Sunday 14 December 2014

The Bloggies 2014. Part The Second. (and this is where the story really starts)



Due to an unforseen IT failure, similar to that recently suffered by the air traffic control system (NADS), I have hitherto been unable to bring you the second part (and climax) of this years top blog awards.
I have, however, availed myself of the services of top IT consultancy firm Reckless, Boring, and Odious (LLP), and they dispatched a young man with badly written legs and an ill-concealed drink habit who at least partially solved my problem.
So here we go
I can smell the anticipation from here.

First up is Alan Rayner. Blog on the Landscape
Like many of the award winners, Alan has been around a bit and actually has something to write about. As well as interesting posts about his walks and backpacking, he is the “go to man” for gear reviews.Meticulous, practical and objective are words which come to mind.And where he perceives a weakness in a product, he can often advise on a simple mod.
He is also renowned for his DIY gear tips, where he shows how to make items of kit in your own kitchen using only items of domestic waste, a capstan lathe, mig welder and hydraulic press.
While talking of Alan, I have given a special award jointly to Sheila and to Sue Banfield for smiling bravely beside various trig pillars in driving sleet while their better halves fumble with the lens cover.

Next on the elite list is Alan Sloman Alan Slomans Big Walk
Now I must declare an interest here.Many people have been friendly and helpful to me since I strated blogging, but Alan has regularly plugged the site on his hugely popular blog, often resulting in page view numbers well into double figures.Now I am aware of rumours that, in return, he received cash,drugs, and sexual favours from me.This is nonsense. The cash, drugs, and sexual favours were for something completely different. I hope that clears that up

Alan Sloman wers his heart on his sleeve – his liver in his pocket and various extraneous organs concealed about his person..
Many people these days know of Alan in his “Outraged of Berkshire” persona, but he also writes in more relaxed mode. His Lejog account is a classic of its kind and was one of the first things I read when I discovered outdoor blogs.The Challenge chronicles are much read for route information by those who follow, but are also infused with much love and pain.

And now theBig Two
Alen McFadzean. Because they're there
Alen goes to interesting places and illuminates them for us. He also goes to mundane places and makes them interesting.
Each post is carefully crafted with a beginnining, a middle and an end. They are thought-out and thoughtful. A man with a life and a sense of place, humanity and a love of words. And the pictures are no bad either.

And finally (in descending order of inside leg measurement)
Mike Knipe  Northern Pies
This blog ticks all the boxes – as does the writer. Having ticked off the Birketts, he is now working on the Greggs and the Baynes.
When others pull the duvet over their head, Mike is out on the hill. When others turn up the central heating and settle down with a good book, Mike is out on the hill. When others are sitting beside the log fire in the pub supping pints of ale, Mike......well nobody's perfect.After years of acting as Boswell to Bruno's Doctor Johnson, he now chronicles the wit and wisdom of a new companion, (I should be so) Lucky. Lots of good stuff, lots of variety, witty, and sensible (?). Comes complete with the smell of wet dog. Fab!

Two very different entries.Lets just say Alen gets Blog of the Year, and Mike gets the Lifetime Achievement (So Far!) Award.

Thanks and apologies to everyone else, especially Andy JJ, Louise, Laura, Iain, David, Ken, Purple Traveller, James etc who have supported the blog, but haven't made it onto the red carpet this time. Next year ?

Right. Everyone back to my place for the after-party.What's on the menu, Bessie ?


20 comments:

  1. Aw ta (sniff...!) Can I have another bottle of whisky now?

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    1. In a word..........
      Might stretch to a Snickers bar, though.

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  2. Here, here, Sir!
    I cracked open my Birthday Bottle of Balvenie Doublewood to celebrate. It's a breakfast whisky, so can't do too much harm.

    These sexual favours...

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    1. You're supposed to fill the trophy with whisky and pass it round.

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  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. http://youtu.be/xCipKmyngLY

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    2. 51 years , eh?
      Ah, but I was so much older then...........

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  4. I'm on my way - I trust you've got some decent ale on....?
    JJ

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    1. Still in full swing , John - it's the house with the police vans outside.

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  5. Wow! Santa bringing me a Capstan Lathe eh! Cant wait, although a capstan lathe is designed to make production quantities and as i usually only make one off’s i much prefer the old Colchester centre lathe. But hey, beggars can’t be choosers. Seriously, i very much appreciate the kind words you have posted.

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    1. I may have got that wrong. All dead lathe operators will be turning in their graves.

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    2. I served my apprenticeship as a setter turner on Ward 7 and Herbert 7 turret lathes. As well as many other types of machines. Good memories of a great company.

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  6. I didn't know they had lathes on Ward 7. I expect its Occupational Therapy for the old ladies.. Are we talking about the same Ward 7 here?

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    1. Only in Emergency Ward 7, Mike.

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    2. NHS cuts. You have to make your own replacement hip joints these days.

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  7. I got a mention, yey! I wouldn't want to walk the red carpet, I'd only fall down a hole or slip in something nasty...

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    1. An honourable mention, indeed. I understand that next year the organisers are including a category for "Best cake-orientated outdoor blog by a Moray-based lady whose name begins with L". Hmmm.

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  8. Do you think I stand a chance? How eggciting!!

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    1. Should be a walkover ........ unless Laura re-locates to Elgin!

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  9. Merry Christmas and good luck with the remodelling. Sue B is very pleased with her award, but does point out that it's often a race as to which of us will be first to stand on the trig point!

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