Sunday 8 July 2007

That award thingy

And you thought it was a one week wonder...

There were a good few comments last week that this weekly award thing I've started should have name. And an icon. But as I have no idea where to start with icon design and, as an icon should bear some relation to the name of the award, we'll start with the name.

Lady M had a few good suggestions, but none quite perfect. Observe:
The On the Move Award - but many of the blogs I really like are written by people who don't move. I achieve stability in my life by living vicariously through theirs.
The Expat's Acknowledgment Award - which would mean acknowledging that this is an expat blog. But it's also a Mom blog at times and a personal blog always.
The Hot Woman gives you a Nod Award. Lovely. But lies.
The I'll do anything to Warm Up a Bit and Reading Your Blog Helps Award. Very accurate but not very catchy. Not to mention that by the time you've typed the acronym TIDATWUABARYBHA, you may as well just write the whole thing.

I've been thinking along the lines of thumbs. You know - thumbs up! But also that Bambi is a thumb sucker and it brings her tremendous comfort and joy - which is what these awards are meant to do too. What about the Rear Digit Award (RDA), to guide in in how to spend your recommended daily allowance of blogging? Nah, too obtuse.

Oh well, any suggestions welcome.

So now for this week's announcement. This weeks still nameless award goes to Reluctant Memsahib.

Mem is a writer and mother. She has recently moved from a farm in the shade of Mount Kilimanjaro to another, which she calls 'the outpost'. I know it's in Tanzania and, I'm guessing, its remote. Tomorrow she leaves England, where she has been hunting school placements for her children, to return to her outpost.

Her blog transports me to a place and way of life I have seen, but never lived. Mem writes about the beauty, laughter and peculiar trials of life in East Africa with sensitivity, frustration and affection. Her writing is honest and her take on life often very funny. It is a wonderful blog to visit with a large cup of coffee - be transported.

As an aside, the Reluctant Memsahib also has ties to Kenya and has been a generous source of information to me offline regarding my impending move. I so hope that we can stay in touch and trade stories form our respective corners of Africa in the months to come.

Safe travels home, Mem. I hope the outpost is ready for you!

15 comments:

Omega Mum said...

I think 'award thingy' is just lovely. Or how about 'Thingies' Or Cow-pats (COping - exPATs) - maybe not.......

The Good Woman said...

Hmmm, tempting but no, Omega. But you do make me laugh.
I keep meaning to tell you that I cannot bring myself to abbreviate your 'name' to 'OM'. It makes me think of the end of a yoga class and then that makes me think of how difficult it is NOT to laugh through a yogi's hum. Nothing worse than stifling laughter.

lady macleod said...

I really like the thumb-sucking association.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Good Woman; I am touched and flattered. I shall take your words away with me today. And they will make me a little braver about the challenges ahead. Like fact no water at home apparently ...

The Good Woman said...

Hi Lady M. But how to turn it into a catchy title.....?

Morning Mem. No water. Oh dear. Good luck with that. Just remember to write a post about it.

Drunk Mummy said...

I still think The Hot Woman gives you a Nod Award is great.
Even if you do think it's lies (surely not?), the Orange Prize isn't orange and the Man Booker prize wasn't always won by a man. The Nobel prize wasn't necessarily noble (shall I shut up now?).

Gwen said...

I like Rocking Blogger which you have tagged this entry as.

The Good Woman said...

I hear you Drunk Mummy. But I'm still holding out for something shorter. How about A-ward from a Broad. Get it? get it?

The Good Woman said...

Hi Gwen. I like it too, but it's taken - by the award tag that spawned this idea.

Omega Mum said...

I do understand your OM reservations. Feel free to call me Cowpat, if it helps. Or ditch the yoga.

Stay at home dad said...

Well done Reluctant Memsahib. Great stuff and possibly the most prolific blogger out there too!

On the award: in spite of some inspired ideas (rear digits? cowpats?) I firmly believe the hot woman's nod is the one. Shortened to Hottie, or, of course, Noddy. Hmm.

The Good Woman said...

Gosh, Omega - I could never call you Cowpat - you might set Bad Lindy on me or (worse!) my Good Man!

Hello SAHD. I was so happy with the 'Award form A Broad' idea but should we just call it the 'Hot Nod' and call it a day?

Stay at home dad said...

Award from a broad is very clever. I like it.

The Good Woman said...

Hmmmmm SAHD. I feel a vote coming on....

Omega Mum said...

I like award from a broad, too. Very good. No vote necessary. It's brilliant.