merci beaucoup

Even though I've been blogging for quite a few years now it is only in the last two months or so that I feel I have made some good friends in blogland. I like to read about their lives and -it seems - they like to read my ramblings. I've got to admit that I'm enjoying blogging more and more and to be awarded a cute little thing to stick on my sidebar is the icing on the cake. It's been given to me by Kathy here and her blog is so novel, with images and words that really do make me laugh. We hit it off straight away and I wish that she lived nearer so that I could stalk her. If you take a look I'm sure you will agree that she does in truth have a Fabulous Blog.

However, for me to put this award on my sidebar and play by the system of blogland etiquette, I have to obey some rules which are as follows:

Copy and paste the rules and instructions in your post.

When you post about receiving this award, make sure you include who gave you the award and link it back to them.

Post five winners and link it back to them as well.

Post five of your addictions.

Add the award image.

Let your winners know you gave them an award by leaving them a comment on their blog.

So, here we go with my five addictions.

I think it's fair to say that blogging has become one of my addictions. It never used to be so - I've had my blog for nearly four years and in most of that time I was very ambivalent about it. It is only since I updated my template from one of the old ones to a more modern one (about two months ago) that my view about blogging changed. I suppose it is the same as neglecting your appearance for a long time because you can't be bothered and then all of a sudden you wake up, decide you look a mess and resolve to change. Well, that was how I suddenly felt about my blog and now I love being in Blogland.

If owning an animal can ever be called an addiction, then I am addicted to our two bichon frisé dogs. I can't imagine life without a dog around and, even though it is a tie and sometimes (not often) inconvenient, I would not be without them. I like them to look good and they go to the groomer every five weeks.

I'm addicted to learning and when we first moved to the French countryside I felt slightly concerned that I would mentally waste away. I then began an Open University course which I enjoyed so much that I decided to carry on and study for a BA in the Humanities. When I eventually get that I'm going to carry on with a Masters and then - if I'm still alive- think about going for a Doctorate even though I'll shuffle forward on my zimmer frame to be awarded it.

Hmm, this isn't easy because I have quite an addictive personality and consciously have to stop myself from getting too obsessed with things, but I have to come up with two more so...

Even though my politics are more in tune with the Guardian and maybe a dash of the Independent, I always look at the Daily Mail online every morning. I'm not going to link to it because I don't want to pass on bad habits.

and finally...

I'm addicted to paying a bill straight away. I think this stems from an early flat-share I was involved in where none of us paid bills very regularly and a Crisis Situation would develop fairly regularly, with my parents being called on to help out. Consequently, now that I've grown up a bit, I've gone to the other extreme.

My bit is now over and I'm going to pass this award on to the following five bloggers:

Blu because she is another expat in Brittany - one who takes beautiful photos of nature - and because blue is my favourite colour

frankofile because she is yet another expat in Brittany (hmm, do I detect a theme here?) - she tells much more about daily life in Brittany than I do and I like to see what goes on in her department.

brother tobias because he is witty and worldly and sophisticated.

contemporary troubadour because it must be very difficult to conduct a romance on a long-distance basis and she writes about it so very well.

carol because I like the things she writes about and I like to see the photos from Thailand.

It's been so hard to single out five bloggers and I think everyone should have at least one award on their sidebar. I must try and design a French Fancy award which I would give away indiscriminately.