Blogging? A Window on the World

There’s an unusually persistent breeze this morning.  The sky is crisp and blue, like a new Wedgwood dome above our heads.  The air feels fresh and the light is limpid.  It is, I think, the beginning of our ‘winter’ season here in Paradise.

A perfect day to air those infrequently used clothes and linens, to prepare them for the sea voyage ahead.  But before I do, it’s time for a little airing of affairs here on TWLG, for there are  kindnesses to acknowledge, nominations to be thankful for.

It’s astounding, really, how an introductory device like our blogging awards can at times act as a balm, pulling you up short and forcing you to remember that what you’re sad about, or frightened or unsure of, is all part of the universal fabric of humankind, and that what you’re so tied up in today will be over before you know it.  How can that be?

I like to think of each connection I make in our blogosphere as a window into another world, an opportunity to learn about other ways of life, other cultures, and to meet other people.  Sometimes, the connections we make with these interesting strangers around the world are so real they can elicit the miracle of human empathy – gladness, sadness, joy and sorrow float from window to window with the speed of a ‘publish’ button.

So, today as I look out the window I am confounded by messages of support and encouragement that remind me I’m not alone, and that yes, indeed, so many of the things I think and feel are thoughts and feelings shared by us all.  Thank you for your comments, thank you for your likes and follows, and today, most especially, thank you to the bloggers who have nominated TWLG for Awards.  It seems that today I’m being sprinkled with star dust and it is magic.

Thank you Emily.  I’m not often thought of as sweet, I don’t think, so this is an especially ‘sweet’ (I couldn’t resist!) moment.  Most of you will know Emily’s gorgeous and original blog Hoof Beats and Food Prints, but if you don’t, go, straight away.

Before I reveal my nominations for this luscious award, I must answer some questions.

Cookies or cake?

Neither is really my downfall, though I will admit to the occasional craving for a home-made Anzac Biscuit – those ultra-crisp, chewey-centred, oat, coconut and golden syrup biscuits beloved of Aussi and New Zealand kids – so cookies, I guess.

Chocolate or vanilla?

Despite the very best role model in my father, chocolate doesn’t do it for me.  I’m more a sour person – give me a lemon or passionfruit gelato every time.  So vanilla, I guess – it’s a nice foil for what goes with it.

What is your favourite soft treat?

I am fond of Pavlova with all the trimmings – ice cream and cream, piled with a mountain of fruit, all smothered by lashings of fresh passionfruit.  Is that soft?  If you insist – the passionfruit creme brulé at The Wallaawa – my idea of heaven.
When do you most want sweet things?

When I haven’t had enough fruit to eat.  Oh, alright, after a very hot curry, when my mouth is still tingling from the chilli – I love that combination of sweet and chilli – just a mouthful or two will do the trick

If you had a mild nickname, what would it be?
Is this shameful, I never had a nickname?   Some people call me M.

My Super Sweet Blogger nominees are:

• Amy – The World is a Book
• Ilargia
• Dallas, Crazy Train To Tinkey Town
• Small House Big Garden
• Christine – Dadirridreaming
• Our Adventures in Croatia

Kat at the delicious and beautiful Travel, Garden, Eat nominated TWLG to display the hipster logo of the Sistahood of World Bloggers.  This is a group I particularly enjoy being part of, and accept with glee.  Do you know Kat’s blog?  If you don’t, I suggest you pop right over to become acquainted.  But come straight back, because I’d like you to check out these sistas I always enjoy.

The rules state I’ve to answer ten questions but I answered them a couple of weeks ago, apropos The Reader Appreciation Award, so you’ll have to make do with those, or the super sweet answers, ’cause that’s all you’ll get out of me this week 🙂

• Petchary
• Liza at Zeebra Designs & Destinations
• Madoqua at Have you Ever?
• Michelle at, Silk Purse Production’s Blog
• EllaDee – take your pick of EllaDee Words, EllaDee Images, or
  EllaDee Places
• and George Weaver at She Kept a Parrot.  George hasn’t been actively posting lately  so perhaps our visits will encourage her to resume posting some of her stunning photographs.

I have an inspiring new friend from the Basque country of Spain and was bowled over, and flattered when she nominated TWLG as an Inspiring blog.  Ilargia might be sad to be living away from the sea these days, but she shares her spirit of adventure and the beautiful landscapes of northern Spain with the world.

There are thousands of inspiring blogs and bloggers in my corner of the blogosphere and it feels churlish to nominate only a handful of blogs, so I’ve restricted my nominations to three:

• Betty, whose work for Heifer 12×12  around the world is informative, beautiful and inspiring to follow, even vicariously
• Nicole, at Third Eye Mom, whose role of ambassador for the UN’s Shot at Life is so necessary
• and Angeline, at Angelinem’s Blog, whose recently completed 365 photography project has inspired me to use a similar tool to turn my sad move from Sri Lanka back to Australia into an adventure by exploring my new world through the lens of my camera – and in the process, learn how to use it better.

I do love beautiful things (S, my oldest friend, in Switzerland, says my love of beautiful things is a defining characteristic), and I try to make my blog and posts as beautiful as I can – so you can imagine how happy I was when a new blogger nominated TWLG as a beautiful blogger in her first acceptance speech.  Oceanbound’s Adventures has a passion for the deep and an intimate acquaintance with the seaside.

Again, there are so many beautiful blogs I enjoy every day, but I hope these few might be new to you

• Myau Myau’s Photo Gallery – glorious photographs of the most perfect of Japan’s temples and gardens – it’s like walking across those stepping-stones every time I visit.
• Echwalu Photography takes me places I’ve never been
• Sreeniviews seems to have an unending variety of the most exotic and gorgeous photographs of “beautiful India” (sorry, I couldn’t resist linking the beautiful award with the latest of India’s advertising tags).
• Peter’s Adventures is like opening the pages of the most comprehensive picture gallery of the most beautiful places on earth.

I’m over the moon to be collecting star dust in the form of Blog of 2012 stars – proud and very happy.  Thank you, thank you

• Emily, of Bella Remy Photography, at the gorgeous Hoof Beats and Foot Prints

• Sue’s Art and Food – there’s much to enjoy here, not least her wry fatalism.

• Expat Alien – Kathleen’s childhood as a Third Culture Kid, growing up around the world is probably the only childhood I’d consider swapping with mine.  On top of which, she’s published a book about it … but I’m not jealous, honestly, just avid to read more!

• Another Day in Paradise – We share a passion for Venice, but more, Sylvia travels frequently, to the most exotic of locations and commutes, it seems, from paradise in one hemisphere to paradise in another, depending on the seasons.

• Beyond the Brush – Now, people who can paint …

• A Nomad in the Land of Nizwa – Next to beauty I love the exotic, in fact exotic probably rules my life, so you can imagine how I enjoy the stories and images of Cat’s life in Oman.

I thought, since it is almost the end of the year, that this might be the appropriate time, and vehicle, to recognise a few of the bloggers whose initiative plays such an integral role in my blogging life and enjoyment:  the challenge masters.

To these people – whether or not I am able to respond to every challenge – thank you for the inspiration of your prompts, thank you for the exposure, and thank you for introducing me to the community of bloggers I have met through your sites.

• Jake, at Jakesprinter’s Sunday Post
• Ailsa, at Where’s My Backpack?
• Marianne, East of Malaga
• Sue,  A Word in Your Ear
• Fritz, Flickr Comments
• This Man’s Journey
• Cee’s Photography
• Ed at Sunday Stills

While they are much the same as the rules for other awards, the rules for Blog of the Year – 2012 have a couple of extra steps, so I’ll past them here.

1. Select the blog(s) you think deserve the ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award
2. Write a blog post and tell us about the blog(s) you have chosen (there’s no minimum or maximum number of blogs required) and ‘present’ them with their award.
3. Please include a link back to this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award‘ –  and include these ‘rules’ in your post (please don’t alter the rules or the badges!)
4. Let the blog(s) you have chosen know that you have given them this award and share the ‘rules’ with them
5. You can now also join our Facebook group – click ‘like’ on this page ‘Blog of the Year 2012’ Award Facebook group and then you can share your blog with an even wider audience
6. As a winner of the award, please add a link back to the blog that presented you with the award, and then proudly display the award on your blog and sidebar … and start collecting stars…