Versatile Blogger Award

Thank you so much to the lovely Nicky Wells for passing on this award. My first reaction was “Me?” because the last year has been a rollercoaster one and other projects kept me away from ‘blogging’ here for well over six months.  People thought I had disappeared into cyberspace (which was true), but what was heartening was that when I picked up the reins again, ‘hey presto’ some lovely faces were still there and still smiling back at me. But also some delightful new ones and every single day I’m thrilled to meet interesting people – whether readers, authors, or reviewers. So, what does receiving this award mean, I asked?

The rules of the award are:
1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award (done)
2. Share seven things about yourself (see below)
3. Send it onto fifteen other bloggers you appreciate and let them know you have awarded it to them (see below)

 So…here I go, seven things about myself because Nicky Wells said it was required:

1)  I met my husband when I was 16 years old and we fell in love as our eyes met across a crowded room – yes, I am serious and we celebrate our 40th Wedding Anniversary on 25 March 2012.  An old romantic? Yes, of course, and that’s why I write romantic stories…..

2) Like Nicky, I can’t swim and fear the water. I went to a strict ‘all girls’ school in the UK  and those who couldn’t swim were pushed in at the start of each swimming lesson. Cruel I know, and today parents would be suing the school I’m sure, but then it was sink or swim (laugh)….literally! However, I even panicked on a trip to Venice (sooooo much water, but I did it) and was stuck on a Seacat ferry once, circling to get into dock as there was a problem docking, and they had to restrain me. I’d been talked into doing the crossing as it was ‘quicker’!!!

3) Like Nicky (again, we share a lot of strange things….) I am a very enthusiastic person, but my excuse is that I am a Gemini and (just between you and me) borderline obsessive compulsive. I like to think I’ve stayed the right side of that thin line – not sure my husband would agree!

4) From the age of about 8 years old until 16 years old I was a passionate ballroom dancer. I was teaching by the age of 15 and had my first semi-professional partner.  I gained a large number of medals and one cup. Then I met husband Lawrence, who has two left feet, and love won the day! See – romance ISN’T dead! At the time my father wasn’t too pleased a) he didn’t like Lawrence (but ended up loving him dearly over the years) and b) it had cost my father a small fortune in lessons and exam fees, and any future I had was gone in an instant! My favourite dance was the Pasa Doble – so sexy – really!

5) I am terrified of dragonflies after one was caught in my long hair as a young child. I had been smelling honeysuckle and didn’t notice it in amongst the blossoms, it really feaked me out and now they sense my fear and have even dive-bombed me.  At one house in which we lived I couldn’t hang out the washing in summer, as there was a river at the bottom of our garden and they would make a bee-line for me.

6) In the 1980’s my family and I spent time in the UK and California with Richard Thomas – it was after his ‘Walton’s Mountain, John Boy days’. A fantastic man and we had some fun times both sides of the atlantic, but visiting Disney together (two large families) and watching him besieged with autograph hunting fans wasn’t fun. At one point we thought we’d lost one of the children …. imagine the headlines – or no, don’t!

7) When I was 11 years old I used to write episodes of ‘The Man From Uncle’, hand-written and lovingly done.

And without further ado, I am honoured to pass The Versatile Blogger Award on to the following blogs:

Shaz Goodwin; Lou Graham; Patricia Sands; Sue Uden; Mandy Baggot; Stephanie Keyes; Kim Nash; Nikki Bywater; Kay Wilkinson; Cara Donovan; Lindsay Gentles; Rea Sinfield; Susan Livingston, Laura Seaton; Ananda; Jontybabe; Lindsay Healy; Anjana Vasan