Friday 28 March 2008


My blogual silence for the past week is because I've just returned from a short Easter holiday in Languedoc. We're lucky enough in Britain to get both Good Friday and Easter Monday as bank holidays, so only two days off work allowed us to have almost a week's holiday. In spite of the weather (snow, rain, sleet, hail, the odd spot of sunshine), we had a glorious time. Eight of us, ranging in age from 9 months to 35, stayed in an old house in the village of Caunes Minervois in the foothills of the Montaigne Noire, about 20 minutes outside of Carcasonne. We were lucky enough to be staying right next to this boulangerie, so plenty of fresh bread and croissants.


Carcasonne was just as stunning as I'd heard, wandering around the mediaeval city was amazing. This picture capures a fraction of its splendour.


Of course my best laid reading plans were foiled by the good food, good wine and good company so I actually read practically nothing (though have made a good start on both A Life Reformed and Half of a Yellow Sun for the Chunkster and African reading challenges respectively, so not feeling too guilty!). It was also great fun to read books with my niece (she's literally devouring books - I suppose chewing cardboard helps with teething!) and nephew.

5 comments:

Esther Montgomery said...

Hello

I'm wandering round the internet, letting people know about my blog

ESTHER IN THE GARDEN

I hope you don't mind.

It's just that if I don't let people know I'm here - they may never know - er - that I'm here!

Esther Montgomery

Anonymous said...

Welcome back, Logophile! I am glad that you had a wonderful Easter holiday. Languedoc is a beautiful city! I really do hope I can visit someday. :]

Hope you're enjoying your books! Sounds like you're progressing swiftly! :]

Anonymous said...

Aren't holidays the best! Yours looks to be just splendid. I'll be looking for your thoughts on Half a Yellow Sun, that's one I'd like to read this year as well.

Anonymous said...

Ah, you were just up the road from where we used to live! The abbey at Caunes Minervois is an excellent venue for concerts, too. I'm glad you had a good holiday and can't wait to see what you've been reading. I'm 3/4 of the way through Mr. Pip, about which I had such high hopes -- it seemed like just the kind of book I would love -- but sadly, I don't love it at all. I feel I must be missing something because it's won so many awards, was shortlisted for the Booker, and was such a hit with readers I respect.... Oh well.

-- Preeta

Logophile said...

Esther, hello and thanks for stopping by.

Orchidus, it is so beautiful there - I highly recommend it!

Verbivore, I shall have to get cracking on posting my thoughts as am falling a little behind with my reviews!!

Preeta, I suspected it was near where you guys lived, as Hedvig mentioned that it was probably close by. I'm sorry to hear you're struggling with Mr Pip, as I really liked it, bar the ending, which just grated on me.