It is not often I am lost for words, but a week last Saturday was one of them, because a week last Saturday is when a complete stranger, Anna the Fangirl, nominated This Door is Alarmed for The Sunshine Blogger Award. I am touched beyond words! I send smiles to you across the drift of space to wherever you may currently reside in the world! This blog stands among giants in its tender first weeks, so it is a terrific honour that it has been considered worthy so young!
I checked out Anna’s site and it tugged gently at one of those immaterial ligaments that says ‘read more, read more’. It is wonderfully written, with well-voiced and crafted pieces on everything from day-to-day struggles, to books and music. She has a raw, honest, melodious style I think you will all like, so check her out here.
Apparently, this award comes with a few simple rules. I am a little ashamed to admit some little part of me bubbles in anarchic desires when I see a list of rules—I am at a loss as to why. These bubbles leave me split; one-sixteenth of me wants to do anything in my power to circumnavigate the rules, and the rest of me is too lily-livered to contemplate it. Very occasionally, the anarchist breaks out.
So what will it be today?
I will thrash and smother my one-sixteenth, and happily acquiesce, of course! (And not just because Anna seems like such a damned lovely person!) So these are the rules:
- Thank the blogger who nominated you in a blog post and link back to their blog.
- Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you.
- Nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award and write them 11 new questions.
- List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post/or on your blog.
I guess I’ve made it to number two! These were Anna’s questions for me, and my answers:
- If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? Most people wouldn’t guess this, but I am actually a huge travelling enthusiast and have left footprints all over the world, but right now I most want to be transported home for a feline-fuss!
- What do you miss most about your childhood? Not much, despite having an excellent upbringing. As a child I felt entombed and frustrated by the mandatory dependences that are intrinsic to childhood. I think that is why I like to quietly wander about the globe so much as an adult.
- What is your favourite time of the year/ holiday? I couldn’t say—it’s all homogenous these days. If I had to choose it would be summer, because it is statistically less likely to rain here.
- What is your favourite post on your blog? I like the one about language creation , because linguistics and conlanging is a long-term passion of mine. Oddly enough, each post is my least favourite when it is first published, I come around to liking them later.
- What are you afraid of? Writing this blog XD
- Do you like movies or books better? 100% books, always books. Films mostly bore me. It takes a superb film to drag me out of the entertainment to be had in my own reveries.
- What kind of animal would you choose to be your pet? (Real or fictional) You know what I’m going to say: cats, cats, cats! Felines are a female’s best friend!
- Are you a morning person or a night owl? Most certainly a morning person. Getting up early is an enema for the brain: sleeping-in leaves thoughts sluggish and wasted. Mornings bring with them the most exquisite contemplations, in my experience; I like to spend at least ten minutes thinking in the morning or I get a bit grumpy!
- Would you rather have a fun night out or stay in? Stay in.
- Why did you start blogging? It was a solid, anonymous way to get my story to the public. Plus, I find writing a flighty mistress, and highly addictive. Tinkering those finely-tuned rhythms and teasing synonyms until they submit is akin to a complex skill such as oil painting: it galvanises me.
- What was the last thing that made you smile? This question caused me to stutter and something like a writers’ block washed over me. Usually the words gush out at such a rate I find even shorthand touch-typing is not sufficient. In sum, this might be the most difficult question you have asked me—but not for the reason you are all thinking—on the contrary, I smile a great deal of the time, and often I’m not even aware I am doing it. It is a strategy I developed when I was young to avoid altercations. Next time you are in a difficult situation with someone, try smiling at them, especially if they are in the wrong; it causes the oddest reaction. It will diffuse almost any tense or potentially vitriolic encounter. So I suppose my answer would be—myself.
Eleven nominated blogs—it took me a long time to choose these—there’s so much great stuff out there!
https://bitchininthekitchen.org
https://anhistorianabouttown.com/
https://thescribblingssite.wordpress.com
https://simonjwood.wordpress.com
https://novuslectio.wordpress.com
https://threadfullofdreams.com
https://allyannemarieblog.wordpress.com
https://matthewreay.wordpress.com
These are my questions for my nominees:
- What is your favourite thing beginning with the letter ‘s’?
- What is your quirk?
- Of the blogs you follow, which is your favourite and why (please leave a reference to their site, and please choose a blog that you have not nominated)?
- What five things do you hope to accomplish in the next five years?
- If I was reading a book, with you as the main character, how would the author describe you?
- What do you wish you could change about yourself?
- Which one famous person (real or fictional) would you like to meet and what would you say or ask?
- If you could have a super-power, what would it be?
- What are you most proud of?
- What is one key thing blogging has taught you?
- What question do you wish I had asked you and what is the answer?
Hey! Congratulations!
Thank you so very much for nominating me for this award! It is so nice of you to do so!
I love your answers. I can relate to mostly all of them. I, too, prefer books over all imaginable versions of them. I love the point you made when you talked about the perks of smiling in the last answer!
Will surely post the award, soon!
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Thanks, that’s such a lovely comment! You have made me smile a lot! It was my pleasure to nominate you. You deserve to be recognised for your talents! 🙂
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Congrats!!! You totally deserved the award😀
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You are so kind! Thank you. I got a bit emotional about the whole thing 🙂
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You’re welcome ❤️
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Congratulations and thank you.
Yep…. if we met we would have been good friends. Many things in common 😉
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I agree! Very good friends indeed, I should think! 🙂
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😘
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There aren’t smiles large enough! 🙂
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yes… like this
😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
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Congratulations, Miss Sunshine!!💜 Amazing answers!
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Thank you very much! I am glad you enjoyed my answers. 🙂
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Welcomee!💜
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Congratulations! Thank you for the high praise which I don’t think I deserve haha. Really liked your answers 🙂 Hope to see more from you soon
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I think your blog is pretty awesome! I am so glad you liked the answers! I had some fun 😁
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Congratulations!
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Hi, congratulations!
You deserve it!
I loved your answers, and I could relate with a lot of them! Would love to know more about your travelling adventures! ( I love travelling too!)
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Thank you very much! 🙂 I am glad you liked my answers–I had a bit of fun 🙂
And, ooh yey! I could talk travelling adventures for hours! Travelling is such a wonderful way to enhance and broaden your outlook on life. Where have you travelled recently? 🙂
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Nowhere recently, cause exams. Can’t wait for them to end though! What about youu?
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I am off all over the place. Last summer I went to Turkey and flew into Cappadocia. Then I flew on to India and travelled by land for a few weeks, then entered Nepal, stayed with a jungle tribe, adventured around a bit, then found a Sherpa and guide and went hiking up into the Himalayas.
Over xmas, I went to the arctic, camping in a van. It was cold, but superbly pretty. I stopped by Santa’s ‘hometown’ on xmas day and learned how to drive huskies and reindeer and make a mess of steering a snowmobile!
This summer I am travelling to Africa, I am camping through four countries, from South Africa, through the Namib desert, into Botswana and the Okavango delta, and ending in Victoria Falls. I will be meeting up with the San Bushman tribe who are going to teach some of their survival skills. Don’t think I will be very good at it, but willing to give anything a go!
Best of luck for your exams! They suck, but at least you are getting close to having them over. Do you have any travel plans after your exams finish?
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Aaah OHMYGOD OHMYGOD SOUNDS AMAZINGGG!
gosh, your travelling adventures seem to be goals! Honestly, that sounds so so so interesting! God, such amazing plansss! I can’t stop saying ‘ohmygod’, so I’m sure you get my emotions xP
Heyy, hope you liked your trip to India! I live in India, hope you had a great, welcoming trip!
No such plans yet for after exams, but will come up with some or the other, hopefully!
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Oooh yey! I love your response. It made me laugh. What a wonderful image 😁
I LOVED India. I had wanted to visit since I was very young. My aunt and uncle practically live there and used to come back with wonderful stories of the people and culture. It was intoxicating. My visit didn’t let me down. You live in a place full of vibrancy and dense with tradition. Love it!
You should definitely plan something after the exams; a treat for your hard work! Where are you thinking? 😁
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Sounds great! Glad you had a great trip!
Thinking to explore India more! Hopefully!
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Yes, you live in such a wonderfully diverse part of the world. Have you visited Varanasi? That was a place that will always hold a place in my heart. We were there during a festival. The atmosphere was so vibrant and alive, ineffable almost. Such wonderful, colourful memories! 😁
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Varanasi has been on my list since ages! I really do hope to visit soon!
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Ooh yes. Then we can talk all about it. I hope you have lots of other places on your list too 😁 the world is so large and varied. 😀
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Aah yess! That sounds fun! The list is so long, and it gets longer everyday!
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I am so pleased. Where will be first on the bucket list? Where pulls your wanderings most? 😁
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Hello she,
You totally deserved it.
Your answers were amazing and travelling is my lifeline too. And they are too really sweet. Hahaa
Keep it up😊
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You are so kind, thanks you, and yes travelling is certainly wonderful!
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And by your comment I guess you travel much more than I do. And we could have met since you travelled India. Do you travel by yourself?
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I have always been a little concerned about travelling alone. Do you live in India? Wouldn’t it be strange if we have walked past one another 🙂 I did find it a little unerving in India, that someone of my colouring, being as pale and blonde as I am, brought rather more attention than I imagined. Waiting at train stations, I would often have a crowd of thirty or so men crowding me and watching or taking secret photos, that was a little scary at times 🙂 They never meant any harm though, or so I like to think. A wonderful place, loved it, so culturally rich with wonderful people!
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Haha 😆
Yes I’m from India and good to know that you found it culturally rich and the railway station scene can be imagined very well haha
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You live in a wonderdul place! I was told the entourage of gatherers was just due to curiosity. I suppose I do look quite different, which I had never really considered before embarking on seeing the globe. The experience was very memorable. In hindsight, I wish I had struck up conversation. Whereabouts in India do you live, if you don’t mind my asking?
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Perhaps, curiosity can probably be the reason. I live in north India. Punjab, more precisely.
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I just missed a visit to Punjab, due to time constraints, but my aunt and uncle have visited for months on end. They gave us some really good advice on where to visit, and Punjab was one, I think. Their incredible stories were my inspiration for visiting your country. They are not well off, but they have done a lot to help the community which is wonderful. I live after their example.
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Thank you so much for nominating me, it is such an honour to be recognised by one’s peers. Unfortunately I have to decline as I have just got back from holiday and have so much to catch up on. I’ll be sure to visit the other nominees to see if there’s an undiscovered gem I can follow. Thanks again!
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No worries. I just wanted to let you know I think your blog is very good. 😁
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That’s very kind of you to say so.
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Congrats! 🙂
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Thanks very much😁 I love how we were just commenting simultaneously on one another’s sites 😁
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🙂 I think communicating with other bloggers helps encourage us to keep doing what we enjoy or passionate about.
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I could not agree more. Well said! I love taking the time to peruse others work and then strike up conversation with them. It is always very encouraging, and this community is incredibly supportive!
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Congratulations on the award!! 🙂
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Thank you so much! 😁
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You’re welcome!! 🙂
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I’d be honest and say that I didn’t read all your answers. But one thing I DID READ, and again read was your last answer. It felt like you are talking to my heart. And with a smile on my face, I’d gladly state that yes, just like you said, I keep smiling so much sometimes, that I don’t even know the reason why I am smiling! I just know that it makes me feel good and sometimes, lets others around me happy as well. 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Power to you, She! ❤ ❤
P.S. I love the way you chose such a short and yet so very powerful word as your blog name. :"SHE". ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
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Thank you. What an incredibly thoughtful comment 🙂 🙂 It is wonderful to find out we are not alone in the world. Smiling is a powerful saviour for people like us. I agree, sometimes smiling when you have had a bad day does lighten your mood. Thanks so much for commenting. Thank you also for the comment on my name – it was inspired by the name of the first novel I loved, ‘She’ by H. Rider Haggard. A great read. I really like your name too. Does yours have a story behind it?
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Just a little thought. Stories and fantasies and miracles…..charisma. Non-realistic stuffs right? Well, sometimes my overthinking mind prefers it that way. And so is it, I believe in miracles. And that’s where my name arises from “Charisma” 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
And you needn’t really thank me so much. It was my pleasure and absolutely my satisfaction that I felt so warmed at that answer about Who was the last person to have made you happy! ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ Well the best thing to say would be:: Keep smiling! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Could not agree more about the smiles!
I liked your blog very much, your name matches it well. You have a very nice style.
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Had a look at your site, really like it. Have followed you. Looking forward to reading more! 🙂
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Thoughtful answers, dear!
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Thank you very much 😁
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CongratZ! Well done.
I skimmed through other comments and saw that you are busy travelling quite a bit. That’s fantastic. I traveled a bit (and still do), but nowhere near your standards. Do you have a favorite country?
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Hehe, the question frequently asked and so hard to answer. Each country has its own personality in culture and people and landscape that I appreciate in different ways. To pick a favourite would be so difficult. I also find that it depends on your experiences there and the people you meet, and the more enrichenong your experience is, the more it warms your feeling towards a place.
From my experiences, some of my favourites (because I could not pick one😁) have been:
Iceland – because of the way we did it just free-camping around. Very liberating.
Nepal – because of the rich culture, wildlife, scenery, people. It has a wonderful mix of everything
Laos – completely laid back, wonderful people
The states – such variety as you drive from one state to the next. It is hard to believe Louisiana and Alabama are in the same country as New England.
Where have you visited that you have most enjoyed?
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It’s true. Your experience vastly influences the “favorite” choice. There isn’t a place I didn’t like, but Greece had to have been my favorite.
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Whwre did you go in Greece? I am visiting in October, was wondering if you had any recommendations? 😁😁😁
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That was a while back. A small town on the coast of the Halkidiki peninsula. Visiting Athens was simply breathtaking. Being transported to the mythical times with all the Greek Gods was great. Of course, the beaches are nice, too. And I loved the cuisine. And the people. Full package, really.
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That sounds wonderful! I am so glad you had a good time there. I will look up Hallidiki. Am definitely looking forward to seeing Athens. Thank you so much!!! 😁
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A huge congratuations!
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Congratulations…lol
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I sort of like the extra ‘a’, as though you were saying it with an Italian accent!!! 😁
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Thank you very much! 😁😁😁
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Big thanks for nominating me for this and I’ve actually posted my response as well so thanks you. Here’s a link to mine in case you haven’t seen it https://theunfinishedscript.wordpress.com/2018/03/25/the-sunshine-blogger-award/ as I’ve recently had to change my URL to http://www.theunfinishedscript.wordpress.com which has actually resulted in me losing all followers and links
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Hi, congrats again! I look forward to reading your answers!
Wow, I didn’t know changing your URL could cause you to lose everything like that! Was that following the WordPress upgrade? I will follow you if it has kicked me.
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Hi yeah neither did I. My site was just my name but wanted to change it to the actual blog site name. No warnings or anything that you loose everything, just thought it continued on. Whoops
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Could this have been an error? I cannot imagine WP get many people switching to paid plans if customers lose their followers. It might be worth getting in contact. They might be able to revert and fix and then do it properly? How frustrating the whole thing must be for you! Feel for you😣
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Yeah some weird things have been going on with my WP blog, I also don’t seem to be getting any pingbacks from the daily prompts I usually do which I’ve already contacted them about so not sure what’s going on
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Hmm. Certainly sounds like you have caught a bug in the system. If you are a paying customer hopefully WP will sort it pretty quickly. It must be really frustrating!
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[…] thanks to She (from The-door-is-alarmed) for nominating me for ‘The Sunshine Blogger Award’! So […]
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[…] thanks to She (from The-door-is-alarmed) for nominating me for ‘The Sunshine Blogger Award’! So […]
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