Introduction

BLOND IN THE ALPS

INTRODUCTION

If you had told me 20 years ago, that I would be happily living half way up a mountain at 1380 meters above one of Europe's leading ski resorts, I would have thought you were insane! 

It probably would have been one of my last choice destinations in the world, given my dislike for skiing and sensitivity to the cold.  As a child I was constantly cold and have been clad in cashmere and sheepskin ever since and positioned myself in the nearest glass house, in a sunny spot wherever possible!  Ugg boots have been my lifelong friends, both in Summer and Winter, on beaches, in the snow or cuddled up on the sofa, it is rare you catch me without them on!

So you can imagine how thrilled I was when they actually became a fashion staple of the celebrity world, in or out of fashion, I still have mine on.  They for sure would be my desert island, must have item!

So…. How did I end up living here?  Well it’s a very good question and one I ask myself regularly, without a proper answer!

My husband?... yes for sure.

My children, partly.

Me, no definitely not….

Work, absolutely not

I think it just happened!! BUT I AM GLAD IT DID!

PART 1

My first ski holiday, was one of many that I choose not, until now, to remember….. it sort of fills me with dread.

My husband, then boyfriend,  whose passion was skiing, started planning his ski holidays in May at the end of each Winter, and I used to think thank goodness, at least 7 months without a ski holiday.  Given our lack of mutual agreement on the subject, which dominated his life, it is a miracle that we ever got married!

I had never skied as a child, being from Yorkshire farming, parents who knew nothing about the sport, it seemed a very unnatural thing to do, but before my first holiday, it did not really daunt me.  I mean how hard could it possibly be?  So many people enjoy it and pay a high price to go, so what’s the problem?

Thrilled to be booked on my first ski adventure, I nipped to C and A sports section and bought black ski trousers and a disgustingly fabulous silver, bacofoil ski jacket, gloves, socks, hat, furry head band, I was ready for off!  It was all very exciting.

That was until I got there.

We were in a large group, all of which could ski or had skied before, and of course, loved it.  They were all so encouraging and assured me I would be just fine, come with me, no come with me, the offers were flying around.  Gosh so kind, everyone is so kind, I had thought.  We were staying in a large chalet which provided, breakfast and evening meal and plenty of local cheap wine, which of course on your first night you feel you must consume vast amounts of. 

So first morning with a dreadful headache from the wine, I felt ready to conqueror the Alps! 

First of all, how uncomfortable are ski boots, like something you imagine prisoners should wear to restrict their mobility and slow them down, then to top this off they click into two planks of wood which have been specially shaped and waxed so they hurtle downhill at great speed…..  Which is exactly how my first day went!  Horribly wrong!

Here are a few rules I made which hopefully will be helpful for the future…

Rule number one as a complete beginner is, never to accept help or ski advice from a friend, unless they are a fully qualified ski instructor.  However kind and willing they are to help, just say NO!

Rule number two is, never remove your ski’s mid slope and think you can walk down in your ski-boots!

Rule number three is, abstain from drinking the night before….. easier said than done as the whole week is a mixture of ski learning, drinking, and so on it goes…. The more you end up drinking the easier it becomes in your mind, but this is actually a complete fallacy as it simply adds to your pain and discomfort the next day.

Rule number four is never ever buy a silver shiny jacket, firstly because you look like a piece of meat wrapped in bacofoil and secondly when you fall over you slide like crazy downwards!!  All-in-one suits are also a complete No No too as the hood has a nasty habit of falling into the toilet or the wet pee soaked floor when you go to the loo!

Rule number five is never take your children skiing until you have mastered the art yourself!  Children learn so much quicker than adults, being low to the ground and having gravity on their side, all makes you feel very inadequate when you are still in the beginners class and they are doing their first black run.  Also the complete rave of getting your children ready for skiing in the morning and to ski school complete with gloves, hat, skibib, helmet, lip balm, spf 100, hand warmers… etc..etc.. it is completely exhausting, so much so that you feel you need to go back to bed not on the nursery slopes!