I've Been Tagged

I've been tagged by Camille for the Versatile Blogger award. According to Camille,

"If you receive this award you list seven random things about yourself that people might find interesting and then give the award to ten to fifteen blogs that you've recently discovered. "

  So here are seven random things about me:

1. I started blogging over three years ago when I read an article about the wonderful Anna Spiro and looked at her blog. Not only does she have a great eye, she's a lovely person as well. I was hooked on blogs immediately.

2. Two years ago I graduated with a PhD in English Literature but I've recently come to the realisation that I don't want to pursue an academic career.

3. Instead I'm going to start a Visual Arts course next semester.

4. Last August when I was holidaying in London I found a lump in my groin which turned out to be malignant. It was a very rare sarcoma. Two operations and an 8 inch scar later, I think (and hope) that the cancer is completely gone. I feel in a way that I have received a gift - I'm going to pursue the important things and not waste time on what is not right for me. Hence numbers 2 and 3.

5. The world of design blogs has increased my knowledge amazingly. Through them I have found out about my favourite design people such as John Derian, Emily Chalmers, Anne Shore, Lyn Gardener, Shannon Fricke and many others. I've also found out about amazing stores such as Anthropologie, and have become an avid reader of design magazines and books.

6. My PhD wasn't wasted because I've had a book and some articles published, and learnt a whole lot about A. S. Byatt whose books were the topic of my thesis.

7. Blogging has taught me that you're not crazy if you have a love for rooms, houses, furniture, colours, shapes and textures, as well as images of these, no matter how blurry. It's opened my eyes to a whole lot of great people out there who are similarly hooked. Most of all it's taught me the importance of following your bliss.

Now I'm going to pass the Versatile Blogger award on to these lovely bloggers, who have been keeping me company on my difficult journey over the past few months, without realising it:

• The Inside Story
• Naturally Carol
• Comeca Jones
• Claudia Lane
• Love in a B and B
• Beachcomber
• Andrea
• Simmone