Tag Archives: royal

Bloggers Bash Writing Competition!

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The Bloggers Bash writing competition was so popular last year that the committee is bringing it back (with a slight difference) for 2018. 

As you may have noticed, there’s another exciting event happening in London the same day as our Bloggers Bash. Although it won’t be as much fun as our event, the news of a Royal Wedding has undoubtedly given us a lot to think about. 

So, the Bloggers Bash Blog Post Competition 2018 is on the theme of ‘Royalty.’ You’ve got a maximum of 300 words to share a flash fiction story, anecdote, poem, or another piece of work or writing on the theme of royalty. You might be inspired by Harry and his princess, or by the venue of this year’s Bloggers Bash (George IV). Or you might have another idea in mind. If you’re a photographer, then publish a post that includes photos of what ‘Royalty’ means to you. 

The Cost: £5 per entry or £8 for two entries – all proceeds go to funding The Bloggers Bash, payment accepted through PayPal only, at the bottom of the post. 

IMPORTANT – How to submit: Publish your entry(ies) on your blog and then drop an email to annualbloggersbash@yahoo.co.uk with the following information: 

  • The link to your blog post(s) 
  • The word count of all the words (excluding the title) in your post 
  • Your name 
  • Your Twitter Handle 
  • The identification number on your PayPal payment. 

 Use the email subject title: BB Blog Post Competition 

Prizes 

1st prize is a £100 Amazon gift card and a winner’s trophy 

2nd prize is a £30 Amazon gift card 

3rd prize is a £15 Amazon gift card 

We welcome entries from all over the world. The competition is open to all bloggers, regardless of if you’re coming to the Bloggers Bash or not. 

This year, we’re delighted to announce that our judges for the competition are Kaisha Holloway and Jo Robertson. 

Kaisha Holloway blogs at The Writing Garnet 

Kaisha won the top award for Most Inspirational Blogger at the 2017 Bloggers Bash and continues to inspire readers all over the world with her incredible book blog. She supports authors by promoting their books and helping with their social media presence. Her passion for all things book related is evident in the number of blog tours she participates in every year. 

Find Kaisha on Twitter: @kaishajayneh 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewritinggarnet/ 

Joanne Robertson blogs at My Chestnut Reading Tree 

Jo won second place in the Hidden Gem category at the 2017 Bloggers Bash and through her fabulous book blog she shares many hidden gems with her readers. She set up My Chestnut Reading Tree in 2016 and enjoys sharing crime and psychological thrillers as well as women’s fiction. As a Top 55 Amazon reviewer, you can rely on Jo’s reviews to guide you towards a great book. 

Find Jo on Twitter @jocatrobertson 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mychestnutreadingtree/ 

The Small Print – Important, Please Read Before Submitting Your Entry 

  • Only entries with the identification number of the PayPal payment and sent by email to annualbloggersbash@yahoo.co.uk will be entered into the competition.
  • Up to two entries per person are allowed. Anybody found to have entered the competition more than twice will be disqualified.
  • Members of The Bloggers Bash committee and judging panel are not eligible to enter. 
  • The competition closes at 23:59 GMT on Thursday 1st March 2018. Entries received after this date will not be included. 
  • Your entry must be a maximum of 300 words (not including the title) and can include: pictures, photos, videos, and artwork. 
  • The competition is only open to adults aged 18 and over. 
  • Winners must agree to have their full name and winning entries published on the blogs of the Bloggers Bash committee. 
  • No alternative prizes are available. 
  • The judges’ decision will be final, and no correspondence will be entered into. 
  • By entering the competition, you agree to abide by these rules. 
  • Click here to make your payment for entering the competition. 

Winners announced at The Bloggers Bash on May 19th, 2018. 

GOOD LUCK! 

Click here to buy a ticket for the Bloggers Bash. 

NEW Bloggers Bash Website COMING SOON! 

 

Wednesday Wander – Hampton Court Palace

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Okay, so I’ve not wandered too far this week – a train ride, rather than a plane ride, away. Still, it’s to a rather interesting place. London is home to some wonderful palaces – I have another post about the Tower of London still to write – and Hampton Court Palace is one of the finest, a treasure trove of history, design and architecture.

Built by Cardinal Wolsey and taken over several years later by Henry VIII, the palace was constructed between 1515 and 1694. Not much of the original Tudor palace remains in its original state, as successive monarchs each sought to put their stamp on the building.The palace remained a royal residence until Victorian times, though George II was the last monarch to reside there. However, the monarch with whom the palace is most closely associated is Henry VIII. Oranges carved over an internal doorway are symbols of Catherine of Aragon, Henry’s first wife, while the clock above is the Hampton Court astronomical clock, set in the Anne Boleyn gate, named for his second wife. Jane Seymour, his third wife, gave birth to their son Edward, and subsequently died there, two weeks later. It was also at Hampton Court that Henry learned of the infidelity of his fifth wife, Catherine Howard. Imprisoned in her rooms, it is said she escaped and ran the length of the Haunted Gallery, screaming for mercy, but was recaptured and, eventually, executed.

Large landscaped gardens surround the building, running alongside the river Thames. One of the original 16th century tiltyard towers remains, part of Henry VIII’s jousting range, as does his Royal Tennis Court. My friend and I also walked the Hampton Court Maze, planted between 1689 and 1695 for William of Orange, the ancient green hedges taller than we were.

This is the Fountain Court, designed by Sir Christopher Wren during the reign of William and Mary, when a huge program of renovation took place at the palace. William and Mary wanted the design to reflect their status as equal monarchs, so two sets of apartments, equal in size and stature, were designed, as well as two identical interior staircases. However, when Mary passed away, William lost interest in the renovation project and work ceased.With all this history, it’s not surprising that the palace is reputed to be haunted. Several tourists have reported strange occurences, and then there’s ‘Skeletor’, a famous image captured on the CCTV cameras which has not been adequately explained. We didn’t see any ghosts, but we did see a rather dishy fellow, a cross between Damien Lewis and Tom HIddleston, decked out in full Elizabethan regalia, including a single pearl drop earring. Seeing him on the train later in civilian clothes rather spoiled the illusion… 😀

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If you enjoyed this post and would like to read more, you can find me on Twitter @AuthorHelenJ,  Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. Plus my latest book release, A Thousand Rooms, is now available on Amazon. Visit my Amazon Author Page to see more.

Thursday Doors – The British Museum, London

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img_4661It’s Thursday, and time for another door. This week, I have a very very old door. It currently lives in The British Museum, London, but over four millennia ago was part of someone’s tomb. This is the false-door of Ptashepses.

Made from limestone around 2380BC, the door is of a type common in tombs of that period, and was excavated in Saqquara, Egypt. The heiroglyphics state that Ptashepses was the High Priest of Ptah, and one of the royal children during the reigns of Menkaure and Shepseskaf in the Fourth Dynasty. The door stands over three and a half metres high, and is in the Egyptian Hall at the Museum, along with other wonderful artifacts, including the Rosetta Stone.

img_4656As a bonus, here is one of the exterior Museum doors with a very imperious looking lion standing guard.

img_4664 I know this is a doorway, rather than a door, but I rather liked the quote above it. Very appropriate considering the surroundings, which is why I suppose they chose it.img_4665Finally, a shot of the interior Great Court, and the lovely glass roof.

This was my response to the Thursday Doors Challenge, courtesy of Norm 2.0. For more doors, or to add one of your own, visit Norm’s site and click the link.

If you enjoyed this post and want to read more, you can find me on Twitter @AuthorHelenJ,  Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. Plus my latest book release, A Thousand Rooms, is now available on Amazon.