Hortensia, Merci, Paris.
I'm delighted to announce that Megan Butel in Australia is the winner of Leonard Pitt's book Paris Postcards. My daughter Jordana drew Megan's name from le chapeau. Thank you to all those who entered the competition and shared amusing or touching anecdotes about your memorable time in Paris. Here's Megan's story:
"My husband and I went on a short three week holiday having left our very young children with my mother in Australia - it was supposed to be a bit of a second honeymoon. We'd spent a week driving around Ireland - which went well despite me navigating and him having to follow instructions.
"We flew out from Ireland and arrived in Paris on a beautiful, sunny autumn day - it was more like spring than autumn it was so warm.
"After we had checked in at our hotel, we decided to go for a walk -
so there we are strolling down the Champs Elysee heading towards the
Eiffel Tower. I said something in French. He made fun of my
pronunciation and corrected me. He was wrong. I told him so. He asked
me what would I know as - after all - he had done French at school. So
had I - up to the final year of high school and being younger than him
- my experience of high school French was more recent and far broader.
He wasn't having a bar of it. Neither was I. The whole discussion
quickly disintegrated into an embarrassing public slanging match,
culminating in him storming off in a huff back to the hotel.
"So that's what can happen to you on a sunny Sunday afternoon in Paris walking down the Champs Elysee with the one you love. That story happened 12 years ago - and we still can't talk about that fight without it starting another one! I am quite sure we will never feature in a Willy Ronis picture postcard of Paris."
Megan, hope Paris Postcards triggers happier memories of the City of Light!
Conratularions to Megan!!!Good luck!!
Posted by: Motor show coverages | 12 December 2009 at 05:24
You chose well! Gorgeous hortensia!
Posted by: dutchbaby | 24 November 2009 at 02:57
that's hilarious and very deserved. :-)
Posted by: julochka | 23 November 2009 at 13:30
Beautiful!
Posted by: Rosa | 22 November 2009 at 19:11
congratulations,greath picture and also cool post,i think You deserve it , thanks.
Posted by: david | 21 November 2009 at 10:02
Bonsoir Tara! And guests :) Congrats to Megan for the win!!!
Hope you are feeling better Tara. My email is down and has been for some days. I hope to fix it tomorrow. :(
I love the photo, you know the flowers are in the shape of a heart up there, was that intentional? Well done! xo
Posted by: gillian | 21 November 2009 at 06:26
Woo Hoo! - I am sitting here with my two daughters reading them the story. We are debating whether to tell my husband how I actually won - we might leave out the details that I related THAT story! Anyway - very very excited to win! And I definitely do have far happier memories of Paris - but perhaps not as funny.
Posted by: Megan Butel | 20 November 2009 at 23:19
Congratulations Megan! Your story is funny, but does happen sometimes. I hope you have many new memories and can visit Paris again.
Posted by: Marilyn | 20 November 2009 at 20:44