tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926851391080970240.post5631985361889802312..comments2023-10-16T12:59:06.745+01:00Comments on Janice in Caunes: The prize was Pau.Janicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05449652020751269674noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926851391080970240.post-47060472281634266242013-10-25T21:13:30.484+01:002013-10-25T21:13:30.484+01:00What a gorgeous place and congratulations on Mark&...What a gorgeous place and congratulations on Mark's Golf'ing wins and what an awesome prize.<br /><br />Glad you had a fabulous time.Erica (Irene)https://www.blogger.com/profile/10506249277104250093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926851391080970240.post-30581597886552287352013-10-21T18:39:36.395+01:002013-10-21T18:39:36.395+01:00Perfect blog title leading into a wonderful accoun...Perfect blog title leading into a wonderful account of the prize.The photos are wonderful Janice.I sat down to read this on a wet East Coast afternoon.I enjoyed reading it so much i went to pour a glass of wine and read it again.Well done to Mark and keep chasing the prizes.Hazel Maria Blakeleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09720712737417796993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926851391080970240.post-65881367550871131962013-10-21T14:21:44.827+01:002013-10-21T14:21:44.827+01:00Now, that is the golf prize of all golf prizes, Ja...Now, that is the golf prize of all golf prizes, Janice. Such an elegant reward for Mark's golfing. Your photos are fabulous. I've always held an unexplainable desire to ride through the Pyrenees, Now I know why. Penny O'Neillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14665025558373015362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926851391080970240.post-78430119683639978812013-10-21T12:30:50.038+01:002013-10-21T12:30:50.038+01:00Well, I certainly wouldn't recommend a certain...Well, I certainly wouldn't recommend a certain small golf club in West Yorkshire, where the prizes tend to be the awful aforementioned plastic statues or pie and peas suppers. Lovely ! Janicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05449652020751269674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926851391080970240.post-21255844594441850562013-10-21T12:29:21.734+01:002013-10-21T12:29:21.734+01:00Yes, he is being pushed out the door now, come rai...Yes, he is being pushed out the door now, come rain or shine..." Go win good prizes !" being shouted at him as he heads off. I don't know what 1st prize was, but there someone told me they thought it was 2 nights in Naples. That would have been difficult for us, we only really just about had time to fit in our 2 nights in Pau, a 3 hour train ride away, before heading back to the UK ( tomorrow ). Janicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05449652020751269674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926851391080970240.post-55388441046605193292013-10-21T12:26:31.675+01:002013-10-21T12:26:31.675+01:00The guided tour was excellent, and we felt so good...The guided tour was excellent, and we felt so good when we understood her little jokes. Pau is interesting, but the highlight was the upgraded suite ! I think I may dip into some Zola again, having been inspired by the youth on the train, but possibly Germinal is a bit long for a first stab at reading a 19th century novel in French.Janicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05449652020751269674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926851391080970240.post-22562203201499509042013-10-21T12:26:12.001+01:002013-10-21T12:26:12.001+01:00So there's no point in persuading my husband t...So there's no point in persuading my husband to take up golf, unless it's in France? Shucks!<br /><br />It does look like you had a fabulous time :)Annie Cholewahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17608057589525908147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926851391080970240.post-43635899998992053532013-10-21T12:23:33.267+01:002013-10-21T12:23:33.267+01:00It was good, and so unexpected. It was good, and so unexpected. Janicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05449652020751269674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926851391080970240.post-78561007957652795902013-10-21T05:27:08.379+01:002013-10-21T05:27:08.379+01:00What a fantastic second prize which leaves me wond...What a fantastic second prize which leaves me wondering what the first prize was!<br />A superb account of your break in Pau. Like you I think Mark needs to be encouraged to win a few more prizes....GaynorBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12971753467966206018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926851391080970240.post-50661472915265977612013-10-20T17:59:44.621+01:002013-10-20T17:59:44.621+01:00Wow, that's what i call a prize worth winning ...Wow, that's what i call a prize worth winning and you both really deserved a wallow in the lap of luxury after the past year. Pau looks like a wonderful place in your super photos and there's nothing like a guided tour for honing one's language skills. I haven't read any Zola since finishing my university degree. Perhaps now is the time to revisit him.<br /><br />PS That shadow reminds me strongly of Annie's pentangling.....Perpetuahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01214396019726161983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926851391080970240.post-37829086687510289832013-10-20T17:51:01.154+01:002013-10-20T17:51:01.154+01:00What a wonderful unexpected surprise, sounds like ...What a wonderful unexpected surprise, sounds like a super trip so glad you had a lovely time.. Chrissiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13613570629230619992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926851391080970240.post-72176755561697420642013-10-19T09:44:59.089+01:002013-10-19T09:44:59.089+01:00It was a delightful treat Ayak. Hope your' col...It was a delightful treat Ayak. Hope your' cold is better now that you have arrived home again.Janicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05449652020751269674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926851391080970240.post-57864326306076222652013-10-19T09:43:23.736+01:002013-10-19T09:43:23.736+01:00I was in my very early 20s when I read it...but wa...I was in my very early 20s when I read it...but was still pretty moody. I think the young man on the train was probably about 25. <br />As for being a golf widow....it's never worried me, as long as I haven't had to be dragged along to too many golf club functions. My view of these things may mellow even further if functions continue to involve good wine and canapés in delightful hotels on summer evenings in the south of France. Janicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05449652020751269674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926851391080970240.post-15423393050780321232013-10-19T09:39:53.933+01:002013-10-19T09:39:53.933+01:00We spent some time in Tarbes a few years ago, and ...We spent some time in Tarbes a few years ago, and liked it. I can think of a million reasons for loathing Lourdes. I visited a few years ago, and have never hated anywhere more vehemently before or since. Pau is certainly worth a visit though.....and I can recommend a very luxurious hotel !Janicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05449652020751269674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926851391080970240.post-5201655008959916332013-10-19T09:37:37.429+01:002013-10-19T09:37:37.429+01:00I think it was a 2 night stay in a hotel in Naples...I think it was a 2 night stay in a hotel in Naples. It was even more of a surprise as mark had no idea he had won anything when we arrived at the reception.Janicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05449652020751269674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926851391080970240.post-23993621182847089612013-10-19T09:35:31.434+01:002013-10-19T09:35:31.434+01:00Germinal was my first Zola read, which began a yea...Germinal was my first Zola read, which began a year or so of reading nothing else ( I must have been about 22 or 23). I think now is the time to attempt it in the original.Janicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05449652020751269674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926851391080970240.post-43212469180537423472013-10-19T09:33:53.059+01:002013-10-19T09:33:53.059+01:00It had the feeling of previous splendour, but to b...It had the feeling of previous splendour, but to be honest we explored only a very small area of the city, just between the chateau and our hotel, all linked by the impressive terrace walk. It was certainly a good place for a brief ( and as it happened, luxurious, break )Janicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05449652020751269674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926851391080970240.post-67249776052340781392013-10-19T00:11:53.569+01:002013-10-19T00:11:53.569+01:00Sorry, Nilly - had to laugh that you too had read ...Sorry, Nilly - had to laugh that you too had read Zola as a moody teenager! AxxxArtyZenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12628693178003940118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926851391080970240.post-50184030086968000822013-10-19T00:10:52.017+01:002013-10-19T00:10:52.017+01:00Thought you'd manage a quick photo, Janice! I ...Thought you'd manage a quick photo, Janice! I had a real Zola-craze when I was a teenager but never read any in French. Don't think I'd start with 'Germinal'...AxxxArtyZenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12628693178003940118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926851391080970240.post-80157071892012169222013-10-18T23:15:55.235+01:002013-10-18T23:15:55.235+01:00What an amazing prize! There are certainly advant...What an amazing prize! There are certainly advantages to being a golf widow :-)Ayakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16903896106779269050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926851391080970240.post-21887894903852989882013-10-18T23:10:39.525+01:002013-10-18T23:10:39.525+01:00Gosh - I didn't realise that being a golf wido...Gosh - I didn't realise that being a golf widow could be so rewarding!<br />Good luck with Germinal - it was the only Zola novel I failed to read in my moody teen years. nillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09733433402466612700noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926851391080970240.post-59664415136974859232013-10-18T20:02:31.974+01:002013-10-18T20:02:31.974+01:00Wonderful photos, as ever. We have never been to P...Wonderful photos, as ever. We have never been to Pau but have been close when I was writing an article about the world's only beret museum at Nay, which is not terribly far away. I have my own reasons for loathing Lourdes but Tarbes looked a really nice place. A visit down there is long overdue. Yes, do read Germinal.Vanessahttp://vanessafrance.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926851391080970240.post-16240997232027565462013-10-18T19:41:12.816+01:002013-10-18T19:41:12.816+01:00Well done Mark, What a great surprise. I'm won...Well done Mark, What a great surprise. I'm wondering what first prize was. BacktoBodrumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07627125508442009313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926851391080970240.post-83096980743194306722013-10-18T19:08:30.352+01:002013-10-18T19:08:30.352+01:00What a lovely surprise! It sounds like a brilliant...What a lovely surprise! It sounds like a brilliant weekend, and you took some amazing photos, especially the view of the Pyrenees and the balustrade.<br /><br />Germinal is a good read -- I read it years ago. There are technical mining terms, but once you've looked them up once they keep cropping up, so you remember them.Veronicahttp://www.larecettedujour.org/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-926851391080970240.post-76186473780330328302013-10-18T14:58:30.024+01:002013-10-18T14:58:30.024+01:00I can see your husband being whipped out to the go...I can see your husband being whipped out to the golf course every day from now on...a fabulous prize.<br /><br />Pau used to be an English 'colony' from the mid nineteenth century round to the twenties; starting as a place to take the waters and at one point having its own hunt and racecourse, not to speak of top class hotels and the like.<br />I have a feeling it figures in the novels of Dornford Yates.....but cannot be sure.Helen Devrieshttp://asurfeitofpalfreys.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.com