The party of eleven met at St Pancras for pre-holiday drinks and huge excitement. The train journey over night went speedily despite the lack of sleep. Luckily we all had two seats each, unluckily for Don, no amount of room would be enough as he was seen in every pose possible throughout the night.
On arrival at La Plagne, Celia hurriedly got out of her ski gear (phew). We all ate breakfast and word soon got around that there were 34 men staying next door and ‘spilling over’ into our chalet – lovely, or as it turned out, not so lovely, but nuns on the slopes was hilarious to survey.
The first two days of skiing was tremendous with glorious clear skies. On the Monday, Don, Steve, Emma and John took up their ski lessons with gusto, whilst the others went ski guiding with the rather lovely Paul. Tuesday afternoon was slightly curtailed due to the fog making for stressful skiing. Mid-week Mark decided he needed to look ‘meaner’ than Pete (there was no competitiveness really!) and consequently much pontificating took place with Lou and Celia advising on which helmet to purchase. Much helmet stroking ensued. Due to so much shopping, ‘I never do the last run’ Celia, managed along with Lou and Mark to be the very last person on the very last run, but she made use out of her head torch - as if she needed to highlight that she was coming down the mountain anyway.
Le Mine was the pub of choice, lucky, as it was the only one in sliding distance. In depth conversations on holiday included tapeworms, ‘Stab Tombola’, the need for shadowing Pete the Plumber and how one can secure more of a secretive job ‘so in awe of Sue’, as well as what the new boys moving in on the Thursday might be like. On the latter front, Sue fancied herself as a chalet girl and did a superlative job, shame, as Celia wanted to be Paul’s assistant at mid night. The next day Emma ensconced herself in conversation with said boys. Let it be said that this year’s Thame boy, was not keen to give details of his address out!
All were deeply relieved when Sue and Pete let off some steam and took an off-piste skiing lesson. It transpired that whilst Sue was told she was an ‘excellent’ skier, tutelage was rather held up due to ‘62mph Pete’ having to be taught the basics of skiing. Oh ho ho, and how we secretly laughed!!! ‘Best 150 euros I’ve ever spent’ Pete, later showed us his new found skills, but we soon became bored as he rather red faced clambered up the mountain on all fours. Meanwhile Don, Mark, Emily, John and Celia took the opportunity to go BOB SLEIGHING – 17 turns, 4g, 120mph and huge giggles later, it was agreed that it was ‘the best 100 euros we had ever spent’ and oh Pete, we all still had 50 euros left! Dim lights
Embed Embed this video on your site As is the usual custom, we all met up for lunch on the last day; well, that was after Emma took yet another detour from her ski school and after Don went steaming after her in his chivalrous manner. Despite the biting wind, we skied together with Steve being ever so adventurous off the piste and Celia stupidly hurtling after Pete into the woods.
So a fabulous holiday was had. La Plagne had officially run out of chocolate due to Lou’s continual fixes, Celia remained constantly hungry (because Lou and Pete had a non sharing policy) and Mark and Pete continually gave out constant abuse but the author remained stoical (that wouldn’t be the word of the readers’ choice but I like the thought of it).
Thank you from us all to the lovely Sue who is a mighty fine organiser; the organisation was seamless. xxx
Another year, another overdraft.
And –
Yes Mark, you do look mean in that helmet
Yes Pete, you are gorgeous despite wearing: a penguin scarf white gay shoes and a range of pink shirts….. no wonder you couldn’t find a ‘ski buddy’.
