Thursday, May 16, 2013

The Big Blind Blog Bash



You may have noticed the little badge in the not-so-discreet position at the top right corner of my blog recently. My little blog here is in the Top 25 Personal & Parenting Blogs in the Kidspot Voices of 2013 Awards. Trust me, no one was more surprised than me! I do hope there is a stronger emphasis on Personal rather than Parenting though. I'm the last one to be offering parenting advice. I'm just putting one foot in front of the other, occasionally sending a child to bed with a broken limb or losing a couple of them in Ikea :-)

So, some weeks ago I received an e-mail saying my Blog had been nominated for the awards, something I knew absolutely nothing about. The first e-mail actually went straight to my spam folder so I missed it completely. To whoever nominated me, thank you very very much. I would love to know who you are so I can thank you personally and buy you a drink or a coffee or whatever tickles your fancy. I really love my little Blog and blogging has brought a lot of joy and friendships to my life but to think that someone else likes it enough to nominate me is really something. 

A few weeks later I received another e-mail saying amongst 600 nominations the judges had picked my blog to be one of the 25 Blogs chosen in my category. There are 3 other categories to make up the Top 100 Bloggers and I am really really chuffed to be included amongst a lovely bunch of women.

There is going to be a bit of a shindig in Sydney this Saturday to celebrate the Top 100 Bloggers. There will be a workshop and then a launch party in the evening. So tomorrow morning I'll be heading to the airport bound for Sydney. There will be my Little Black Dress in a tiny carry-on bag full of nothing much else but nappies in one hand and Baby Flynn carried in the other. On my back will be a whizz-bang stroller that I borrowed from a friend which converts to a tiny backpack in the most impressive display of stroller origami I have ever seen. It's designed to go on-board which is importunity when you fly Jetstar and don't have a ticket with baggage allowance. It will be quite a spectacle when I have to go through security and hand Flynn to the formidable x-ray machine person while I take off boots and belts as well as assemble the stroller contraption and then crumple the octopus of a thing back into it's backpack formation.

This is my first blogging event and I'm really looking forward to meeting some fellow Bloggers, both those that I already "know" through their blogs as well as new bloggers. Have you been to a blog-related event before? I imagine it's a bit like a blind date and I'm starting to feel like a timid 12 year old on her first day of High School. I have never met or spoken to anyone attending so I'm feeling a little sheepish about the whole thing. Is this normal? Will any of you be there this weekend? I will be the slightly frazzled Mum who has just left the baby with her cousin and hoping there is no baby vomit left on my shoulder. 

I'm also looking forward to seeing my 96 year old Grandfather and showing off baby Flynn to all the relatives in Sydney.

Meanwhile, I've left the Pianoman in a bit of a pickle on the home front. Firstly, in an act of total brain fade, I forgot the little boys didn't have school on the Friday and booked my flight for Friday morning. He managed to cancel his meetings to work from home with the boys. Sadly, the one School Assembly I will miss is the one where the two older Kids will be receiving their Cross Country Awards and Charles is also playing a lead in a little class performance. But luckily, the Pianoman will be able to attend and the Kids have been excited about that all week. You would think absolutely nothing would prevent him from spending an hour at the School Assembly. But then this happened:




So, neither of us will be at the School Assembly. The Kids were disappointed but when they found out it was because the Boss of Australia is flying into town they understood. And just when I thought my weekend away at my own Cocktail Party was going to be upstaged by the Pianoman's dealings with the Prime Minister, the regular Head Lice notice from school came home this afternoon and for the very first time, I believe we have an offender amongst the ranks. Oh, how I'd love to help The Pianoman with all the linen washing, drying, shampooing and fine tooth-combing but unfortunately I'll be on a plane to Sydney. 

40 comments :

  1. I'm so excited for you Mel to be heading off to Sydney and meeting fellow bloggers. Your blog is such a lovely corner of blogland, one I enjoy popping in to and hearing your latest tale and I'm so happy for you to have made the Top 25 list xx

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  2. That's all very exciting Mel, hope you have a wonderful time in old Sydney town and a night of kicking up your heels on Saturday. The weather is supposed to be a pearler... cold, but sunny & fine. I am in awe of the way you guys juggle the 5 children, to think I battle trying to juggle my 2! xoxo

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    1. It HAS to be warmer up there than here. Jules, it's a madhouse here, it really is. x

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  3. How exciting....have a super time, you deserve it! :) x

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  4. Oh Mel, a thousand congrats and have a fab time! Pack a wrap to throw over your shoulder in case of baby vomit and don't worry about the nits....I've never been able to fully eradicate an outbreak in one weekend so I'm sure you'll no doubt get a turn experiencing all related activities when you get back.....so make the most of it! I'm sure your children won't mind you not being there for their assembly, especially as they know that you are doing something really important for you. Rx

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  5. How exciting to be able to get to hang out with some other lovely bloggers. It's always a little bit scary meeting people for the first time but I bet you'll all be having a big giggle about things before you know it. Have a wonderful time Mel, I'm so happy for you to have been chosen as a top blog I always love stopping by to visit your space and hearing your lovely stories. xx

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  6. I'm so delighted for you, my sweet friend. How wonderful for you to have your time in the sun, both figuratively and literally! You will have a ball, I'm sure. I hope you've had a fabulous birthday and received my messages! J x

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  7. whoo hoo! Enjoy your bloggy event and I do wish I could say it was me that nominated you, but sadly it wasn't as I had no idea this whole she-bang was on...You'll do swimmingly well at the blog event. Have a blast and I just love that your kids have been up-staged by the PM!!! xx

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  8. So well deserved Mel! Congratulations. I love love love my visits to Coal Valley ❤

    Love tat text too. How funny and unbelievable! Bloody PM. How dare she?

    Whenever we've had nits, which hasn't been that often thank goodness, it's always been autumn. Why should that be? Good luck pianoman. You've got me itchy over here in the UK! Xxxx have a safe journey and enjoy yourself. I'm not surprised you're a bit nervous, I'd be xxx

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  9. Yay for you. So well deserved! And you'll have a ball :)

    (Just realised I still owe you an email from weeks back ... eek!)

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  10. "Oh the PM!" haha! Lovely to see you nominated Mel. Hope you have a wonderful time! I'm not attending but I do live in Sydney, if you get time for a tea break amongst all the excitement of the event and visiting family, let me know. Belinda x

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  11. Fantastic news Mel. How exciting to be going. I'm sure everyone at home will cope - nits and all. I'm away for the weekend visiting family. I'm taking little Olly, but I think my husband is in a total meltdown about having to deal with various older boy commitments.rs

    Enjoy. Yours is a genuinely lovely blog.

    Leanne xx

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  12. Oh so fantastic! Congratulations! Have a lovely time away and I loved the screen shot of your text! perfect! xo

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  13. Have fun Mel. The pianoman will cope admirably, as will the kids.

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  14. That's so funny! The actual prime minister has messed up your domestic arrangements, hee hee...

    MASSIVE congrats on your blogging awards, but I'm not surprised as you write so well and your warmth and joy for life and your kids comes over so strongly. Enjoy the break! xx

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  15. Well done Mel! That is so exciting. Looking forward to hearing how it all goes. P.S. I am so pleased to hear that I am not the only one who misplaces their children sometimes xoxo

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  16. I was so excited when I saw you in the top 100! Nice work. Enjoy your trip to Sydney. I was nominated but sadly didn't make it to the top 100.

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  17. Fabulous Mel! Enjoy the blog event in Sydney...and no surprise you made the top 100...this is wonderful place you have created...I wish I could say I nominated you, but had no idea it was even on till I was also nominated amougst the 600 or so blogs! So funny that you're kids assembly has been upstaged by the PM!!! xx

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  18. Yay! Looking forward to meeting you x

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  19. I'll be there in my Big Black Dress to welcome you and give you a HUGE hug!! x

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  20. Huge congratulations Mel, so very well deserved! Have a great time just you and Flynn, good luck to the Piano Man!

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  21. Cant wait to give you a big squishy hug Mel :) Make sure if I dont find you first, you find me ok? xxx

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  22. Congratulations on your award Mel! I went back and read and laughed my way through your Ikea lost boys story and your daughter's broken wrist post. Flying by the seat of your pants is the only way to parent in real life, so I'm sure you deserve this award hands down! I love this blog of yours, so don't get a big head in Sydney and change anything ;) Enjoy your well-deserved break! Wendy

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  23. I can see from IG that you are having a great time. I also think you are my favourite for winning this year.

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    1. Claire, that is the nicest thing to say, thank you x

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  24. Hooray! Looks like it was fabulous. Can't wait to hear more. Congratulations! xx

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  25. I'm so pleased for you Mel - I've been keeping an eye out on Instagram and here in blogland - it looks like it was such a great event! xx

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  26. Ha, what a lot to juggle (both of you)If it makes you feel any better, we sent child no.4 to bed after a tumble off a kitchen stool only to find out the next day he had broken his collar bone (he was two, eeek!) Hope you have a great time and congrats on your top 25 spot, it's a lovely bloggy spot.

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  27. Congrats on the award Mel, hope you had a fantastic time away. mel x

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    1. Goodness Mel, that is probably the biggest complement I've ever received - those are two of my favourites too :-)

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  28. Forgot to say, you are one of those rare blogs that combines beautiful writing with beautiful pics. You're right up there with Fox's lane and Ivy nest for me. mel x

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  29. Congratulations!
    From one who sent a child to bed with a broken thumb.

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  30. Wow! Well done Mel. Such great news! I hope you had an amazing time!

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  31. Such lovely, lovely news Mel! I hope you had a good time and that your hubby managed whilst you were away! xox

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  32. Congratulations Mel! Though really I am not surprised, your blog is one of my favourites :) The honesty, the crafting and lovely photos. I am a little out of date (it's been a hectic month), but it looks like you had a a wonderful time up there and met some other fellow bloggers! (and don't worry we had a family lice case this year too!)

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