Your best niche titles and achievements?

[CountryShepherd]

I'm only a hobby baker but am a retired Dorset cheese scone queen. I won first place amongst 17 countywide entrants a few years ago at the County Show.

On another occasion, Lord Fellowes's wife told me he was delighted with my shortbread and Martin Roberts from Homes Under the Hammer declared my blueberry muffins to be 'bloody lovely'.

I do have a lovely family and good job but I hold these little accolades close to my heart.

What special small scale achievements are precious to you?

It may be just me!

Joe Lycet told me he loved my necklace…I then realised he was wearing a very similar one.

Okay, I'll join in.

I won an episode of Popmaster a few years ago.

I was an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (now lapsed).

I won first prize for my cherry tomatoes in the local craft & produce show about 25 years ago.

I have a certificate in sub floor preparation.

I came second in the Girl Guides drop scone baking competition in 1983, got a mention in the local paper

As my year was the first year when A star grades came out for GCSEs, I was the first (and therefore can’t ever be taken away) person in my school to get 9 A stars

I was the youngest baby in Wales to be given an artificial limb (I was six weeks old)
Granted, I didn't actually have to do anything myself to achieve that but it'll do until I remember something better 😂

Well, I am well-impressed, @CountryShepherd , because I was very closely involved with that county show throughout my childhood and young adult life, and despite entering things every year, I hardly ever won anything.

I was the nipple tassel twirling champion at a burlesque festival in 2009.

I was the most beautiful baby in Natal, South Africa, 1979.

All down hill since then.

I won a limbo dancing competition several years running at our local youth club.
I’m well north of 50 and youth leader still comments on it when I bump into him, even with severe dementia he remembers it more than 40 years later.

That makes it extra special.

I won best newcomer and best half plot at my Allotment competition last year. I have trophies and everything😁. I'm still chuffed about it...but feel I have probably peaked!

Thank you!

I entered the category of 'breakfast muffins' at our village Spring Show yesterday and won first prize. But there were only two entries so it was a slightly hollow victory.

If Lord Fellowes is the diresome Julian I’d hope you at least contemplated lacing the shortbread with strychnine!

I won a prize for Best Presented Onion Pair at an onion festival in a tiny midlands village in 2015.

I’ve won a couple of local poetry slams. Very proud!

These are great achievements! I modestly present to the group that I was "Smiley-est Brownie" a long time ago.

I won the year 7 group prize for being helpful and responsible in 1980.

Did you get a rosette, @CountryShepherd ? I regularly enter things in our local show but it's a very small affair (first prize £2.50) and no rosettes.

A collage I made at nursery school made it to the local art gallery exhibition. I can still remember what it looked like and what I titled it...

I once won an Enigma puzzle in New Scientist magazine.

I won a prize for "progress" at secondary school, which I wasn't best pleased about, because it meant I had been doing badly to start with.

I have never won anything, but some years ago my dog won the “waggiest tail” competition at our village fete. She won a little silver cup, and some dog biscuits.

Ah, I love these. The Smiley-est brownie really should meet the dog with the wagiest tail.

I was nominated for a teaching award by my students - didn't win it but I think that's still my proudest achievement.

That would be an excellent picture book for your children, especially if the Brownie and the dog weren’t really feeling that happy inside…