Versatile Blogger

I have Jane Lovering  (From Behind the Keyboard) to thank for this. She has nominated me for a 'Versatile Blogger Award'! Here's what it looks like:

Now apparently all I have to do is this: tell you seven things about myself of interest, generally 'not known' (intriguing, shady, weird etc) and nominate seven other bloggers to pass this onto.

What has been holding me back is finding seven previously un-nominated bloggers from the list of those I do follow, several of whom already have the award (like Jane herself). This includes:

• Kate Kyle 'Gone Writing'.
• Claire King 'Claire King Writer'
• Nettie Thompson 'Words and Pictures'
• Sarah Callejo 'Writing on my Secret Island called Imagination'

and somehow I can't imagine that, at some stage, the inimitable Derek Haines hasn't been awarded a 'Versatile Blogger Award' himself, being, manifestly, a 'Versatile Blogger'

 

However, finally, with patience and persistence, I have come up with seven lucky people to name (see below).

The next bit is (relatively) easy. Seven previously unknown/an-admitted (publicly that is) facts about me.

Mercy Stealing

1. First and worst. Very many years ago in the days of my misspent youth, I was a gnome nicker (yes, I do mean 'gnome nicker'). This shady and thoroughly reprehensible activity took place at summer time when I was volunteering 'digging' on archaeological sites in the south of England. After a hard day on site and an equally hard evening down at the pub, we (you see I was just one of several) 'liberated' the odd (very odd) garden gnome which was then ceremonially barbecued. Even though we tried to couch it as 'mercy stealing' it was still 'stealing'. Hangs head in shame ... (have to confess the sight of those silly inane plastic beards, pointy hats and sillier smiles sagging and melting into the flames was rather entertaining though ...).

Hero of a lifetime

2. Altogether more elevating than the above. Having spent much of my life as an archaeologist, I must confess that I always really wanted to be a zoologist. I fell in love with South America as a young girl, but only because I had fallen in love with David Attenborough and his 'Zoo Quest' programmes.  He was then my inspiration across years and recipient of the only 'fan letter' I ever wrote (which he graciously replied to). I have ever avidly watched 'Natural World' type documentaries and even latterly, programmes such as 'Big Cat Diary' have the power to make me feel wistful. Never quite knew why I ended up as an archaeologist instead.

Improbable pumpkins

3. I once had the surreal experience of telling the story of Cinderella to an Ecuadorean port official on board a banana boat crewed by a Chinese crew with a Geordie captain in the port of Puerto Bolivar, Machala, Ecuador. We were both a bit drunk at the time. I don't think he ever realised it was actually a fairy story I was telling him. He particularly didn't get the bit about the pumpkin.

In my dreams

4. Although I fell in love with flamenco dancing in Seville, Spain, I actually learned (well nearly) to dance it in Edinburgh, Scotland (where else do you learn to dance flamenco?!). No Highland Flings for me (despite being half Scottish)!

 In my dreams (the karate, not the man)

5. I am not a fan of sport, but have been known to 'dabble' in martial arts. I once gained a 'belt' (of the lowliest order) in Shotokan Karate ... until a severe case of 'archaeologists' knee' intervened and prevented me from continuing (well, a good excuse at the time).

6. I have always wanted to be able to be able to play a musical instrument, but specifically the saxophone. In fact, I can't play any musical instrument ( a 'regret').

In my dreams

7.  From time to time I have 'dabbled' in a little shamanism (of the native South American sort mostly)!

Amazonian Shaman

And that's about it!  So now, my nominees for the 'Versatile Blogger Award' are:

 

• Tony Riches 'The Writing Desk'
• Deborah Rickard :'Writing to Inspire'
• Vivienne Tuffnell: 'Zen and the Art of Tightrope Walking'  
• Quirina Roode-Guzmer 'In the Write Mind'
• Reggie Ridgeway 'Characters Well Met'
• Philip Ellis 'Philip the Writer'
• Les Floyd 'Lesism'

 

My apologies to these lucky nominees, who may, in fact, not thank me for so honouring them!

Now, hopefully, I have earned my 'Versatile Blogger' award. Onwards and up ....


Acknowledgements
Photos and Images used for this Post:

All images used in this post are, for convenience, taken from the web, excepting the Amazonian Shaman, who I was able to take in person (Cuyabeno Reserve, eastern Ecuador).