Blog Gongs

A couple of weeks ago, Niamh at Words A Day was kind enough to single me out for this lovely award for my blog. Thank you Niamh for this acknowledgement!

It has taken me an age to post it here because there are a couple of conditions attached which just require a bit of thought - hence the delay. 

The  conditions are: reveal seven facts about yourself and choose favourite blogs to bestow the award on (a bit like a chain letter!). Notify the new recipients of their award. With all the swimming and writing that's been going on around here of late, I've been  distracted from this pleasant task, but today, without further ado, I'll rectify this. So...

Seven facts about AquaMarina...

1 That is not my real name (!), although my real name sounds like a part of this pseudonym.

2 I don't look like my blog photo.

3 It's exactly 33 years since I came to Manchester - to university to study German. I've never left the city so by now I guess I'd consider myself to be a Mancunian. 

4 Ten pools in the Manchester area that I've swum in: Chorlton, Levenshulme, Withington, Sale, Stretford, the MacDougall Centre at Manchester University, The Galleon, Manchester Aquatic Centre, Living Well, Birley High School (now demolished).

5 I started writing poetry out of the blue just under three years ago, shortly after my mother died. The poet Neil Rollinson came to talk to a creative writing class I was attending at Manchester University. In the Christmas holiday after his visit I wrote my first poem.

6 My first poem featured hens.

7 I'm hoping to start an MA in creative writing in Autumn 2011.

AquaMarina's Versatile Blogger Award goes to:

silencing the bell - 

for Martine's colourful creativity and insightful literary reviews 

Devon Dispatches

for Sophie's intrepid swims and adventures around the Devon coast and countryside

Lazy Swimmer

for Chris's photos and musings about swims in Australia (and elsewhere) 

Unusual Love Affair in London

for Elizabeth's action photography and ability to swim - without a wetsuit! - in unfeasibly low temperatures

...made out of words

for Dominic's music, poetry and jaunts into the great outdoors

Life's Palette

for Fiona's amazing pictures and thoughts about the artistic process

Sydney Daily Photo 

for Sally's unique view of Sydney ( and her incredibly informative Swimming blog )

TFE

for his gift of the gab and caring sensitivity underneath that zany exterior...

(I could go on...many other blogs deserving of this award...some already have it)