Friday 17 May 2013

No prize, but a consolation

My certificate arrived this morning, posted because also-rans don't get any moments of glory at the presentation evening, which is a slick if rowdy affair during which 50+ gongs are handed over in double-quick time, to allow for plenty of drinking afterwards, presumably. Shame about the typo*, eh? Kind of takes the shine off it; and as for the 'Power of Journalism' claim - somewhat enfeebled, I feel. (Bitter, me?)

*Kindly and apologetically fixed, quite quickly.

The story was the one about my visit to the site of Stalag Luft III in Zagan, Poland, which you can read here, and was my second runner-up of the week, having had another three days earlier at the Cathay Pacific Travel Media Awards with this one about Parihaka. This is not meant as skiting, this time (nb blog title) because there's no unalloyed joy in coming second, no matter how many unrecognised entrants stand behind you. I don't want to sound churlish, but everybody knows winning is best.

However. The prize for the 2013 Cathay Pacific/Travcom awards is somewhat less generous than previously - when I won four (sigh) years ago, it was a trip for two to India, business class, with a five-day private tour of the Golden Triangle. This year it's four days of sightseeing for one person in Hong Kong, with a possible upgrade to business, and accommodation at the Peninsula. Well, it would all have been a bit deja-vu: though I only had [skite alert] two nights (pre-Silversea cruise, not as a prize) at that splendid hotel, it was in a 6-room suite with a telescope, we were met at the airbridge by the hotel person, were driven there in a Roll's Royce and had a degustation dinner in the three restaurants. What fun it all was! It would have been such a shame, to spoil that first fine careless rapture by a sordid repetition. Wouldn't it?


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