Liebster

A fellow Yorkshireman called Lee Firth dropped by this humble blog earlier on to inform me I had been nominated for a Liebster Award. I ran upstairs to check if my suit still fitted and perused my congested social diary. Excited, I wondered where the Liebster Awards Ceremony would be held. The Wembley Arena? Los Angeles? Sheffield City Hall?

Back downstairs I investigated news of the award more carefully and realised it was really just a blogging meme or round robin - aimed in my case principally at people who blog about walking. My heart sank. I don't make a point of following blogs about rambling - even though it is currently my most satisfying pastime. Most of the blogs I read are by people who like eating, moaning and sitting on their backsides far too much!

If you are a Liebster winner you have to graciously accept the  award and then answer a bunch of questions posed by the person who nominated you. Below you will find the questions that Lee Firth put to me with my responses:-

1...What's the most unusual, or funny, name of a place you've visited?

That would have to be The Land of Nod - a hamlet near Holme on Spalding Moor in East Yorkshire.

2...If there was a hole in the bottom of your rucksack and something fell out, what would you hope it wouldn't be, and why?

My camera because for me walking has become synonymous with snapping photographs of the places I ramble through.

3...What is your least favourite area for walking, and why is this?

My least favourite walking environment is disused railway tracks because often you cannot see anything as you stroll along - just bushes and trees hiding the surrounding landscape.

4...Walking poles; help or hindrance?

I have never used any walking poles so I can't really say but recently my daughter undertook the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge and said her walking sticks really helped - like having four legs - not two.

5...What are your preferred weather conditions for walking?

Bright sunshine to illuminate my photography.

6...What was your most embarrassing moment when out walking?

Coming across a fellow rambler who was nonchalantly urinating upon the stile I was just about to climb over. I wasn't embarrassed but he was mortified. I reassured him I wouldn't be contacting the local police and suggested penis enlargement.

7...How often do you think the Ordnance Survey map is wrong?

Once in a blue moon. Britain is fortunate to have such a brilliant mapping service and I wouldn't want to knock it.

8...Do you combine your walking with any other hobby, such as photography, public presentations, blogging [of course], or maybe first aid?

Photography, map reading, blogging and bull running!

9...For those of you who regularly walk in the Peak District; White Peak or Dark Peak?

I love both for different reasons - the wild beauty of the Dark Peak and the human impact upon The White Peak with its ancient limestone walls, chocolate box lid villages and its sweet green pastures.

10..Do you go walking to escape from your everyday life, or do you go to participate in something different, and better?

I go for exercise and photo opportunities and because what I see before me is far more captivating than any film or television programme. I go for the history and the weather and whatever nature has prepared for me that day. And I go because it is the best kind of psycho-therapy you can get.

11..What's your walking bugbear; what really annoys you?

Ignorant landowners who view walkers with disdain. Of course most landowners are not like that at all but I have encountered some horrors and have found myself in arguments I didn't really want. I am also not fond of unleashed dogs that come yelping at you or impede your progress along public rights of way.

In my next blogpost I shall nominate five other bloggers for the prestigious Liebster Award. These lucky nominees must decide whether or not to accept the nomination before answering a bunch of questions that I will prepare specially for them. This Liebster Awards business is all very complicated. There are rules and everything but as I am a jolly sort of chap who'd rather participate than stand carping from the sidelines - I have gone along with it and enormous thanks to Lee Firth for nominating me. How I have lived till now I do not know. The Liebster Award means everything to me. I'd like to thank my family, my agent, my teachers, the postman, the neighbours.... Will you be nominated for a Liebster Award? Watch this space!

Oh drat! I nearly forgot, I have to write down eleven random facts about myself. Let's get this over with quickly:-

1) I am right-handed

2) I met Jimmy Savile but fortunately he didn't follow me to the lavatory.

3) I am an orphan

4) I met her Majesty the Queen Mother and she asked me about East Yorkshire.

5) I have an O level in Woodwork.

6) I am a lifelong Hull City supporter

7) I can make musical sounds simply by creating a vacuum between the palms of my hands. My hand version of "Rule Britannia" is legendary.

8) I never ever deliberately kill insects.

9) The only political party I have ever voted for is The Labour Party.

10) I have visited Easter Island.

11) I wrote "The Headland" available as an e-book through Amazon. Why not buy it, enjoy it and supplement my paltry pension? Soon I'll be publishing a collection of poems - also as an e-book through Amazon. This should be helpful to insomnia sufferers.