As Meatloaf sang...

But I won’t do that. Oh no.

‘That’ being, asking and asking for a MADS blog nomination for my blog as Blog Of The Year which, should one feel so inclined, you could do here.

Nope. I won’t do that.

Nor backdoor loving. I won’t do that either. After all that IS what the song’s about isn’t it?

Should you wish to nominate me however, then I can safely say me nan would be so proud. I’m not Derren Brown so I can’t use mindbending skills to persuade you, but, the colour your’re thinking of is orange and the number you will find on the back of the card, in the envelope, is 69. I thank you and goodnight!

I like this nominational thingamaloo and I don’t mind people asking to be nominated. Blogging is such a personal thing and sometimes people feel a bit dispirited if their stats don’t reach certain targets or they don’t get comments for posts they write. Receiving a nomination in a category might give a blogger a little fillip and encourage them to carry on. I love reading blogs and learning from other bloggers, and while I don’t always comment I assure you I have respect for those who do but I sometimes find it hard to comment when someone else has said exactly what I was going to say. I’ve made a note to stop doing that and I will leave more comments in future.

I blog to sometimes stop the screaming in my head, and I’m sure others do too. Some people who are anti-blogging have said to me that it’s a shameless cry for attention, a cry out for love and it’s an incredibly needy pastime but I don’t feel like that. I learn from others as I’ve said, I’m inspired by many and I love hearing stories of people’s lives, struggles and stories about the love they have for their family and children. I also love reading reviews. Yes. I know. I’m odd.

So I’m nailing my colours to the mast and nominating the following people in the following categories. Some are friends who I will shamelessly support and others are people I haven’t met but have a lot of respect for. Here’s my list and hopefully, if you haven’t come across these blogs before, they might inspire you to check them out.

But! I do need some help with the blanks, so please let me know if you blog in the categories where I write All Suggestions Welcome and I’ll take a looky and submit my form later this evening.

MAD Blog of the Year – sod it, I’m nominating myself for this one as then I can safely say I received one nomination. Not because I do think mine is Blog of The Year but it’s certainly the one I’ve read most in the past 12 months.

Best Blog Writer – @ageingmatron for Adventures of a Middle-Aged Matron. I love this blog and not because Anna has always been so supportive to me and has told me to write a book. The beauty in what she writes and the humour inspire me. Plus, she writes so well a lot of her posts are quite short. I mean that in a good way.

Best Baby Blog – @babberblog for Babberblog . This guy is talented, funny, clever and he’s also a lovely bloke to spend time with.

Best Pregnancy Blog – All Suggestions Welcome

Best Family Travel Blog – All Suggestions Welcome

Best New Blog – @queenmabstarkey for The Blog of No Hope. It’s not like a blog you’ve ever read before but, as I know who’s behind it it fulfills the requirements and certainly deserves the award for Best New Blog. Check it out if you get a moment.

Best Family Life Blog – @pinkoddy for The Home of Pinkoddy. And not because she let me call her Bill Oddie when we met.

Best Craft Blog – All Suggestions Welcome

Best Food Blog – @relucthousedad for Reluctant Housedad’s Recipe Shed. Yum. That’s all I say. He’s like the Heston Blumenthal of blogging but not a tit.

Most Innovative Blog – @mammasaurusblog for Mammasaurus. What can I say about Annie that hasn’t been said before?

Best Mad Blog for family fun – @SunnivaAnne for The Kitchen Mechanic. A wonderful all-round blog by a great friend who suggested I start blogging back in the dark ages. So you can blame her for all this. But do check her blog out. Blimey, I do say ‘check out’ a lot don’t I?

Best Fashion and Beauty Blog – All Suggestions Welcome

Best Thrifty Blog – All Suggestions Welcome

Best Schooldays Blog – All Suggestions Welcome

Most Entertaining Blog – @motherventing for Motherventing simply because it’s always been the most entertaining I’ve ever read and because she’s awesome. She’s also turned it into a ebook which is selling more than Supernanny and Gina Ford right now, so please go buy it.

Best Blog Photography – @hpmcq for HPMcQ because she’s lovely, takes gorgeous photos and loves a bit of Chas & Dave. Not a euphemism. Oh, and apart from any photos I have of my children and loved ones, this is my favourite photo of ALL TIME.

So. I look forward to some recommendations to fill the gaps in my comments hole and I’m not open to bribery at all. Nope. I wish all my friends well and, as always, thanks for reading.