Last week I learnt that trying to produce an award nomination post in the block editor is a major headache! But I managed to complete not one, but two of them – with the help of half a bottle of Chardonnay!

Today’s post is in response to a nomination for THE OUTSTANDING BLOGGER AWARD (how honoured I am!) from the outstanding Sandmanjazz. This is his original post, so that you can verify I was actually nominated and I am not just making this up!

https://sandmanjazz.wordpress.com/2020/07/31/outstanding-blogger-nomination/

This award was created by Colton Beckwith, who as of yet I am not acquainted with – in a blogging sense I mean.

The Rules:

Provide the link to the creator’s original award post.
Answer the questions provided.
Create 7 unique questions.
Nominate 10 bloggers. Ensure that they are aware of their nomination. Neither the award’s creator, nor the blogger that nominated you, can be nominated.
At the end of 2020, every blog that ping-backs the creator’s original post will be entered to win the 2020 Outstanding Blogger Award!

Questions From Sandmanjazz

What is your position on School Uniform?

Well…I am a little old for it really…with the exception of the occasionally fancy dress party, I give it a miss these days.

The main advantage of any kind of uniform is that you don’t have the agonising question each morning. “What am I going to wear?” For me that is a significant reduction of stress. Also…some uniforms are practical, due to being made of long lasting fabrics.

Also, I remember at high school, some of the kids were already becoming snooty about the brands and labels – shoes and which trainers you wore in games lessons especially. Can you imagine the pressure and the comparing if some children were rocking up to school in designer clothes and others in hand-me-downs originally bought in Primark? All that children should need to worry about us their education. But as I remember well, you have to put up with a lot of nonsense before they let you escape from school. If anyone makes it out of school a well-rounded out human being with a sense of real purpose and values that will stabilize you throughout life – that is a sheer miracle!!!

Do you prefer paper books or a kindle, and why?

Paper books. The screen tires my eyes out so much.

However, I know that the overconsumption of earth’s resources to produce paper is a concern. But so is the manufacture of electronic devices and what happens to older models when they are discarded by the user.

My solution would be sharing. Primarily sharing paper copies of printed information. I say that as someone who has written and published books. But I would prefer fewer copies to be printed and then shared amongst reading groups or families rather than lots to be printed and lay unread on people’s bookshelves.

I would prefer us to go to a library and borrow a book, rather than all of us feeling we should have our own personal copy of books. I do think it is sad that libraries have been disappearing, probably because anyone who owns an electronic device has access to libraries of information. Visits to the library formed the backbone of my childhood, but now I wonder how many children go near a library regularly?

Most of the paperbacks I read are borrowed from friends. I do buy new paperback copies of books written by WordPress bloggers (to support them) and then I lend them to family and friends I think will enjoy them.

If you were if charge of your Country, what would be your first act in office? (Resignation is not an option)

Does resignation include abolishing parliament?

If I was forced to be in charge…I would immediately reset the economy again. All land and wealth would be distributed equally. You will have an assignment of land, and it will be your responsibility to care for that land properly. Teaming up with your neighbours etc to support each other in caring for your responsibilities is definitely recommended. Working together, sharing skills and tools to grow crops and harvest them, build houses and furniture are very advantageous. But there is no competition, no rivalry. We work together!

As previous governments have allowed excessive consumption of earth’s resources there will be some rationing for a limited period, until the earth has recovered, which it may do within less time than you would imagine.

If you have a plan or want to do something that will demand a lot of resources etc, you will be asked why? How does it benefit your community? Will it be in harmony with a clean healthy earth? Is it something that you want to do to gain more than others? Or are suggesting something that will benefit people, animals and our environment? Because from now on, profit is something we are not interested in. Our priority is a healthy happy human family who care for their home and help animals to flourish.

You have freedom only within the pillars of unselfish love and remaining in harmony with out beautiful planet. If you don’t want to live on a clean earth with a thriving population, you are welcome to move to Mars at any point. I am sure there are some billionaire entrepreneurs who already have their sights set on Mars – you are welcome to join their mission!

Basically is what you propose loving, unselfish, beneficial on a long-term basis, in harmony with a clean earth and a health population? Or is your idea about profit, greed, selfishness and disregard for the welfare of other people or animals? We hope you will love living on a planet earth that is as beautiful as it is meant to be, and seeing all creatures including humans full of life!

Who would you get to play you in a film of your life and why?

I think Renee Zellweger. What I know of her makes me like her, although I don’t get too attached to celebrities because I don’t know them in real life.

There is some resemblance (so say my friends) and I loved her in “Miss Potter“, the film in which she played Beatrix Potter. I have not seen the Bridget Jones movies. I really wanted to see “Judy” where she portrayed Judy Garland, but I will have to wait until it is on the small screen.

I love all of her facial mannerisms. I have a very soft voice, and she seems to speak softly too.

Do think it is a good or bad idea for a writer to use a pen name for different genres/styles of book?

I think good. I know I have done it. Why? Freedom. I can write from my heart without fear of anyone who knows me being critical.

Melody Finch books are very personal to who I am. The LEARNERS AT LOVE series was very personal. Annabelle Riley was a character I cared about. I put a lot from my heart into her story.

What was the question? Different genres/styles of books? Well, if a writer was diverse enough to be able to dip into lots of different styles, I don’t see why they shouldn’t use a different pen name. It could be a pen name that might suit that genre, like SKYE CRUISER for Science Fiction…is that a bit of a rubbish example?

I know of bloggers who do use different pen names for different genres. I totally understand why they prefer to keep genres separate for marketing and “building a fan base” and they have used clever pen names which are obviously made up.

Do you enjoy spicy food?

Yes. Would you like me to enlarge on this?

I have been vegetarian since I was six years old, so variety is very important to me. For most of my childhood and teenage years I ate a lot of the same thing. So discovering spices was wonderful to me. However, I have my limits!

I like a mild to medium blend of spices. If it is too hot, I won’t enjoy it. I will end up with tears pouring down my face, and choking and coughing and turning bright red. What is the point of eating something so hot with spice you are can’t taste anything properly?

What would you want your Epitaph to say?

SHE TRIED

SHE REALLY DID TRY

Maybe, we will add…

“IT WAS THE BLOCK EDITOR THAT FINISHED HER OFF!”

Questions For My Nominees

HOW ARE YOU FINDING THE BLOCK EDITOR?
ARE THERE ANY SUBJECTS YOU DON’T FEEL COMFORTABLE READING ABOUT OR WATCHING IN FILMS.TELEVISION?
IS THERE SOMETHING YOU MISSED OUT DURING 2020 MADNESS THAT YOU ARE SAD ABOUT?
HOW HAS 2020 BENEFITED YOU AS A PERSON OR IMPROVED YOUR OUTLOOK ON LIFE? HAVE YOU LEARNT IMPORTANT LESSONS?
DO YOU FIND IT EASY TO OPEN UP ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR MISTAKES/WEAKNESSES?
WHO DO YOU TURN TO WHEN YOU NEED HELP WITH A PROBLEM?
HAVE YOU BEEN ANXIOUS ABOUT YOUR INCOME THIS YEAR?