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Published: January 10th 2007
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Can you believe it has been a month since I drove over (with the assistance of Meg) to Morzine. It was with Meg's rules we drove - basically ignore them all, jump the queues but make sure you are on the right side of the road....then fall asleep if it is not your turn to drive!!
We arrived in the resort to it snowing. Later I was to realise this was the first snow of the season and had to last three weeks until the next, which arrived thankfully last week. Managed to get Meg out on the slopes the day later as one lift was open. Good to find some ski legs although not sure driving my car with no snow tyres up the mountain was the best of ideas. The plan was for me to arrive a week before all of the guests so that I could get up the mountain and learn the vast ski area of Portes de Soleil....but oh no, due to lack of snow it was the guests showing me around the following week and that was only for part of the resort. Meg being out for the day also gave me an excuse
The Great Escape Team
Emily, Kate, James, Me, Tiff and Darren not to start work until the following day, although I did have to drive Meg to the airport in my mini bus. Throw me in at the deep end, Darren (new boss man) set us off down the windier route to Geneva - dark and fog made that a little scarey to say the least. Since then I have got to use to my tank and slowly getting used to the mountain roads - who decided to give me the job of putting all customers safety in my hands?!? When the snow did arrive last week had to do some snow driving training (comprising of 5 mins - drive slow, no sharp reactions and if you go into a slide just pray!! - great!!). So after taking over in the car park and driving for about three metres I had my first crash....ok, wait a minute...it was not my fault. A car was reversing, did not see me and went into the side. Darren just looked on in horror but as no damage done and clearly the bloke was so sorry all has been forgotton. Then for the snow chains - surely that is a mans job!?
I am
Christmas Day
With Elsie and Roger living in one of the chalets in the attic bit with the Aussie couple (James and Kate) who run the chalet. We have our own little living area and bathroom so fairly cosy but have realised we are out and about at different times so rarely all three of us there together - think that is a good thing as I am struggling living and working in the same place - thinking of getting myself somewhere of my own later on in the season.
The first week therefore comprised of sorting out all the chalets ready for the first guests to arrive - cleaning, clearing, shopping - trip to Ikea, practise run to Geneva, collecting and decorating Christmas trees….it was full on. There are five us that work for the Great Escapes; my role is a bit of everything really. Mainly I am the ski guide, so I take all the customers that are able to ski red runs and above up the mountains and guide them around. Darren does more of the extreme skiing but I am sure by the end of the season I too will be taking people over cliffs, jumps and off piste?!? Also I
New Year's Eve
On the girls balcony - me, Lucy, Karen and Joanne have to make sure all the guests get up to the mountains ok in the mornings and collect them at the end of the day. Saturdays comprise of airport transfers - the other Saturday I was up at 3am! What is good though is I get to meet the guests and tell them all about the resort before they arrive and I have had some really great people already. Also getting to know all the other people at the airport so we have a bit of a laugh waiting for our guests to show up. Then I can eat at the chalets if I want, talk and drink with the guests….think I can do that.
Christmas sort of came and went, lucky to have Elsie and Roger out who treated me to lunch at the top of the lift in the sun. I did have my stocking to open (thanks Santa!!) and other presents, which was lovely. Carol singing was on the agenda in one of the chalets and this was no ordinary carol singing - we were all split into different levels and sang in perfect harmony - ding dong merrily on high. I loved it and of
Girls on the slopes
And yes, safety comes first hence the helmet!! Me, Karen, Joanne, Rhian and Lucy course was in perfect tune!!
Then the girls arrived for 10 days - so good to see them and be able to get away from the chalet. I made sure I had the day off after they arrived and stayed at theirs for the night, although gossip went round the resort that I was a dirty stop out - love the privacy!? Karen had me partying until 4am one night so thank goodness wasn’t working the next day. We brought in the New Year in style and guests in the chalet insisted we didn’t work for the morning so managed a small lie in. Then the boys arrived for four days so more partying and skiing together.
The first month has been tough - getting used to living with others, getting familiar with the work but no regrets - am living the dream and when I am up in those mountains skiing I know this is where I should be. Next is to get my photography going - that is underway and I am making plenty of contacts. The next couple of weeks should quieten down and enable me to think through my scheme and get selling my
Helmets are a must this season
Rhian and Joanne being my models! services in the chalets - photo printer on order and portfolio being created (thanks to girls, Elsie and Roger and various guests!). Also they do a ski clinic each week for a couple of hours so will try to get enrolled on that to improve my skiing (I know, I know....what is there to improve?!) and french courses to get me speaking more french - am finding that quite a lot of English here so will have to make special effort if I want it to improve.
Finally HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all - you know where I am if you want a ski holiday....
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The Old Fart
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Time for an update?
Either I cannot work this B thingy or you have been dilatory in not updating! Wot no more pictures or verbal information! Love from the cantankerous bugger and his long suffering wife XXX