red mum

That’s another Irish Blog Awards weekend over and in keeping with years past its Monday and I am yearning for my bed, which alludes to the fun we had.

While I would have loved to have spent the whole weekend in Galway finances dictated it would be a one-night stay so on Saturday morning the Young Wan and I took the train on Saturday morning arriving in Galway at 2.30ish and getting our priorities right, we headed for the market and for some food.

Getting in so late meant that I missed the photowalk and as we were meeting a pal who was also coming down from Dublin on a later train, I ended up missing the Ladies Tea too. But by all accounts both events went off well. And in fairness it was really lovely dandering around with my honey, taking our time and not being rushed or pressured into getting somewhere by particular times, never mind rushing back to meet my pal.

At one stage pre-awards  it was carnage in our hotel room, three people getting ready in a small room is hectic, but glasses of wine sustained us and we were about to head out the door, not having checked the time in a while when Elly texted to say ‘where are you its about to start’. So we booted round to the Radisson and just in the nick of time too, as we were one category away from Best Photo Blog. To say I was absolutely delighted to win would be an understatement, I really was/am thrilled.

Taken by the Young Wan who is to photography what I was to hairdressing (Nanny is a hairdresser)

And seeing as how I managed to not thank anyone at all, what a brat I am, in my thanks speech, unlike Eolai who put most of us to shame with his thank you speech, I hope I can rectify that now.

I’d like firstly to thank Damien for all his hard work, seriously well done Damien on another great and well organised fun evening and weekend. Thanks as well to everyone else who helped out too. A big shout out for the judges who ploughed through numerous blogs, thank you for your votes. A big thanks as well to those who nominated me and I also have to thank all those people who drop by this site, and those who comment, all of these things I deeply appreciate.

On the evening I also never thanked Marcus and Pixie for sponsoring the category which is very bad of me. My only excuse is the joy of winning the award made me forget all rhyme and reason which isn’t fair as Marcus is incredibly supportive of the photographic community in Ireland and beyond and I deeply appreciate his help and support over the years, so thank you Marcus. And as for you, if you haven’t joined Pixie already why not?

I would also like to draw your attention once again to all the finalists in Best Photo Blog (as well as the other finalists). Best Photo Blog was a tough category and one where I would not have liked to put a bet on the outcome. Of course there were sites that I thought would have made it through but didn’t; that’s the way of it and no more so than with something subjective like photography.

I was delighted to see and meet two of the other photo blog finalists such as the lovely Nathalie at the awards looking simply FAB in her red dress and it was wonderful to meet John, discussions about a photomeet in the Aran Islands have been mooted for the summer and it is something I will definitely chase up with him in the future.

The other two finalists weren’t able to make the awards as both of them are in far-flung places, Oisin is doing a pic a day of his travels in Colombia while Ronan is in Australia working. All these sites are a must bookmark so please do.

There were once again loads of people I wanted to meet but didn’t get the chance too I personally blame it on the boogie and eh wine; so definitely another/next time.

Once again there was also the now-annual nonsense mutterings about what a photo blog is and isn’t.  All of the nominees are inspiring and wonderful spaces, whatever about their template. I personally do not want a template that shows only one pic a day (that’s my choice), does that make it less of a photoblog? obviously not and I thank you all for that endorsement. Horses for courses, I’m about the pics not the template (hence the ridiculously long time it took me to move to wordpress).

At the end of the day I do this because I love it; I love photography and have done since I was a child. Blogging allows me to completely indulge that love and for that I love blogging too J

I also thought after the fact that I should’ve snapped a pic of the blog award relaxing having breakfast in bed on Sunday morning, but we were too hot (God our room in the Meyrick was hot) and too hungover to even think about it. We just about packed up the room never mind doing anything else.

I’d like to finish off this post by pointing you to all the winners, big hearty congrats to everyone, well done. Do check them out and if you want to find even more blogs on every subject possible, check back on the long lists, you are bound to find loads that you will love.  And thank you, I am more than chuffed

THIS IS from Saturday’s photomeet at the Irish Blog Awards, I’ve still to catch up on posting about it, which I will do, but for now, I’m just catching up with my 365 pic from Saturday. Taken just before I murdered my lens with my handbag, seriously, I had to go and get a new one today, a lot of jobs this week.

Anyway I’ll catch up here in the next day or two.

THIS isn’t my blog awards round up, not tonight anyway. I am just too tired. Needless to say it was a brilliant weekend, I didn’t pick up a gong for Best Photoblog, that honour went to Glassey Alley and is well deserved.

I did represent Dublin Blog when picking up our gong for Best Group Blog which was fantastic and I know I speak for everyone when I say a massive thank you and we are thrilled.

But I will post about the weekend, and catch up on my 365 but not tonight. Too. Tired. To. Think.

In the meantime Made In Hollywood gave us great props for all sorts of fun.

The Godfather – or the level of debauchery has increased massively at the blog awards

WELL we have been in Cork since early this afternoon and are now in the hotel room taking it easy for an hour before heading downstairs to meet those who are here tonight as well. Of course we were not the only bloggers on the plane, Phil and Sinead were on our flight also and we met in the Hotel with Sharon and Andy (there were others but I don’t know if they have blogs). So things are shaping up well.

So here’s today’s 365, well more than one. I had one of those journeys where someone was hauling at the seat the whole way, then I saw the hand, then I photographed the hand (by pointing the camera the wrong way round), then I realised I had also captured the man himself, oops.

(Yesterday’s 365 – morning bus portrait)

And thanks to everybody for the nomination and for the votes that have brought me into the shortlist for Best Photoblog at the Irish Blog Awards. Once again I am in fantastic and strong company do check the others out, most of whom are planning to come to Saturday’s photowalk during Irish Blogs week. Fancy popping along? You can find out all the details here.

Best Photo Blog – Sponsored by Pix.ie

Me