Liebster Blog Award

I've been away from my blog for a while now, far too long really, but it was a nice surprise to see I've been awarded the Liebster Award by Carrie Sorensen over at Chasing Revery .  Thanks very much for this Carrie, it's rewarding to know that people are regularly reading whatever rambles I'm posting.

I've seen this award on other blogs before but I like the twist that Carrie has added to this one. Instead of awarding only 5 other blogs she has chosen 11. I'm going to follow suit with this, it's nice to give something back to as many of my own followers as I can.

First of all though I'm to give 11 facts about myself that may not be evident from my blog, so here we go:

1. One of my proudest moments was four years ago when I spent just over two days giving birth to my beautiful daughter. I managed the whole process without any pain relief whatsoever, and the reward was wonderful.

2. I'm car crazy. My car is like my other baby and I'm very protective over it. I'll quite happily drive around a car park three or four times before finding a suitably safe spot.

3. My husband and I have a dream to one day design and build our own home. He can design most of it but I have some stipulations: my own bathroom, a walk in wardrobe and at least three garages.
4. I did a charity skydive for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. It was truly amazing and I think I was only scared for about 2 seconds just before we leapt. The guy I was attached to was so tall he could stand up to full height and my feet didn't touch the ground!
5. I suffered greatly with anxiety and panic attacks the year after I had my daughter. I had an aversion to large crowds of people in enclosed spaces so going to the cinema and busy pubs were not fun. I haven't had one for about 2 years now and thought I would on my wedding day, but I came through triumphant and hopefully have control of myself again.
6. Every now and again I become totally obsessed with The Sims 3. I'll spend two weeks playing it all the time until eventually I realise what a total waste of time it is, and become cross with myself for not doing something more productive (like writing!)
7. I used to love watching Thundercats when I was little, but would always get scared of Mum-Ra when he went all big and scary. I think it was the drool hanging from his mouth.
8. I used to keep a worm farm in my bedroom. I wasn't allowed ants in case they escaped, and I had to move it out of my room when my aunt came to stay and she had my room.
9. When at school I completed the Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburghs Awards. It was a lot of fun spending four days wandering the Lake District, although I was glad for the showers when we got home!
10. I have struggled for a long time to find what I really want to do with my life. It was a bit of a disappointment to realise that what I've spent the last ten years doing isn't necessarily what I want to do now. Still, it's all experience I suppose and I can use it in my writing, which is what I really want to do.
11. I have some odd (apparently) food likes. I love tuna mayo sandwiches with pickle and beetroot, or salad cream on toast. Ooh, and bacon and banana toasties.

In her post Carrie set 11 questions for her nominees to answer and here are my answers to hers:

1) What is your favorite movie from the 1950's or before?  
     Hmm, I haven't actually seen any pre 1950 movies, but I'm putting some on my list now.

2) Which band do you most wish would come back after 'disappearing' or retiring?    
     The Eagles (although they may still be knocking about somewhere.)

3) What is your favorite book that you don't think many people would know?  
     Under an English Heaven by Robert Radcliffe. It's about American bomber pilots based in England during World War 2.

4) What song is stuck in your head right now? (Because you know I just put one there – sorry.) 
Someone Like You by Adele

 
5) How many animals do you have? How many do you wish you had?  
     One hamster called Mrs Bloom. Mr Bloom's Nursery is one of my daughters favourite programs, but the hamster is a girl so … I'd love to have a couple of dogs but we just don't have the room at the moment. Maybe a cat. And a pot-bellied pig.

6) What is your favorite type of cookie?  
     A whole one! 

7) What place do you never want to go back to because it's so perfect in your mind   
     you don't want to ruin it? 
     Skegness

8) How many paces from your computer place to the fridge? 9

9) Did you actually have to count, or did you already know?

     I had to count, although I'm quite surprised I didn't know!

10) How old were you when you no longer believed in Santa Claus?  
       About 10 years old.

11) Did someone spill the beans or did you figure it out on your own?  
       My brother and I were bouncing on my parents bed one day and I noticed one of the wardrobe doors were open a little, inside were all the presents. I closed it quickly so my brother didn't notice, I think he believed for longer.

And finally, here are my own 11 questions for my nominees to answer:

1. What has been your favourite sport at the 2012 London Olympics?
2. Who was the first Doctor Who that you remember seeing on the television?
3. What would be the first thing you'd think to save (other than family) if you're house were hit by fire or flood?
4. Do you have a writing routine? Do you stick to it?
5. Do you prefer tea or coffee?
6. Have you achieved your ambition(s) yet?
7. When writing, can you cope with noise (children, television) or do you need absolute quiet?
8. How many people know about your writing?
9. Is your glass half full or half empty?
10. Darts – is it a sport or just a pub game?
11. Are you happy with your lot?

So, here are the 11 of the blogs that I follow that I want to pass on the award to:

• Rebecca Alexander at Witchway 
• Hygge Man at Scotty Watty Doodle All the Day 
• Karen Elizabeth Brown 
• Chessny Silth 
• My Unpublished Life at Unpublished Works of Me 
• Nicky H at The Road to My Dreams 
• Nicole Pyles at The World of My Imagination 
• Joanna at Up On Haliburton Hill 
• R A Desilets at Rad Writes
• Teresa Powell Coltrin at Journaling Woman 
• Lucy Mills

Remember guys, to give 11 facts about yourself, answer the 11 questions above, set your own 11 questions and most importantly, nominate more blogs and pass on the joy!