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Tuesday 2 October 2012

MAD Craic!

Me and the giant red stag in the lobby!
It's Tuesday, there's a wash on in the machine, another in the dryer. There's a chicken in the fridge for dinner, the spuds need peeled, and I must do a Tesco shop. So far, so Tuesday. So ordinary, that I really have to wonder if I have, in fact,  I just dreamt the entire past weekend.

Our three nights in London? The matinee performance of Les Mis in the West End, the post theatre drinks in Soho with my cousin sporting her fabulous new Mulberry bag , the Thai meal later with friends? Or the next day- the walk to the top of Primrose hill with its gorgeous view, followed by a late dinner a deux? All of it most excellent.

But bless my soul, did I just skip over the very best part of it all? A certain MAD Blog Awards ceremony on Friday night? The very Awards that I've been looking forward to for, I don't know, months? Well, I've two (partial) words for you, my lovelies-Tote Amaze!
There was one very wobbly moment, right at the very beginning, when I walked out of the lift straight into the drinks reception and a sea of people I didn't recognize, who all seemed to be having a whale of a time - right then I wanted to run straight back into that lift again. But you KNOW I'm made of sterner stuff than that, so bravely arming myself with a large glass of champers, I jumped right in, and then I realized I was laughing and it was great craic altogether and I was having a grand old time!
Me and Froogs!

 It's the funniest thing you see- no one recognises the faces, just the names of the blogs! Conversations at first where a bit like this...
 'Hello, I'm Emma.'
*cue blank look*
'Adventures of an Unfit Mother?'
'Oh Yes!! Lovely to meet you! I'm Annie!'
 *Another blank look*
 'Mammasaurus?'
 'Oh yes, indeed. It's so great to meet you at last!' And it was!

 I met Frugal Queen, (Froogs) who is so frugal and lovely...and amazingly wise. (Unsurprisingly, with my major ongoing shoe habit,  I wasn't nominated for the Frugal category, but she was, and very deservedly won, before cleverly, (and frugally), getting the last train home.
I had great fun with the gorgeous Jo (Fashion Detective) and Kate (Makeshift Mummy). I also got to meet and  share a yarn with Susan (Susan K Mann) and Transatlantic Blonde who'd both come all the way from Scotland.

Then it was time to check out the seating plans and there in the midst of one of the tables was the name Mylene Klass. 'Gosh', I spluttered to Fashion Detective beside me,  'I've never heard of a blogger called Mylene Klass- could it really be the white bikini one?' And it was! (I even did an entire rotation of the room, ostensibly to go to the loos, just to make sure)
Gorgeous,  petite and wearing leopard print- I had an instant girl crush alert,  right then and there!
The utterly fabulous table 12 and our bezzie Mylene
And honestly, she was lovely and charming, with time for everyone- she came round the tables and we all met her later. OF COURSE, I let myself down a bucketful, staring (down) at her, tongue tied with a big stupid grin on my face, opening and closing my mouth, while a few cool journo types around me, chatted with her like BFFs! All I could think was, 'She looks just like Jasmine from Aladdin'.....And... 'I wonder what discount she gets from M&S' ...So on reflection maybe it's just as well I was in 'lights on, nobody's home' mode.

I was at table 12 with a great bunch of ladies. Just a few of them were Leanna (Diary of a Premmy Mum), Lucy (Lulastic and the Hippyshake)- I fell in love with her the moment she confided she had a loofah and a pair of tights tucked into her beehive, Trish (Mum's gone to..) and  Helen (Kiddycharts).
Me with my award- mwah, mwah!(Thanks for the photo Helen!)
The free wine flowed and after a yummy 3 course meal, it was time for the awards. Hand on heart I NEVER thought I'd win my Family Life category, so I had nothing at all prepared... and I definitely should've gone a bit easier on the wine, and therefore probably wouldn't have said 'shit' in my 'thank you' speech like I did (Sorry Ma!), but I was beyond thrilled! Ecstatic probably just about nails it. I didn't win the Blog of the Year category- which was like the big daddy of all of the categories, but just being in there was quite shocking in itself!. (The amazing photography blog 'Slugs on the refrigerator' quite deservedly picked up that one.)




There was a really funny moment, just afterwards when Loverboy  sneaked in from the bar outside (it was a bloggers only event), and he just started snapping away, taking pictures of me ecstatically slobbering over my newly acquired award. A few of the other gals at the table understandably assumed he was one of the official photographers, so were 'quite taken aback' when he suddenly strode over and we had a bit of a snog. (They covered the 'Oh my God, that Irish one's a bit of a girl' expressions very well though!)

So as you can imagine, after all that excitement, this Tuesday morning, I AM back to earth with a considerable bump, but it was worth every wonderful minute. I loved wearing a pretty dress and getting my hair done, loved the delicious meal and the flowing wine, really really loved winning the award, but more than anything, I loved meeting the many fabulous women behind the blogs that I love to read. And discovering a few more that I've never read but plan to from now on. So thank you so very much, amigos, for getting me there- it honestly means more to me than I can ever say. Emxx
(PS If you fancy reading more stories from the other ladies, or checking out the pics of the big night, it's all on  Mad Blogs 2012)



45 comments:

  1. From the photos I've seen you get dress of the night. You look like the woman from Mad Men and should be picking up an Oscar not a MAD

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    1. Wow! That's possibly the best compliment ive ever had! Thank you so much Kath :-)

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  2. Ahh - what a lovely post. Seems like you all had a blast! Huge congrats on your win! Say hello to your new bestie Myleene for me... lol xx

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    1. I totally will WM! Me and Mylene are like that *crosses fingers*

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  3. One thing to say to you....REMEMBER table 12 xx

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  4. Ah you looked fabulous Hun. Ah I would have loved to have been there. We would have had some fun!
    Congrats on your award. Enjoy that spotlight you deserve it xx

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    1. Aw Sarah- Thank you!! I soooo wish you'd have been there too. Next year maybe :-)

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  5. Congratulations Emma ! well deserved ! You fit the bill so well ! Move over slugs on the fridge... unfit mum is stepping up next year x Go Girl xx

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  6. Lovely to meet you too! Congrats again x

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    1. Thanks Melania! Loved our chat about Washington DC!

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  7. OMG - Congratulations!! How did I miss that on the Twitter feed? I didn't know you won. What a fabulous cherry on your cake of a weekend. You look STUNNING too mrs - amazing dress. Loved reading all about your weekend Emma. Avril x

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    1. Avril- thank you so much! Just coming down from the whole weekend now!

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  8. This is a great write-up of the whole night - and I guessed who you were as soon as you said, "Emma". No idea how I did that.

    Still adjusting my jaw after it dropped rather suddenly when you and the 'photographer' started snogging. So so funny!

    Congratulations again xx

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    1. Haha Trisha- what must we have looked like- so funny! It was wonderful to meet you- will catch up with you on your fab blog!

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  9. Brilliant. You look fantastic too. Get you - right in there with Mylene!

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  10. I know- check me out ;-) thanks Debsxxx

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  11. What a wonderful write up of the evening, I have that Tuesday feeling too, it is all so back to normal now. You were a delight to meet and shone out in your beautiful flowing dress. Well done again on a great category win.

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    1. Thank you very much- right back at ya! You totally rocked that bodycon dress btw :-)

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  12. After reading this blog- which we all have been waiting for with bated breath, you truly deserve this award and more. So glad you enjoyed the night. You have given us so much pleasure reading about you, loverboy and your wonderful children that at last your talent as a writer and a mother has been rewarded! Thank you for helping us mum's to feel that we are not alone and we are all in the same boat.Well done Emma!xx

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    1. Anne- I've tears in my eyes reading that. You are a real ladyxxx

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  13. Emma! How fabulous! Many congratulations :) I'm so pleased for you. A fancy weekend away, all gorgeous, a mystery snog and a prize to boot- well done that unfit mother!

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    1. Ah Speccy- thank you! I was a very lucky girl!

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  14. Congratulations Emma froogs sent me over to check you out....great blog! from Dorothy on Vancouver Island Canada BC

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    1. Wow! Hello and welcome Dorothy:-) believe it or not I've relations in Vancouver Island! I've heard that its beyond beautiful. Lovely to (virtually) meet you!

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  15. Hee hee excellent.
    Congratulations.
    Well deserved.
    That pic of you and the stag - crazy and hilarious.

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    1. A close to the end of the night pic...as you possibly might have already guessed :-)

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  16. Hi Emma, Long time reader of Froogs and she said I would love your blog, and I do! I raised three boys and a girl so I know what you are talking about with your five. My youngest, my girl, turned 33 in July, so my wise comment to you is, "You will make it! And remember, 'The days are long but the years are short.' " I can't begin to know where the years went and why are my kids are all grownups.
    I am Tana from Renton, Washington, USA. Near Seattle, if you know where that is.

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  17. Oh my gosh, I forgot to tell you Congratulations on your win!

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    1. Tana- thank you for your lovely comments and very wise words- I shall remember that! I've never been to Seattle , although I feel I know it well....being a Grey's Anatomy and a Mr Grey fan!

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  18. Many, many congratulations. It looked like a great night and you look fabulous, very glam indeed!

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    1. Dara- thank you. At the risk of being a broken record, it was tote amaze!

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  19. By the way - seeing as you're not getting attention from anywhere else - especially from prestigious awards ceremonies - here are two other ones.
    The good things about them are:
    1. You can put the pictures on the side of your blog.
    2. Gives you something to write about - cos I know how you struggle with that.
    3. You get two for the price of one. (Er... price? For you a discount. Email me privately.)

    You're supposed to follow some rules to accept the awards – list seven things, recommend some other bloggers, blah di blah – details are here http://tinyurl.com/9yls7nc

    The awards are – the Versatile Blogger Award and the One Lovely Blog Award.

    Might get you another snog anyway.

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    1. Thanks for that...I'll definitely give it a go! A snog's a snog after all!

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  20. Congratulations Emma. Sounds like a great evening. Well deserved win!
    Mark

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  21. Huge congratulations again and you looked amazing. I'm so pleased to finally have met you and got a chance to have a catch up. Hope we get to meet again soon. Hugs lovely x

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    1. Right back at ya...every bit! All the best with the rest of the pregnancy honeyxxx

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  22. My holiday has made this congratulations very late, but HUGE CONGRATULATIONS! I love your blog. You make me laugh, the squishy bits bring a tear to my eye and the honesty in your writing is overwhelming and refreshing rolled into one. Totally deserved, well done you!

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    1. Helen- thank you so much- that's the loveliest compliment ever. *blushing madly*

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  23. I have been desperate to read this post - still SO excited for you! We've been blogging pretty much from the same time and I feel you are one of my 'there at the start' bloggers which makes you v spesh.
    You looked AMAZING and I am SO pleased you won - absolutley deservedly so. Your blog is like a refreshing and hilarious insight into Irish family life!

    Love that you said shit. Hahahaha! (although the irish accent always makes it much less 'offensive'. I had a friend from Cork who swore like a trooper but it sounded so poetic....

    I know Cork is south, but it's still similar to my Anglicised ears...

    xxx

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  24. Sarah- you're so lovely! And I know exactly what you mean- we've been together from the start even though we haven't actually met yet IRL! Thanks for everything my lovelyxxx

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  25. Flip me Emma, where is my post! All these people congratulating you and there's your number 1 fan with no comment!!

    I def did comment but from my phone i rekon and it hasn't posted!

    Anyway like all these lovely people have said - well deserved, you looked fab, but then you look fab in jeans doing the shopping with me! As for the snog, yoo hoo, could just imagine peoples faces.

    xxxxx

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  26. BIG congratulations on the award!!! Was lovely to meet you that evening!!! :) x x

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