In the past few weeks, I’ve been nominated twice for the Stylish Blogger Award. Am I stylish, as a blogger? Is my blog stylish? Heck, I doubt it, but I’ll take what I get!
Thank you so much to Todd Pack over at Todd Pack’s Messy Desk for his generous nomination; Todd is one heck of a writer, whose commentary on popular culture and his beloved south is not only brilliantly written and insightful, but it’s also really funny. The second nomination came from workingtechmom over at her blog called Ouch, Fired! Workingtechmom writes about family life and work life, the balance required, as well as the challenges and the demands of working and not working. Thank you both for nominating me.
As with most blogging awards, there’s a task involved and that is to tell you seven things about myself that you might not know. Here goes:
- I am something of a global phenomenon. I am the current reigning world champion sleeper-in-front-of-the-television. I have slept through more movies and television programmes than anyone else I know, and my sleeping has absolutely nothing to do with how good the movie is, how much I’m enjoying it or how much I want to watch it. If I’m tired, I will sleep. And I hate that I do that. I once tried to watch Finding Forrester with my elder son, when he was a teenager. I fell asleep before the titles rolled, and my son kept calling me to wake me up:
“Watch this cool part, Mom! It’s really funny!”
Each time he rewound the movie to cue it to the part he wanted me to see, I would fall asleep. He tried about five times with one particular scene, without success, and then asked me if he could just pretend he was watching the movie alone. Oh dear. - I hate washing up potato peelers.
- This one is a bit awkward: I keep checking my letter box and I have now come to the conclusion that *my Royal wedding invitation has got lost in the post*. Does anyone know the Royal protocol to pass on this kind of embarrassing piece of information? I know they’ll be waiting to get my RSVP. What to do, what to do?
- I have a ridiculous fear of heights. I have managed to do things like go up in the cable car to the top of Table Mountain in Cape Town, travel in a small gondola up to the top of Mount Titlis in the Swiss Alps and go up in the London Eye. When I can look ahead and avoid looking down, I can do it. If I look down, my stomach churns, my palms drip with sweat and I have to back away. And tell everyone else I know and love to back away too.
- I have started writing my book. My friend, Renee, over at Life in the Boomer Lane – a hugely talented, published writer who never ceases to make me laugh – has recently very generously shared her experiences regarding the process of writing a book. Everything she said made sense, especially the bit about how you need “to find your sentence” and then the book will flow from there. You will be pleased to know, Renee, that I have found my sentence. It made me cry, but I’m writing.
- I once suffered a bruised hip, playing rugby. Picture this: Muizenberg beach, Cape Town, a slow Sunday afternoon a few years ago. Our family and my husband’s brother and his family were enjoying a walk along the beach. Given that there were seven boys and three girls in the family group, we did what any similar group would do: decided to play a game of touch rugby on the beach. It would be rude not to. We split up into two teams. My team was gaining ground; we were dominating in both territory and possession. We were playing, if I may say so myself, spectacularly. I needed to give my team my all, so when one of my team mates threw me something of a hospital pass, I grabbed the ball and tried to make the best of the situation. I ran down my opponents and headed speedily towards the try-line. My legs ran too fast for my body, unfortunately, and I threw myself down – somewhat involuntarily – a short distance ahead of the try-line. It would have been an outstanding try if the beach hadn’t come up to meet me so quickly and dramatically and so far shy of the try-line. But I landed on the ball and that is how I bruised my hip.
- I have a new job. I have been hired as the publications and communications manager for a charity in London, and I started there last week. I am thrilled at this appointment, it will be a challenging and busy job, full of variety and possibility, and I am thrilled to be working in a small and active charity that really makes a positive difference in its sector.
As with similar awards, there is an obligation to pass this award on to fellow bloggers. I can honestly say that all of the blogs that I read are stylish and wonderful; they all make me think or laugh or cry or reflect and all of them keep me inspired and keep me reading and wanting to write better. If any of you would like to take up the mantle, please be my guest and go ahead. Just be careful not to bruise your hip.
Sunshine signing off for today!
Sunshine in London 
Congrats! Well deserved award(s). I am so proud of you for starting your book. I know it will be fabulous when it’s done and published and I hope you will autograph a copy for me!!
I am sooooo happy for you on your new job. I know you will do your new employer proud and they are so lucky to have you.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend! Diane
Thank you so much, lovely Diane! I think the book will be a long-term project, but I’m so glad to have started writing it. I’ll give you an autographed copy as long as you collect it in person – is that a deal?
Enjoy your weekend too xx
Thank, again, for the shout out. I LOVE that you have started your book. And the new position with the charity sounds wonderful. And I, like you, am terrified of heights. Step stools scare me. When we get together in London, it will be at ground level. We’ll toast your book and your job.
Thanks, Renee – and thanks for the impetus to start writing my book. You’re so inspiring. I’m so looking forward to meeting up with you – at ground level, yeah!
Good show! Congratulations on the new job and make sure to keep us updated on how it’s going. You didn’t say if your team won after the bruised hip so we would know if it was worth it. 🙂
Thank you so much! I can’t remember if our team won – I’m pretty sure we did, we were brilliant! 🙂
Well done! First of all for starting your own blog and then for winning the sylish award! I must admit this is a first for me to follow a blog and i can’t think of a better one to start with.
Exciting to read of you wanting to start a book. It’s something that has vaguely crossed my mind but that’s where it’s stayed-in my mind. Interestingly the sermon in church today was about turning good intentions into ACTION. Well done to you for doing just that.
Enjoy your new job, sounds like a good one!
Hi Christina – how lovely to hear from you and I’m so thrilled you’re following my blog. Thank you!
I do think my book’s going to take some time, but it’s started and that was important to me.
It’s because you are super-stylish, of course!!
And, if you hate washing potato peelers, I hate washing mashers. Grrrr.
Thank you, ladyjustine! Good to see you over here.
I’m not wild about washing mashers either – haha!
I’m so glad you have started your book, Sunshine! That’s exciting! Actually, I can’t wait to read it. Let me place my order now for a copy, as I imagine the first printing will sell out quickly–because you are indeed STYLISH!
Hugs from Haiti,
Kathy
Aw, thank you, Kathy! I’m really pleased to have made a start on my book … thank you for wanting to read it! Yay!
Congratulations on writing a book! So many would-be writers can’t get past the first “the,” so it’s great that you’ve already cleared that hurdle!
I can imagine, Todd. I needed to find my start, and once I had found it, it kept me awake until I wrote it.
Ooh, I’m so glad you’ve decided to take that first step and start your book, Sunshine! Yes, it will be an ongoing project — one that requires a lot from you — but you can do it! One step at a time — one word, one sentence, one paragraph. Don’t think about the overall project, or you might overwhelm yourself! I’ve never played rugby, but I watched “Invictus” the other evening (and thought about you). What lovely scenery, and what a rugged game!
Thank you so much, Debbie – such helpful advice and encouragement about my book.
I’ve also never played rugby apart from the touch rugby game on the beach, which is why I find it so funny! Touch rugby is different from regular rugby, in that if someone from the opposite team touches you you lose possession; there’s no heavy tackling involved!
I’m so glad you watched Invictus – I loved the movie, not so much for the rugby (which was pretty weak!) but for the story, which is so powerful and amazing. Matt Damon’s Saffa accent was brilliant, and Morgan Freeman was just divine as Nelson Mandela. And yes, that’s my home! My elder son and his girlfriend were extras in the movie!
Congrats on the Stylish Award. Of course we already knew that about you, but now it’s official!
I’m so happy to learn about your new job and starting your book. Hooray! Can you divulge the subject matter yet? I understand if you want to keep that close to the vest.
Ps – Glad to hear that you thought Matt Damon’s Saffa accent was spot on. I thought he did a good job, but I’m no authority. 🙂 When I hear actors try Southern accents I usually cringe. For the most part they’re terrible at it. Ha!
Thank you, jacquelin – what a sweet thing to say! I’m also happy about my new job and my book – yay!
A Saffa accent is so difficult to do, I think, and Matt Damon really cracked it. Morgan Freeman’s accent wasn’t great, but he got Nelson Mandela’s voice and bearing perfectly. I know what you mean about cringeing … 🙂
Congrats on the award, starting your book and your new job!
I’m with you on #1…I stopped watching CSI, because I always managed to miss the end, so I never knew who did it! Alas, I didn’t get an invite to the wedding either…
Hugs,
Wendy
Oh yay – someone else who sleeps in front of the TV! It’s my least favourite thing … and I wish I would just take myself off to bed where it’s much more comfortable to sleep, but noooo! Thanks, Wendy!
Sunshine, I think Kate M wanted to give you a chance to fall asleep in front of the royal wedding. I know I will be.
Good luck with the book. Wonderful news.
That’s a good thought, Kate. So you didn’t get an invitation either?
I’m excited about the book – thanks!
There is so much to celebrate in this post that it’s no wonder you got an award. Congratulations and the best of luck for your book, your job, and everything xx
Thank you so much, Tilly! xx
Congrats, Stylish Blogger! I *thought* I saw you on the catwalk!
And congrats on the new job! It sounds perfect for you, friend. So well deserved. May you have many happy and rewarding days as you help save the world!
As for your book, promise you’ll come to The States on your book tour. I’ll be the first in line for an autograph. I can’t wait to read it, Sunshine!
Thank you so much, Maura! I’m loving the new job, it’s great. And I can’t wait to finish writing my book – thanks so much for your encouragement. Not sure what I’ll do with the finished article, but I’ll keep going one word at a time for now!
So proud of you, Sunshine! Writing is the easiest/hardest activity in the world! You are such a good writer, can’t wait for your book! Cheers!
Thank you so much, izzie – what a lovely thing to say! Hope you’re well – I haven’t been over to your blog for a while. Will get back there soon xx
I think the reason you haven’t received a wedding invitation is your resemblance to Princess Di. Probably Kate is worried that you’ll detract from her big day!
The only problem with your new job is that we are hearing far too little from you these days. Maybe once you’ve settled in you can tell us more about it? This first month must be chaotic.
Hahaha, that’s so funny, Lisa! That’s probably the reason – thanks!
I know, I need to get into a groove with my new job and fit the blogging in – both writing and reading.