And I'd like to thank....

25 years ago a rather rotund lady wearing a slightly bizarre uniform called out my name and for the seventh time that day, I made my way up a small set of stairs and onto the stage to receive a certificate of commendation. In my hand I held several other pieces of coloured card, some with the word "Winner" written in capitals, others with "Runner-up" across the top. Now I would have a "Highly Commended" to add to the collection. I looked down from my elevated position onto a room filled with long tables and applauding onlookers, many of them under five feet tall and wearing a variety of stripy neckerchiefs. I was on my way to becoming the most awarded entrant at the Sutton Coldfield District Cub Scout Craft Fair and it felt pretty damned good.

Exiting stage right, I made my way back down to the main floor and stood by one of the long trestle tables which groaned under the weight of over fifty sea-shell sculptures. Further down the table, a collection of blown egg shells painted in various patterns were laid out in perfect rows like soldiers awaiting a royal inspection. Further still was the final category to be awarded - glove puppets, which was basically a bunch of old socks with buttons sewn on for eyes. There, in the front row, was mine: a leg of my mum's tights with two brown buttons, wrapped in a stained white napkin and crowned with a ring of small laurel leaves. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears. I give you Julius Caesar in 100% pure nylon. For some reason, it didn't win. My hosiery emperor lost out to a recreation of Roland Rat made out of a thick grey walking sock and some fuzzy felt. It was a triumph of pop culture over art but no matter, bagging seven awards had done enough to create a warm feeling of victory, a feeling that I would crave in the years to come.

It was a happy day then, when I opened my email last week and saw that my piece on Chiphenge had been awarded a special prize by the competition host, Michelle from the Greedy Gourmet. She even sent me a little badge to stick on my blog. There are so many foodie challenges happening in the blogosphere that it has inspired me to enter a few more in future and hopefully my entries will prove as popular as the seventh wonder of the carbohydrate world.