Wednesday 9 July 2008

And the award goes to............











........A truly loyal and witty bunch of readers who leave superb comments and are a great bunch to know. I said I’d do it and although it’s a long time coming, here it finally is! I want to say thanks to you guys that voted for me on the Best Of Blog Awards, (The BOB’s) – you are the true stars wading your way through the tripe that I write here, for that you deserve a big old pat on the back... I know there are quite a few awards listed here but you are all in good company because every one of you has made me laugh, cry, angry on your behalf or just plain frustrated so you deserve this. These awards are in no particular order!

Debs Lehner – you were the best campaign manager ever. I know I’ve already given you an award but you deserve as much as you can get because you are so good. Now that you’ve been nominated for the Blogger’s Choice Awards most humorous blog I shall bask in your glory when you run away with the title.

AIMS – Best Inspirational Blog 2007 at the BOB’s; a truly inspirational writer. A heartbreaking story that is uplifting because over and over she rises above adversity when most of us would have given up.

Softinthehead – for having a nice word to say about everyone – a very creative and kind lady indeed who writes a lovely blog.

Lane at Lane’s Write – Lane gave me the very best advice when I was struggling to get my novel written. She said something along the lines of ‘if you don’t write you have nothing to edit’. I stopped prevaricating and just started writing and it has been the best piece of writing advice ever. Oh and she also writes a brilliant blog.

Valley’s Mam – writes a fabulous political blog. She has been nominated for the Best Political Blog 2008 on the Blogger’s Choice Awards 2008. She is keeps me going when I want to give up blogging.

Stinking Billy – he was the very first commenter on my very first post. I was amazed anyone found the blog and thought it worthy of comment. Thank you Billy – you made a menopausaloldbag very happy indeed.

Crystal Jigsaw – this woman has a wonderful view on life, her writing is thoughtful and lovely and her energy and kindness shines through her posts.

Carolyn over at Laughingalone in the dark – who was nominated for best Mommy blog in the BOB’s but so generously threw in the towel and put her support behind Punk Rock Mummy who was
competing in the same category. Carolyn asked everyone to send her votes to Punk Rock Mommy who was writing a blog about living and dying with breast cancer. Such a kind and thoughtful thing for Carolyn to do and it sums up this talented young writer so well. Punk Rock Mommy lost her fight for life on the 5th of July. RIP dear brave lady.

Little Brown Blog – a superb writer with great wit. She tells it as it really is and paints the picture of highs and lows in her life with great honesty and humour.

Merry Daze – here’s a sweet and lovely woman who is chronicling the time of her life when she has made a big career change after returning to work from a career break. Gardening is the new rock and roll and Merry is coping with sore knees, sore everything as she learns the inns and outs of landscape gardening and just how backbreaking but rewarding her new career is to her. If you need a push to change your career then visit MD as she will inspire you.

Eileen A Life of Triggers – here is a woman who is bravely writing about mental illness in her family. It is a searing and honest account of her daughter’s struggles to get back to good mental health and how this has been overwhelming to her family; always an educational and moving read.

Casdoc at Motherofshrek – here is another truly inspirational woman who is a champion for Autism and a better understanding of how her son and others live with the syndrome/condition. She never indulges is self pity and with a heart the size of a planet she loves, cares and worries for her son as he takes on his next stage of his life away from home.

Retired and Crazy – one witty broad with heaps of attitude to life, a real disdain for the silly Political Correctness gone crazy mob and any other subject that happens gets her goat. It is this strength of character and unique look at life that has seen her through her husband’s recent health battles with stoicism, great empathy and wit.

Auntiegwen – a fellow Glaswegian who writes with cheeky humour and is never boring. I hope she starts to blog about her dating escapades as well as her beautiful weans.

Ciara – who lives with thyroid disease and whilst this does not define her, she manages to research it and write about it on her blog for others to follow. Always empathetic.

Mopsa at Mopsa Ramblings – so creative and yet immensely practical. The tales of her barn renovation, lambing and the challenges of daily life on a farm is very entertaining and she paints a picture that just makes you want to be there.
Karen - who writes a terrific blog that is also for me educational as she has so much knowkledge.

Belle Diary of a Housewife – a wonderful witty writer who has immense reserves of patience and love for her individual but challenging children. Her sense of humour never fails no matter what happens in her life.

Kitt – and Sophie her dog at The Kittalog. Kitt has a fairly eclectic style in blogging and her photographs are wonderful. Sophie is a character full of fun and the prettiest dog I’ve seen in a while. I suspect she just loves posing for the camera.

Breezy from Breezybreakblogs – a fantastic account of an English couple living in France. Her stories of her Dinner ladies – a collection of belligerent chickens that keep re-enacting the Great Escape into her French neighbour’s garden and how she rounds them up is hysterical. A must read.

Debra from Us In France – more stories from France and how she and her husband are making it abroad. Debra has cats and chickens and even ducks now and is the biggest softest animal lover I know online.

Dumdad at The Other Side of Paris – this is definitely worth a visit. A Journalist with a heart and a conscience as well as real talent and he’s perfectly witty with it. Read about all sorts as well as his and the family’s life in Paris.

Tina at Too young for a mid-life, Too old for a tantrum – a great continuing story about her up and down love life. She’s been a bit quiet lately so I want to encourage her back with an award so she can carry on with the tale.

Mean Moodie Middleaged Mom – writes with brilliant humour and great depth. Writes so candidly about empty nest syndrome and just the ups and downs of home life in general as a mother to sons.

A Mothers Place is in the Wrong - entertaining, delightful and funny. Go enjoy yourselves.

Wakeupandsmellthecoffee – a terrific blog of family life. Great writing and honest. She draws you in.

The Mother of This Lot at Mother’s Pride - Superbly well written and funny too. Recounts the tales of her family, (five daughters and a husband!) in a way that keeps you laughing and reading.

She’s Like the Wind – great family life and business blog. She’s had it tough at times but she tells the story so very well.

Suzy Identity Crisis – Suzy writes the most heartbreaking account of her life as a child. It is a quite astonishing story of abuse, survival, forgiveness and the journey of her life. Quite quite amazing.

Milla at Country Lite – another brilliantly funny take on family life – she’s great and a very good writer.
Manic Mother Of Five - another great blog where the writing is good and you feel at home in her posts.

Maggie May at Nuts in May – just love her blog of family life and things in general and how kind and funny this woman can be. Take a look.

Blogthatmama – a great blog with a woman who writes about family life with great wit and tells all about the Husband she call Lurch!

Willowtree at A Dingo Stole my Barbie – writes great stuff about everything and anything. He’s a straight no nonsense writer with a laconic wit but with a heart of gold if you follow his tales of Belle the dog and her car accident injuries.

Tattie Weasel – a mother, half welsh with a menagerie of animals. Terrific dry humour and well worth a visit.

Insane Mama – what a name eh?! At Help I have a Teenager – this girl is writing a terrific story right now. She’s good and worth a visit.

Jules at Just Because – great sense of humour and does great photo’s too.
The Brit at Spinning the Wheel – what a poet and a romantic. This blog is thoughtful, thought provoking and gentle.

Swearing Mother – a woman after my own heart when it comes to the use of profanity. She’s always topical, witty and passionate about what she writes . Come back soon from your break.

Gonebacksouth – she left home then went back home to her childhood village. This is a terrific account of a woman revisiting her old life but at the age of forty with kids and a husband in tow. Great read and very down to earth.

Dusty Spider – dear Flick who keeps me entertained talking about buying road-kill hats for her daughter’s wedding and travels on her boat.

Donetta Lee who writes the most incredible Friday Flash 55 stories. You have to read them to see what I mean. Such a clever writer.

Very Lost in France – tales of an English family in France. The husband’s away a lot with work and this girl copes magnificently with the nuances of part time single motherhood in France. She also tells it warts and all and if you hanker after a halcyon life over there read this blog first.

Mikiye Creations – a superbly gifted and creative jewellery designer. Her stuff is well worth a look at.

Sy – last but not least the winner of the BOB’s who has a very witty blog and was kind and generous in getting six of his voters to give me their votes one night so that I was bumped back into second place.

Now I know I am bound to have left someone off this roll-call. I am truly sorry for that as it is not intentional. I know that a lot of new readers have been leaving comments and for that I am eternally grateful that you take the time to read and comment. It means a lot to see and keeps me writing when I am tired and want to jack it all in.

I want to also say a great big thanks to the following people who are not bloggers but read my blog and give me loads of encouragement either through voting or just feedback or indeed recommending me to others.

My family – you know who you are and I won’t mention your names to protect you anonymity.
My friends, Betty, Maria, Pat, Susan H, Annie P, Kate, Laura, Sandy and her girls.
My other ‘couple’ friends Tom and Vicky, Robin and Hilary, Pat and Paul, Andy and Claire.
My wee friend Sean L who is always so positive and laughed his head off at the Simondo and Hortense stories. He was a late comer to the blog but I’m glad he and his dad enjoy the stories and have been very kind in their feedback – mostly up the pub after a few Sherry's as it were.

Don B – what a funny man this guy is. He was busy telling all and sundry at the Home Office about how good my blog was – what a star – you can’t buy marketing like that! Good luck in that new assignment in Trinidad and Tobago.

A big thanks to my wonderful two step-sons and their terrific support – when they remembered!

And finally, a great big thank you to the man called ‘himself’ in my stories and in my life. There is no finer husband.

I have included several awards for you each to chose one or as many as you like. This is because I know that a lot of you may have these awards already so I hope you will take another that you may not already have.


This is longer than Gwynneth Paltrow’s effort at the Oscars!
I don’t usually hand out awards so take as many as you want!

50 comments:

Georgina said...

OMG mob, or is that MOB now in lower case as the lovely Billy has pointed out? What a lovely award ceremony you have performed! I would not have expected any less from such a wonderfully talented lady as yourself. I have voted for you in each category of www.bloggerschoiceawards.com Good luck my friend! Mwah Mwah xx

Lane Mathias said...

Thank you! You shouldn't have gone to so much trouble. We voted for you 'cos yer good!:-)

So is the novel written??!

Mopsa said...

Blimey MOB, thank you; it must have taken 3 weeks to write that post!

belle said...

oh you are a darling, thankyou! I'm nabbing the Funny Lady award :)

blogthatmama said...

Thanks MOB, read you cos you make me laugh and cheer me up. I'm nabbing all of them, ha, ha! blogthatmamax

menopausaloldbag (MOB) said...

Debs - I promised to say thanks and it was a while coming. You are much too generous and I need to get back onto that site and vote more for you because you are so cleverly funny.

Lane - thanks my sweet but every vote counted and I have wanted to do awards for ages. The novel is coming along - lots of editing! You were so right!

Mopsa - it took all day with very few breaks - I am knackered!

Belle - take as many as you like you deserve them!

menopausaloldbag (MOB) said...

Blogthatmama - good, why not adorn your blog with as much bling awards as possible! I do!

Kev said...

Can I take the funny lady one? It could be a whole new thing ont he site. Words from Simonetta. Or Simone. Or Sy's squishy alter-ego.

Thanks MOB! Very appreciated! And I hope the HRT is still working like a treat!

Gone Back South said...

Golly, I was wondering what you had been up to. Thank you so much! And I'll click through to peer into the lives of some of these other award recipients too.

Maggie May said...

Many thanks MOB. I have taken one and am most grateful.

aims said...

Well girl. Take a bow! You outdid everyone and yourself with this post!

You are such a lovely person. I'm having such a hard time seeing you as one of those posted on your sidebar.... ;0)

Thank you darling! I accept with gratitude!

LITTLE BROWN DOG said...

Oh, Mob - thank you SOOOO much! (I can feel a Gwynnie-style speech coming on myself if I'm not careful. Were you crying buckets as you wrote it, too?)

Have been very remiss with the catch-up - too much going on in life at the moment to even blink, let alone write about.

You're a star, you really are. Hope to be back again in the land of the blogging before too long.

Mwah!

Mwah!

Mwaaaaaaah!

the mother of this lot said...

Thanks MOB - I'll have the Funny Lady please. (I don't think I'm funny or a lady, but it'll look good on the shelf)!

softinthehead said...

Well mob I think you deserve an award just for that post ...but this is getting silly so I am just going to nab one and scarper - thanks ever so!!

Jules said...

Why thank you. What a lovely gift.

merry weather said...

Ah MOB - that's so nice of you!! I'll have to come back and take a good look at all the others. Just when I thought I'd blogged my last post for a while as well. You're a good buddy - Hugs :)

(How on earth did you know about the knees?? Spot on!)

® ♫ The Brit ♪ ® said...

Wow! Thank you so much MOB!!
Thank you for the award! I'm taking the blogging with a purpose one and will display it on my Blog with Pride!
And thank you for your lovely words about my writing - I hope to one day reach your level of excellence! You're wonderful!
And here ends my acceptance speech with a big kiss X

Donnetta said...

Thank you so much, mob! I really do appreciate the thoughtful words and the award! You were so kind to think of me. And--ditto!
Donnetta

Mean Mom said...

What a post! I'm so impressed! Thanks for putting in all of that effort for us lot. How am I going to find the time to read all of those good blogs, though? I'll have to stop eating and sleeping.

Thanks for the award. I've always wanted to be a quick wit, but sadly that will never be. Do you have a slow twit's award? No, I can't see one, so I'll settle for the funny lady.

You should have picked up awards from my site, whilst you were there. Please return as soon as you have a minute. I am working my way through my list with invites, but I'm still doing 'b' at the moment.

Thanks again!

menopausaloldbag (MOB) said...

Sy – you are very welcome to any award you like, especially if it’s for that wee babby of yours when she comes. Yer a great lad and all the best with the new baby girl when the wee beauty arrives.

Gonebacksouth - oh I think you'll find a wonderful mix of blogs to read and enjoy as they will certainly do yours.

Maggie May – good I hope what you chose was okay, you deserve it.

AIMS – oh it is with gratitude that I make the award. You are such a great writer and inspirational person.

Little Brown Dog – you are a star yerself! Here a few thousand Mwahs right back at ya! I really want that hubby of yours to succeed as he sounds like a diamond geezer.

The Mother of this lot – you are most defo a lady and very very funny. Glad you chose that one.

Softie – nab away dear girl!

Jules – you are welcome!

Merry Weather – I truly hope you have not blogged your last post – I love reading about your new ventures. You are so interesting and a lovely writer. Oh I know about knees, trust me, they hurt like hell when you have to do gardening or even just flippin bend down. Crack on dear girl, you’ll feel so great in a few months time.

menopausaloldbag (MOB) said...

The Brits – oh you truly deserve an award for as a new blogger you are very impressive. I think you bring out the best in people with your creative and very gentle side.

Donetta Lee – I wasn’t kind at all to think of you – you are terrific, truly.

Mean Mom – you are one of the quickest wits I know – you just have to read your posts and comments. Really, I have such a belly laugh at your posts – you are spot on.

willowtree said...

Hey wow, thanks a lot! I feel so special to be one of eight thousand or so recipients!!!

menopausaloldbag (MOB) said...

Wt - think yourself lucky, Being Australian you just made it in there by the skin of your teeth.

willowtree said...

Come on, admit it. You know you have Aussie envy!

Insane Mama said...

Wow! That is a lot of awards, and thank you so much!

Pam said...

wow! after the week i have been through while i was in vegas visiting my son, parents, and picking up the china & crystal my mom has given to me, what a nice surprise coming back to this! i really appreciate it. you are definitely a special lady.

i just got back about 3 hours ago from a 9 hour drive home and i'm beat. i'll be trying to catch up again soon. :) xoxo

Carolyn said...

Wow. Amazing list MOB. And thanks for the inclusion. Very sweet words about me indeed. You're too kind!! Mwah. Mwah!

Anonymous said...

I love how you awarded your blogging friends, and feel honored to be included. Thank you! I appreciate your kindness (and humor) and am thankful for your blog.
XOXOX

Dumdad said...

Merci beaucoup! What a lovely surprise and on my birthday too.

Casdok said...

Wow! A very impressive list, and thank you so much for your kind words. :)

auntiegwen said...

Ta hen. Most kind of you to include me. This blogging lark is brilliant isn't it ? All these friends, what could be better ?

As for my dating escapades, I really don't think you would want to know, would you ?

Anonymous said...

Hey MOB I am so knocked out by the nomination and the award , but mostly by the lovely lovely words.
Diolch yn fawr i chi cariad
Your blog I just love and it was from your blog I found so many other great ones. I write a political one and I so admire those who can write what is in their hearts and life. Its like an on line family

menopausaloldbag (MOB) said...

WT - Is Aussie envy the same as penis envy? If so, then nope I don't have it.

Insane Mama - you're welcome.

Ciara - glad it cheered you up. Hope you had a good sleep after that marathon drive.

Carolyn - I am humbled by your generosity as shown to Punk Rock Mummy. You are quite a girl.

Eileen - but you are one of my blogging friends.

Dumdad - happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear dumdad, happy birthday to you! And no Michael Jackson you can't sting me for royalties, I didn't sing it, not even in my head okay?

Casdoc - yes one hell of a list but I didn't want to leave anyone out but I have a nagging feeling that I might have!

Auntigwen - yup blogging is terrific fun. Enjoy the award, you earned it. Oh and yes, the way you write I bet your dating stories could be great fun. But don't feel pressured into detailing your private life if you don't want to.

Valleys Mam - you really deserve the nomination and the award. I hope you are going to advertise your nomination with a link to the site so that people can vote for you. You deserve a bigger audience because you are so good.

www.retiredandcrazy.com said...

Thanks you so much MOB, I am greately honoured and have modestly taken one! Well done to you too. What a great achievement.

Suzy said...

Thank you for the award and especially your kind words. Your blog is fascinating, written with wit, compassion and reality.

I consider the award and your words a gift.

Love,
Suzy

She's like the wind said...

Hey mob, what a lot of work you put into that it was fantastic, I will very kindly accept the blogger friend award if I may. Thanks you soooo much. xx

auntiegwen said...

Mob - just be careful what you wish for, a big long tantrum at my place over my personal life, I m going to leave it for a day and then hit delete. It was like your pollyanna piece ( incidentally that is IT God's name for me !!!)

Debra in France said...

Thank you so much. It is lovely that people even bother to read my blog, let alone think to give me an award. :-) xxxxxxxxxx

Dusty Spider said...

I am overcome!! Thank you so much for mentioning me in your fine fine blog and for the award which I will rush off and pinch right now. Flick xx

Mima said...

Congrats on all the awards, I've only recently discovered you, but enjoy your writing and intend to stick around!

auntiegwen said...

Thanks Mob, it's not It God, it's the ex ( remember, the bmw driving NLP practising management consultant) I think the phrase you used for him was wanker

again, bang on the money x

Thanks for the love

menopausaloldbag (MOB) said...

Retired and Crazy - no problem You are such a fantastic read and I try to make sure I gedt over as often as I can to read you.

Suzy – you are much too kind but thank you for such great feedback.

She’s like the wind – welcome again you. Glad you took the friend award.

Auntiegwen - There’s nothing wrong with being a Pollyanna as long as it is balanced with reality. The one’s I was talking about don’t have a sense of reality unlike you my friend. Hope your post is full of passion as I know you can write like that.

Debra in France – you are much too modest about your blog. I have loved it since I first started blogging.

Dusty – why wouldn’t you be mentioned? Glad you have nabbed an award although there was no need to, you could have just taken it as it was yours anyway.

Mima – you always leave lovely comments and voted regularly for me which is why you received an award here. It was so nice of you to do that. Glad you are coming back – I’ll be over at your place too.

menopausaloldbag (MOB) said...

Autiegwen - well how come that doesn't suprise me? The tosspot and I am relieved that it isn't the lurve IT God that you are seeing now.

Ex + shitty behaviour = complete tosspot. I loved your post - don't delete it.

A Mother's Place is in the Wrong said...

Gosh MOB, thank you and thank you again. How kind and thoughtful - and what a lot of time and effort you put into that wonderful Awards Ceremony. I will snaffle one and put it on in a jiffy. M xx
PS. Your Blog deserves all the votes, all the kudos and more.. long may you continue to flourish.

Kev said...

That is true! Although I was thinking of starting a site after I close mine which is more related to her. Sy's Adventures in Fatherhood or something. As I have NOOOO idea when I will get to work on my site, thus the killing it at some point.

menopausaloldbag (MOB) said...

A Mothers Plce - ah you are too kind. it's just another wee trophy for your cupboard!

Sy - well I'll be sad to see you close your site down but will wait in anticipation for your adventures of fatherhood. That's if you have any energy at all after being up all night!

wakeupandsmellthecoffee said...

I really feel humbled to be in such exalted company. All those other bloggers are so fantastic. But a great big THANK YOU from moi. Loved your acceptance speech. In the words of Sally Field, we like you, we really like you.

Karen said...

How lovely! Thank you MOB, and keep on writing :o)

Unknown said...

WOW!!!
To be in such amazing and interesting company!!! I feel VERY blessed! I have NO IDEA when I am going to be able to read all of them...I love finding new blogs and since they all come highly recommended I must take a look see.
Thank You for thinking of me to give an award to since I am not exactly in the realm of the witty writers.
*sigh* How I would LOVE to be one though...Eh, I guess I was meant for other things.
Which is why I GREATLY enjoy reading YOUR blog and am SO GLAD I found you!
Thank You again!

The Accidental Author said...

MOB - I don't think I've said thank you, so thank you! I've only taken one for the moment but may take another one, being a greedy materialistic sort of gal! VLiF