Reasons to be cheerful: The Blog Awards edition

After three weeks I'm already addicted to yoga, and our teacher is stressing the importance of being grateful, even when life seems difficult.  So here I am again, looking for some Reasons to be Cheerful.  Apart from Smiley's smile of course, and you must be sick of that by now. You're not?  Ok, well here's a little taster then...

My special girl :D

1. Blog Awards Ireland

I was late again.   I mean 30 minutes is enough time to drive the 32 km from Dublin to Naas isn't it? Surely I would have made it if it wasn't for the Saturday Mass traffic?  Anyway I got there and skulked by the wall while the first set of awards were announced, looking longing at the seated gathering, and wondering why I'd bought a ticket, especially as I really don't like going to events full of strangers.  Well usually not.

Then I heard the name of someone I'd been planning to meet.   Marie from Journeying Beyond Breast Cancer deservedly won the best health and well-being blog, and with her help I was able to find a seat with familiar names from twitter and blogging, including @NewFarmerette, @MagnumLady, @Limmster, @Selficience and lovely to meet @foxglovelane.  I was seated next to the very friendly Madeleine who I'd previously met at the launch of Blog Awards Ireland.

I wonder why my badge didn't win :)

It was a very entertaining evening, there was the tension of the awards, good food, great company, and mad moments such as the two minute ceilidh, the badge competition, wondering when we were going to see Susan Boyle, and then at our table we had one marriage proposal, one proposition, and a clutch of awards, none of them for us!  My nerves were at breaking point when they got to my category. Mostly because I was afraid that my name would be called, and then I would trip on the stairs or shake or something else completely mortifying. Once it was done and the winner was announced, then I could relax and enjoy the rest of the evening, especially this:

There may have been dancing later, but at about 10.30pm.  I got the text "when are you coming home, Mum, no rush", and you all know what that means. So off I rushed...

2. My daughter the student

Even though I miss my little girl, 'my daughter, the student' sounds pretty good, and all is going well for her so far this year.  Her main challenge  has been lack of money as traditional student jobs are hard to find right now.  But, thanks to the Olympics, demand for gymnastics classes is huge, and, as a qualified coach, so is she!  And she's been given another class to teach this week :)

3.  My brother has booked another ferry ticket

Yes he's coming over in November from Wales.  Now that I have lost my Mum and Dad, he provides the main support from the family.

4. Affection and help

My son became both affectionate and helpful when he realised that I wasn't feeling so good yesterday evening.  Which was lovely.

More reasons to be cheerful over at Lakes Single Mum.