A winning night at the MADs

Well, I didn’t win – but without any false modesty or sour grapes I really didn’t expect to, especially as the blog is only just over six months old. The MAD blog awards travel prize went to the very well deserved winner, It’s a Small World After All, who’s been doing the kind of things I’d love to.

But with 100,000 votes and 3,000 blogs nominated, the 70 of us who made the final could definitely feel very smug. And I also got to meet a whole set of new bloggers, knowing only two when I turned up – the mum (and dad) blog community isn’t huge and it seems like most people in the room already knew each other. I also discovered one good way to break the ice is to wear a fluffy white feathery shrug (from Coast), which basically tempts anyone nearby to give it a stroke.

The dress, as promised, was from Monsoon – for pix of me and some of the other finalists, check out the Fashion Detective’s blog.

I’d already lined up my husband for night feed duty so I could enjoy my second night of post-Minnie freedom. Even the fact that she had managed to give me her cold (which hopefully I didn’t pass it on to all the other bloggers at my table) wasn’t going to stop me.

After champagne, tempura squid, some gorgeous chicken and pear and chocolate tart, plus a visit from Myleene Klass (who was presenting an award and posing for photos at each table… Er, except ours), the presenters battled a temperamental microphone and envelopes which were apparently stuck down with some kind of industrial-strength glue to announce all the winners. There were tears, a few victory dances and a very cute recorded message from Actually Mummy’s daughter. And wine. Lots of wine.

But happily, no hangover the next day. Now that really is winning!