post!

And the 7 nominations – I have chosen new blogs that I would like to know more about:

All about Lemon – brilliant writing and great illustration

Francine in retirement – great photography

Maria at Christian Fantasy for Women – a modern writer’s blog

Mortal Hearts with Immortal Souls – quirky writing that challenges you

Outside Air – real life writing

Buddhafulkat ­ – writing and drawing to inspire

Mindblur – thoughts and ideas to share

The Versatile Blogger Award

This one has been given to me by the utterly brilliant Julie Dawn Fox for this blog The Thought Palette – you can find the link to her post here Awards

And also it has been doubly special as it has also been given to my Algarve Blog by Jennifer at My Sardinian Life – you can read her post here The Versatile Blogger Award

The rules of this award are:

• Thank the person who gave you the award.
•  Include a link to their blog in your award post.
•  Nominate 15 bloggers/blogs for the Versatile Blogger Award.
•  Leave a link on their blog informing them of their new award.
•  Tell us 7 things about yourself

Jennifer also had the link to a WordPress site for the Versatile Blogger Award – the first time I have seen this – so thank you Jennifer – and here’s the link everyone: The Versatile Blogger Award

15 Blogs – wow! That’s a lot! Here goes:

The Frugal Girl –  brilliant ideas and inspiration

BreatheLighter  –  a great blog about real life and well being          

Lavender and Lime – a blog about food (and I don’t even cook!)

Adjusting Your Focus – a different take on life

Oregon Smiles – thoughts and photos to enjoy

Scrambled not Fried – always a great Six Word Saturday

Expatlogue – expat life in Canada

Cate at Show my Face – the home of Six Word Saturday

The Travel Bunny ­– great travel photography

Two minutes of Grace – writing to get you thinking

Spirit Sisters– more inspirational writing

Read me – great book reviews and photo challenges

Lynda Renham Cook – strong independent writing

The Laughing Housewife ­– fun writing about real life

Seashell by the Seashore –  strong creative writing and lovely images

The Kreative Blogger Award

This award was given to the Thought Palette by Meg Travels – a really good blog to lose yourself in for a while; Meg writes really well about her travels around the globe. You can read about the award post here Kreativ Blogger Award

http://megtraveling.com/2012/05/04/kreativ-blogger-award/

The rules of this award are:

• Thank the person who nominated you and include a link back to their blog
• Share 7 things about yourself
• Pass the award to 7 nominees

Here are my nominations:

Believe Anyway – great depth and vision – love this blog

The Wanderlust Gene – excellent weekly photo challenge pics

Canadian Travel Bug’s blog – life in China

Something Xtra Special – beautiful silver jewellery 

Sandrine Pelissier’s blog – art and paintings to enjoy

Kofegeek art  - quirky and appealing art work

Creative Ideas for Starving Artists – the name says it all!

So thank you Meg – and Jennifer – and Julie – and Brenda. I really do appreciate these awards – even if I do tend to stack them up in the corner for a while before I add them to the blog.

And here are the 7 things you have always wanted to not know about me!

1 I was born and grew up in inner-city Birmingham

2 I only learnt to ride a bicycle when I was 17!

3 I can’t sing in tune (at all!)

4 I love Cadbury’s chocolate and ‘Percy Pigs’

5 I am a very quick reader

6 I went on a ‘silent’ retreat time – and lasted less than 2 hours and went home again!

7 My ideal dinner party would have John Barrowman and David Tennant sat at the table! (Oh – and I wouldn’t be cooking!)

The ABC Award – Awesome Blog Content

Well it wouldn’t seem right if I didn’t also give out my own award!

You can find out more about the ABC Award by clicking on the logo above and I have decided that all of the blogs I have listed above should also be given the ABC Award too – so take a bow all of you! You can find out what you need to do for this award here – The ABC Award ­– and I am really looking forward to reading all of your alphabets!

I have been delighted to watch this little award travel around the blogosphere, being awarded to so many wonderful blogs … and now we even have our own Facebook Group for bloggers who have been given the ABC Award – so do come over and join the FB group page set up specifically for you! Meet other bloggers and be encouraged and inspired by some of the amazing blogs and writers we have in the group.

Click on the logo here to join the ABC Award group:

You can also ‘like’ the new FB page too – then you can also add links to your posts as you write them on your blog – and share your writing with a much wider audience. Why not let all of your blog readers know about this page too – I think that we can all support each other’s blogs and encourage new people to take the time to find out about us…

Click on the logo here to ‘like’ the ABC Award page:

So to all of the blogs listed above – Congratulations! and Thank You for making the blogging world a brighter, funnier, more challenging and fun place to be!

Happy blogging and reading everyone!