A day off

We woke to that dratted alarm once again, at least we could have a lie in till 8, unlike tomorrow When we need to be up at 5am, yuk. Last day of skiing so I rushed to the window. Heavy snow blanketed the slopes. 

I could hardly see the cable car and the flakes were huge. Very pretty but not ever so nice to ski in. We went down for breakfast and discussed the plans for the day. Ian and Chris wanted to go off and try some reds and blacks without having to babysit us girls, so we agreed to meet them later. We had a good laugh watching the fallers from the warmth of our room, then Ian phoned to say they had arrived bacWe decided to try the piste down to town and catch a chairlift back up about halfway as a lady who had come back said it was raining down there with very fluffy snow. It was a little difficult as the thickness of the snow almost made the slope off piste. Also my goggles kept getting covered in snow, it's a good idea to be able to see where you are going when skiing. We got to the lift via a section of red, not too bad as there was no one else around, and climbed on to ascend back up. I decided to come back to the hotel as I was not enjoying it and felt a little nervous. Ian and Vicky decided to carry on. 

The snow continued to fall all afternoon so we had lunch in the hotel then watched the fellowship of the ring in preparation for our New Zealand trip. It still fell all evening in big fat flakes so after a final tea (Chris was VERY  unhappy with final day deserts) and a brandy in the bar, including a chat with a couple from Scotland, I retired to bed. 

I hope you have enjoyed my test blog, I feel confident that when I get to New Zealand I will know exactly what I am doing.. See you all soon. Over and out.......

The button lift

We left the curtains open last night so were awake before the alarm, a much more pleasant way to get up. I rushed to the window and saw that the day was clear and bright, and the snow looked fantastic. 

We strolled down for breakfast and amused ourselves by watching a guy in a  Liverpool FC hoodie stealing bread, meat and cheese and surreptitiously make sandwiches for lunch. More fun was had when we spotted him taking chunks of cake. All were stashed away in a large backpack that should have said swag on the back. We went down to the boot room where I noticed a large notice I hadn't spotted before.

Out onto the slopes and on with our skis. We decided to ski down into town then back up the cable car. The slopes were clear and the snow amazing, as were the views. 

Back up the cable car, up the belvedere. (where, to our delight, the zombie had taken to the slopes once more) down to Les gets, up the express, down to Chevonnes, up the Grains D'or express, and down to LaTurche. I didn't realise how much skiing we had done, I must be speeding up. In case you are wondering how quiet Ian has been all this time, as each lift comes in to land he always yells, GET YOUR SKIS OFF, as he worries that we won't be prepared enough to lift the bar and ski off and will end up going round again. It always scares the small child the ski instructors put on for us to look after. So we arrived, once again, at the button lift. Yes, you guessed it from today's title, there was a button lift related incident. As I have mentioned there can be many problems with button lifts. We decided that I should go first, and I casually skiied up,grabbed the button and put it between my legs. The man shouted something I didn't understand and the button whipped me up. Phew I had managed to cling on, but the button lift was not finished. It whipped me up again and this time threw me to the floor, dragged me up the hill a bit and then dumped me. I let go of the thing and looked up just in time to see Vicky hurtling towards me as I lay in a heap in the middle of the path. A nifty sway of the skis and she was past and away, as was Chris. Ian hesitated for a moment, wondering whether to disown me, but love won out and he admitted to the long suffering lift man that he was with me. Some minutes later I had picked myself up and got back in Line ready for another go. The man gave me the same French instruction as before and I was away, calm as you like, up the slope. I was reunited with my laughing children at the top. We skied up and down a few more runs, never once getting stuck on a chair lift, then paused for lunch. 

We decided to go back via the Fys chairlift that involved going down a blue we had done a few times before, but there were so many people on it and it was really icy in the middle that I froze , like a deer in headlights, and Ian had to talk me gently down. We got going again eventually and decided to call it a day around 4pm, although Ian and Vicky did one last run after that. Top speed today was 27.9mph,distance 16.4 miles. 

We went down the cable car again to get a vin chaud in the nice bar, expecting the cakes again. We were very disappointed to get nuts and olives. As we arrived back at the hotel the sky was spectacular, all different colours. 

View from the hotel. 

Zombies, yetis and wolves

Day four and it's snowing again.

Just a light dusting in the morning so we trooped down to breakfast and entered into a philosophical discussion over whether England can win the World Cup and whether Andy Carroll should travel. (Snicker). I then stormed into the boot room to ensure my skis were there, yes they were, so we crossed the ever widening terrace and put them on. YOUR FOOT IS TWISTED yelled Ian, so I removed it and tried again. We skiied down into town for the first time expecting that the conditions would be perfect, and they were. Later in the day everyone is doing this run and it gets littered with bodies and really cut up, it's carnage. We caught the cable car back up and tried another new run, a blue that crossed a wide red. It was ok till we popped out halfway up the red where I froze. I panic if I see a red pole, it's all psychological. Ian and Vicky told me they would go down and across to show me where I would be going. While Chris waited holding my hand. The clever so and so's took in a slalom on the way down, then it was my turn. As usual it wasn't as bad as I expected and I got down easily. We came up another lift then down to the belvedere. It was on this lift that we saw the zombie. A person on the nursery slope skiing really slowly with his head and hands hanging down. Vicky nearly expired from laughing. We skiied over to the same valley as yesterday and went up the lift by the side of the black run known as the yeti. From your vantage point safely in the ski lift you can watch the skiers trying to descend. At the top is a sign in about ten languages saying 'GOOD SKIERS ONLY' I can only assume that the two we were watching could not read. Every time they stood up they fell over again. Skis were sliding, poles flying, legs shooting all over the place. I know it's not very kind but we were all crying with laughter. We skiied down a beautiful easy blue then decided to go up the yeti lift again ( I admit in the hopes of seeing dumb and dumber again) and down to another town. By now the snow was coming down thick and fast, coating the front of our goggles. Vicky entertained us by telling us the plot of a bad film she had seen, called frozen. I am sorry for those of you who are waiting to see this masterpiece but it seems the plot involves some young people stuck on a ski lift over the weekend. They ended up jumping out, breaking their legs and getting eaten by wolves. We then debated what we would do in similar circumstances. Some would jump (Chris and Ian) and some would just stay put. No brainer in my opinion. We skiied down through a heavy blizzard, great for me as I prefer to not be able to see the edges, and found a giant button lift at the bottom. Button lifts are everyone's least favourite for many reasons. You have to hang on for ages, there is possibility of falling off and laying helpless in the snow miles from anywhere, and at the top if you don't release at the correct time you can go sliding back down again. Thankfully none if these things happened and we all arrived safely. Up the yeti again and into a cafe at the top. The snow was now really thick, with great big flakes. We had lunch and decided that by the time we got back to our valley and the hotel we should call it a day. 

We set off again ( YOUR FOOT IS TWISTED) and skiied back down to the terminator, the slopes littered with fallers along the way. ITS COMING FAST ITS COMING FAST yelled the terminator attendant, but Ian got his foot stuck underneath, slowed it right down, and caused the rest of us to almost sit down onto thin air. We managed to arrive back at the hotel, but not before I had managed to get caught up in a small child slalom on the nursery slope. 

Ian and I decided to go down on the cable car to morzine and get a little something for Kathy. We found a nice gift and decided to get a vin chaud in a nice looking bar. They also bought us a plate of little puddingy things. Much appreciated. 

We wandered through the pretty streets with the snow coming down in big flakes,  it was magical. You can't beat it.

Back up the cable car, past the ambulances taking the unfortunates to hospital, to our room where we watched the fun on the red run below our window. 

Tea was a lovely stew with loads of amazing puddings. Bad news afterwards though as bar bar was closed for 'technical reasons' and the viking race was cancelled. No idea what the viking race was going to be but disappointed anyway. We retired to the other bar (yes we have two!) for a game of all hearts. Chris won but only because I couldn't see right and mixed my clubs and spades. Ian came last.  I left Ian and Vicky to a game of pool and retired to bed, still thinking about how to get down from a chairlift without breaking my legs, and how best to avoid a pack of wolves. 

Ski wars

Day four and that damn alarm comes around earlier each time. The morning peer out of the window shows snow and cloud again with visibility better than Sunday 

Down for breakfast and then down to the boot room. Again not so crowded today so it was much easier to get my boots on        Now just collect my skis and off we go. I went to the ski hangers and to the exact spot I had left my skis last night, right next to Ian's. My poles were hanging forlornly but there was no sign of my skis. I moved the hangers backward and forward and examined each pair of skis minutely for the Japanese looking ones with the number 23 on. No sign of them. I would have to remove my boots and go to the ski shop to tell them mine had been taken, passing under the sign that says 'make sure you take the right skis' as I went. Ian then called in to say there were some skis that looked just like mine leaning on the wall outside. I rushed out and sure enough Japanese 93 were there leaning on the wall. 'Yes', I yelled, 'they are mine, but what are they doing out here?'. 'They are not yours, they are my wife's skis' a portly man exclaimed. 'I know this because she told her friend, and her friend told me, so they must be hers. Darling, these Are your skis aren't they,' to a woman sat inside. 'Oh, no, I have never seen them before'. Said the woman. 'That would be because they are mine!' I grumbled while quickly retrieving them and fitting them , exactly, onto my boots. Not a word from Ian about the big wedge of snow in my heel either. 

Time for off after all that excitement. Obviously we were on the slope and not the terrace. 

We had planned to go across to the next valley so up the belvedere lift, down to Les Gets, up the chamoisse express and down Violet. Vicky has come on astonishingly this week, Ian has been giving her tips and she has been skiing parallel on most runs. The chicken wings and snow plough have been replaced by sweeping, elegant turns. Well done Vicky.  I am still the same, although they don't have to wait quite so long for me they say. We went up a couple of lifts and down some nice blues, Chris and Ian did a couple of blacks. No falls, no jumps, no moguls for me, although Chris came down a moguly black. We decided to cross back over to our valley for lunch, big mistake. We wanted just a snack as we felt we had been eating too much. I queued up at a snack window for what seemed like hours. There were four men in front, all it seems with twelve children and two wives, the woman serving was all alone and making everything from scratch. Eventually we got served. Maybe we will go for the full on lunch tomorrow. A couple more runs theni decided to call it a day as my fingers were really cold. Chris came with me but ianand Vicky carried on for another hour or so. She is loving it this year. 

Later, at dinner, (lovely buffet with marvellous baked apple for pud) I spotted the ski stealers and gave them an extra hard stare. Same thing in the bar later. No one steals my skis without getting glared at once or twice.. She won't make that mistake again. 

Scores on the doors for today. Max speed 32.4 mph ( your eyes are not deceiving you) distance 8.9 miles ( but I forgot to restart it after lunch. 

Bring me sunshine

 Day two of the great family ski trip and I rushed to the window again anticipating snow and cloud, wow was all I could think. A brilliantly clear day meant the whole if the valley could be seen in all its glory. 

The view from our room. 

We went down to breakfast and, from our table by the window, amused ourselves watching a guy warm up, and warm up, and warm up some more. Finally he was ready. He grabbed his skis and carried them to the slope ( no skiing on the terrace remember), put them on, and warmed up a bit more. Oh how we prayed that he would set off and promptly fall over. No such luck I'm afraid. Eventually Vicky had finished her boiled egg so we headed for the boot room. Because we were a bit later today it was much less crowded.  Point in favour of a lie in. Vicky and I crossed the terrace carrying our skis, and discussed the possibility of scrapping it and putting in a little slope down to the boot room and a little lift out. The Viking is advertised as a ski in ski out hotel after all.  We donned our skis, (YOU HAVE SNOW ON YOUR HEEL yelled Ian) and set off for the belvedere lift. Because it was pre ski scholl it was very quiet and the snow was fantastic.

We had a plan of action today remember, so we skiied down to the terminator and I took great pleasure in passing it by. We skiied on down into the very centre of Les Gets and took an express chair right to the top if the mountain with fantastic views across the alps to Mt Blanc. The blue at the top was a little hairy as it was quite steep then led onto a road with lots of edges ( I don't like edges). We skiied right back down where I ticked off 'the jump' from my list. Although Chris preferred to call it 'the flop'. We found a gorgeous alpine cafe for lunch which was really busy. We struggled to understand whether the lady was telling us we would have to wait two hours or that the table was needed by 2pm for a large party. Kathy you must come next year, we need you. It turns out it was the latter and the boys had the best steak they have ever had

We put our skis back on (YOU HAVE SNOW ON YOUR HEEL) and carried on down the mountain where I had 'the fall'. Unfortunately it was just a slip on ice and not spectacular at all, and no one witnessed it due to the slope being deserted. Ian eventually managed to grapple me onto my feet and we carried on. We finished up down in Morzine and by the time we got back up to the hotel if was 4.30, the latest I have ever skiied to. It's all due to the quiet slopes, lovely blue runs and perfect conditions. 

Back at the hotel its time for ski tracks. I forgot to record my figures yesterday so here goes. Max speed 28.4 mph, distance covered 10.8 miles. Today max speed 27.5 mph (disappointing especially with the fall) distance covered 16.5 miles.

 

Let it snow

We arose at 7.30 and I rushed to the window. It was snowing. It seemed to have been snowing all night. The cloud was also so thick nothing was visable. We went down to breakfast and got a great table right by the window where we could see the snow. We got togged up and rushed to the boot room where it was bedlam due to its small size. At last after lots of huff and puff we were ready to take to the slopes.

 We crossed the terrace ( no skis on the terrace in pain of death) and put on our skis. We set off down the gentle slope toward the ski lift when I realised that I had forgotten how to ski. The slope was crowded and i couldn't turn or stop. I managed to muddle through enough to get to the lift and promptly got stuck at the gate. YOUR LIFT PASS IS IN YOUR LEFT ARM yelled Ian. Oh yeah. We all got through and as it was a four man lined up  together. Ready? I asked and set off, only to find myself alone and lonely on a four man chair. I soared onward and upward through the snow and cloud to the top. Bonjour said the nice lift man, bonjour I replied as I attempted to get off and stay upright at the same time. I was waiting nonchalantly when Chris and Vicky arrived, no Ian though. Apparently he had got his rucksack stuck on his back. When he finally arrived we set off down to wards Les Gets (lay gay for those amongst you who don't speak French , not you Kathy). Half way down the snow stopped and the clouds parted to give the most amazing view reminding me of what's so great about skiing. 

Between there and the bottom I managed to tick off two things on my to do list, a mogul field and off piste, only the spectacular fall to go. We reached the next chairlift, or terminator as I like to call it.  (YOUR SKI PASS IS IN YOUR LEFT ARM). It comes round the bend, speeds up, then whacks you in the back of the knees causing you to drop back into the seat, then swoops you up. 

We went up and down a few nice blues, then stopped at a nice alpine cafe for pizza and hot chocolate (jealous yet?) up and down a few more, back to the terminator, where Vicky whacked me in the head with her poles whilst trying to avoid the whack. Us girls went back to the hotel while the boys went off to do some real skiing. 

After a nice hot bath we retired to the bar for my favourite après ski tipple, vin chaud (mulled wine). 

Tea tonight was a sit down instead of a buffet and I had very nice sea bass

Chris was very protective of all his Puds. We put a plan in place for tomorrow, now if only I can cross off the spectacular fall. Watch this space.......

Zero dark thirty

The big day has arrived. We are going skiing. But at 1.45am I didn't feel like doing back flips. It was cold and dark and despite my going to be at 9 and getting four and a half hours sleep I felt really tired. We crept out into the night (to avoid waking the one who isn't going skiing) , loaded up the car and headed for Birmingham. It was a bit worrying to see the flashing message 'M42 closed junction 4'    But after a bit of faffing with map books and phones we found out that wasn't on our bit, and we arrived at the airport at 3.30am. The man took my car away after noting down all the dents and bashes and we checked in and headed through security. I wonder if all the workers at Birmingham airport have been having customer satisfaction training as they were all really pleasant, even while searching people. I was a bit worried when they took my iPad away to be 'swabbed', but it came back negative for whatever. Straight to wetherspoons then for a full English. We felt a little like Quakers as everyone else was downing pints, and all we had was coffee. The plane loaded, departed and arrived well on time, the flight was only and hour and a half and we had some fantastic views of the Alps and lake Geneva as we came down. Straight onto a bus and we were off to Morzine, no hanging about. As we entered the town we could see the slopes and lifts and even I was getting a bit excited. They dumped us off the bus and showed us the way to the gondola, saying someone would meet us at the top with a skidoo for the luggage, and they were. At the top the snow was fantastic and the slopes really quiet for a Saturday. We crossed the short distance to the hotel and checked in, only 11.45 and our rooms were ready. Great service. We checked out the rooms, not bad for a ski hotel with an amazing view down the slopes into the town. We can look out of the window and witness all the spills and thrills of other peoples day on the slopes. We decided to take a trip down the gondola into Morzine itself for some lunch and found a lovely little cafe where the girls had galette sand the boys had burgers and Ian and I shared a carafe of really nice vino. After lunch a heavy philosophical discussion ensued as is usual in the Walters household then we mosied on back up to the hotel where Vicky and I got our skis and boots. We had a good look out of the window in order to plan our campaign for tomorrow, I.e. Ian found a really steep slope he wanted us to try and I said over my dead body and chose a lovely gentle looking one, so that is first on the agenda for tomorrow. Dinner was an Italian buffet, really nice food and we all ate far too much. Then into the bar to watch England stuff those frenchies at rugby, half a partisan crowd was delighted when they scored a last minute try, I wasn't too bothered though as I was still buzzing over the 'Alex Ravell, 90+5' score line that had come through earlier. And so to bed as we had all been up since before 2am and were almost asleep on our feet. Guess what? Snow is forecast for tomorrow.