Squee! Nominated!

Aww, thanks to both Center Pull Photography and Crazed Fitness for this.

I've been nominated for a Liebster Award, look!

"“Liebster” is a German word meaning dearest, beloved or favorite.  The Liebster Award is given by bloggers to other bloggers – intended to showcase exceptional blogs."

Isn't that lovely? And this is how it works.

1. Add the award icon to your blog!
2. Link to your nominator to say thank you.
3. Each blogger should post 11 facts about themselves.
4. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, & create 11 questions for your nominations to answer.
5. Choose 11 up-and-coming bloggers with less than 200 followers, go to their blog, and tell them about the award.


So, I've done 1. and 2. so here are my 11 facts.

1. I've started running again.

2. I have a tattoo.

3. I take a perverse joy in cold weather.

4. I used to be a science teacher.

5. I am currently a bookseller.

6. I want to work for the Science Museum.

7. I have been vegetarian for the last 23 years.

8. I'm 27.

9. I will read anything if it stays still long enough.

10. My favourite place is the Spanish Steps (around 5pm on a sunny afternoon) in Rome.

11. I'm more adaptable than I thought I was.

Because I was nominated by two people, I'm going to answer alternating questions to be fair (and so I don't need to answer 22 questions!).

1. What is your other job, when not blogging? 
I'm a bookseller, I work for the last large chain of bookshops in the UK, and I love it. Getting to enthuse about something I genuinely love is a big part of my job satisfaction!

2. Why do you blog?
Because subjecting my friends to these rambles would constitute a breach of their human rights.

3. What got you started blogging? 
This blog was started because I started a PGCE, and I knew that time would get away from me if I didn't keep track of what was happening. I like to use it to write up holidays now.

4. What book or books do you think everyone should read? 
Oh my. I will bend your ear about any book, but I think as long as, in this day and age of digital everything, people are still reading, I'm happy. But if you come near me with 50 Shades of Grey, I will run away screaming.

5. Who is your favourite author and why? 
I have two answers, my favourite author is Mervyn Peake. I was introduced to him by an English teacher and I've never looked back. His characters are so sad and weird and grotesque and fragile that you can't help but love them. My current favourite author is Isaac Marion, author of Warm Bodies. I picked it up on the off-chance at work, and could. not. put. it. down. It's a really original retelling of a certain love story, and I am SO EXCITED at the news that he's writing a sequel.

6. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the pearly gates? 
As a confirmed heathen unbeliever, this isn't something I've ever given any thought to, but I'd like it to be something along the lines of "Here's your gin and tonic, Richard Feynman's over there with his bongos and your Olympic-sized pool of yarn is just next to your room".

7. Do you listen to music during your day? 
Yes, all the time. I can't not. Apart from when I'm listening to podcasts. Natural World or Material World, Radio 4, you can't beat it.

8. What is your favourite television show, and why? It varies, but currently it's The Walking Dead. Horror movies writ large, can't beat it.

9. What inspires you? Thinking of what my mum managed to achieve in her far-too-short life, and wondering what she'd approve of me doing.

10. What one thing about you is cool? 
Ooooh, I'm not sure. My capacity for pointless knowledge?

11. If you had to capture who you are in either a picture or 20 words or less, what would it look like or say? 

My questions:

1. If you could be anywhere right now, where would you be?

2. If you could have any meal right now, what would it be?

3. Name one guilty pleasure, be it food, music, T.V, cinema or activity.

4. What achievement are you most proud of, and why?

5. What are your pet peeves?

6. What is your most treasured possession?

7. If you could suddenly develop one skill, Matrix-style, what would it be?

8. Who would play you in a movie of your life?

9. What is your most irrational fear?

10. What do you own too many off?

11. Show me a picture of you when you were happiest. Share the joy!

My Nominees:

Airmeal - Food inspiration left, right and centre. With bonus photography and excellent chat.

Guernsey Gal Designs - Knitting designs and interesting island life.

Useless Beauty - Bad cats! Knitting! Surprising hobbies!

Roobeedoo - Fuchsia pink trousers, need I say more?

Scruffy Badger - A lady who has inspired me to do more running, and I especially want to make some bows for my trainers!

Damn, Knit and Blast It - The things this lady has done with Kidsilk Haze make me jealous of her knitting skills.

Knitsarina - I met Knitsarina at a knitting circle in Bangalore, of all places. She knits, spins and designs, so talented!

The Woolly Adventures of a Knitting Kitty - She manages to find time to knit even though she's a teacher!

Wild Knitter - Has a brilliant attitude to life, fitting in the rest of it round knitting and crochet.

Dirty Prudentilla - Pirate wenches and the use of the phrase "THEY MADE BUTTER SAD".

Ta-da!