I’ve been in a very strange parallel world over recent weeks. Rehearsing and performing has taken priority over blogging. I haven’t written very much and have been a haphazard reader of blogs too. Half-term came at just the right time for me: the production finished on the Saturday evening and then the Burgess family have had a whole week off – going nowhere very much, which is poor show for a travel blogger.
I was offered the chance to go on a blogger press trip to Spain with Rory last week but had to turn it down as my lad is in the middle of his AS level exams and still has his Latin paper tomorrow, so he and I decided to decline the offer and just chill (me), revise (him) and get things back to normal. Dougie had the week off too so he has been pootling in the garden: painting fences, repairing fascia boards and helping me to fill ceramic pots with a pink-themed selection of bedding plants (no, my dear husband, I do not want marigolds, they are orange, won’t match and I’ve had my fill of rubber-glove related items).
I may have missed out on a fabulous trip abroad, but I did find out recently that I have reached the final six for the travel category of the Brilliance in Blogging Awards. Many thanks to those of you who voted for me: I am delighted. I won this award in 2012 so I don’t think I will win it again this year but it is a great feeling to know I have got this far. The decision is now down to the judge, so no further voting required (phew!). Results will be announced during the BritMums Live conference in a few weeks time. I’m excited about the conference, not just for the BiBs but also because I am one of the speakers that weekend. I’m on the travel panel, no less, discussing ‘a forward look at travel blogging’ on the Saturday afternoon. Check out the list of speakers at the conference here.
Over on the BritMums website today you will find my latest travel round-up. A departure from the usual selection, I have asked each of the finalists from the BiBs travel category to share their two favourite posts from the previous 12 months. I’d love you to have a read of them as there are some wonderful reports of Iceland, Italy, Florida and Germany plus some memorable trips closer to home. You’ll also find a couple of old favourites of mine from Sweden and Suffolk.
Sometimes it's nice to stay home and chill, and you have had a very busy time of it! I hope the garden looks lovely. Spring has arrived here in the south of France at last, and will pretty quickly bash us with summer sun, I'm sure. I've got a surprising amount of 'love-in-a-mist' blue flowers that sprang up from somewhere. I've never planted them but there they are!
Must admit, it was nice to just let my mind go blank for a week. The last couple of days the weather has been very sunny but just the right amount of breeze to make it gorgeous just being outside. We had been a bit lazy with our pots over the last couple of years so good to get some colour in them. Isn't it lovely when plants pop up unexpectedly.
Glad I persuaded you to drag your rear end down last year. Hope you have a great time this year. Will miss everyone. x
I can't understand why I was so reticent. It's not as if I'm a shy wallflower!! Looking forward to it but it would have been better if my cuz had been there with me x
You shall always get my vote and then some!
Ooh you are lovely!
I hope you're lad has got on ok, we're coming to the end of AS exams in this house too, number 1 son doesn't seem to think they've gone well 🙁
He's just done his last one today. Gone ok apart from one history paper which he can't decide he answered well or not. Will have to see. I'm glad they are over. Hope your son does better than he thinks! It's a worry, isn't it.
I don't know how the BiB awards work, but I think it's fabulous that you got shortlisted again – who knows? ; ) Bet you were very happy to spend a week relaxing after all the time and energy you put into the show. And I'm with you – no orange. Will you be sharing photos of the final product?
There were two lots of voting for the Bibs but each time the organisers picked some blogs themselves rather then just on votes. At this stage a judge will decide. If it's the same very nice chap as last time I think he may want to spread the love!
I will take some snaps when they have grown a bit. They look a bit sparse at the moment!!
I laughed about the having had enough of Marigolds bit! Looking forward to meeting you finally in a couple of weeks! (:
Me too! It will be great. I will email you to get your mobile number so we can meet up when we get there. Always good to have a buddy to go with.
Sometimes you just need to alter your 'rhythm' for a little bit don't you think? ……oh crikey….no doubt you are smiling now as you think of something naughty relating to rhythm …. and that is not what I meant!!
No, wasn't thinking that at all, Libby….. 😉
Congrats on being a finalist in the BiB awards again! I had a week off over half term as well, most of which was spent soothing a fractious A level student 🙁
It's good to be on hand when they are stressed. I remember the soothing presence of my mum when I was doing exams.
Fingers crossed for your exam-taker!
Are you sure about those marigolds? ;o) Hope you had a nice time chilling out and good luck to Rory.
I am still crossing fingers for you for the award and hope you will have a fabulous time. xx
Yes I'm sure haha! We did have a great week, despite missing out on a free holiday. Thanks for the finger crossing xx
Thanks for popping over, you sound insanely busy, I'm just insanely bored!
It's calmed down a lot this week which is just as well, I can get back to some kind of routine.
Enjoyed reading your blog again. You pop up in my reader so I do see it but don't comment as much as I should x