Social media is awash with rumours. Countless column inches have been taken up in popular blogging magazines. There have even been items on TV news programmes. Yes folks, it's that time again though it's hard to believe that twelve months have passed by. The whole world is waiting with bated breath to discover who will be successful in this year's Laughing Horse Blog Awards.
The Awards Committee have been in virtual lockdown through the Christmas period, revisiting blogs from around the world, debating the merits of over four hundred nominations.
As you know, winners are always revealed on the last day of the year and now the excitement is building once more. The Awards Committee have asked me to remind the blogosphere of previous winners going way back in time to 2008. This is the roll of honour:-
2008 - Arthur Clewley for "Arthur Clewley"
2009 - Daphne Franks for "My Dad's A Communist"
2010 - John Gray for "Going Gently"
2011 - Ian Rhodes for "Shooting Parrots"
2012 - Kate Steeds for "The Last Visible Dog"
2013 - Tom Gowans for "A Hippo on the Lawn"
2014 - Meike Riley for "From My Mental Library"
2015 - Lee George for "Kitchen Connection"
Last year's winner, Lee George, speaking on the phone from her luxury mountain cabin in Queensland, Australia said, "Winning the overall blogger of the year award has changed my life. I can't go anywhere now without being stopped for autographs and selfies. Sometimes I have to pinch myself ."
Each year a unique new awards widget is revealed. They are created by leading designers and after much cogitation I am now authorised to reveal the 2016 widget, presented to The Awards Committee by none other than Fergus Botticelli of the London-based design consultancy "Charge The Earth":-
I am sure you will agree that this is a special design which would certainly enhance even the dullest of blogs but sadly, not everyone can be a winner. The Blogger of The Year and several sub-awards will be announced on Saturday. Watch this space.
For your information (and I know I'll not receive any sympathy) I've not been the only one pinching myself!
ReplyDeleteIt's not been safe for me to venture outdoors. Often after returning home from being outdoors roaming the busy village here on the hill I've not been able to sit down for a fortnight!! Oh! The pain! Oh! The agony! Oh....the ecstasy! (Michelangelo and Charlton Heston would be very proud of me)!
However, such discomfort pales mightily when compared with the honour of being the proud bearer of the "Laughing Horse Blog Awards" for 2015.
That I've had lengthy moments when I've had to remain upright, being recognised as the old nag that I am is a recognition I will cherish dearly for the rest of my days, nights, weeks, months and years.
Thank you! I thank you most generously as I take my leave....
How graciously you pass the baton Mistress Lee. Many ordinary folk dream of fame but when it arrives it is a hard burden to bear. Now at least the paparazzi will be pointing their lenses elsewhere and perhaps you can reclaim your former life. If I may say so, you have been a credit to the spirit of Laughing Horse.
DeleteThank you for clarifying that point. I wondered if you were upset about having to do the pinching yourself.
DeleteErm...it's not all been plain sailing for Lee, has it? Earlier this year there was that little episode with Clint the Chocolate Rabbit. If you remember YP ,there was some talk that the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Chocolate Rabbits (SPCCR) were going to investigate the fact that poor Clint had been kept in Lee's fridge?
DeleteAs far as I know, poor little Clint is still incarcerated. We all have our foibles CG. For example, rumour has it that after a few glasses of Spanish wine you are often seen dancing the fandango as you enter the police station in Torremolinos.
DeleteWho squealed !!
DeleteFame is transient in the wired world. Five years ago Shooting Parrots was a household name and the likes of Graham Norton and Michael MacIntyre wanted me on their chat shows, I was on the front page of Hello, FHM and Nuts and the paparazzi were forever lurking in the privet hedge at the front of our house.
ReplyDeleteAsk the younger generation now if they remember me and they are more likely to answer "Shooting who?"
...And then you descended into a shadowy world of drink, drugs and dancing girls. How the mighty are fallen. Fame can be a demanding companion.
DeleteMy goodness was it 6 years ago, i won! How time flies
ReplyDeleteSince receiving that award your blogging career has gone from strength to strength. Your fame has now spread as far as Penmaenmawr and Flint.
DeleteCouldn't you make that widget into a bumper sticker too?
ReplyDeleteThat would be awesome! Great idea!
DeleteHow imaginative you are Mistress CG! Your idea will be forwarded to the marketing department in Laughing Horse Tower.
DeleteThe award widget is most eye-catching. I look forward to seeing who wins.
ReplyDeleteDon't be disheartened "Emma". Your blog has only just been discovered by The Awards Committee so I am afraid it is unlikely that you will be a winner this year - even though your blog is most commendable.
DeleteA t-shirt and a mug would be bestsellers, too, I guess.
ReplyDeleteAh, how fondly I remember the year that saw me at the height of blogospherical fame! Since then, I have not achieved anything I've been so proud of. Well, maybe finishing Ludwigsburg's City Run in the summer, in spite of wearing a rather ugly yellow t-shirt with my gym's logo on it, was a moment that made me almost equally proud.
I can't wait for it to be the 31st, when the winner of this year's award will be revealed!
Your enlarged portrait adorns one of the galleries in The Laughing Horse Hall of Fame. It is quite spooky because your eyes seem to follow visitors everywhere. Included in the display are several covert pictures taken secretly during your Yorkshire holidays.
DeleteAh well I've now caught up with all your blogs. The previous one was a really cheery affair. Mind you I think my Grandmother said something similar about 1915. Enjoy 2017.
ReplyDeleteIt is pleasing to learn that the snail-like internet signals on The Isle of Lewis allowed you to slowly access this blog. Thanks for dropping by Graham.
DeleteI remember with great surprise winning the LH last year. Reasons for being chosen were interesting
ReplyDeleteOther readers may not recall the reasons - "The Awards Committee recognised the eminently readable, varied and interesting nature of Red's posts throughout 2015. In addition, the kind and supportive nature of his comments on other people's blogs was given special mention."
DeleteWhere and how do we vote? I'm thinking of starting a blog, but fear I would get no readers. (Sob!)
ReplyDeleteNothing ventured, nothing gained Lesley. Build it and they will come.
DeleteNo voting in The Laughing Horse Awards. Winners are decided upon by The Awards Committee.