Liebster Award. Passing It On.

Someplace Strange has been nominated for a Liebster Award by Lena at Foray into Fashion.  Thank you so much!  

Someplace Strange can now be described as "an award winning blog". I am an "award winning blogger".  If a point is stretched slightly.   Marketing is partly about spin!

“Liebster” comes from Germany and means dearest, sweetest, kindest, nicest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, welcome, sweetheart.   

Liebsters are a great way for bloggers to celebrate and promote others.  They are awarded by bloggers to bloggers and are a chain letter.  Accepting the award means passing it on. 

The Rules aka The Small Print

1. Thank the person who nominated you and link to their blog.
2. Share 11 random facts about yourself.
3. Answer the 10 questions given by the nominator.
4. Nominate and link with up to 10 bloggers (with less than 200 followers).
5. Notify all the bloggers you’ve nominated.
6. Create 10 new questions for your nominees to answer and write your own post about it.
7. Other rules are available.  

11 Random Facts About Me

1. I'm really short sighted.  
2. My husband's uncle signed Rodolf Hess' death certificate.
3. I love Apple products.  They're so beautiful and functional.
4. My favourite TV programme is Doctor Who.  Classic or reboot.
5. I hate spiders.  
6. I love cooking but would never go on something like MasterChef.  Too scary!
7. My favourite animal is the hippo.  They wake up grumpy, grump they're way through the day and grump themselves to sleep. 
8. I can't drive.  
9. I can't swim very well either.
10. My favourite band is Depeche Mode.  They were my first proper concert.
11. My second proper concert was U2's Joshua Tree tour.  

Lena's Questions

1. What is the worst thing about blogging?  Finding time to do it!
2. Who would you invite to your ideal dinner party and why?  Our friends Laura, Peter and Daz. They live far away and we don't see them often enough.
3. Name one thing on your ‘Bucket List’.  Going on safari in Africa to see the wild animals in their natural habitat.
4. Who is your favourite author?  Just one?!  Either Dianne Whynne Jones or Neil Gaimen.
5. What is your day job and would you give it up to write full-time if offered the opportunity?  I work as a researcher in a financial services company. I wouldn't give it up to write full time.  I like being a hobby blogger.  
6. What do you think is the most important quality for a blogger (obviously other than literacy)?  Being part of the wider blogging community and making others welcome.  
7. How do you relax at the end of the day?  Reading, blogging and watching TV.
8. Who would you love to write a biography about?  Not sure.  I'd want to write about someone I admired and would be heartbroken if they turned out to be a terrible person. 
9. Who would play you in a film of your life?  Sophie Thompson or similar.  
10. Tell something about yourself that no one else knows.  No.  It's not a secret if I tell you.

My Nominees

Please would the owners of the lovely blogs mentioned step forward, accept their award and then go pay it forward.  Enjoy!

Michelle - Life Writes the Story

Lori - Lori and the Caravan

Jiee - Then I Was a Mum

Samantha - Bespoke

Unapologetic Plus Size Mummy to Be - Plus Size Mummy

Milly - Sevenseasaway

My Questions

1. Why did you start blogging?
2. Describe your life in five words.
3. What's the weirdest thing that's ever happened to you?
4. Who is your favourite author?
5. What's your signature dish?
6. Favourite film?
7. What do you dream about?
8. Three things you can't live without.
9. What annoys you the most?
10. Save or spend?

This has been great fun.  It's a great opportunity to meet new people, hopefully make new friends and find new blogs to read.   And share the love!  Thanks again to Lena for the nomination!  

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Farewell to George

When my mum died, there was a funeral attended by family and friends.  There were hymns and prayers that she loved.  We shared stories about her with the Minister so he could talk about her during the service.  It was a celebration of a life well lived.  It was lovely that so many people came. Not all funerals are like that.

On the same day the Tubblet started infants school, Rev T started work at his first church.  His first task was accompanying Simon the Minister whilst he performed a Social Funeral.  Social Funerals are done by councils when there isn't anyone else to do it.    

George, the deceased, was a fifty-something Scottish man.  He’d lived in the local homeless hostel for a time, before getting his own flat.  He'd been found dead in his flat a few months after leaving the hostel. 

The lady who ran the hostel and one of the other hostel residents came to the funeral. George also had a wife, daughter and a sister.  The authorities hadn’t been able to find them in time.

George was, in an odd way, lucky.  Most of the 200 social funerals in the UK are attended by no one apart from someone from the council, the undertakers and a Minister.

Social funerals just like any other, but without any mourners or frills.  An estate car instead of a hearse.  No flowers.  No service apart from the prayers at the grave side or in the crematorium.

As a rite of passage, it's unfocused and rather strange.  Many of the rituals to mark someone’s passing assume that others who knew them are present to perform them.  For example, the throwing of earth onto the coffin.   

It was one of the saddest occasions I’ve ever been part of.  But also a privilege.  Being part of something that's normally hidden as well as being there for George as he made his way from this life to the next.  If you're the praying sort, please say one for George and others like him.

Image from the Naked Pastor

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Not What I Should Be Doing ... Spare Time Activities

I'm writing this while relaxing, watching some rubbish TV with Rev T.  The Tubblet getting ready for bed.  (Allegedly).  Here are some useful, productive things I could be doing instead:

• Take some photographs for my blog.  I've got lots of posts that can't be posted without them!

• Catch up on life admin. 

• Play a game.

• Plan next week's meals.

• Take out the recycling.

• Go through the wardrobe, pack away the last of the Winter things and get out the Summer ones.  

• Give unwanted clothes away or put them on eBay.

• Pray and read my Bible.

• Write a (realistic) to do list of stuff that needs to be done during the next week.

• Write or edit some blog posts.

• Washing up.

• Play Dr Who Legacy.

• Read a book.

• Help the Tubblet tidy her room.

• Make some plans for the next couple of weeks.

• Go to bed and have a rest.

• Exercise.

• Make a bacon sandwich and a cup of tea.   

• Do those annoying little chores that I keep putting off.

• Try something new.  A recipe, a place I've never been ...

• Read some blogs, make some comments and share some love.

• Clean and tidy the house.  

• Steal the Tubblet's and Rev T's Lego and see what I can create by combining it with mine ... Maybe "The Unexpected Adventures of Doctor Who".

#drwho and the gerbils of death ... A missing adventure

A post shared by Mrs Tubbs (@mrs_tubbs65) on Jun 18, 2015 at 6:38am PDT

Of course, I'm unlikely to do any of those things.  Carrying on watching crap TV is the most likely option. Whatever you end up doing, have fun!


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Weekday Face of the Day (FOTD)

After tidying my makeup collection and getting rid of all the things that were rarely / never used, I now have a selection of products that work together.   

Makeup tends to be neutral, natural flush, matte finishes with the occasional bit of shimmer and some lip gloss.  (Despite what I said here).

I'm more careful about what I buy and try not to waste anything.  Nothing new has been purchased in months.  

• Needs.  Work out what you use on a daily basis.  (It's less than you think).

• Suitability.  Assess your natural skin and hair colour.  Buy products that work with that not against it.

• Ingredients.  Learn what ingredients work for you and what doesn't.  (Silicone in hair products makes my hair stick together in clumps.  Not a good look).  

• Simplify.  Create a simple routine for every day that can be ramped up for evenings out.   

• Budget.  Give yourself a limit and stick to it.  Having a budget and a simple routine helps prevent waste.  

• Save or splurge.  Decide which products are worth spending more on and which aren't.  

• Organise.  Keep your stash tidy so you can find things easily.  

A typical face of the weekday day (aka FOTD) consists of foundation, concealer, pressed powder, blush, eye shadow, brow product, mascara, eye pencil (maybe) and a lip product.

Wishing everyone who's going to Brit Mums a fabulous time and sharing with all these great Linkys

I am the Mum Who ...

Leanne from Slice of My Life in Wales tagged me for "I am the Mum Who ..." Thank you!  Read Leanne's lovely post on her blog.

I am the Mum who 

... Is proud of her kind, helpful, sensible, imaginative, happy daughter.  

... Is pleased that you work hard and usually try your best.  

... Is relieved you haven't inherited your parent's sense of rhythm and that you're a skillful dancer.

... Who wishes she could wrap you in bubble-wrap and protect you from life's lumps and bumps.  As that's not possible, please be assured that I'll always be there for you and on your side. 

... Who hopes that you'll grow up into a confident woman surrounded by friends and family, able to make wise choices and take full advantage of the chances life gives her.

If your dad had a blog, he'd post something similar.

Sometimes I feel a fraud.  I was the last of my friends to get married.  By the time I  made it down the aisle. most of them had been married 10 years, pushed out their first child and were going for the second.  I was a late bloomer.  

As I was that much older, past the magic age of 35, I always worried that I wouldn't be able to have children.  You are a wonderful, amazing surprise.  Hopefully the universe won't tap me on the shoulder and tell me that some 30 year old wants her life back!  She can't have it!  

I sometimes feel like "the dad" rather than "the mum".  I work up in town and come home late.  Rev T stayed at home when you were younger.  I earned more so it was back to work with me.  Rev T now works full time, but is local so does the school pickups, parents evenings and the like.  Your headmistress once asked me who I was at a parent's event that Rev T didn't attend.  Which was interesting!

But it works for us and you seem okay ... 

Loves you with all her heart.  Life is so much more fun because you're there.  

I didn't find anyone wanting a tag for this when I asked so I'm offering it to the universe.  If you would like to write a "I am the mum" post then consider yourself tagged.

Someplace Strange is all about equal opportunities.  There are loads of great dad bloggers out there who could write an amazing "I am the dad who ..."  post.  As there wasn't a badge, I made one. Never made a badge before and appear to have reinvented the post-it.  It's the thought that counts, right?!

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Not Staying In. Going Out

Before the Tubblet was born, Friday and Saturday nights used to be for going out.  Followed by postmortems with friends about whatever happened the night before.  And vowing never to do it again.  Until next week.  (Like the cartoon above.  From the long gone London Paper).

Sunday nights were for the Evening Service.  Never the morning.  Too tired and hungover.  And for getting ready for work.  Checking you had one work outfit that was clean and ironed and a packed bag with the train pass in it.

Eleven years after the Tubblet arrived, Rev T and I spend alot of time Not Going Out.  Moaning that the weekend TV is crap.  The Tubblet's social life is much better than ours - Guides, swimming, parties, play dates ... 

There are a number of reasons for this:

• Sunday is a work day for Rev T so you can't stay up too late.  A weekend away means taking a day off.  There are only so many days off. 
• The Tubblet is still too young to be left alone for long periods of time.
• We don't have family near.
• Finding a reliable babysitter is like searching for the Holy Grail.  You know they're out there somewhere but ... Babysitting adds £15 - £20 to the cost of an evening.  There are people at church who will sit for us, but we try not to impose.

But this week will be different.  This week the Tubblet is on the Year 6 week away in Wales. Her first holiday without family.  Not her first time away.  She's stayed with grandparents on her own.  

Whilst she's having a great time doing water activities, rock climbing etc, we're going out!  At night! On our own!  

In between missing her!  The house isn't quite the same.  It's oh so quiet ... Oh so still ... It's a bit weird.  

We're determined to "squeeze the last drop of mischief out of the night".  (Ned and the Joybaloo - Hiawyn Oram.  I love that book!).  After work, we're going to the cinema; meeting in London AND going to the pub!  The pub that doesn't allow children!

We solemnly swear that we'll be up to no good whilst we're out.  And back by 11pm as we've both got work the next day. 

Um ... I am astonished and humbled at the lovely comments on my blogging post earlier in the week. I half expected the Internet to hand me my ar*e on a plate as I've been blogging for such a short time. Thank you all so much!   

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Being My Own Blogger. 20 Lessons I've Learnt From Blogging

As Someplace Strange is now one, it seems as good a time as any for the obligatory Lessons Wot I've Learnt From Blogging Post.  And here it is.  

Many of the advice posts I've read focus on one side of blogging - how to turn your personal thoughts into a big business, take perfect pin-able photos, master the art of SEO and be the next Zoella.  No disrespect intended - no really! - but no thanks.  

I'm more interested in finding my own feet, developing my own voice ... A journey where I decide where I want to go.  Besides, if we all followed the same advice there would be no individuality or quirkiness.  Which would be rather dull, boring and NO FUN.  

Here are the lessons that blogging has taught me:

1. As things change in your real life, so will things change in your virtual one.  Your blog evolves as you do.
2. Your blog is your space, take pride in it.  Only create content and do things you're proud of.
3. Always remember why you started blogging in the first place.  
4. Write what you know and love. 
5. Respect other people's privacy.  Not everything is blog-able.
6. If you don't feel okay or right about doing something, then don't.
7. Don't assume to know what other people will find interesting and engaging.  (Or boring!)
8. Try new things! 
9. You don't have to make money.  Even if you can.
10. Do as you would be done by.
11. Juggling a blog, a family, a full time job and a life can be tough.  (Yeah, I know, boo hoo!)  I publish three times a week because that's the optimum amount of good quality prose and visuals I can do.
12. The more you look around and the more you write, the more ideas you'll have.  (Except when you don't).
13. It's good to take a break every so often.
14. An editorial calendar can be helpful, but don't be a slave to it.  
15. Your archives can be a source of new ideas and inspiration.
16. Do your own thing.  It's better to be different, develop your own style and stand out than be the same as everyone else.
17. Share the love!  Share the love!  Share the love!  Share the Love!  
18. Ignore the numbers.  Yours and their's.  
19. Have fun!  Blogging is meant to be enjoyable!  
20. You'll meet some amazing people and make friends.  (You'll meet some meh people as well, but that's just the way it is).

My one piece of advice would be is that you're thinking about starting is a blog is to just do it!  You never know until you try!

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