Liebster Loveliness Something or Other

Well, wasn’t this perfectly timed just as I was sitting here wondering where all my words have gone! Over the past three weeks I’ve been on fire with the writing, churning out closer to 70,000 words and more than doubling what I’d initially hoped to produce. So far, so good. It’s turning into a tale of two halves – the first a tour of the Drinking Years and the second venturing over to the bright side. And once again, I realise how much easier I find it to write the sad, horrible stuff. At first I was going to just push on and keep going even if I’d just end up with unusable rubbish, but then did a u-turn and crocheted a baby blanket instead whilst going back to the drawing board momentarily to mull over how to account for the getting sober bit.

I went in here yesterday, thinking that a bit of blogging will get me on track again but the WordPress template screen remained as blank as the Scrivener one.

So I’ll attack this instead… Something called the Liebster Award, that the lovely Claire nominated me for. ‘Liebster’ apparently means ‘lovely’ in German.

Rules

• Thank the blogger who nominated you, and provide a link to their blog.
• Answer the 11 questions given to you.
• Share 11 facts about yourself.
• Nominate 5-11 other bloggers.
• Ask your nominees 11 questions.
• Notify your nominees when you have uploaded your post.

My answers to Claire’s questions …

1. If you could have had any job/career what would it have been? 

The one I’m working towards – addiction counsellor by day and writer by night. A combo of the two.

2. If you were stranded on a desert island what three items would you choose to have with you?

I’m assuming “items” can’t be people and so I’ll have Hubby, Bambino and Bonus Sons with me, so beyond this it’d have to be my laptop, an infinite stack of books and my running gear.

3. What the thing you like most about yourself?

I seem to be wired to mostly be very happy, positive and grateful. Because I feel everything so strongly, it’d be terrifying if I was more inclined to feel down.

4. If you could relive one day again, exactly as it was before, what day would it be and why?

Late one night in February 2017 when we were in New Zealand. Everyone had gone to bed but Hubby and I wandered down to Waihi Beach and sat on a little sand bank in the dark and just listened to the mighty roar of the Pacific as the waves rolled in, just about making out the swirling white crests as they broke.

5. If you could only see one more band/singer live, who would it be?

Me and Lopez actually had tickets to see Michael Jackson at the O2 in London but of course he then checked out. And it seems wrong to now praise an artist who, it would now seem, did some pretty terrible things. I’ll go with Tina Turner. Or maybe Dolly Parton. Both women I freaking LOVE.

6. What is your biggest achievement in your life so far?

Obviously Bambino, but also my recovery.

7. What’s your favourite way to relax (keep it clean please!)?

Currently doing a lot of crocheting – I come from a long line of creative folk and I love making things, be it from yarn or metal. Reading is also a sure fire way of stilling my mind.

8. You can have a superpower for a year. Which one would you choose?

Time travel. This lockdown has shown me how very little I need to be happy. I’d quite happily forsake all modern inventions, live in a remote cabin in the woods and spend time listening to bird song during long walks through the forest. I’d pop back to simpler times. I’m thinking Falla one hundred years ago. That’d do nicely. And then I could pop back here when the year was up to check my e-mails.

9. What’s your favourite time of day and why?

Mornings!! My absolute favourite time hands down. Waking up without a hangover is fucking amazing even now 835 days down the line. This never gets old. And my morning coffee is magical.

10. What are you most afraid of?

Being the centre of attention. Working on it. I hate it. The physical response – racing heart, feeling faint, trembling – is over powering. But yes, working on it and face the fear at every given opportunity. I won’t let this hold me back anymore, even if I die trying.

11. What are your ‘words to live by?’ Name the three most important for you.

• Face the fear and do it anyway.
• The Serenity Prayer: Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
• There but for the grace of God go I.

11 facts about me

• I was born on a Friday the 13th.
• My first literary effort won me a prize and it was called ‘All the Witches in Thunder Village’.
• Everything I feel, I feel strongly.
• Definitely an introvert and a lover of the small, simple things.
• I live in a big city but am a countryside chick at heart.
• My favourite place in the world is Falla.
• My father’s nickname for me is Beelzebub.
• I found Hubby on http://www.lovestruck.com – hands down the best £14.99 ever invested in the history of mankind.
• Coming to London was meant to be a gap year before heading back to Sweden and going to university. It’s been 25 years and London is ‘home’.
• I’m incredibly grateful and proud to say I’m a recovering addict – recovery has changed my life to be everything I ever dreamed of.

My nominees are:

• bgddyjim at Fit Recovery – I found his blog when I was all new to recovery and although he has a tonne of followers he took his time to explain and give advice when I had lots of questions. Straight talking, honest and to the point without being patronising. I think of him as a good friend and trust him even when we may disagree. He tends to be right most of the time though…
• functioningguzzler – my warrior queen. We found each other when we were both heading into the sometimes overwhelming world of recovery. From the start, it was her I went into battle with. I imagine us picking up our shields and swords, nod to each other and off we go.
• The Sober Racoon Returns – I discovered this blog quite recently. LOVE!
• Katie at How I Killed Betty – Katie quickly morphed from blogger to a real life friend. Sadly, she deserted me to go with her husband, ‘the Colonel’, to NYC for a few years, but I am patiently awaiting her return to London.
• Allane at SPO_OKY – once this lockdown is over, I’ll be heading to Scotland. If this lady was a book, she’d be the kind I wouldn’t put down.

Don’t worry if you don’t have the time, but if you do, here are your 11 questions:

1. What makes you cry of joy?
2. Favourite book and why?
3. Describe your perfect moment of the day – real or what it would be to be perfect.
4. Your best quality?
5. Is there anything you struggle with that you’re continuously working on overcoming?
6. The best piece of advice you ever received?
7. Describe what ‘hope’ means to you.
8. What is the bravest thing you’ve ever done? For the record – I mean true bravery! Doing a sky dive isn’t brave if it doesn’t scare you. Bravery is doing something that scares the shit out of you! 
9. What did Little You want to be when he/she grew up?
10. Looking at a photo of Little You, what advice would you give him/her?
11. ….and what advice would Little You give the you of here and now?

Right. I think that’s it.

Today I’m not going to drink.

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