Arrr The Mountains Do A Call......

Last night I got back from Zermatt in Switzerland.
Skiing in the Swiss Alps there is defiantly nothing to complain about in my life..!

The scene was majestic, daunting, awe imposing mountains surrounding my place of dwelling for a week. To wake to a sunny day, with snow covered mountains knowing that I will be exploring them with skies strapped to my feet was energising and fulfilling. Throwing myself down steep slopes, you would think to be a nerve racking thought, but oh no, quite the opposite, it sparkles instead with the offer of fun, I said it fun and adrenaline! I haven't quite given up my adrenaline addiction, even after all of the injuries I have incurred in my years of pursuit of FUN.

There was 6 of us in our party, staying in a very modern posh chalet. For those of you who haven't skied in Europe, a chalet isn't anything like a hotel, it's more like an apartment with your own cook and cleaner.

We had a team of 3 that looked after us, oh how privileged I felt. We had Dave our Chalet host, who was chirpy every morning. For those that know me morning aren't exactly my most spectacular talkative times, though he seemed to manage to bring it out in me. He cooked breakfast everyday, made tea and coffee and provided wonderful banter. Then prepared a cake each day for us to fill our empty bellies after a long day of skiing, well long day is an overestimation as we didn't usually set out until about 10am, though I was chomping at the bit from about 7.30am, we'll bypass this for a minute!

Then in the evening we had an amazing 3 course dinner cooked for us, absolute bliss!
The other two guys were Phil and Abbey, Phil was the resort manager. So all of our strange request he had to achieve and he so kindly delivered the newspapers every morning, always with a smile and an infectious laugh.
Abbey was the ski host and we took advantage of that for one day. She took myself, Dad and Peter out on a glorious day of long ski runs and Dad and Peter took us out for a very long lunch, much to my disgust, but appreciated all the same.

I was so glad to have Peter and Dad along on this trip as their thirst for skiing was nearly as great as mine, but not quite, though I have to give them their dues as they are a lot older then I and have been doing this for a lot longer. I'm sure that when I get to their stage in life I will also start a little later and finish a little earlier. Dad did give me one day of starting on time, which was wonderful, him and I even skied later then the others, with a sneaky drink at the end of the day.

I didn't go out at all until the last night of the holiday and trust me I made up for it. It was Rugby day, with 6 hours worth of rugby to watch, heaven I tell you. So I frequented a lovely small bar called Potters, and proceeded to sit there was nearly the full extent of those 6 hours. I do love the English in those circumstances. I spent a few of those hours on my own, and I had so many people come and talk me, share in the shouting at the TV, I swear they can hear you, and I had drinks bought for me. Lovely guys to look at and talk to, so again I was in heaven. It doesn't get much better then that, rugby to watch, men to look at, wonderful people to talk to, drinks bought for you, and fellow supporters to shout at the TV with.

This was a warm up to a very joyful long night out. Juliet and I had to rush back for dinner, esp as we knew Dave would have spent hours cooking for us, and the others would be waiting for us. SI we bide our new found friends for the hours in the pub goodbye and rushed back. We were greeted with a lovely dinner great dinner conversation and an offer to go out afterwards.

Juliet and I rolled out of the Chalet, as the food was wonderful just a lot, and made our way to a part of town we hadn't been to, to meet Phil and Abbey for drinks. We ended up at the T-Bar celebrating Saint Paddy's day and my godson's 3rd B'Day. I consumed JD and coke, oh the sweet nectar! Everyone left and Phil and I were left to continue getting to know each other. We ended up sitting on a pair of swings until 4am chatting away. He provided fantastic company, and fine scenery. At 4am I had to end the rondavue as I was due to get up at 6am to leave for the land of London. I would have stayed up all night with him otherwise.

All in all the week was amazing, great company, thank you mum dad, Peter, Helen and Juliet. The sun shone everyday the skiing wasn't taxing but great all the same. My ski boots finally on the last day stopped causing me cramp in the feet, I can't tell you how grateful I was for that. We laughed a lot, throw ourselves down mountains, drank and eat a lot, meet wonderful new people and just enjoyed each others company immensely.

Phil don't forget those surfing lessons you promised to give me down in Devon and get that kite boarding done. I look forward to the adventures with you to come.

Dave look after that knee, and make sure you actually start eating properly, I was acupuncturist for a day so make sure you do it.

So I'm left with Laryngitis a nasty cough, a longing to once again be surrounded by a mountainous range, wonderful memories of several moments in time and a deep sense of gratitude of what life continues to give me.

I leave you now, I raise my cigg to you (yes I know I shouldn't be smoking) and say welcome everything that life throws at you, because it brings colour and magic into your life.