I’ve been writing for years – but in the very narrow field of law that I practiced in. All my articles, posts and even blogs posts were typically practical applications of law for those chosing to move internationally. Although I tried my hand a couple of times at blogging, I didn’t spend the time working on getting my blog going and I certainly didn’t know how to join a blogging community.

A few months ago, all of that changed! Quite, by accident, a friend shared a post from a blogging community and I followed it, and started connecting with people whose existence I had overlooked for the past ten years!

Now, I find myself making new friends and connections, and discover that the blogging community is much more supportive than I could ever have imagined!

I am grateful and humbled!

And so, with this, came a nomination this week for the Sunshine Bloggers Award. In fact, not one nomination, but TWO! Both on the 6th of August! I was nominated by:

1. Brenda West, My Angels Voice
2. Denise Gardener, Many Facets of Life

The rules

This is really quite simple: first, I thank the person (in my case, two) that nominated me, and then I nominate and pass on the award to 11 bloggers that I consider fit the criteria. This is a fantastic way that we recognise bloggers who may otherwise fly under the radar, unnoticed.

Additionally, the person that nominated me has given me 11 questions to answer, which I will do below. I will then come up with 11 questions that those nominated by me are to complete and post when they nominate their bloggers!

Gratitude & Appreciation

I want to acknowledge and say a big thank you to both Brenda West and Denise Gardener for considering and nominating me for this award! I hope you will check out both of their blogs and share with others one of their posts that inspires you.

1. Brenda West, My Angels Voice
2. Denise Gardener, Many Facets of Life

11 Questions that I should answer:

1. What is your writing inspiration? Wow… that’s truly difficult. Sometimes it’s a conversation, a meme or a quote. Other times I feel like I just get “a download” from the Divine. And yet, other times, it’s simply hard work of time put in because I chose a topic that was difficult.
2. Are you a sports fan? If so what sport & team? I’ve been a fan of Liverpool ever since I can remember. I found out in my 30s that this was because when I was 4 1/2 years old, my grandad took me to a Liverpool match and I got my first scarf! I didn’t see my grandad again until I was well into my 20s, because we lived overseas. Been a fan ever since, and I never knew why!
3. If you had one wish, what would it be? Cheaper airfares – that world travel would not cost so much!
4. Are you a full-time writer/blogger? Not quite – although I hope to make it so. I have used lawyering to finance my blogging. And I now use coaching to finance my writing. I hope that eventually I can coach simply because it gives me great pleasure to participate in another person’s transformation and simply depend on the writing and blogging for my income stream!
5. What is your favorite music? Hard rock – but I love ballads and salsa, merengue, and classical music.
6. If you could travel in a time machine where would you go? So many places and times… wow! Where to start? Maybe Turkey/Syria in the 1300s at the time of the Crusades… to see for myself the realities of all sides – Seljuks, Templars, Crusaders, Orthodox, Jews, … all with their own “truth” of what really happened.
7. Have you ever traveled out of the country? If so, where? Yes. I have been blessed to have travelled the world, except for Africa, which I have not yet been to or Antartica.
8. Would you ever bungee-jump!? No.
9. Cats or Dogs? Both. How could I possibly choose?
10. Name your favorite dessert. Gluten free lemon merengue pie.
11. What is your favorite song and why? Really? You are going to make me choose? Right now – Disturbed “The Sound of Silence“. But I’ve had many songs throughout the years!

My nominations:

I hereby nominate the following bloggers to receive the Sunshine Blogger Award:

1. Ekaterina Crawford – Ekaterina’s Chronicles
2. Sarah Whalen – Real Food 4 Life
3. Samantha Dee – My big fat blog
4. Jessica Ruiz – All For Myself
5. Nyxie’s Nook
6. My Anxious Life
7. The Ray Journey
8. Realistic Optimism
9. The Gutz Life
10. Emily – That Weird Girl Life
11. Coffee and Florida Sunsets

Bonus nomination: Steve Alexander – Fed Up of Being Poor

11 new questions:

1. When did you start blogging? What kick-started you?
2. Best friend in primary school? Do you still keep in touch?
3. You can live anywhere in the world: desert, tropics or 4 seasons?
4. Do your friends and family know about your blogging?
5. Where would you love to go on holiday just with your 3-4 best friends?
   If you have written a book – what is it? If not, what would you write about? Does it have a title yet?
6. Where is the most exotic place you have ever lived?
7. If there was one vegetable or fruit that you had to include in every single meal (for life), what would it be?
8. You have a farm: horses or alpacas? Why?
9. Do you play music in the background while writing? What type of music?
10. How do you use social media?
11. Three random facts.

Have fun! I hope you enjoy this as much as I have!

Thanks again to Denise & Brenda for their nominations! I hope you enjoy reading this and other blog posts!