The other day I was nominated for the Liebster Award.   When I started this blog, it was not with the intention of winning anything, but just to be an outlet for my writing.

I felt it would be better to put it somewhere, and maybe others might like to read it, and, for better or worse, either like it or hate it or be somewhere in between.  MY hope is always that people might get some enjoyment out of the short, long, and serialized stories.

Of course, that expanded into an irreverent look at certain words with many meanings, adding to the confusion that is the English language, bits of my attempts to write, observations of the sometimes crazy world around me, and lately the adventures of being owned by a cantankerous cat.

I guess a lot of us writers have similar owners.

I want to thank  Debby Winter  for nominating me for this award. so check out her website and leave her a comment, I am sure she will appreciate it!

The Rules:

1. Thank the blogger(s) who nominated you
2. Share 11 facts about yourself & mention 3 blog articles
3. Answer the 11 questions the blogger(s) asked you
4. Nominate 11 bloggers and make them happy!
5. Make up 11 questions to ask your nominees
6. Notify your 11 nominees

 

11 Facts About Myself

1) I try to spend as much time traveling, not only to see other countries but to find new locations for my stories.

2) I like to relax in a five-star hotel, first having a long relaxation massage, a three-course meal at the best restaurant, and not have to get up the next morning until very late.

3) I love French Champagne (the real stuff) and strawberries

4) I try to buy the best car I can afford but still haven’t managed to get a BMW.

5) Going away to a cold climate like Canada when it is summer here (in Australia).  No one can put up with endless days of 100 degrees and 100% humidity.

6) One day I will get to travel around my own country.  (With COVID 19, this might happen sooner rather than later with the ban on overseas travel)

7) I would love to have a bestselling novel, but selling just one gives me a thrill.

8) I’m a poor loser at games, so I don’t play any.

9) My favorite pastime is sitting down with a coffee and doing the New York Times crossword.

10) We have a large collection of teddy bears collected from all over the world, including five from Harrods.

11) I am way too fond of beer.

 

Selected Blog Articles

1)  A segment of my blog called Conversations With My Cat – the rather interesting way in which he can impart catlike peals of wisdom

2)  A collection of short stories, sometimes running to more than one episode, called Being Inspired, Maybe, and I just reached the 100^th milestone.  Each story features a photograph I have taken somewhere in the world, and the story has been inspired by iy.

3)  I have a series running in one of my blogs called Searching for Locations, and each one has been featured in one of my books or short stories.  This one is about Florence, in Italy.

 

Answers to Debbie Winter’s Questions

1) What is in your opinion the best SEO software currently on the market? If you haven’t used SEO software, how informed are you about SEO services and software?

The answer to this question is that I have no idea what SEO is, well, I do know a little about it, but not enough to do anything meaningful, especially with my own blog.  I doubt that WordPress will allow me to make whatever modifications that would make it better, unless, of course, I pay them wads of money for the privilege.  So, not being blessed with millions, I’m happy to remain in obscurity.

2) If you could eat as much food as you wanted without ever getting full or fat, which food would you choose? What is your favourite restaurant?

Pasta, and Lobster, though not necessarily together.  It used to be called Salt but is no longer in business.

3) If your pet could talk, what would it say to you?

Chester, the cantankerous cat, is never short on opinions, and the best part of my day is when he is asleep (or pretending to catch mice)

4) What is the weirdest thing you have ever seen someone do?

Swarms of Chinese pushing people out of the way to get into a venue first, with no regard for the orderly queue.

5) If you had enough money that you never needed to work again, what would you do with your time?

Write – boring I know, but that’s it.

6) Name three of your favorite songs?

Hey Jude, the Beatles, Born on the Bayou and Cosmo’s Factory, by Credence Clearwater Revival

7) Name three of your favorite books?

HMS Ulysses, Alistair Maclean, A Tales of Two Cities, Charles Dickens, and The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald

8) Would you lie to your friend or spouse for a large sum of money? How much?

No.  Having struggled all my life to have enough money, and never quite making it, I know how important it is to others who may also be struggling.  I find it amusing that anyone would think a spouse would have a secret stash unless of course their marriage or relationship was based on mistrust.

9) If you had $10.000 to spend on whatever you like, what would you do with the money?

Divide it equally between my children who definitely need it.

10) If you would be granted one wish of any kind, what would you wish for?

Good health, respect, and to live out the rest of my years in comfort, peace, and quiet.

11) Who has been the biggest example in your life? Why?

Sadly there has been no one that I can think of.  But, having said that, from time to time there have been people who have provided me with a few guidelines, one who taught me the value of reading classic literature, one who taught me how to appreciate fine dining, and an appreciation for wine, and another who gave me an understanding of the human condition.

 

My Questions

1)   What do you do for work, and what would you rather be doing, if you were given the opportunity?

2)   Do you read constantly or sporadically, and what is your favorite genre

3)   Boring, I know, but what is your favorite television show, and why?

4)   If you could be anywhere in the world rather than where you are, where would that be and why?

5)   What is the most annoying thing about people you dislike?

6)   How many people can you count on as ‘real’ friends, if your situation turned to the worst-case scenario?

7)   If you are young, where would you like to be in, say, 30 years time, and if you are older, what is one thing you would have done differently?

8)   Do you prefer to travel by car, bus, train, or airplane, and why?

9)   If you could retire tomorrow, where would that be, and why?

10)   Is having wealth or health more important to you?

11)   and the doozie for the last question, if you have a current partner, do you think this is the ‘one’ or do you think the ‘one’ might still be out there?

(You do not need to answer this, but in my case, I have found the ‘one’ and we’ve been together nearly 45 years.)

 

My Nominees

Nadia D. Mazonis,  Tales from the Neon Beach,  Scarlett79,  Geet,

Shayleene MacReynolds,  marilyn jaye lewis.  balladeer,

Tessa, DhAnAnjAyA PArkhe “Jay”,  Colline,  Kazzmoss