Tuesday, December 02, 2008

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.

23 comments:

Henry the Dog said...

Congrats on your award. It couldn't have gone to a nicer blogger. I think your addictions are very good ones - if one can have a good addiction. In fact your post made me smile because my mum is also addicted to the Daily Mail online, even though she always subscribed to the Guardian when in the UK (and The Times - but that's between you and me). AND she always pays her bills on time - she too had flat shares that went horribly wrong - so perhaps that's why.

Henry the Dog said...

PS: mum says that the Daily Mail online is getting more like 'Heat' every day....

cheshire wife said...

Interesting that you still read English newspapers. Congratulations on the award.

Kathy said...

Aw thanks FF, I would definitely keep all those addictions, even the DMOL (when does a bad habit become an addiction?), I forgot to add that one to my list.
YAY! my first (almost) stalker.

justme said...

OOOOO! How lovely! Congrats on your award hun!

French Fancy... said...

Henry - yes, the Mail Online is quite good trash and it can be scanned really quickly. I do get quite a lot of teasing from Mr FF about it though (but not as much as when I read Heat for about two weeks whilst convalescing after an op).

Thanks for the praise


cheshire wife - The Guardian (International edition) is the only hard copy paper I have a subscription to - and that's mainly for the cryptic crosswords. The paper is a weekly and it takes us almost the full week to finish one crossword (shouldn't admit to that, should I?). All the other papers I read online. Oh and I get a daily French paper (no allegiance - I try them all) and a weekly local Breton one. I sound really newspapery but I'm not at all.
Thanks as well.

Mama - hello. Yes, when does a bad habit become an addiction? That would make a good essay topic.

justme - thank you so much. :)

nikkicrumpet said...

I love these tags because we get to know more about our bloggy friends. It sounds like those are pretty harmless addictions...c'mon...give us the real dirt hehehe. Have a great day!!!

Frankofile said...

The daily what?!@@!

OK only teasing. Honesty is good.

Thank you so much for the award. I'll be racing back for it I've cracked the marking.

And I'm looking forward to reading the listed blogs, too.

lady jicky said...

Bravo , Bravo !

Love your Blog!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Well done on your award, FF, you deserve it with your beautiful blog and writings.

Oh dear, i wish i knew how to cut and paste......

Jennysmith said...

Yes, i see what you mean, my aviator thing doesnt' come up. I don't know why, it does for other sites. wish i understood all this technical stuff.

Anonymous said...

Now, thats weird, it did just then.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your blog award, well deserved. I achieved my degree in Humanities with Literature [hons]from the OU in 2005 after eight years of work [took two years off in the middle]
I was 69. Loved almost every moment though it was hard work as brain cells were deteiorating at a great rate.

Blu said...

Award??.well you have a very entertaining blog. Do I have 5 people to send mine to, that may be a problem. Anyway many thanks and congratulations..Blu xx

Femin Susan said...

Hi,
Congratulations....Your posting is very interesting...Keep writing.. Welcome to my blog...
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Carol said...

Thanks for my award hon. I shall display it with pride :-))

Now I just have to think about five addictions that won't make my regular readers run screaming for the hills....

C x

This Ro(a)mantic Life said...

Congratulations, how delightful! Thank you for the award too. I think I've finally finished coming up with five addictions -- not an easy task, is it? The number I had to leave off ...

French Fancy... said...

a couple of extra things I just wanted to add:

the reason the cryptic crossword takes us almost a week is because we save it for our coffee breaks and lunchtime when we both meet in the kitchen. I take a copy and we take it in turns for one of us to have the real crossword.

Re the bichons going to the groomer every five weeks. I know all the arguments about natural oils should stay in their skin and washing too much is bad for them. However, bichons have a very difficult coat - it's a double coat with soft curls on top of wiry curls - it gets in a bad state quickly. Also Poppy - with her allergies - has a special shampoo and it's beneficial for her to be groomed.

French Fancy... said...

nikki - yes, I love tags because it gives one a rest from thinking up what to say in the next lot of blogging. I know lots of people don't like being tagged and that's fine too. But everyone likes these cute awards.I'm trying to design my own but need Mr FF to return with his html skills.

Frankie - yes, the DM *is* a confession. Of course I kept my Sunday read of the News of the World online a secret.

lady jicky - well thank you, Mrs. Hope Rose and Oscar are doing well.

Jenny - isn't that odd. Maybe there is a spirit hovering around you that doesn't want you messing about on blogging. I'll be over soon

Moannie - I didn't know you were an (ex) OU-er. I bet you know all the courses I'm doing/have done. Oh good - do you know when I look at my blog tracker at the end of the day I see quite a few people have found me by googling the OU essay question we are currently working on. They must be very disappointed when they don't really find any info. (I quote the full question every couple of weeks)

Blu - thanks. You could hold on to it - you don't have to do all five at once. I don't think anyone would mind. You deserve it however with your beautiful photos (Blu's photo is going to be on a CD cover everyone - not her, but one she has taken)

Susan - hello and thank you. Will be over soon

Carol - hello C. Maybe there is nothing you are addicted to but, as Mama Kathy said, when does a habit really become an addiction?

Hello Con.Troub - Glad you finished the marking - looking forward to your addictions.

Lane Mathias said...

Daily Mail online is one of my morning habits too. I scan the headlines and look at the pictures. It's about all I can manage first thing:-)

Congrats on the award. So glad I came across your blog:-)

Brother Tobias said...

The award for your lovely blog is well deserved - awear it with pride. And thank you so much for thinking of me; I feel extremely honoured and a lot more witty, wordly and sophisticated than I did (which was not at all).

French Fancy... said...

Hello Lane, I'm one of those annoying morning people that run out of steam mid-aft. In the morning I'm chirpy and sing and luckily Mr FF is fairly morning-fied as well. So you must be an 'owl' then. I'm also glad I found your blog - I just love being in blogland and I don't know why it took me so long to enjoy it so much.

BroTob (is that what we agreed on?) - I know it is a bit girly looking - the award - but you are secure in the masculinity of your macho looking blog. I mean it's not pink like mine. I do think of you as W W & S though

NayLahKnee said...

OMG!!!!!!!!! Congrats Frenchy!!! YOU are fabulous!