The Thinking Blogger Awards

I’ve been tagged by Pendullum to hand out 5 Thinking Blogger Awards – links to blogs that make you think, basically. Her own posts are always very thoughtful and beautifully written, so it comes as no surprise that several bloggers awarded her, though given her extensive blogroll, I've yet to work out why she included these ramblings in her illustrious list. Clearly I have more thinking to do on the subject.

I’ve participated in a couple of memes before, such as the 7 things meme and the 6 Weird Things meme, and I even spent several weeks putting together one of those 101 things about me, but what I like about this one is it give me the chance to point you to some of the blogs that I find inspiring.

So, without further ado…

1. Mystic Traveller
El Branden Brazil is an old family friend. His parents were friendly with my parents and when we were kids and they came to visit we would play with my Lego together. He’s been based in Japan for most of the past decade and has been on a spiritual quest for many years. He’s travelled widely throughout the world and taken stunning photographs, which can be seen on his sister site, Spirit. He’s not always regular with his posts, but when he does write it’s always worth reading. His was the first blog I ever read, so if it hadn’t been for El Branden I wouldn’t have gotten into blogging in the first place.

2. Cape to Rio
Dr Maroon has a knack for making you feel that you’re in an elite club of two. He’ll make comments or quips or references that you know only you, out of his entire readership, properly understand. And yet he manages this trick with everyone. All his regulars believe that they are his secret favoured one. I’m still trying to work out how he does it.

3. Restaurant Gal
I was delighted earlier this month to guest post on Restaurant Gal’s site. Based around the customers, the staff, the expectations of her to perform miracles on a nightly basis while still keeping a professional smile on her face, RG draws you into her world. You’ll never be tight with tips again.

4. El Guapo
How could anyone fail to love El Guapo in DC, the Guatemalan with his fabulous mustache.

5. Resident Alien
Mary is new to blogging, but not to writing. She lives in the same corner of Britain as me, although we’ve not met in person. We met online after we both entered and failed to get anywhere in a local Flash Fiction competition, but had enjoyed each other’s entries. An American living in Scotland after many years in Japan she has a wonderfully engaging style that keeps you going back for more.

When looking for new and engaging blogs to read, you could do far worse than visit any and all of these.


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For the origin of this meme, click on the banner

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UPDATE
Not content with me pushing his book (see sidebar - no, a bit lower down - just below The Japing Ape), giving him contributor status to Blunt Cogs and voting for him every week at the Love to Lead competition I gave up on after 2 weeks because I didn't win, Dr Joseph McCrumble, Celebrity Parasitologist is now making me feel guilty at not including him in these awards.

Therefore I would like to point out that just because I didn't list him here in no way implies that he is not a thinking blogger.

And I guess that applies to everyone else I've linked to, and the handful I keep meaning to link to but haven't got around to it yet.