May 17, 2009

LIGHTHEARTED AWARDS FOR DESPERATE TIMES











Wherever you turn, things look desperate. Be it bankers’ bountiful bonuses or plentiful pension pots, aporkalyptic swine flu predictions or politicians’ unedifying ethics - or simply the runaway recession. Here in Spain, for instance, where unemployment is the highest in Europe (4 million and counting;17% of the workforce), some Spaniards have even reportedly resorted to selling their kidneys just to make ends meet. Yes, we’re all on our way to hell in a handcart…

Or are we? Amongst all the gloom, there are often a few rays. Such as Major Phil Packer who, though horribly disabled in Basra, managed to complete the recent London Marathon in 13 days for charity. Philip Hollobone, the UK's most frugal MP, who commutes the four-hour round trip to Westminster in a standard-class train seat ("because there's no need to travel first class") and who last year spent just £400 out of a possible £100,205 on staff. And, of course, who could forget Susan Boyle…?

And in the same vein, hopefully, the following awards may provide a lighthearted moment or two as well…

The award (which I was given by the delightful ModernMom at How To Survive Life in the Suburbs is for RECENTLY discovered blogs and, like all similar blog awards, is useful because it introduces wonderful new blogs to a wider readership.

So regrettably I have to EXCLUDE those esteemed fellow bloggers I’ve known now for a little while (most of whom have already been garlanded with well-deserved awards) such as (in particular): Tania and Sarah of Backwards, Lucy Fishwife of Life happens between Books, Charlie Circus of So Lovely, Miss Whistle of Whistling and, also on the West Coast (of Canada), Pinklea. All beautifully written blogs.

In fact, all those listed on the sidebar deserve award after award but I’m restricted to just 10. (Stop gushing and get on with it. Ed.) So, ripping open the shiny, sealed envelope on the blogosphere podium, I momentarily pause (for drumroll and swig of whisky from artfully concealed hipflask) before reading out the nominations (in no particular order):

Dustjacket Attic
In An Ideal World
She Means Well, But...
A Country Dream
From Donuts To Delirium: My Life as a Housewife
The Vintage Kitten
Suzys Vintage Attic
French Charming
Chronically Vintage
French Fancy

The Rules:

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who’s given it plus his or her blog link.

2) Pass the award to 10 other blogs that you’ve recently discovered. And contact the bloggers to let them know they've been chosen for this award.

Happy reading everyone!

47 comments:

Lola said...

Karyn - French Charming: Many thanks for yr comments in last post. Glad you like the site - I'll be back regularly at yours to keep up to speed with yr posts too!
Take care
Nora

Lola said...

Moonspinner: Many thanks for yr kind words in previous post! Love the beauty & calm of yr site - so relaxing for those of us living here on the edge of sanity (except for Lola who's invariably busy catching up with her beauty sleep!)
Take care
xxNora

Anonymous said...

Ooooooh - new blogs to read and discover! One of my favourite ways to while away free time! Any particular recommendations from Lola?

Winchester Manor said...

Oh Nora...Thank you so much! I feel so honored! You just gave me the best warm fuzzies! Isn't blog land so wonderful? I'm having the best time and it's so amazing to connect with amazing and talented women from all over the world!

I've got my housework to do, since I've been playing around all weekend, but I will post my wonderful award and pass it along after I'm done.
Thanks again!!

Hugs,
Karyn

Anonymous said...

Thank you so much for the award Nora, I will collect it tomorrow, when I do a post, as I've just got in from the hospital and am really tired. You have made my day with the award, how lovely to be given an award on mine and Johns 6th wedding anniversary!
xxxxxxxxx

debra@dustjacket said...

Oh very chuffed Nora, thanks ever so!

So pleased I can help keep you from tipping into complete insanity ... what are friends for!xx LOLA love to you my darling!

Witchcrafted Life said...

You're so deeply kind, Nora. Many heartfelt thanks for including my budding vintage blog on your list of Lovely Blogs! You've just begun my week on a wonderfully upbeat note, thank you!!!

Oodles of hugs & optimistic wishes,
Jessica

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for the award daalings! I'd like to thank the academy, of course, and you and the darling Lola. I am lucky to have to such lovely individuals reading my blog :D It is truly an honour *hugs*

Lola said...

Pinklea: I recommend you read above all for SHEER enjoyment, MY guest posts - plus, of course, the other blogs the woman with the wild fair hair has listed. Avoid her stuff - I keep telling her it's drivel!
A la prochaine,
LOL LOLA
PS I did overhear her muttering she's not sure if Wordpress registers followers (as she's one of yours)?

debra@dustjacket said...

oh btw will be passing award on shortly - just have to stop messing about and actually join some new blogs to send it too. lol xx

She Means Well... said...

Thank you SO much, kind lady! Can you feel me blushing all the way from Athens to Andalucia?

Your blog is a real joy to dip into and reminds me why the Internet is such a gift for connecting with like-minded women with wild fair hair, wherever they may be.

Henrietta Bird said...

Thank you Nora SO much for the award - I am chuffed to weeny bits!

I will be putting this with pride on my blog asap once I have worked out the techy cleverness to do it.

I'm looking forward to reading all the other nominees - I may never leave the house again!

Thanks again - huge cheerfulnesses for a Monday morning!

The Vintage Kitten said...

Hi Nora, Thanks so much for my award. Its so sweet of you to pick me out of all the great blogs there are X

Lola said...

Karyn (French Charming): You are most welcome! And I'm so glad it's a good start to the week for you!
Will be back at yr site just as often as I can!
Take care
xNora
PS Thank you too for becoming a follower. Am most flattered!

Lola said...

Melanie: So pleased you like the award and wasn't the timing great -on your 6th wedding anniversary?! Congratulations!
Will be back at yr site as regularly as I can. In the meantime, hope yr relative is making the best possible progress.
Take care
Nora:)

Lola said...

Moonspinner: Thanks so much for yr warm words. So pleased you like the award - so richly deserved for yr site's delicious images & music!
So calming I almost start dropping off...
See you again soon!
xxNora

Lola said...

Moonspinner: Your blog is soooo beautiful! You and I share a sense of beauty and taste!(Yawn) I do try to 'educate' my PA here with the wild fair hair but, you know, it's quite hopeless... (Yawn).
Au revoir pour le moment
LOL LOLA:)

Lola said...

Jessica: You are most welcome! And I'm so pleased it's a good start to the week for you too!
I'll be back at yr blog as often as poss.
Take care
Nora:)

Lola said...

Heavenly Housewife: The Academy, Lola & I are most pleased you like yr well-deserved award!
Will be popping back to yr site just as often as poss.
In the meantime, take care!
Nora:)

Lola said...

Mandi: Ooh, now I'm blushing! But you're quite right about the wonders of the internet to link us all up SO speedily - blog pals in Australia, Athens, Andalucia, N America and the UK! Whoo-ah! (in Al Pacino's immortal words!)
I'll be back dipping into yr blog as often as I can,
Take care
Nora:)
PS Thank you for becoming a follower - a huge compliment!

French Fancy... said...

Nora - thank you so much for this. I've just blogged - somewhat belatedly - about another award, so I will tuck yours away for the time being (if that is okay). I do tend to hang on to these sorts of things but I do promise to do it and bestow it very soon.

In the meantime I'm off to discover your other new blog awardees and to find out a bit more about you. (and Lola)

Lola said...

Henrietta: So pleased my little award has brought such huge cheerfulnesses for a Monday morning!
Love yr blog too & will be back dipping in as often as work permits...
Take care!
Nora:)

Lola said...

The Vintage Kitten: You are most welcome! Yr blog is soooo delightful and I'm looking forward to stopping by again just as soon as I can!
Take care,
xNora:)

Lola said...

French Fancy: Thank you for yr kind words and congratulations on yr other award!
Love yr site - will be back just as often as I can -work permitting!
Take care,
Nora:)
PS Thank you so much for becoming a follower - hugely flattering!

Anonymous said...

Hi Nora, I've now added you to my blogroll, and will be collecting my lovely award from you in a few hours, when I do a post. xxxx

Henrietta Bird said...

I knew it - Captain Thick here - just wanted to say I am trying to post a list on my blog of lovely other blogs but can't work out how to do links nicely....durr.

So apologies for a bit of a wait while I try to figure this out!

Lola said...

Melanie: Great to hear from you again & thank you so much for adding me to yr blog roll!
See you again soon!
Take care,
xxNora :)

Lola said...

Henrietta: Make that 2 Captain Thicks! I know exactly how you feel! Getting the award was great but figuring out the list and then the links was a bit more problematic & time-consuming...
But don't worry about the delay - we're just as understanding here as the Academy is about its Oscar nominees!!
Nora:)

Anonymous said...

Nora - As you suspected, Wordpress does not register followers like Blogger does. I will keep researching, however, because it is entirely possible that there is some similar feature hidden somewhere in the depths of Wordpress. This may take some time. Navigating this Intarwebs thing is tricky.

Holly Loves Art said...

Hello! I found your blog through French Charming. Thrilled that I did because I'm falling for your adorable Bichon! Be sure and pop over to my blog to say hello to the love of my life and beloved Bichon Honey Boy, Albie.

You have a wonderful blog!

Take care,

Holly

HollyLovesArt.blogspot.com

Winchester Manor said...

Hi Nora,

Don't want to sound so naive or uncultured, but I've seen this word several times in this thread...what does "chuffed" mean? It's a word we obviously don't use here in the states!

Suzy's Vintage Attic said...

Thank you so much for the lovely comments that you left on my blog and for the award. Very much appreciated! I have enjoyed acquainting myself with your lovely blog. I would have to agree with Meryl Streep!
Take care
Isabelle x

Lola said...

Pinklea: Thanks for this! But I didn't mean you to go to any trouble at all! It was more out of interest/curiosity - as I'd noticed before that Wordpress didn't appear to 'do' followers like Blogger.
And as for navigating between webs, whoo-ah! - I have enough difficulty with all the bells & whistles on my own site!
Take care
Nora:)

Lola said...

Karyn - (French Charming):
'Chuffed' or 'chuffed to bits' is idiomatic (slang really) for 'pleased', 'very happy'. It's one of those expressions that can take you by complete surprise as was the case for me (when I first heard it in LA) with 'if I had my druthers'!
I have so many marvellous memories of life in California! Happy days!
Hope to see you again soon,
Take care
Nora :)

Lola said...

Holly:: Thank you so much for stopping by and yes I have popped over to yr gorgeous site & left a comment. Albie looks WONDERFUL! Lola, I know, would love to meet him!
Look forward to seeing you (and Albie) again soon!
Take care
Nora :)

Lola said...

Isabelle: You are most welcome - and many thanks for yr kind words. Very much appreciated too!
Will be back at yr gorgeous site just as much as I can - work permitting!
See you again soon,
xNora :)

Unknown said...

Nora--What an impressive friends list you have! I bet you guys always got seated in the Wolesely's inner circle!
Lola--I saw this tiara and thought of you. I thought it would look lovely on you, what with your petite frame and all:
http://www.butlerandwilson.co.uk/search/showitem.asp?742,0,0,0,0

Lola said...

Heavenly Housewife: Many thanks for stopping by & you're quite right about the pecking order at restaurants (all over the world it has to be said) like the Wolseley & the Ivy. It's so easy to see at a glance who's hot & who's not! As for the Wolseley, it was always instructive to see who got the coveted inner circle banquette seating! Often, it seemed, 'resting' (ie out of work!) actors & directors holding court (& jostling for jobs) amongst their mates!

Lola has asked me (her PA!) to thank you so much for the tiara recommendation. She says the swarovski crystal sets off her fur tone really well (also fancies the matching necklace to wear in lieu of a collar!) & is angling for both as a gift. When I reminded her of the cost (£100 just for the tiara), she cut me such a withering look as if I were Senora Scrooge on an economy drive...

Lovely to see you - as always, & I do hope you have a terrific stay in beautiful Barcelona (try to visit the market near Las Ramblas - full of delicious fruit, vegetables & charcuterie).
Take care,
x Nora:)

PS As the winner of 2 awards (congratulations!), you'll be needing an extra tiara or two yourself!

Millennium Housewife said...

Ooh a whole new blog list - cheers. MH Ps was it you then who stole my hip flask?

Winchester Manor said...

Hi Nora,

Thanks for the explanation...I'm liking that, I'll add it to my vocabulary so I can get some strange looks, so I can be chuffed to weeny bits! Oh brother, I'm getting silly now, I'm so tired today and I'm getting a little silly!

Lola said...

Millennium Housewife: Great to hear from you and welcome to the site! To be honest can't be sure whose hip flask it is as I've got so many secreted away in nooks & crannies I'm continually surprising myself...

Thanks for stopping by - & I'll be popping over to yr place shortly!
Take care
Nora :)

Lola said...

Karyn - French Charming: Many thanks for stopping by & am really pleased you're chuffed to bits!
Will be popping back to yr site for another look at those photos (the mortuary looks a bit spooky!)
See you soon!
Nora:)
PS Thanks so much for adding me to yr blogroll as well as becoming a follower! Now I'm 'chuffed to bits'!!

So Lovely said...

I'm so glad you wrote about the devastating times in Spain. So bombarded with only bleak times in the US (the news is always so one-sided), other parts of the world need their time to be at the fore front.

Lola said...

So Lovely: Yes, you are so right: the news in each country is so invariably skewed to local/national political point scoring, it's often impossible to get any rational, balanced perspective.

But I hesitate to write too much about Spain's particular woes for fear of slipping into default rant mode!

Off now to buff up my own 'lighthearted' award - I trust your gorgeous Oscar is still gleaming & glinting in all its glory!!

Looking forward to seeing you again soon and thanks for stopping by,
xNora :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Nora, your comment made me laugh, bet your good at making paella now, lol! xxxxxxxx

Anonymous said...

Thank you Nora, it was good timing. Our loved one is doing really well. Have a great weekend. xxxx

Lola said...

Melanie: Hi me again! Thanks so much for both comments above & so pleased, too, to hear yr good news! Hope you're enjoying the holiday w/end!
Take care
xNora:)