On Blog Awards (Plus I’ve Been Nominated!)

Over the past couple of years, I’ve been nominated for a handful of those circulating blogger awards (Liebster, Sunshine, and Versatile blogger, to name a few). Most bloggers don’t take them seriously – and they shouldn’t – but it’s still nice to be recognised by fellow bloggers who enjoy your work (and also nice to pass the gesture on, because there are so many awesome people out there!).

Then, just before my recent trip, I was over the moon to be nominated for Teletext Holidays’ Budget Travel Blogger award! Little old me was astounded that anyone in the travel industry would recognise my blog, let alone hold me in high enough esteem to put me forward for AN ACTUAL AWARD!

After being judged by expert panelists, the winners of each category would then be put forward for the overall Travel Blogger award at the British Travel Awards! I didn’t win (and I was against some amazing competition so I never expected to!), but the whole thing got me pretty excited!

But it reminded me that a few months ago, the lovely Claire from The Detour Effect nominated me for a Liebster award, which comes with a few questions that I’ve been meaning to answer! I’m so sorry it’s taken what, six months?!

Here’s what Claire asked me!

1. What’s a travel tip you’ve heard other people give that you don’t really agree with?

100% my biggest bug bear when it comes to travel advice is people saying don’t bother with insurance! “I’VE never used it, so it’s a waste of money,” they bray at their unsuspecting victims, who could well end up being that annoying traveller begging for money on gofundme because they’ve wound up in hospital with a broken leg. The whole point of insurance is it covers UNEXPECTED events. Bloody use it! Don’t take your health for granted.

2. What’s the best fictional mode of transportation?

Oooh, fun question. Does the Hogwarts Express count? Or not because technically the train is real?! 😉 Okay, obviously the flying Ford Anglia has to be up there (no pun intended!).

3. You’re being picked up by a driver while hitchhiking – finally. You’ve been waiting forever and don’t want to pass up a ride. You get to the door and see that it’s a celebrity, and they say they’ll take you the entire way, which means you’ll be stuck in the car with them for hours. What’s the best possible scenario for who that celebrity could be, and who would be the worst?

Haha. Ooooh. Okay, best: probably Stephen Fry! Fun fact: he was behind me in the customs queue in Toronto! I’d love to pick his brain for a few hours. Worst: see, I’d say James Corden, but funnily enough Carpool Karaoke is pretty much the only thing he’s ever done that I’ve actually liked. Him or Alan Carr. (Claire, being from Texas, probably has no idea who any of these people are, except James Corden seeing as he’s practically American now – and y’all can keep him!)

4. What’s your advice for Stoop Kid, who’s afraid to leave his stoop?

Aww, poor Stoop Kid! Close your eyes and go for it!

5. Would you rather get your pilot’s license, or learn to sail?

Definitely pilot!!! I’d actually love to fly a plane – and I’m not really a water person at all, so boats will never be a priority there!

6. Do you have any travel- or hiking-related goals that are not destination-based? What’s on your list of things you’d like to do, besides seeing new places?

Oh, too many!! Drive a VW camper van, hot air ballooning, a safari, . I think all my hiking goals are destination based, e.g. climbing Ben Nevis.

7. If given the opportunity would you want to be an expat for the rest of your life? Or would you want to return to your home country eventually?

I’m not sure. I think I COULD do it. After living in Australia, it encouraged me to do more of that, but I also felt like it would always be temporary. After living in Canada, I thought if my circumstances were different, I could definitely have stayed there. And there are so many places to see in the world that I could probably travel forever if I was able to! But I do like having a base, and I definitely think I’m happiest in Scotland.

8. What would you do if confronted by Bigfoot while camping alone in the woods?

Erm, what are you supposed to do with bears? Back away slowly and talk in a low voice? Yeah, that. A low, shaky voice.

9. Why did you start your blog when you did, as opposed to sooner/later?

Interesting question! So I technically started this blog in… 2013? At that time, I still owned my shop and it was so hard to take time off, so I didn’t have much to write about. But I followed other blogs and it was something I really wanted to get into. I started putting more into it in 2015 when I started travelling long-term. I do honestly think if I hadn’t had the shop, I probably would have got into blogging back when all the big bloggers were starting – I already had a personal blog, so it would have been a natural transition for me.

10. If you could travel back in time to any event or place in history, where would you go and what would you want to see?

Hmmm. Somewhere with dinosaurs! As long as I don’t get eaten.

11. What’s an odd job or work exchange that you’ve always thought would be fun to try, that maybe most people rarely think about?

I always wanted to be an air hostess! I know that’s not too exotic. I’m not sure if I have the patience or confidence for it, though. As for work exchange, when I was first looking at Canada, I found a workaway where you help out with dog sledding!!! How fun would that be?!

BONUS

A couple of days ago, I got nominated again! This time, by Kerry from Kerry Explores. She has 6 more questions, so I’ll answer those too! Thanks so much Kerry!

1. Why do you blog?

Honestly, I just love writing. So having an outlet to write about something I love is fantastic. It’s also a great way to share my stories and document my travels, and hopefully some of you enjoy reading it, too!

2. If you could be anywhere in the world right now, where would you be?

Probably Vancouver. Though I’m yearning Vietnam and Thailand as always. When it comes to my bucket list, Japan is at the top.

3. What is your biggest goal that you’re working towards right now?

Saving for a wedding!!! And saving for a lot of things in the future, to be honest. A trip to Japan, a house, and we’d love to do up a van or a people carrier to camp in! These are all long-term though.

4. What is your favourite thing to do in the world?

Travel, write and listen to music. I’ve decided that the two things that make me happiest are being on a plane and being at a gig.

5. What is your favourite room in your home and why?

Funny question to answer at the moment because we’re actually living in someone’s spare room! But usually we make the living room the most homely and don’t actually spend that much time in the bedroom (wa-hey).

6. If you could spend today however you wanted with no financial limits or obligations, what would you do?

I can’t really fly across the world, because by the time I got there, today would be over! I’m guessing I can’t buy things for the long-term? I’d probably do a scenic flight over Scotland, or have a flying lesson! Followed by a really fancy meal and a night at the Balmoral or in a castle!

Thanks so much to Claire and Kerry for my nominations! It means a lot that you gals appreciate me, and I appreciate YOU! 🙂

[edit] Here’s another one! Marla from Marla On The Move has very kindly nominated me for the Real Neat Blog award, which is a fantastic name haha.

I’m going to be really boring and not really nominate anyone as such. But here are a few of my favourite bloggers at the moment – you should definitely check them out!

Josy from A Walk And A Lark

Dagney & Jeremy from Cultura Obscura

Crystal from Wandering Crystal

Caroline from Pack The Suitcases

Rebecca from Rebecca Goes Rendezvous

Helen from Destination>Differentville

Emma from Forever Lost In Travel

Alex from Alex Getting Lost

Matt and Ally from Borderline Backpackers

Dani from Travelling Jezebel