A MAD Imposter.

There is an Award Ceremony each year, presenting prizes in the Mum and Dad blogging arena.  To those in the know it's called the MADS.

It is run by the lady who started the Bloggers' Tots100, Sally Wonder Woman Whittle, a fellow single mum.

It was a truly awesome event, which I very nearly didn't attend, because it didn't seem I really had a right to be there.

I felt like an imposter.  Having been nominated in the early rounds in the 'Inspiring' category, my little blog never made it to the finals.

Tickets for this top notch, fancy 'do' are much coveted and not for sale, but there are some available to win.

Which is how I ended up going.  By fluke.

I was dreading it though.  It was tempting to repeatedly watch my own 'Nobody is a Nobody' Vlog, recorded for those feeling nervous about going to the BritmumsLive conference in June.  Yet, there, at least we'd all bought our tickets and our places were paid for.

Here, if my fabulous boyfriend hadn't insisted on me going, bought me THAT dress and paid for the plush Hotel room, with me not having 'earned' my place, it would definitely have been too daunting.

THAT dress!

Not being a Social Media addict exhaustive enthusiast can give rise to everyone else looking very chummy.  Naturally high about a night out in itself, finalists were also feted by sponsors.  Some were given exquisite outfits and loaned jewellery, plus appointments for professional hair and make up were abounding over Twitter.

It  all adds to the intimidation, although you have to feel sorry for the poor 'Travel' category ones for having to endure a prior sunny evening's party aboard one of those posh yachts, don't you just?!

The best I could manage was tweeting a half hearted joke in a taxi on my way there about possibly winning an Award for the 'Best Boots,' because I'd bagged some great ones at the end of last year and had them on. 

Then there was a breakthrough: ''u do realise we all feel the same - now come show us your fabby boots xx''

A reply from Elaine Colliar Mortgage Free in Three.                  

And I knew I'd be OK.

Our paths hadn't ever crossed before - and they haven't since.  We never actually met, but I was grateful for that teensy bit of encouragement.

It's difficult walking into a room full of strangers, but before I'd even got that far, I'd forgotten that it's possible to feel you know people that you truly don't and I committed the fatal faux-pas of rubbing the very pregnant belly of Susan K Mann in the lift on my way to change.

I'm sorry, Susan. I looked for you to apologise to you personally, but you managed to elude me, deliberately or not!  I was horrified when I remembered that all our contact has been impersonal.  So here's my apology now.  It won't happen again.  Er, it haunts me.

She was very gracious, by the way.  And was stunning.  Everybody looked unbelievably beautiful.  All had gone to town with their appearance and I was proud to be among such crazy, friendly and outgoing, (mostly) warm, wonderful folk.

Ruth from Dorky Mum took me under her wing and Sarah from Grenglish was the most enlightening company for the entire evening, which eventually ended with these two at the bar around 2am.  That's not bad for an outsider. 




Sarah - a perfectly 'bad' influence.

But, most importantly, I had something to contribute after all.  Having had the privilege to meet the scrumptious Myleene Klass - who made a point of saying Hello to each and every table and the famously fabulous Sue Atkins, also a TV regular, who happened to be sat on ours, I was able to offer them some stuff no-one else did.

Both have recently been shocked to find themselves single mums and, despite being clever, capable, gorgeous women, they are unsurprisingly and accordingly devastated.  Their eyes widened when they'd routinely, politely and innocently inquired about the name of my blog and their transparently genuine interest was touching. 

I told them about the groundbreaking Single Mums' Stories series I ran and soon hope to continue, so as well as sympathy, gave them solace and solidarity and, among the giggles, hope.

Perhaps, it was impossible not to have a good time.  Perhaps there's a time and a place for everyone.

So just because you feel like a saddo, it doesn't necessarily make you one.  

A very big thank you to Sally Wonder Woman Whittle for an #incredible occasion - you see there's simply no stopping some single mums - and many massive, heartfelt Congratulations to all the winners (and (no) losers) of the MADS.  

There's a ''Storify' HERE  the morning after the night before, with highlights, photos and quotes. 

Yo I'll tell you what I want ....

1)  I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want...

...is Mel B back on the X-factor judging panel. What a breath of fresh air, making an otherwise dreary show with the others spewing stuff as dull as dishwater suddenly up their game to make for a hugely enjoyable and watchable entertainment show.  I would even go so far as to say heartwarming. 

Ratings?  Pah!   Bring her on.  She needs the money.  Well, someone does.  Oh, that's me - see no. 2).

I tell you this because Anna Tims has revealed her innermost desires at Adventures of a Middle-Aged Matron and has passed the meme baton on to me.  Now we all crave happy and carefree kids, health, wealth and holidays, World Peace etc. but all this is a 'given.'  What she really, really wants to know about is stuff like this:

2)  You know, the important things in life, such as this fab dress from Phase Eight.  

Heaven knows how it has happened, but I have been bestowed with the good enough fortune to win a much sought after ticket for the MAD Blog Awards in two weeks time.  I clocked it in a shop window in Eastbourne recently, then remembered I never go anywhere nowadays to wear such a beautiful creation.  But that was then.  This is now.  I want it. 

3)  I also want free Osteopathy, Healing and Acupuncture for everyone, everywhere who is in any pain.  You might as well throw in Aromatherapy Massage and Reflexology and anything else 'Alternative' you can think of, but my favourite is Shiatsu, so make sure that's included and I know, hand on heart, they will receive some relief and, perhaps, get some semblance of their lives back and the NHS will be less overloaded and save£Trillions in the long run.

4)  And cheaper public transport.  Who doesn't want that?  Honestly, they should have me running the Department of Transport in government.  When I lived in New York it was so cheap to go on the subway, everybody used it.  It utterly inspired me, but, unfortunately, still makes me rage when it costs £4.40 for a 15 minute bus ride to Brighton or £4-6 to park there for a few hours.  You want us out of our cars?  Make the buses a quid and watch it happen!

5)  I want what is the Holy Grail for many of us - a night's uninterrupted blissful slumber, because where my kids might have left off after SIX YEARS of waking me up between them, my lovely man's sciatica has taken over.  I try not to mention that to him all that often but *blushes furiously and grimaces* just can't help myself.  Frustration and yearning make my main aim in life bed by 9.30, but it never, ever happens!


So, 'tis with pleasure I pass this baton on to some lovely ladies - to declare their most inherent wants to the world and do you know what my boyfriend just did, having read this blog post?  He's only offered to buy me the dress!  They say Fate moves in mysterious ways, so watch out, girls - 'they' also say 'Be careful what you wish for!'  Good Luck!


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