31 December 2016

Winners

Winners are entitled to copy one of the 2016 prize 
widgets before pasting into their own illustrious blogs. 
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The Laughing Horse Awards Committee have instructed me to announce the winners of the 2016 blog awards. This is a duty that I feel immensely honoured to execute having been associated with the Laughing Horse organisation since its inception way back in 2008. The central remit of Laughing Horse is to encourage excellence in blogging and to honour leading exponents of the craft of blogging.There is no truth whatsoever in vindictive rumours that suggest The Awards Committee are influenced by  monetary backhanders or bribery.

Without any further ado, here at the very end of 2016 AD, let us go straight to the awards...

SENIOR BLOGGER OF THE YEAR - Pat (Mrs Weaver) for "Weaver of Grass". This Yorkshire-based blog gives us a window upon country life in the Yorkshire Dales. It is about friendship, family, memories, poetry and appreciating the simple joys that life presents. Written in a kindly, contented manner the blog demonstrates that being an octogenarian does not mean one's zest for life should shrivel up. Pat deserves credit for excellent blog maintenance and for responding thoughtfully to comments that are received.

BEST WELSH BLOG - Once again "Going Gently" by John Gray is honoured. The Committee stated, "It is an antidote to The Archers on BBC Radio 4". Having gained worldwide popularity, "Going Gently" continues to surprise us all as John reports on his various animals, The Prof's eyebrow, the legendary Mrs Trellis and of course the machinations of The Flower Show Committee. There is a heart-on-sleeve humanity about this village blog which keeps its readers returning.

BEST AMERICAN BLOG - Jennifer for "Sparrow Tree Journal"  . Emerging from Florence, South Carolina, Jennifer writes a very candid blog. In 2016 she considered the ups and downs of working life in a retail environment and her struggle to stick with it. There's her beloved dogs Ginger and George, her parrot Marco, her husband Gregg, reading group meetings and all of the rest of the paraphernalia of everyday life in a typical town of the southern states. Jennifer's thoughtful and supportive comments on other blogs were also noteworthy. (Runner-up in this category was Bob Brague for "Rhymes With Plague", Steve Reed's blog, "Shadows and Light" was dismissed from this category as it is mostly produced in West London, England)

BEST REGULAR FEATURE ON A BLOG - Ian Rhodes for "The Sunday Round-Up" in "Shooting Parrots". Every Sunday - almost without fail - Ian treats his readership to a quirky look at the previous week's news. There are links to news stories from around the world and an obituary section too. It deserves more visitors. His "Sunday Round-Up" is bound to make you chuckle and perhaps your jaw will also drop. Ian even posted a "Sunday Round-Up" on Christmas Day which is most commendable.

BEST CANADIAN BLOG - For the second year running this has gone to Red of Red Deer, Alberta for his calm and friendly "Hiawatha House". One of the best features of Red's blog this past year was recollections of the time he spent working as a teacher in the far north of Canada. We also learnt more about the infamous "micro manager" who lurks in the background, monitoring Red's activities and no doubt keeping him sane. Red continues to leave pleasant, supportive remarks on other people's blogs.

Two previous Laughing Horse Blogger of the Year winners were highly commended by The Awards Committee for outstanding services to blogging. They are of course Ms Lee George for "Kitchen Connection" and Ms Meike Riley for "From My Mental Library". The former blog is forged in Queensland, Australia and the latter blog is mostly manufactured in Ludwigsburg, Germany. Both blogs are carefully crafted, well-maintained and enjoy loyal followings. They remain a credit to the blogosphere.

And now, drum roll, we move on to the major award - 
The Laughing Horse Blogger of the Year for 2016
Here's a clue:-
And here's another:-
Yes folks! The Laughing Horse Blogger of the Year for 2016 is none other than Steve Reed for "Shadows and Light"

In  selecting Steve's blog as the overall winner, The Awards Committee noted "...the clarity of its expression, its grammatical accuracy, its regularity and reliability, the ceaseless high quality of accompanying photography." The Committee enjoyed tales of outings with Olga the pet dog on Hampstead Heath and Steve's recent Caribbean cruise which took followers to faraway places such as Belize, Key West and Cozumel. But above all, it was those amazing, expertly formed and often quirky photographs that clinched it for Steve to whom we send a huge... 
Well Done!

54 comments:

  1. Im touched and humbled.......thank you YP xxx

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    1. Definitely the best Welsh blog......actually the only Welsh blog I read....but I adore you and your posts. X

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    2. There are plenty of Welsh blogs Frances including "I Love Sheep", "The Sheep Lover's Blog" and "Ewe Must Be Kidding". John Gray is up against some very stiff opposition.

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    3. But I bet he loves every moment of it!

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  2. Congratulations to all these worthy winners.

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    1. You are so laudably magnanimous Sue. Happy New Year!

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  3. I can't wait to show this to Gregg tonight! Thank you Mr Pudding!! 🙆

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    1. Gregg will always remember the night he discovered he was married to a celebrity.

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  4. I'm proud and delighted to display my Laughing Horse award on Shooting Parrots and would like to congratulate Steve as the very deserved Blogger of the Year.

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    1. Was the second part of your acceptance speech delivered through gritted teeth?

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    2. Absolutely not - Shadows & Light is essential reading as far as I'm concerned. What's more, Steve manages to post every day which is more than can be said for yours truly!

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    3. Your graciousness is admirable sir.

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  5. Great choices! Well done. Blessings

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    1. Thanks for getting on board the blogging spaceship Lesley.

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  6. Well done to ALL - including the Awards Committee. I feel monst honoured to having my blog mentioned here, among the Good and the Great of the blogging world.

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    1. Is "monst" a German word Meike or have you been drinking schnapps?

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    2. I may be German but I drink neither Schnaps (correct German spelling is with one "p") nor Bier, and my alcohol level at the time of typing the comment was zero.
      Whether I feel most or monstrously honoured is up for interpretation :-)

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  7. Congratulations to you all !
    Happy New Year YP, Mrs YP and the Little YP's.

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    1. Why thank you Mistress CG. I hope you will launch your own blog in 2017... "Costa del Coppa" or something like that. "Coppa Tea"?

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    2. No, I don't think so, YP. I very much enjoy reading other people's blogs, but I doubt my life (as a geriatric retiree) holds the same interest for anyone ...more of a warning possibly !!

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    3. I would love to read about your raunchy affair with Pedro the thirty year old waiter from Toledo... and reflections on the underworld criminal activities that preceded your flight to The Costas.

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    4. No, you'll have to wait until the book comes out to read all about it !

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  8. Happy New Year YP and family..especially my namesake Frances ! Keep on blogging and giving me the pleasure of reading you. XX

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    1. You are must kind Frances...and a very Happy New Year to you too young lady!

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  9. Well deserved, one and all! Good write-up, too, YP :)

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    1. Thanks for calling by Jenny and best wishes to you!

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  10. Thanks for another Laughing Horse Award. I enjoy your comments as it's usual something I don't think of. Congratulations to all other wimmers. Now I will have to check some great blogs.

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    1. Canada will be rightly proud of you. I have informed Justin Trudeau of your success.

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    2. I see I can't spell worth a damn. That about wipes me out for next year!

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  11. Congratulations to all the winners, this is an award of great distinction. It reflects a good deal of dedication and work by the bloggers who stick in there and make life more interesting for the rest of us.

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    1. Blogging reminds us that an ordinary citizen's life can be decent and interesting. It's not all about Brexit, Trump, robotics or desperate refugees.

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  12. How about awards for commenters. We don't all have blogs you know.

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    1. That is an interesting proposition Lesley and it will be duly forwarded to The Awards Committee for proper consideration. In the meantime, why not get blogging yourself?

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  13. Thanks so much to the entire awards committee (all one of you?) for this illustrious recognition! I don't deserve it at all, especially since i''m just writing about the tedious minutiae of my life. But I'm glad the photos make it more palatable. :) Seriously, YP, this was very kind.

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    1. "Tedious minutiae"? Such is the very essence of life. Who wants fireworks and high drama when you can have the true tale of an ordinary life? Not "kind" Steve but richly deserved sir. Your blog is excellent.

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  14. And congratulations to all the worthy winners. Wear it well! You have a wonderful, fulfilling year to look forward to...have fun...be proud! This is not an award to treat lightly!

    (Have you tried to lift it:)

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    1. In some ways, I think this news will come as a relief to you Lee. Wearing the Laughing Horse mantle for twelve months can take its toll. All that smiling. All those posh dinners and speaking engagements. Now you can relax. Happy New Year!

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    2. True! Oh, so very true, Yorkie!

      I can barely croak out the words "Happy New Year to you"...my voice is horse...I mean hoarse.

      And I can barely type...my right hand has been rendered almost useless from the signing of millions of autographs! I need a year at a rest spa for recuperation!

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    3. I hope you do not intend to sue Laughing Horse for the repetitive strain injury.

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  15. I don't know where to start. in any case my life now is pretty boring, but oh the tales from the past. lol

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    1. Well why don't you call your blog "Life Remembered" and instead of writing about the here and now make each blogpost a memory?

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    2. It would be more: Daze of Wine and Dozes!

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  16. Congratulations to the winners! I hope they all manage to cope with the celebrity life, it's not for the faint of heart!

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    1. And you should know Kylie! That damnable Jason Donovan almost ruined your life...the bounder!

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  17. Lo, how the might have fallen (referring to myself, of course). Once the American Blogger of the Year (or was it Senior Blogger of the Year? -- whichever it was I am now reduced to singing "no, no, they can't take that away from me"), this year I Am given the more humbling moniker of Runner-up. Oh, well, you can't win 'em all.

    My heartiest, non-sour-grape-tinged congratulations to all the winners this year. If I wept easily, I would now fade into the background to weep in my beer, if I drank beer.

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    1. Don't despair, rhymeswithplague....we'll together go out and drown our sorrows! Oh, sweet sorrow! :)

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    2. I rather think that Mrs Brague will veto that suggestion. She likes to keep Bob on a tight leash. And as for you Bob, I am sure you will appreciate that blogging inactivity militates against success in the judgement of Laughing Horse Committee members. Your recently improved blogging output came too late I am afraid. To be successful in 2017 you will need to maintain your recent surge. Oh and, aside from the awards, may I wish you a happy and healthy new year my good man.

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    3. If that is the case, then poor Adrian never had a chance, did he?

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    4. No he didn't you are right there. To win an Olympic medal you have to run the race.

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  18. Thank you so much YP - it is blogging that keeps this doddery old dear going! Would tranfer the widget (whatever that is) to my blog if I knew how to do it!
    Can you tell me in easy language please, otherwise I will wait until my son calls in. Happy New Year to you all.

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  19. Some things are rather difficult to explain in writing Mrs W. But to get one of the widgets into a blogpost you need to first hover over it with your cursor. Then click with your right hand button. A drop down menu should appear. Scroll down to "Save image as" and click. You will be asked to give a name for the new "picture". Perhaps call it Widget and then press "Save". Now it will be in your "Pictures" file ready for you to import via the image icon on a new blogpost page.... Alternatively, wait for your tech-wizard son to appear in his E-type Jag.

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  20. Your awards tempt me to widen my blog reading but given the amount of time I seem to spend in Blogland these days that might be a forlorn hope.

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  21. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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Mr Pudding welcomes all genuine comments - even those with which he disagrees. However, puerile or abusive comments from anonymous contributors will continue to be given the short shrift they deserve. Any spam comments that get through Google/Blogger defences will also be quickly deleted.

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