Saturday 15 November 2014

#16 // Blogging Friends

I have blogging acquaintances; people whose blogs I read, who maybe pop by mine occasionally. People who know me from just any other mackerel in the sea (don't know where than simile came from). However, the thing that really makes the blogosphere for me is my blogging friends. 

There are some people who I've been blog-friends with for a long time. People who can I fangirl with in cap-locks; brilliant gals with great blogs who I love even for never having seen their faces. Of course, as in the real world, blog friendships can change and develop; obviously, when people stop blogging, the link is severed, and other times you and another person can just fall out of contact. Today I thought I'd take a look at my 2 and a half years of blogging, and my friendships over that time: and what better way than through the vehicle of Liebster awards?

Liebster: German. "Sweetheart, beloved person, darling." Naturally, not everyone who nominates me for a Liebster award sees me as their sweetheart/beloved/darling (that would be weird) but it is a compliment to pay to those you nominate. I recently (and when I see recently, I mean five months ago) received my sixteenth Liebster award, but my first hailed from a long time ago ... 

#1
Date: 28th June 2012
Post: 'The Liebster Blog Award :)' Hmm, my post titles were great back then.
Nominated by: Neevie @ Totally Neevie
My first nominator, Neevie and I were good blog friends back in the day (ie, 2012). I don't know what's happened to her since, though. Is she still around? Are you still here?

#2
Date: 2nd July 2012
Post: 'The Liebster Blog Award, Second Time Round :L' Another great title, not
Nominated by: Jasmine @ Ebony Black Lines
Jasmine, another of my first blog pals .... and then, PLOT TWIST, she reinvented her blog, stopped writing under her pseudonym and became Hawwa @ It Was Lovely Reading You! Who, I'm happy to say, is still a great friend. 

#3
Date: 3rd July 2012
Post: 'The Liebster Blog Award, Round It Comes Again :L'
Nominated by: Sophie @ A Day Dreamer's World
Sophie is still an active blogger with a flourishing book blog, but, sad to say, we are not the blog pals we once were.

#4
Date: 4th July 2012 (yes, there was a time when I would post three award posts three days in a row. Yes, I am ashamed.)
Post: 'Yes I Have Another Liebster Blog Award! :D' 
Nominated by: Jessica @ Written Paintings
No longer an active blog, unfortunately. 

#5 and #6
Date: 17th July 2012
Post: 'Two More Liebster Blog Awards?? :D :D' why did I used to put smileys in my post titles and think it was OK??
Nominated by: Ella @ Everything Ella - I don't think this blog is active anymore - and Mars @ Inkdropperr - the blogger who became Marian, changed her blog several times, and now blogs at Ivory Clouds!

#7
Date: 25th August 2012
Post: 'I'm So Sorry For Neglecting You!!'
Nominated by: Abigail @ BookAnAppointmentWithBaaWisdomBooks
A book blog, no longer active :(

#8
Date: 15th November 2012
Post: 'In truth, it was only a matter of time ... '
Nominated by: Seana @ The Totally Insane Writer
Seana is, of course, still one of my best blog friends!

#9
Date: 7th February 2013
Post: 'Seriously! That's So Sweet and Liebster!'
Nominated by: Seana @ The Totally Insane Writer
The number of awards and tags Seana and I have given to each other in our blogging years could drown a small city. 

#10, #11 and #12
Date: 21st July 2013
Post: 'If hipsters are hip ... '
Nominated by: Abbie @ Ruby Slippers in Wonderland, Molly @ Ramblings of a Youtube Addict and Marian @ Change of Perception 
None of these blog friends are active anymore apart from, of course, Marian, under a different blog.

#13
Date: 13th September 2014
Post: 'Liebsterified.'
Nominated by: Aliyanna @ Scribbles of a Catholic Girl
A relatively new blogging friend!

#14
Date: 8th October 2014
Post: 'Quickfire'
Nominated by: Amy @ The Blog Hermit
I first met Amy a looong time ago, when she blogged at Life of an Awkward Donkey, and we are still friends to this day!

I'm 94% there are a few others, but I can't find them just now. You get the picture: there have been many blogging friends that are no longer active, but there are also some v. great gals who have been friends for all the time I've been blogging. At the risk of being cringey, I'd like to thank Sea, Marian, Hawwa and Amy who, as shown by this list, have been pretty amazing. There are more, too (July, I'm lookin' at you), but I'm just thinking about the Liebster List for now. You guys are very, very liebster indeed.




OK, this got more emotional than expected. 
...
...
...
Really, I just wanted an excuse for that picture/pun.

But whatever.

Now - because you're not getting out of this post yet, oh no - it's time for .....


#15!!
Nominated by: Ely @ What Can I Say?
A new blog friend! Thanks so much for the award.

1. Do you think owls are over-rated or do you think they're cute?
They are cute. But they are also overrated. 

2. Sunflowers or roses?


Roses, 100%. 
3. Do you wear your watch on your right wrist or your left?
I don't wear a watch.

4. Do you make friends easier with guys or girls?
Girls, I think.

5. Do you like watching movies at the theatre or at home on your couch better?
Hmm. Depends on my mood. Obviously the cinema = effort, whereas staying at home = no effort. But I do like a trip out. Fun fact, I'm about to go and see Mr Turner.

6. Middle name?
Kathleen.

7. Are you a fan of impromptu dance parties?


(That is to say I'm a fan of impromptu dance parties with a very few select people or else no I definitely will not dance.)
8. What color are your bedsheets? (I'm running out of ideas here...)
White. I'm so boring.

9. Pen or pencil?
Pen. Though I generally draw in pencil.

10. Favourite band/artist?
Hokay. YOU ASKED FOR IT.





























Choose one you've not heard of and give it a listen. There may be three Ed Sheeran in there. What? He is my future husband, after all.


11. Which do you like better--Snoopy or Linus from Charlie Brown?


I feel like I'm missing something here.

AND FINALLY!!! 
#16 
Nominated by: Lauren Stoolfire @ Always Me

1. If you could date one character from a book, who would it be and why?
I ... well. It would probably have to be Gilbert Blythe, not gonna lie. Because he's just pretty perfect.

2. You're stranded on a desert island and are only given three books for entertainment.  What are they?
Harry Potter series, because I love them. What can I say?? Georgia Nicolson series, because they're hilarious -- I've not even read them all yet, so it would be fun to read the last four, and reread the first six. Then I'd want to pick a series I've not read yet: currently I really want to read the Ascendance Trilogy by Jennifer Nielsen; Maggie Stiefvater's other series about from the Raven Boys Quartet (which I'm reading); the Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson; the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy by Laini Taylor; the Bartimeus trilogy by Jonathon Stroud; and the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas. I don't know which I'd choose! I'm also reading A Song of Ice and Fire, and those books are looong, and I've only read the first two -- so those would keep me busy!

3. What is your favorite movie adaptation of a book?
I don't really watch films adaptations of books, now that I think about it - I haven't seen The Book Thief, or How I Live Now, because frankly I tend to steer clear of my favourites books' movies. However, I do enjoy the Narnia films. Also Les Mis - though I've not read it!

4. What was your favorite children's book?
I loooved the Pure Dead Magic series by Debi Gliori, and the Roman Mysteries series by Caroline Lawrence. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. ALSO:


Please tell me you also read this when you were little, cause if not your childhood was seriously devoid.
5. What is one genre you usually don't read but have enjoyed in the past?
Sci-fi. I love the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, like, a lot. I know it's only farcical sci-fi, rather than something hardcore, like, for example, Dune, but I dunno. It seems like a read a lot of a genre -- fantasy, classics, contemporaries, historical -- or I don't read it at all. I don't think I've ever read a crime novel (for adults) or a steampunk. Or a paranormal romance, that I can think of. 

6. What is your favorite classic book?
OK, this is the question! How Green Was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn; Adam Bede by George Eliot; everything by Jane Austen; the Anne of Green Gables series by LM Montgomery; Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier; Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell. And more. There are too many.

7. If you could have one book that releases in the next year early, which would it be?
As you can probably see from my looong list of series I want to read in question 2, I'm not really reading any series as they're coming out at the moment, and I can't think of anything else. There is Department 19 book 5, but I've not even read Zero Hour yet (though I did get it out of the library yesterday - so frikking excited!!!). 

8. What was one book series that left you disappointed?
The Hunger Games trilogy. I loved the first two books - really, I thought they were brilliant - and I was so excited for Mockingjay, but in the end, just ... meh. That was my only real reaction. Meh. 

9. Who's your favorite "lesser known" author? // 10. What's a book that you love, but no one else really knows about?
I'm going to group these questions together. I really don't know - I mean, what books do other people know about?? Have you read Come to the Edge by Joanna Kavenna, The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker or Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler? None of these are books I've heard anyone talk about in the blogosphere, though I'm sure they're pretty famous. Just curious. 

Wow. That was a looong post. It got a lil bit nostalgic. Sorry about that. TO CONCLUDE:

1. Thanks for being my blogging pals! You are a fab lot.
2. When did you start blogging? Do you have some long-term friends?
And a few of my award questions - because I tag you, right now, to do these in the comments:
3. Pen or pencil?
4. If you could date one character from a book, who would it be and why?
5. What was your favourite children's book?
And lastly, because I'm curious to know: have you read any of the books I listed in question 9/10? 

Emily x

16 comments:

  1. Awh. This was a cute post as a shoutout to blogger friends. Haha I think I just have a lot of blogger acquaintances really :/ I'm loving your answers too! So glad you have Superman by Taylor Swift up there <3

    -M
    The Life of Little Me

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! Hmm I'm sure you'll make more friends. Commenting is key!

      I love that song sooo much <3 <3 <3

      Delete
  2. YES! I'm totally still here and I read every post! Just couldn't keep up with my own blog, might consider starting up again, what do you think? x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. YOU ARE???? I thought you'd fallen down a hobbit hole (or, you know, something) and were gone forever! Aah it means so much to me that you read my posts <3 <3 I wonder how many silent followers I have??

      Yes! Totally do! It's a lot of work, but you could just post occasionally?

      Delete
  3. Oh my word, yes! So many of my old blogger friends are gone and that makes me so sad! Especially when you comment demanding they come back and there's never a reply D':
    I'm so glad you're still here Em.... You're one of my favorite bloggers!
    Anyway, I just thought I'd drop by to let you know that I tagged you in a post of mine to come up with your top five fictional destinations and write a post about it :) Feel free to check it out here:
    http://julyaemmance.blogspot.com/2014/11/top-5-fictional-places-i-would-like-to.html
    - July

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know! :'(
      Thanks! You too <3 <3
      Ooh thank you. I will check it out at some point in the future (I promise!).

      Delete
  4. Thanks for answering my questions! This was a great post! :)

    1. Thanks! You're pretty cool yourself.

    2. Started getting back into it this past August...long term as in 3 months, sure.

    3. Pen

    4. Atticus O'Sullivan from The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne - I have to be consistent! :)

    5. Corduroy by Don Freeman

    6. All but Come to the Edge, but I do plan on looking that one up so it may go on my tbr! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha I said I'd get round to them eventually, didn't I??

      1. As are you :)

      2. Nice.

      3. And me.

      4. I feel like I should read these books!

      5. I've not heard of that .... TO GOODREADS!

      6. Aaaggghhh such a good book!!! I also love Come to the Edge and Why We Broke Up. A lot. A lot a lot.

      Delete
    2. Regarding number four, you really should! The first 3 (the ones I've read so far) are great! Did you find Corduroy? :) I was obsessed with that when I was little...

      By the way, I’ve tagged you for The Christmas Carol Book Tag! http://never-anyone-else.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-christmas-carol-book-tag.html
      If you haven't done it already or anything, it's pretty fun!

      Delete
    3. I think I will! Yes I did it looks adorable :3

      Thanks! I'll have a look :)

      Delete
  5. AWH EMILY AW AW AW *wipes tear from eye* oh shucks, you.

    1. Thanks for being my blogging pals! You are a fab lot.
    IT'S OKAY NO PROBLEM *wipes away another tear*

    2. When did you start blogging? Do you have some long-term friends?
    Almost three years ago now... I was looking through my old posts that I wrote when I was, yikes, 12/13ish, and wow. How did you, and everyone else for that mater, put up with my annoying whining and shrieking? Literally, ever post I read was typed like I was shrieking. Was. Horrible.

    And a few of my award questions - because I tag you, right now, to do these in the comments:
    3. Pen or pencil?
    #pens4lyf

    4. If you could date one character from a book, who would it be and why?
    Um um um I don't know.. just as long as they have really curly brown hair because curly brown hair (Jonas all the way) is awesome.

    5. What was your favourite children's book?
    When I was a mere spawnling, I loved a book called 'Goodnight Mr Moon' (or similar). Then I slowly moved onto Jacqueline Wilson books, and then when she ignored me when I'd travelled miles and miles to see her I moved onto YA books.

    And lastly, because I'm curious to know: have you read any of the books I listed in question 9/10?
    Nope. Sorry!

    Amy;
    The Blog Hermit

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 1. THANKS

      2. Haha don't worry. We were all awful blogging foetuses. I have no memory of you shrieking!

      3. the real question is, inky or biro?

      4. Curly brown hair HECK YES HAVE I MET ANOTHER GAL WITH A CURLY HAIR FETISH

      5. Goodnight Moon? Goodnight mush, goodnight old lady whispering "hush"? A picture book?? I LOVE THAT BOOK!! Haha didn't we all love Jacqueline Wilson. I'm now imagining you aged 11 like "*humph* well no more of YOUR books, hello Suzanne Collins!"

      6. You should!

      Delete
  6. Wow! It's neat to look back at all the blogging friends you've had. This post certainly made me think of some of the bloggers that I've known who have come and gone:)

    Also, I'm impressed with how much effort you put into that post. I'm terrible with responding to tags/memes/awards that people give me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's pretty strange seeing how many people have left!

      Haha thanks! :)

      Delete
  7. Owls are so NOT overrated!!
    Anyhoo, hello again. Long time no see (if that's appropriate to say...).

    I'm going to take it that the "Marian" you are referring to up there is me.... so thank you very much ^_^ You're so sweet! :D This is such a cool and adorable post. But also very long... yeah it took a WHILE to load *stupidcountryinternetnogoodconnectiongah!*
    I gotta say, i just love your taste in music. Breezeblocks is one of my favourite songs! And ED SHEERAN! GAH! No words can describe my love for him. He was on "The Late late Toy Show" last friday night and I just screamed when he came on - AGHH!! He's just so huggable <3

    Oh crap- my nose piercing just fell out.....!!

    *runs away*

    Okay, I'm back. Not sure why I just told you that. I could have just continued uninterrupted after I put it back in..
    Era....
    That hurt a lot btw.

    moving on...

    Oooh- is that Hermitage Green I spy?

    I'm a gonna answer those questions now:
    1. GAH! YOU ARE SO SWEET! Thank you for being such an amazing friend and blogger. You are just so funny, smart, sweet, loveable, huggable and brilliant!
    2. I started blogging for the first time ever when I was 16 in June 2012. I've had a few blogs since then, that all do pretty much the same thing. Now I'm sticking with one. "Do I have some long term friends?" Well, in real life, yes. In blogger, I like to think so. I kind of know the same bunch for about 2 years. Some I interact with a lot. others probably have never even looked at my blog but I seem to know them pretty well. That makes me sound like a stalker....
    3. Pen. I like ink. Even the word itself is pretty cool. Ink. ink. INK. inky ink.
    4. Hmm... Secretly I would pick Patch from Hush, Hush. Otherwise Gus seams to stand out as perfect.
    5. I was a major fan of Jacquline Wilson, but before even that I loved Alice in Wonderland. I have this big Wonderland books made from some hard card that has jigsaws instead of pictures. It is very cool indeed.
    Other Question. Sadly no, I have not read any of them. but they are going on my tbr list right this minute.

    Marian ^_^ x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'M SORRY!
      Hellooooo! Yes I think it's appropriate :L

      Haha you take it correctly! And yes I know. It's that music question O.o I'm sorry!

      Thanks! BREEZEBLOCKS <3 <3 <3 ED ED ED ED NO WORDS NO WORDS ABORT MISSION [][asdf asdfagsdh}}}[[}[

      Uh-oh! Yikes. I'm glad there was no serious mishap!

      YES YOU DIRECTED ME TO A GOOD THING THERE MARIAN

      1. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! This is making me so happy, this is up there in favourite comments ever!! <3 <3 <3 You too are all of the above! <3

      2. I think I started in April 2012, so I guess I started following you when you were new! I think you found me first though (back when you name was Mars!).

      3. *Ink*. It is a cool word. Cause it starts with a vowel but then there's a k in there too O.o ~nods vigorously~ ~looks around~ ~realises that no one else thinks about the word ink in that way~ ~sidles off~

      4. Not read Hush, Hush but I'm told it's really good ... ?

      5. I LOVE JIGSAW BOOKS! :'D Also Jacqueline Wilson, let's not lie to ourselves. I've never actually (whisper it) never actually read Alice ...

      6. Haha I saw on Goodreads! THEY'RE ALL SO GOOD. Just saying!

      Thank you soooo much for this amazing long comment and lovely things you said <3 <3

      Delete

Thanks for commenting! :)