Most Mondays I slowly awake to the sound of busy London life, lie there awaiting that dreadful iPhone alarm tone before snoozing for 15 minutes trying to steal as much body heat as possible from Allyn before I brave my duvet exit. Then I’ll sigh, start slowly edging towards the side of the bed as I seriously consider how important work and money really is when your bed is this cosy. I’ll drag myself out as Allyn tries to pull me back in for one last cuddle (little shit) and then I’ll go brush my teeth as I check up on what’s happening in the world.
Most Mondays, I wake up like this…
Yes. That is me.
Yesterday started this way.
Until I was about ten seconds in to my sleepy teeth cleaning regime and something made me dribble my toothpaste all down my PJs.
A tweet.
One simple tweet.
“Travel blogger of the year: the nominees are…”
Yeah you guessed it. They picked me. Out of all the beautiful writers and non stop travellers… Blogosphere Magazine picked me.
A week ago I semi-celebrated my first ever blogiversary, one whole year of being a blogger. There was even cake (Amsterdam’s own special kind). So I guess this is like the best ever blog-birthday present?
Along with four other incredibly talented bloggers (and no I’m not just saying that, I genuinely follow and love them all), little ‘ole me will be up for the award of Travel Blogger of the Year. CAN YOU FUCKING BELIEVE IT.
Suddenly I felt like this.
And this.
And a little bit of this.
When I relaunched this blog a year ago, I had hopes of becoming “successful” although I didn’t really know what that meant in the blogging world yet. But if there’s anything I’ve learnt in the last 12 months, its that success is personal. Its not judged on numbers, money or fame. Its based on your own goals and your passion.
On Sunday evening I hosted my first ever twitter chat and someone replied to my question of “What do you think makes a blog unique?” with… “When you can sense how excited they are about a post they’ve produced”. The fundamental reason that I sit and write twice a week is not to pay bills or to satisfy a craving for attention. It’s to share my passion for writing, photography and adventure. So when that is recognised by the likes of Blogosphere Magazine, well I’m gooey to the core.
So basically I’m writing this post as a way of dealing with my bucket of emotions. The last few weeks haven’t sailed so smoothly, but this weekend I started to feel like myself again (maybe I just needed to sweat out the damage of two European city breaks in a row at hot yoga). So to begin a week by jumping around squealing before I’d even had a cup of tea, well I’ll always remember that moment.
I want to say a gigantic thank you to the lovely lot of you who read my often long-winded posts, comment on my photography and recognise the work I put in. You are so appreciated. You are true supporters and if in some magical dreamlike state I win the thing, I’ll dedicate it to you.
Of course I have to shamefully plug now…
Please spare a second to vote before the 22nd of May and share the link with your friends, family and fans!
There are some other wonderful bloggers in the mix so check out the additional categories also. The winners will be announced at a fancy pants ceremony on the 22nd of June. If you have any advice on WHAT THE HELL I SHOULD WEAR then please let me know below. Thanks in advance you beauties.
https://www.blogospheremagazine.com/awards/
Okay one more…
