And the winners are...!

What a pleasure it has been to read your comments as a result of the giveaways I've been conducting.  I hope you're all excited, because I'm about to announce the winners!

Firstly, seven people responded in relation to tickets to see The Sapphires, courtesy of Hopscotch Films.  To enter, you were asked to share your thoughts on your favourite musical film.

The Sound of Music is still the One for a lot of people, although Sue B's story about spontaneously breaking into "I am sixteen going on 17" is almost as good!  Little Shop of Horrors, Cabaret, Guys and Dolls and Hot Mikado also scored a mention.  You can read all the comments here.

But KB took the cake with her flattering answer.  Her favourite musical is anything that I (divacultura) am in!  She is clearly very discerning.

My money goes to Chicago, but I'll also quietly admit to be partial to a cheesy Elvis movie!  I love listening to Elvis sing, even if many of the movies were pretty silly.  It was never long to wait for the next song.  When I was a teenager my favourite musical film was The Pirate Movie, mainly because of the presence of Christopher Atkins.  This embarrassing fact did help my trivia team win an important round when I was the only person in the whole room who recognised one of the songs.  So there!  Apart from that, my all time favourite musical has never been made into a film, but will be on stage in Melbourne soon - Chess.

KB, Cat Black, Merry, Kim, Mousicles, Sue B and Paul S, you've won a ticket.  Please visit the "about me" page and use the email link to send me your mailing address so I can send your tickets.e!

The other giveaway is my birthday present to readers to celebrate divacultura turning one.  I have enjoyed reading comments about why you read.  Thank you!  This blog started as a writing exercise for me but is enriched by the community of dedicated readers.  I love reading your feedback here and on facebook and twitter.

I said I would give away two pairs of my hand knitted socks, one to a local reader and one to an overseas reader, based on whose comments I liked best!

It has been hard to decide.  There are many quotes I could use on the "cover" of the blog (or book, when I write it).  Here's what I liked...

"I'm impressed you see details that we often don't have time to appreciate." Mousicles.

"You're like the Oprah of blogging." John B. Cahill.

"I love reading Diva." Danielle.

"Bravo & kudos to you for your massive creative exercise that has honed many of your talents and been a pleasure for us to share in. Very generous of you." Cat Black.

"You continue to ablaze me with your dedication, wit, passion, vocabulary and all round delightfulness." Warwick.

"I love your enthusiasm for the everyday and your sense of humour. Also, I see some qualities in your personality similar to those I most admire in my mum (optimism, interest in politics, common sense, sharp feminine wit)." Tracey Dundon.  

I feel all tingly now!

The local prize goes to Rose Wintergreen.  She wrote a song! Here are the lyrics to read along while you listen.  Thank you Rose! And congratulations.  I'll be in touch to organise your socks.  (In case you missed it, find out more about Rose on Question Time.)

I wanna read Divacultura
I wanna be Divacultura

She's there almost every day
Writing things I wouldn't know how to say
Seeing things differently
Sprinkling colour on everything

I wanna read Divacultura
I wanna be Divacultura

She turns spam into entertainment
Shows that creativity's all how you frame it
Seeing things differently
Sprinkling colour on everything

I wanna read Divacultura
I wanna be Divacultura

She digs deep with her juicy questions
Shining light on things people wouldn't otherwise mention
Seeing things differently
Sprinkling colour on everything

I wanna read Divacultura
I wanna be Divacultura
I wanna read Divacultura
I wanna be Divacultura

The overseas prize goes to Corenne who has also featured on Question Time.  As Corenne said, she's been here for most of it.  Corenne, let me know your mailing address and I'll send you your socks.

I've decided to give away the remaining three passes for The Sapphires.  After a random draw, conducted out of a  cake tin in my kitchen (without government regulators) Danielle, Tracey Dundon and Warwick have all won a pass.  Please contact me via the "email me" button on the "about me" page with your mailing address.

I hope that you continue to enjoy divacultura over the next year.  I'm already looking forward to the second birthday!  Thanks for reading.