It's been quite a whirlwind the last couple of weeks with the news that the Duchess of Cambridge is suffering hyperemesis again and the associated media frenzy that came with it. I don't know if we're really
making head way or not to be honest. The news that she was unable to go to Malta was reported without even the “acute” or “extreme” bit in front of the “morning sickness” she was reported to have. Sometimes it really feels like I'm banging my head against a brick wall.

But on Friday I travelled to London again (it's becoming a weekly commute these days, which from Cornwall is quite a chore). This time though it was to attend the MAD Blog Awards Ceremony as a finalist in the Outstanding Contribution category. And to be there, among some seriously big players in the blogging world, made that brick wall feel a little more like foam. To be nominated and short listed, from over 6,500 blogs for such a prestigious award, made me realise that people are listening. That my words aren't falling on deaf ears, that I am making a difference by harping on and on about bloody HG and all it's revolting, depressing faculties.

I didn't think anyone there would have even heard of me and my little blog, yet some amazing bloggers had actually read my blog and even want to collaborate to increase the volume of our collective voices.

Equally, there were bloggers there who had never heard of me or the condition “oh like bad morning sickness”... and so presented opportunities for awareness raising and education. Never one to pass up such opportunities I even managed to squeeze in a lecture to TV Dr Ranj about the need to distinguish between morning sickness and HG in the media and he had already seen my ITV appearance which pleased me greatly. Dr Ranj was hosting the awards, with great humour, ad libbing about his grizzly genitals and dropping V-bombs (the word vagina in a room dominated by vagina's)... As someone who talks pretty frankly about such matters most of the rudeness went straight over my head... he was reprimanded at one point for swearing and I had to ask my friend what swear word he used as I hadn't noticed: “He said s**t” she informed me, to which I replied “Oh, well s**t's not really a swear word, not like f**k or c**t”, resulting in her drink spraying across the table and out of her nose.

Anyway, I digress...

I didn't actually win the award, with the likes of Team Honk, Edspire, Gammon and Chips and other incredible blogging super-women, my half hearted blog about HG didn't stand a chance but all in my category were recognised as winners and I felt pound not just for myself but for the whole HG community that I was up there with the artisan's of this modern art.

On top of that I looked totally hot and was dripping with precious jewels lent to me by a school friend who now deals in antique jewellery on Bond Street. The food was yummy and the wine flowed generously resulting in an overall fun evening, followed by a deliciously child-free sleep and no alarm in the morning. (Note, there is life after HG!)

But you know the best bit about the bash? The inspiration... I'm upping my game... you just watch! I'm going to blog my little heart out over the next year. And should the Duchess of Cambridge go for a third baby one day, they won't be calling it morning sickness and talking about ginger – they'll call it by it's name, or at least it's initials. It's really not that hard, Hyperemesis Gravidarum or HG for short.

And don't forget, Amanda and my book, Hyperemesis Gravidarum – The Definitive Guide, will be out in just a couple more weeks... you can sign up for an alert when it's available here.