LOOK WHAT I GOT NOMINATED FOR!
Ages ago...and then the dog ate my homework kind of sort of...
EEK I’m late! I’m so late! I’m so sorry,
, because you nominated me for the Sunshine Blogger Award weeks ago, and I was so chuffed. But I was really sick when you nominated me, and then we had visitors, and then I got sick again, and then I wanted to write a poem because it had been a while, and then I had my Rockstar Poetry Reading at the golf club last week, then I crashed and got sick AGAIN because I overstretched myself, and we went out for dinner and, well, you can’t always just eat chicken, and now I’ve written a very long sentence so my award will probably get revoked! So, there was no homework-eating dog involved…For some reason, I’m having visions of the Eurovision Song Contest, which is ridiculously random, but oops my brain...
As in:
Switzerland: ten points!
Anyway,
Here are my answers to to CJ’s questions:
🌿❤️🤭
What do you write about? I write poetry, with occasional longer posts. My poetry is uplifting, often funny, but since I’m not a bot I might occasionally cause Trump aficionados to bristle. But tough toenails, as my 6th grade friend Jackie used to say.
Why? Because I love writing! Because writing brought me back to myself when my health fell apart and my life changed, and I needed something to hold on to. Poetry fell into my lap and wriggled into my heart in early 2024, and I’ve almost written a poem almost every day since. Nothing makes me happier than someone telling me they enjoyed reading something I wrote.
What’s something you believe deeply, even if it’s unpopular? I don’t know whether it’s unpopular, but I believe in everyone being equal. I was raised in an international environment, and I have friends from all over the world. I don’t understand racism.
What do you long for right now? I’m not Miss World, but I long for World Peace.
What’s a small ritual that keeps you grounded? Writing poetry. If I can’t write something every day, I don’t feel quite right. I enjoy swimming, too.
When do you feel most alive? When I’m in my house in Spain! I love the atmosphere, the climate, the people, the vibe. The pool!
What’s a truth you’re still learning to live with? That I have an incurable auto-immune disease that will need to be managed for the rest of my life.
What do you want to be remembered for? For being a kind, generous person, with a cheeky sense of humour.
Who are you when you’re not working or creating? I love reading and listening to music or podcasts. Oh, and I love inventing new exercises in the pool! I’m Madame Kung Fu in the water! On land, not so much! 🥋
What was your favourite hobby as a child? I loved to read, draw and paint. I must have read every pony book on the planet, because I was born horse mad. I’d sit on the floor in the pony book section of Woolworth’s and read. As soon as I was old enough to ride, I had lessons. Horses have always been “my best thing”. I still have a horse. His name is Dominic, but – sadly, I can’t ride anymore.
What is your favourite hobby now? I enjoy crochet, and I’m making an enormous bedcover! It’s so enormous, I’ve been making it for about a million years… 🙄
Here’s one I made earlier… during the pandemic, in 9 months. But that’s basically all I did… I’ve made bags too. I should make some more. Once the bedcover is done. I’m on the border… but it’s a big, beautiful border…
Name the most exotic place you’ve travelled to: I’ve been to the Kruger Park in South Africa and went on Safari. It was amazing! I’ve been to China, too! To Shanghai and to another little town of only 6 million people (!), but I can’t think of its name. Oh, and the Maldives! So beautiful… I still don’t understand how it can be so hot and yet the sand there never burns your feet. Anyone?
Where is a place you hope to travel to? Since I became ill, I no longer wish to travel to exotic places. I would simply like to be well enough to go wherever I want (for example, to the beach, or to visit a friend, or out to a restaurant, or even just for a walk!) whenever I feel like it. If I can go further – to Sweden, Italy, Portugal, etc, then it will be with great pleasure!
If you could have a conversation with anyone, alive or dead, who would it be? Ooh, easy! Ricky Martin, because I’ve had a crush on him for decades 😍🤩
Who is your favourite musician? Ricky Martin… I love his music, his personality, his energy! You really should see him in concert! 🎶
Oh, wait I have videos…
Even my husband indulges my Ricky crush!
What is your favourite movie? Only You, with Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Junior. It’s been ages since I saw it, but I love that movie! It’s a gorgeous romantic comedy. Have you seen it?
Who is your favourite writer? How can I choose? It depends on my mood! I love Marian Keyes, David Nicholls, Liane Moriarty, Anne Tyler, Taylor Jenkins Reid, Elizabeth Berg, Kristin Hannah, Mary Oliver, Jilly Cooper! And so many more…
Thank you again,
, for nominating me. Once again, I apologise for the delay.It’s now my turn to nominate 11 people for the Sunshine Blogger Award.
My nominees are: (if you’ve already been nominated, please let me know)
: Parents Who Think - Obnoxious mother of ten, frequently side-eyed yet unavoidably loved powerhouse. Known for my big career, big brood and BS-free honesty, no topic is off-limits. : Author and Poet - I am a poet with heart and a deep spiritual practice. I write a poem every day, and have been for three years. When I post them here, they are drafts, fairly raw. My poems are generally short, and I lean toward the grateful and positive. : Living in 3D - Living in 3D is a safe space for honest conversation about how we can embrace desire in every decade. I am a late-blooming woman in her 60s, but the soil in which I am planted is now richer than ever. In this sixth decade of life, I have taken risks, loved, lost and grieved with my whole heart and grown in ways I never thought possible.: To Be Livin’ - Poetry! Some Prose! Mine, for sure, as well as other pieces about poets I’ve found inspiring. There will be a place for discussion of their writing and a dive into mine— insights into why I wrote, what kindled me, and some….deep, dark secrets! Haha! If that doesn’t get you to read some poetry, what will?!! Most of all, I just hope you will enjoy them and keep on reading!: Let the Words Fall Out - I'm a writer. It's taken me a long time to actually feel comfortable saying that, but I'm happy to embrace it now. I decided to title this Let The Words Fall Out because it’s what I'm currently doing- I’m here just letting all the words fall out from my finger tips in an effort to connect. : Wild Lion*esses Pride - The world is filled with complexities—some empowering, others confining. Navigating identity, healing, and self-discovery isn’t linear, and it certainly isn’t easy. But none of us should have to do it alone. That’s why I write—because our stories, our experiences, and our voices matter. : The Family We Keep - I hope you find light and honesty mixed into stories, poetry (you might find some rap poetry) and opinion pieces. Much of my inspiration comes through music, art, and photography. : Wendy Wolf - I want equality and inclusivity, and I don’t understand people who don’t. Vegan for love of animals and the planet. Earnest and generally optimistic. Like a Disney character who swears a lot. : This Writing Life - With This Writing Life of mine I offer you a behind-the-scenes-look of what it actually means to be an author, being honest about everything it entails in terms of rejections, marketing, travelling, writing, earnings and being trolled, all of the ups and all of the downs. : The Empress - I believe there is a great deal of power in the messy middle—a highly generative, creative time—one in which we can source real agency in our aging. : Velvet Reverie - velvet reverie is a portal for poetry and poetic prose exploring sensuality, memory, grief, and the infinite wonders of existence. this is a myth-woven space for seekers, feral ones, and those fluent in dream-logic.Voila!
The questions for my nominees are:
Which fictional setting would you most like to visit (it can also be a real place in a work of fiction)?
Is there any fictional character you might run away with?
Have you ever written a line and thought, oh my goodness, I’m a genius?
Do you like to travel?
If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be?
Is there something you have always wanted to learn?
What do you love the most about the place you live?
Do you collect anything?
What is a random fact about you that you’d like to share?
Is there any particular smell that takes you back in time?
Who is your favourite musician?
Do you listen to music when you write?
Who is your favourite writer?
Do you have a special ritual to get you into writing mode?
Do you have a favourite hobby?
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Do you have or have you ever had a crush on a celebrity?
I hope you enjoy answering these questions!
With love and gratitude,
Francesca xx
Illicit Croissants at Dawn : poetry
Just Like A Movie : romantic comedy
Don't worry about being late, hun. You did it and it's glorious! Congratulations!!
much love
Omg I loved learning more about you! And your blankets & other creations are GORGEOUS! I can imagine they'd take foreverrrr to make.. but so peaceful!
Thanks for mentioning me, hehehe, you're the sweetest <3