Sunshine Blogger Award 2020

A big thanks to Peter Wyn Mosey for nominating me for the Sunshine Blogger Award. If you haven’t checked out Peter’s site you really should he’s a hugely talented writer. While you’re at it be sure to check out The Finest Example creative collaboration project he’s just launched. It’s already got some brilliant eclectic contributions.

---

Background

I know, I know, I was as surprised as you that I’d been snubbed by both by the Pulitzer and the Booker prizes even after a full year of blogging. Not even a look in. Not to mention the Oscar’s and the Golden Globes. Okay, I’ll grant you that might have been a bit premature given the TV and film rights are still subject to some hush hush negotiations.  Even so, not even a nod. As for the Nobel prize for physics, since when has “science-fiction” not been applicable? Turns out the twenty minutes of research I did on Google isn’t the “right kind” of research.

Well, screw those guys, who’s laughing now I’ve been nominated for a Sunshine Blogger’s Award. None of those poncey award ceremonies for me. No this an award from the community for the community, the grafters, the artists. That’s why it means far more to me that it’s a talent like Peter giving me this accolade. Far more than say the very lovely Charlize Theron. Yeaaahhhh … how many blog articles did she write last year? Exactly!

I’m not going to lie, it would have been nice to have something to put above the fireplace, but at least I don’t have to sit through four hours of Ricky Gervais (that said if you haven’t watched After Life you are missing a treat). Anyway, it’s not like I didn’t get anything. I got this lovely GIF (see above) and that’s much more environmentally friendly. No jetting to LA or Geneva for me. No … Also, no precious metals were mined to create this award. Well apart from all the silver and gold in the countless electric circuits needed to store, process and transfer the GIF. I’m sure Greta will understand my sacrifice.

The Rules

So you’re probably wondering how all this amazing blogger award business works. Well, wonder no longer all you have to do is:

• Thank the blogger who nominated you in your blog post and link back to his/her blog. CHECK!
• Answer the 11 questions the blogger asked you. CHECK!
• List these rules and display the sunshine blogger award logo in your post and on your blog. CHECK!
• Write 11 new questions. CHECK!
• Nominate 11 new bloggers to receive the award and answer the questions. BUGGER!

---

The Answers

Please, no more cameras. I’ll take some questions now:

1. If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?

A bird, because you know FLYING! Probably a European swallow. Although the impressive carrying capacity of the African swallow would be tempting. Definitely not a Norwegian Blue. (RIP Terry Jones).

2. What was the first ever creative effort that you remember really being proud of?

I recall making a trinket box at Scouts. Four empty matchboxes, a couple of stiff bits of cardboard top and bottom and a few yards of black duct tape. It had a photo of me in my scout uniform taped to the top. It proved very useful for storing my baby teeth when they fell out. Imagine the horror of family members several years later discovering why the box rattled.

3. If you could choose between true happiness, or a greater creative skills, what would you pick?

I think I’d have so many questions about the nature of true happiness that whoever was granting this gift would probably move on and ask someone a little less pedantic. e.g. True meaning what exactly? How long? All of the time? Even when I get cut up driving? Even when I step in cat vomit in the middle of the night? Even when I see a burning koala? What kind of monster would that make me?

No, I think, I’ll settle for the regular happiness that would come from a greater creative skill.

4. Does politics have a place in the arts?

I think politics, specifically party politics should be restricted only to being explored through the arts. It’s the application of politics outside of the arts that I believe is becoming increasingly dubious. It makes for better fantasy and horror fiction than it does sensible governance.

5. What gets you out of bed in the morning?

6:45 – my bladder. If that fails. No, not my bladder, then at 7:01 a cat. If by some miracle the cat fails, 7:14 the dog. If everything else fails and I’m literally on my death bed at 7:30 the backup cat will kick in. It’s been scientifically proven to be impossible to sleep with two cats meowing and clawing and a dog huffing. God knows I’ve tried.

6. Where and how do you do most of your writing/ art?

Mostly on the sofa on a laptop with a cat or a dog for company.

7. What famous work do you wish you had created?

Oh, tricky. If I had to pick just one I’d have to say Frank Herbert’s Dune saga/series. I re-read it every few years. Initially, I’d simply marvel at its immense vision as you would a picture, finding all the little details you might miss on first consideration. Increasingly I find myself more interested in its construction, the brush strokes if you like. It would save me a lot of time if I’d just written it.

8. Is there anyone in the world that you actually hate?

Oh where to start, chronological or alphabetical, first name or last? Unfortunately, I lack the reserves of compassion demonstrated by the Dalai Lama, especially in the face of such continuous provocation.

9. Where is the furthest you have been from home?

Technically, Niagra Falls (3500 miles). The furthest I’ve ever felt from home, Cannon Street Station, London (35 miles) on a freezing cold evening, suffering from flu, five minutes after all the trains have been cancelled.

10. Would you prefer to wake up early, or stay up late?

Wake up early. I get so much more done. Not that I actually have a choice, not when my body clock is dictated by felines and canines.

11. If you could give a new writer who was setting up a blog one piece of advice, what would it be?

Whatever it is, above all else, make sure it’s something YOU enjoy, something you’re passionate about That’s all that will keep you going when you’re staring at a blank post and all inspiration has abandoned you.

---

My Questions

1. Would you rather have a Pulitzer, Oscar or Nobel science award?

2. What’s the best example of a movie remake that improved on the original?

3. What’s the best example of a song cover that improveD on the original?

4. Time starts flowing backwards. What are you least and most looking forward to?

5. Food-hygiene AND THE 5-SECOND-RULE. What food would you pickup Irregardless?

6. How would you solve tensions in the middle-east AND/or Middle-Earth?

7. You’ve flipped a tortoise on it’s back. It’s baking in the sun. You’re not helping it. Why is that?

8. You find some money on the sidewalk. How much does it have to be for you to bend down and pick it up?

9. You have the power to SAVE one species from Extinction BY SACRIFICING ANOTHER. WhICH Lives, WHiCH Dies?

10. What social media platforms do you use (IF ANY) and what value do you place on them?

11. People are SMART, CROWDS are stupid. In your mind what’s the tipping point?

---

My Nominations

Now, this is where things get tricky. Pretty much all of the amazing bloggers I follow, have either already received and responded to this award or are so regularly inundated with awards that they’ve had to stop accepting them, just to get some real work done. As you can imagine this makes propagating this nomination somewhat of a challenge. So, I’m nominating it to anyone who gets this far and thinks it would be a bit of fun to answer the above 11 questions. Pingback to this page and they will appear on this post.