conditions remain perfect....

Loadsa Snow

Conditions Perfect

loadsa snow!!

A Sunday evening at the Birch's

a sad reflection of modern times......!!

Getting Ready to Pour The Ground Flr Slab

Dear Lucky Winner, TICKET No: 56475600545188

THE CAMELOT GROUP UK NATIONAL LOTTERY
The Marina Offices, St Peters Yacht Basin,
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE6 1HX England

Dear Lucky Winner,

We are pleased to inform you of the result of the just concluded annual
final draws of THE CAMELOT GROUP UNITED KINGDOM NATIONAL LOTTERY
international Lottery programs.After this automated computer ballot, your
e-mail address emerged as one of two winners in the category /"A"/ You are
therefore been approve to claim the sum of 1,000,000.00 (One Million
Pounds Sterling) with the information below: contact him,please provide
him with the following codes below:

Secret pin code x7pwyz2005
Serial number 5368/02
REF No: UK/9420X2/68
TICKET No: 56475600545188
BATCH No: 2005MJL-01
LUCKY No: 887-13-865-37-10-83
To file for your claim fill the form below and send it to our payment
Parastatal:

Contact Person: Mr. Charles McCoy.
E-mail: cgnl_claimsdept002@hotmail.co.uk

PAYMENT PROCESSING FORM

1.Name.
2.Address.
3.Nationality.
4.Age.
5.Sex.
6.Occupation.
7.Phone/Fax.
8.Amount Won.

Sincerely,
Mr.Victor Brown.
CAMELOT UK NATIONAL LOTTERY.

--
This message has been scanned for viruses and
dangerous content by OpenProtect(http://www.openprotect.com), and is
believed to be clean.

Puff..................

Josh in Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, London

..........after spectacularly crashing and knocking himself clean out
at the London Metro Ski Show horryfying hundreds of spectators and
effectively ending the competition!!

Ambulanced to hospital A & E and now residing in the High Dependency
Unit.

Last heard asking if okay to compete in a different competion on the
Sunday and threatening to sue the hospital trust as his clothes were
cut off him........

One Million Great Britain Pounds

We are pleased to inform you that your email address as indicated was drawn and attached to ticket number 001768432463 with serial numbers FTS/8070337201/06 and
drew the lucky numbers 15-22-24-48-50-37(30) which subsequently won you 1,000,000.00 (One Million Great Britain Pounds).from the U.K
The draws registered as Draw number one was conducted in Brockley,London United Kingdom on the 5th October 2008.
Find below the details of the Claims Agent and contact him with the following details for verifications:

1.FULL NAME,2.FULL ADDRESS, 3.NATIONALITY
4.AGE,5.OCCUPATION,6.MOBILE/TELEPHONE NUMBER
7.DATE OF WINNING AWARD, 8.SEX, 9.TOTAL AMOUNT WON 10.TICKET/SERIAL NUMBERS.

AGENT NAME: Mr Albert Thomas (Claims Agent)
AGENT EMAIL albertthomas0001@hotmail.com

TREAT AS URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL.

FROM THE DESK OF ADAMU ATTAH
THE HEAD OF FILE DEPARTMENT, AFRICAN
DEVELOPMENT BANK (ADB)
OUAGADOUGOU BURKINA-FASO WEST AFRICA.
TREAT AS URGENT AND CONFIDENTIAL.
PLANE CRASH WEB SITE...http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/859479.st

("remittance of $15.5million u.s.a dollars confidential is the case")

compliments of the season 2008,

i am (adamu attah),head of file department & debt recovering in african development bank ouagadougou burkina-faso in west africa. first, i must solicit your confidence in this transaction.this is by virtue of its nature as being utterly confidential and top secret.

However after series of petition was recieved by this present regime from foreign contractors and inability of the african development bank (adb)to fulfill their obligation for the payment to its foreign creditors, in conjunction with the council of ministers, they mandated us to carry out a careful and comprehensive review of all overdue payments to foreign contractors and to effect payments immediately.

During the above mentioned process, we discovered an abandoned sum of us$15.5 m (fifteen million five hundred thousand us dollars) in an account that belongs to one of our foreign customer who died along with his entire family in a plane crash that happened in (monday 31st july 2000).since we got information about his death, we have been expecting his next of kin to come over and claim his money because we cannot release it unless some body applies for it as next of kin or relation to the deceased as indicated in our banking guidelines and laws but unfortunately we learnt that all his supposed next of kin or relation died alongside with him at the plane crash leaving nobody behind for the claim.

It is therefore upon this discovery that i and other officials in my
department now decided to make this business proposal to you and release the money to you as the next of kin or relation to the deceased for safety and subsequent disbursement since nobody is coming for it and we don't want this money to go into the bank treasury as unclaimed bill.

I agree that 40% of this money will be for you as a foreign partner, in respect to the provision of a foreign account,and 50% would be for me, while 10% will be for expenses incure during the transaction. there after i will visit your country for disbursement according to the percentage indicated.therefore, to enable the immediate transfer of this fund to you as arranged, you must apply first to the bank as relation or next of kin of the deceased indicating your bank name, your bank account number, your private telephone and fax number for easy and effective communication and location wherein the money will be remitted.

Upon the receipt of your reply, i will send to you by email the text of the application to fill and send to the bank. i will not fail to bring to your notice that this transaction is hitch-free risk and this transaction will only take us 14 banking days because as a banker, i know what to do and move the fund into your account without any delay and thatyou should not entertain any atom of fear as all required arrangement have been made for the transfer.
you should contact me as soon as you receive this letter so that i will send you the text of the application to apply to the bank and the data information of the deceased .

your's faithfully,

adamu attah
from (adb) ouagadougou burkina-faso.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
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Congratulation you have been awarded £850,000 from the OXFAM GB - UK the cash/grant donation Promo Contac Dr.Terry Williams. Email (drterrywilliams014@jmail.co.za)

Sir.Graham Mackay
Online Co-coordinator
Qualification Number(OG/N231/E101/BDB)

Can't be bothered to go to Norwich Jam

Nothing would be more boring for me (not the participants of course) as I HATE standing around as it is - but for a whole wkend...................

So Josh & Ellie have scrounged lifts and tent spaces whilst Francis hates me for pulling out!?!?!?

God willing no injuries??

Nose

>
>

> A Nice little picture of my nose, very swollen on the right side.

Fwd: Whistler, Diary - Almost Broken Nose

>
>

> Hey Guys
> The diary is interesting today as you may have gathered from the
> subject of the email
> Sunday 6th
> I got up today and headed down to breakfast. Woodsy was coming up
> today, just to ski around as he has hurt his knee, which is unlucky
> considering he is coming to Saas Fee for a month with me after
> Whistler. The weather was really overcast which was annoying; I was
> hoping to get 3rd time lucky with nice weather. But the rest of the
> week is meant to be sunny, which I look forward to. We had a
> different coach today as usual. I went straight back up the mountain
> with one intention, to land the trick I had been trying all day
> yesterday, and I did it 3rd time lucky, was really happy. I also did
> some work on the jumps, and after that headed to lunch. It was quite
> late after lunch so I didn't think it was worth starting to ride
> again, so I headed down. When I got down, I did some stuff on my
> laptop, and then swimming again. Swimming was good, we went for a
> quite a while. I watched some tele after swimming before waiting for
> dinner. Dinner was at a Mexican place, it was good food even though
> I didn't eat it all. After dinner we went to supermarket to get some
> food or the prize for winning poker, and then played poker. At one
> stage I was on the verge of winning but then I lost, so no food for
> me. I then watched American Pie 2 and 3 with woodsy before going to
> bed.
> Monday 7th
> As it was our rest day today, I was lucky enough to sleep in till
> 10. I went straight for breakfast, which wasn't at Merlin's today;
> it was pretty much a full English breakfast, except it wasn't
> English. After breakfast I messed around on my computer on the
> Internet until 1 o'clock where I then headed to paint balling. It
> was so much fun, and in the last game I took down a man with a head
> shoot. Boom!! I was super hot after paint balling so I decided to go
> swimming. We went for dinner after swimming, it was at a place
> called 21, really nice pasta. After dinner I didn't do much for a
> while and then ended up playing a long tactical game of poker before
> going to bed.
> Tuesday 8th
> I woke up to a blue sky without a cloud in sight. I was so happy
> ready for a good day of skiing. So as every other day I went to
> breakfast and then headed up the mountain. I must have spent a good
> hour helping the diggers getting the park in shape and then we were
> split into our groups. We started out by hitting the rails as the
> jump was taken so long to open. But when it did open I got straight
> on it, my first run was really fast and then I took another run on
> the jump and it was much slower. I came short of the knuckle and
> smashed my nose so hard in to my knee. So I chilled out in the
> Salomon tent, where a medic in the tent saw me and she took me to
> the top by skidoo. From there I downloaded down the lifts to the
> bottom> I got to the hotel and Melanie took me to the clinic. When I
> got there the receptionist was really unprofessional, she said I
> would have to have plastic surgery on my nose, and I wouldn't be
> able to fly back on Friday. But when I actually saw the doctor she
> said my nose isn't probably broken, I just need to ice to let the
> swelling down. So I was a little more relieved, I went back to the
> hotel to ice my nose and I plan to go back tomorrow to maybe have an
> x-ray. As Woodsy is injured I went for lunch with him.
> Cheers
> Josh

Fwd: Diary Update

Begin forwarded message:

From: josh birch <josh.birch@googlemail.com>

Date: 7 July 2008 02:10:03 BST

To: Alan Hides <ahides@hsdirect.co.uk>, Ali Hastings <ali.hastings@snozoneuk.com>, Alison Frew <allison@centris.co.uk>, Andy Frew <andyf@centris.co.uk>, Ben Clarke <benclarke@info-point.org.uk>, Berj Tekerian <btekerian@bucksgfl.org.uk>, Bob Roberts <roberts303@lycos.co.uk>, Dad <djxbirch@mac.com>, England Ski Team <escsc1@freestylesnowsports.co.uk>, Francesca Birch <francescabirch@hotmail.co.uk>, Ged Carney <g.carney@btconnect.com>, Graham Moore <graham@graham-moore.com>, Grandad Roberts <chinasolutions.uk@btinternet.com>, Grandpa Birch <birslackgrange@msn.com>, "Great Island (Triple Air Ltd)" <matthew@greatisland.co.uk>, James Golding <jgolding69@hotmail.com>, Jay Earles <jay@lab15.co.uk>, Johanna Guerin <johannaguerin@btinternet.com>, Kay Leggott <kay@ka7la1.demon.co.uk>, Lee HARDY <lee.hardy@scott-sports.uk.com>, Ludo Canu <ludo@unitedsnowriders.co.uk>, Mark Birch <mark.birch@it-consults.demon.co.uk>, Mark Watson <mark.watson@snozoneuk.com>, Martin Carr <martin.carr@freestylesnowsports.co.uk>, Matt D'arcy <hq@lineskis.co.uk>, Melody Sky <melodysky@melodysky.com>, Mike Smith <SKIEKIM@aol.com>, Mum <ccarrington-birch@boden.co.uk>, Ness Webb <ness_webb@yahoo.co.uk>, Rick Hutchings <rick_hutchings03@yahoo.com>, Sally Bartlett <info@skibartlett.com>, sally@skibartlett.com, terispencer@hotmail.co.uk, Uncle Sharpie <patsharples@hotmail.com>, Warren Smith <warrensmith@snowsportsynergy.com>, Webb Paul <paulrwebb@btconnect.com>, "Webb, Paul Richard" <paulrichard.webb@eds.com>

Subject: Diary Update

Hi Guys,
Just another diary update...

Saturday 5th
I got up and did the usual routine of getting breakfast at Merlin's and then heading up the mountain. The weather was really bad today with it raining and being cloudy. We had a different coach today. I started out with hitting the jumps, but the mist came in so we soon couldn't do that. Pretty much the rest of the day I spent trying to do a trick onto the rail, which I still didn't get. It was one of those things that are easy but also hard. I went to lunch later today, and then headed down rather than going to ski more.  In the afternoon it was raining, so we stayed in and went swimming. We killed time by chilling out in the hotel room on the Internet checking emails, etc whilst waiting for dinner. We went to the Spaghetti bar for dinner and it was really good. Although I had a migraine so my meal was ruined because I wasn't feeling good. On top of not feeling good, I somehow managed to lose my wallet with $250 in along with my bankcard. I managed to get my bankcard cancelled but haven't got the wallet back. The most annoying thing about losing the wallet was I didn't plan to spend all of the money, so I could have given some back to my dad. I was really annoyed after dinner, but I played poker and then started watching a film before I fell asleep.
Sunday 6th
I got up today and headed down to breakfast.  Woodsy was coming up today, just to ski around as he has hurt his knee, which is unlucky considering he is coming to Saas Fee for a month with me after Whistler. The weather was really overcast which was annoying; I was hoping to get 3rd time lucky with nice weather. But the rest of the week is meant to be sunny, which I look forward to. We had a different coach today as usual. I went straight back up the mountain with one intention, to land the trick I had been trying all day yesterday, and I did it 3rd time lucky, was really happy. I also did some work on the jumps, and after that headed to lunch. It was quite late after lunch so I didn't think it was worth starting to ride again, so I headed down. When I got down, I did some stuff on my laptop, and then swimming again.

Hope you like it,
Josh

Fwd: Whistler, Canada - Diary

Josh,

Thought I'd find you a few more to email!!!!

Aunts, Uncles, Godmothers, etc, etc.............

Dad

NB note Matt's new add's and Bob's work email add??

Begin forwarded message:

From: josh birch <josh.birch@googlemail.com>

Date: 5 July 2008 22:34:20 BST

To: Alan Hides <ahides@hsdirect.co.uk>, Ali Hastings <ali.hastings@snozoneuk.com>, Alison Frew <allison@centris.co.uk>, Andy Frew <andyf@centris.co.uk>, Ben Clarke <benclarke@info-point.org.uk>, Berj Tekerian <btekerian@bucksgfl.org.uk>, Bob Roberts <roberts303@lycos.co.uk>, Dad <djxbirch@mac.com>, England Ski Team <escsc1@freestylesnowsports.co.uk>, Francesca Birch <francescabirch@hotmail.co.uk>, Ged Carney <g.carney@btconnect.com>, Graham Moore <graham@graham-moore.com>, Grandad Roberts <chinasolutions.uk@btinternet.com>, Grandpa Birch <birslackgrange@msn.com>, "Great Island (Triple Air Ltd)" <matthew@greatisland.co.uk>, James Golding <jgolding69@hotmail.com>, Jay Earles <jay@lab15.co.uk>, Johanna Guerin <johannaguerin@btinternet.com>, Kay Leggott <kay@ka7la1.demon.co.uk>, Lee HARDY <lee.hardy@scott-sports.uk.com>, Ludo Canu <ludo@unitedsnowriders.co.uk>, Mark Birch <mark.birch@it-consults.demon.co.uk>, Mark Watson <mark.watson@snozoneuk.com>, Martin Carr <martin.carr@freestylesnowsports.co.uk>, Matt D'arcy <hq@lineskis.co.uk>, Melody Sky <melodysky@melodysky.com>, Mike Smith <SKIEKIM@aol.com>, Mum <ccarrington-birch@boden.co.uk>, Ness Webb <ness_webb@yahoo.co.uk>, Rick Hutchings <rick_hutchings03@yahoo.com>, Sally Bartlett <info@skibartlett.com>, sally@skibartlett.com, terispencer@hotmail.co.uk, Uncle Sharpie <patsharples@hotmail.com>, Warren Smith <warrensmith@snowsportsynergy.com>, Webb Paul <paulrwebb@btconnect.com>, "Webb, Paul Richard" <paulrichard.webb@eds.com>

Subject: Whistler, Canada - Diary

Hi All
As some of you already know, i am currently out in Whistler, Canada. I am here for a week then i am heading to Saas Fee in Switzerland for a month.
I was originally only going to Saas Fee but Whistler came as a late decision.
It is a super cool place, the weather hasnt been too good at the moment but its meant to get better.
As most of you know, i am known for writing my diarys of my holiday, so here it is.

Thursday 3rd
We got to Heathrow on time for once in my life so my Dad avoided having to drive down the pavement to make sure I boarded my flight like when I went to the British Championships last year. The long and laborious process of checking in, boarding etc wasn't so bad and the plane set of around half one. I was dreading the flight to Vancouver but it wasn't as bad as I thought, in actual fact it went rather quick. It would have seemed even quicker if I didn't keep checking the time every five minutes, but that's life. I met Alex in Vancouver airport and along with one other boy we set off to Whistler. The journey to Whistler wasn't too bad, it look roughly around 2 and half hours. I got to Whistler, it was a super nice place. I met Woodsy and got some food before going to the meeting. After the meeting we played a game of poker, chilled out and went to bed ready for the first day skiing.
Friday 4th
I woke up nice and early for skiing today. A few others and me headed over to the Merlin's restaurant for breakfast before heading up the lift. When I got up the mountain; I had a few warm up runs whilst they got the park fully sorted. After that we did a group stretch and got put into our groups. It was super cool as all the coaches are international pros. The weather was foggy and overcast most of the time, which wasn't the best. I had a good day; I took it easy with riding just to get warmed up. At around 12 we headed for lunch and then went back after to session the jump. We headed down the mountain around 2 o'clock; I pretty much chilled out all afternoon. We had dinner at 7; some nice chicken did me good. After dinner I went swimming with a few friends, the pool was nice and warm. Then I played poker again, I am really getting into that now. The jetlag caught up with me as I was super tired and went to sleep early.
Saturday 5th
I got up and did the usual routine of getting breakfast at Merlin's and then heading up the mountain. The weather was really bad today with it raining and being cloudy. We had a different coach today. I started out with hitting the jumps, but the mist came in so we soon couldn't do that. Pretty much the rest of the day I spent trying to do a trick onto the rail, which I still didn't get. It was one of those things that are easy but also hard. I went to lunch later today, and then headed down rather than going to ski more.

Hope your all well
Josh

Conditions Remain Perfect

Another 4-5 inches of snow overnight; this has been one of the best
Easter skiing holidays ever!!

Fresh Snow Everywhere!!!

Awesome - 14 April and fresh still coming down!!!!!!

A Great Day Out

A great day out in Les Gets and Zac actually starting to enjoy skiing!!!!!!!!!!!!

More Bloody Rain

More & More & More Bloody Rain!!

Two days now off non-stop rain and mist so thick you can't see a thing!!

Its all going wrong from a brilliant start to the
week.....................

We also thought we had a result last night with the last missing bag;
Catherine's from the debacle that is Terminal 5. A text to C said it
would be delivered between 7-9 and driver would ring when "near". Well
he did buy he was 5 mins from home in M/hd. How clueless & inept are
BA????

Went skiing after dropping Chris back to airport and picking up Bob.
It was pouring with rain and we were all swiftly soaked but better
than no skiing as per yesterday and everyone getting cabin fever from
doing nothing!

Had a long lunch out on the slopes and skied home in even heavier
rain. Thought we'd all be really down but everyone found it great fun.
Hopefully it will stop raining one day!!??

7pm and it started snowing - fantastic news! Continued snowing for
another 2 hours - hopefully temperature will also drop overnight so
pistes will be tip-top in the morning?

Weather forecast looking good for next few days.

Here's hoping conditions turn back our way.....................

Rain!!

Non-stop rain!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh dear..................heavy rain ALL day.

Gave up skiing 11:30am - its all going pear-shaped after a brilliant
start with powder everywhere?

Forecast not looking good either for next few days!!

Let's see what tomorrow brings.............

Another Good Day in the Snow

Everyone's getting tired...................

Very hard to get all the little ones (& me!) up on time for lessons
today.

We made it - just!!

Dropped others down to their lessons and then drove Josh, Ellie &
Francis round to Morzine to catch bubble up to Avoriaz and to hook up
with Terri for some pipe & park fun. Me and Cath went skiing with Ben,
his son Christian and Francesca, her boyfriend Chris and little Zac.
Had a good morning and a tasty lunch and whilst in there it started
snowing AGAIN - this is just the most incredible Easter I can remember!!

We made our way home in the white-out with both mini men struggling a
tad with the powder but having fun.

Pic is of Josh & Francis yesterday whilst we had the time of our life
in the fresh powder. In reality it could be anyone with all their
ganster garb! Worth mentioning that Francis was/is a total legend and
was sooooooo good in the powder yesterday. I am proud of all of them,
skiing or otherwise but Francis is awesome. He's a little machine that
tries so hard and is never fazed by anything and just enjoys anything
on snow. I think Josh is worried and quite rightly so as Francis is
going to catch him up and maybe even better him in the years
ahead.................

2 great iPhotos

IMG_0254.JPG

 

IMG_0255.JPG

 

Snow. Shedloads of it!!

Sometimes there is nothing to say or add.

Another foot overnight to add to yesterdays. Best day's skiing this
season by far. Resort EMPTY of powder everywhere.

Words cannot explain it..................

Still Snowing

Still Snowing!!

Unbelievable!!

What can I say?

Sugar!!

Oh No!!!!

Its happened - disaster.

As expected and feared they arrived 2 hours late.

But guess what happened out of terminal 5 - or does it need
explaining.....................

Yep - Catherine, Francesca and Chris's luggage not arrived. So they
are knackered for tomorrow and who knows how many days. I've bought
lessons for Chris from tomorrow, passes for all three from tomorrow.
So who will rembirse them, me, us for all the losses and consequential
losses.

At Geneva they were given NO information, no help, nothing. Totally,
totally shocking. Apart from "you can drive back tomorrow and see if
they've arrived". How pathetic is that.

So 3 people unable to ski tomorrow. No clean clothes, no underwear, no
toothbrush. Thanks for cocking up our hols BA!! Don't be surprised to
see losses in business over the next year or so? And as usual no one
will be held accountable..............

Total balls.

Pain in the Arse BA

Got up 6am to tidy apt for 3 hours whilst my children slept! When will
I get anything near a bit of TLC for my b'day - suppose its long gone
now!!

Left 9:15am sharp and it took 5 hours - just did not realise the
distance between Laax and Les Gets. As we left it was snowing again in
Laax - incredible! Used sat nav and as usual it took us over some
mountain ranges - intruiging............... Josh and Ellie were great
company sleeping all the way whilst I had to contend with two
bickering brothers in the rear.

Got into Les Gets and spent 2 hours sorting passes for Catherine,
Francesca & Zac for "x" no. of days, then Chris (Chesc's boyfriend)
for x days and then Ben (old friend) and his son for a different no.
of days!!!! Then to sort 4 sets of ski lessons one-on-one for Zac,
Chris, Ben and his son, Christian all for different amounts of days.
Crying out loud - its hard enough running my clan alone! Finally to
ski hire shop to sort kit for Chris, Ben and Christian.

Up to apt - lovely and a right result! Plenty, plenty roomy for all
and not far from slope.

Then back to shop for next 2-3 days of food mindful of all my kids
different requirements, two non-flesh eaters, etc, etc, etc. Then back
to apt to make all beds (lazy chalet gits hadn't bothered), make tea
for all, wash and then airport to pick others up. Even if on time
another 3-4 he round trip!

I am mindful I may be sounding a tad self-pitying but I am knackered
and tired of sorting everything and everyone!!

Ben's flight via easy-muck-up is on time and gets in 7:20 but I'm
intending to get there 8ish as Cath, Chesc & Chris due in via BA and
terminal 5 at 8:20. Oh dear too true to be true; BA & terminal 5
totally cocked up and they are now due in 10pm due to 1st "waiting for
a member of staff" -eh?? And 2nd "luggage loaded onto the wrong
plane". Priceless!!

So currently sat outside Geneva airport waiting................so
frustrating as not driving in to be ripped off yet Ben stuck there
with his 6 year old and Geneva airport is THE dumps. Also you can't
drive in and wait at the drop off or pick-up points as the Swiss
police will execute you on the spot. I jest you not; last time I
explained that Catherine was literally on her way a policeman was un-
hostering his gun!! Give it large now - where were they in WW2?????

Will try and update this before I go to bed but my brain is aching I'm
so tired and irritated.................

Double Celebration, Double Celebration

Celebrate Good Times, C'mon On........................

Hurrah.................a sunny day and Zac actually up the mountain
skiing! FANTASTIC conditions; bluebird sky and 2-3 feet of powder
everywhere.

Everyone having the time of their lives - really good to see. Zac was
really good confidently handling red runs straight away, but sadly
falling into a grump after a few mins after the others went to enjoy
the pow as I took him on the pistes!

Then off for a coffee and a chill out and to throw snowballs at
passing competitors as we watched the British Big Air Championships.
Francis was pulling excellent 3's ( a full rotation in the air off a
jump) in practice but I think tiredness and nerves got the better of
him as he crash landed both his qualifying runs. He was down-ish but
ok; just disappointed more than anything. Ellie's two runs were
excellent; first a safety run, a big straight air with a spread off
the 2nd highest kicker and then a smooth 360. Josh; can't remember
what he did as his standard is so advanced - don't know if he's
spinning round 2, 2 and a half or 3 times it all happens so fast but
now he's moved up a year he's in the youth mens category and the
standard is superb.

Isaac and I headed down at 3ish as he was totally knackered just from
2 hours skiing and another 2 hours of fresh air after being inside for
a week, and being so ill for over a week. Once home I was lucky to
enough to be subjected to another episode of Lord of the Rings before
he went for a power nap and I tidied up for 2 hours and that wasn't
even breaking the back of this pigsty............

Out for a meal at 7 with about 25 other skiers and families to
celebrate my b'day and then to prize giving. Josh unfortunately didn't
place again in his age group and I know he was desperately
disappointed as he hoped to get a 3rd I think after a number of his
competitors took falls today. Francis was a nothing again due to his 2
falls and being so young but AGAIN the star of the show was Ellie
coming 2nd in her age group in the "British Big Air Championships"; an
outstanding achievement and we're all really proud of her. She really
worked hard in February with lots of practicing and deserved her place.

Sadly the judging was its usual madness. For the British Big Air
Champs a new ski manufacturer on the block; Faction Skis was offering
a sponsorship deal (or maybe it was just a "one-off" pair of their
skis) for the best unsponsored rider for both female and male
categories irrespective of age. So the winner of Ellie's age group
girls is sponsored by Salomon. So they decide to award it to the 3rd
placed girl BEHIND Ellie as she was 2nd? When I questioned the team
manager of Faction he told me he knew nothing about it and had nothing
to do with the judging. When I questioned the main man/organiser he
explained it went to the best unsponsored girl. When I explained that
should mean Ellie as she came SECOND and the girl who go it came THIRD
he went "oh". Someone help me on this one...............................

ANYWAY, fantastic week for all three of the kids, especially Francis
who was just loved by everyone for his skill and bravery at such a
young age and Ellie for her two 2nd places.

Off to bed shortly and then pack and head for Les Gets for another two
weeks of skiing

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3rd Apr

So after 6-7 days of Isaac being sick as a dog he's better.

Manage to persuade him to go skiing, get suited and booted, head off
to slopes bang on 8:30 and...................................slopes
shut due to "high winds & poor visibility"!!

Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

So off home to start on the Lords of the Rings
Trilogy......................

Eventually they open one, yes one lower lift for people (am I being
cynical again or is to avoid issuing lift pass refunds) but all 3 head
up for some fun. Both boys return by lunch but Ellie stays out ALL day
having the time of her life in the very deep powder. The "Big Air
British Championships" are also cancelled/postponed for the day.

Ellie went roof jumping in the powder; literally find buildings such
as wood stores, climb or ski up them and ski jump off. She has some
amazing footage on her camera phone of a few of them doing it off a 30
foot drop/building. Brilliant fun!!

Snow, Snow and Snow!!

Non-stop snowing ALL day and more forecast tonight and tomorrow.

Hope the same is happening in Led Gets (where our actual holiday is
after this week) - if it is as are in for an awesome Easter
holiday........

May as well start off with the Zac health bulletin; another night of
"the runs" - feel so sorry for him!! He slept in till 10am today -
unprecedented for him!! Felt a little better and had some bread (with
marmite - why? Its the vilest substance known to man) and Terri and I
managed to persuade him to go for a little afterbiib ski. Got suited
and booted and made it to bottom lift at 1pm only to be met by people
streaming back down off the mountain because of blizzards and a
complete white-out............................bloody hell!!!!! Am I
actually gonna ski this week. So another boring afternoon.

We cooked in tonight - curry - due to an "incident" at the only cheap
restaurant in town, last night. We were told last night not to
return..................that's another story!!

Today was the skiercross competition and Josh & Ellie hadn't entered
as its "not their thing". Francis had and made it to the final of his
age group yet didn't actually race the final?? It was either
incompetence of organisers telling him or him being gormless, or a
combination; either way he didn't race the final.

Anyway, good-ish day and we're all off to bed. Want to try and get
some photo's one day this week..............

Dominic Birch

Sent from my iPhone so apologies for brevity of message. And remember;
avenge my death.

Ellie Comes 2nd in Her Age Catergory at the UK British Championships!!

Another day not skiing with Zac (are these updates about skiing or
Zac's health!?!?). He was up during the night for two hours with one
of his infamous, non-stop nosebleeds........... Again too weak and
tired to ski. But he was better by 5pm after I was forced into playing
Sims with him on Ellie's Macbook for eight hours solid?

Kids had another awesome day in the park competing in the British
Slopestyle Champioships. Look it up online if you've no idra what that
is; combination of tricks and jumps off rails and ramps. Was told by
all & sundry how well they'd all done but will wait for prize-giving
to see if the normal illogical, Sheffield-biased, "favoured persons"
total bollocks judging (if that's what its called) pans out............

Kids went swimming again and returned blue as usual; why do these
hotels advertise pools and then put their temperatures lower than the
North Sea; is it to actively discourage people from actually using
them or am I being cynical??

Well judging came and yippee; the girls judging was actually spot on
according to all participants and crowds. Ellie got 2nd place in the
British Slopestyle championships and came 5th overall in the country/
out of all participants. Now I am a proper happy "competitive
dad"!!!!! Francis got nothing though but he is only 8 competing in the
U14's. Josh got shafted by illogical and unfair judging and, as
everyone else in the hall, was totally flabbergasted that he was
beaten by someone who fell twice? I do feel sorry for him as it IS
just total nonsense this dodgy judging. It IS always the same
favourites who get placed whatever they do or however they perform.
The organisers need to realise that people spend a LOT of money, time
and effort getting over here and everything should be scrupulously
fair and above board.

Anyway; looking forward to tomorrow and actually skiing! Got Zac in
lessons from 9-11am for the last three days......................

another wasted day

Poor old Zac slept for the whole day, only waking for the occasional
drink and breath of fresh air.

I had to carry on cracking thru series 4 of "24" which, whilst
initially entertaining, beacame somewhat boring.

Josh, Ellie and Francis came down from the mountain having had a great
day. Josh didn't make the final of the half-pipe competition but he
always knew this year was going to be hard as he'd moved up into youth
men catergory......

Everyone I met this afternoon or evening were singing the praises of
Ellie and Francis and everyone was confident Ellie would get 2nd or at
worst 3rd place in her catergory. Although Francis did well he's still
too young to be thinking of places and just enjoys competing.

So 5pm and Zac finally awake and feeling better...................all
the kids went swimming and then tea and off to the Riders Palace for
the awards ceremony for todays catergory of the half-pipe. As usual
Ellie didn't get a placing despite all and sundry claiming she was 2nd
or 3rd best today. What is the point sometimes of these competitions
as the same judges and always the same favourites. Half the judges
from Sheffield area and as ever the Sheffield girls/northeners win. I
do mind although I'm not bitter but I am pissed at the amount of
effort, time and money I put in to getting the kids to training, to
practicing, to holidays etc to train and on and on and on and on,
never mind the bloody entrance fees!!!!!!!!!!

I just want a level playing field and fairness in the judging.

Oh well - life I suppose and Ellie and others are enjoying it.

Hopefully Zac and I can get some skiing in
tomorrow...........................

Sunday 30th

What a TOTALLY boring day for Zac and I............

He was still too ill to go skiing so we spent the day in the apartment
watching video's and had a couple of little walks but he's just so
weak and tired from no food as he can't keep anything down.

Made it to the ski school to book him some private lessons for
tomorrow but he was NOT happy at that prospect and kicked off about
that!

Ellie and Josh were texting me from the hill to say they hated one
another so at least I could relax knowing them two were happy!!
Francis was apparently happy in his own world skiing all the jumps, etc.

Josh, Ellie and Francis came down at 3ish and Zac perked up a bit to
see Francis and they took him swimming and to the games room for a
couple of hours. Went for a (another) pizza at 7pm and then back to
watch vids and an early night with the two min-men.

Then.................................................it got worse with
Zac. Up all night with the runs; when is he going to get better? Two
to three days of throwing up and now the runs; he is soooooooo weak
and tired with absolutely no food kept down for a few days now. Trying
to keep him on fluids so he doesn't dehydrate but they go straight
through him as well!!

End of a long, long day..........

CRYING OUT LOUD.....................

What an absolute and total bloody bore. I said last time when I drove
through the day it was the last ever time I did
this..............................

Got in to Laax at 6:30 and checked in. Hotel very nice, apartments
attached at back not quite so nice!! Bit tired and need re-vamping?

Met a few faces and then out for a meal with many others, notably
Yvvette and Steve - so nice to see friendly faces again. Met a woman
who say opposite for me and then bull-shitted for an hour about how
great her sons were!!

This is what I DESPISE about this freestyle malarkey and all sport in
general with competitive, cock parents!!

Please tell me I'm not gonna get this total bollocks all
week..............

Anyway off to bed - knackered!!!!!

Dominic Birch

Sent from my iPhone so apologies for brevity of message. And remember;
avenge my death.

We're Off!! Laax, Switzerland

For the freeski british championships for a week (& then onto Les Gets
where Catherine, Francesca & boyfriend Chris join us - that's Chesc's
boyfriend - not Catherines!) with Josh, Ellie, Francis & Zax.

Supposed to get 1am Chunnel, drive for 2-3 hrs, have a snooze and then
crack on, hopefully arriving mid afternoon. That's all gone pear-
shaped with Issac off school all day Friday throwing up! We thought
he was better and packed the car, and right on time, 10:30pm he
started throwing up again.

So; decided to have a sleep and see how he felt. Got up 4am & drove
like a madman to get to check-in 30 mins prior to departure of 6:50
Chunnel. What a waste of time that was as they told us it was full and
I'd have to get 7:20am and "because it was in peak period I'd have to
pay £50"!!!! Convenient??

Well we're now on "7:20" and yet my watch says its 7:55 and we are
stationery............

Everyone is tired and grumpy, boys are arguing about which DS game
they want to play (counted up how many we had before we left and they
have over 40!!) and now, to top it all off, Issac has just announced
he's still feeling sick and is "going to vomit all over Ellie any
minute". Angelic child.

Badly taken pic is two of them on Chunnel waiting to go.

NOT looking forward to todays drive - am seriously getting sick of
driving all the time. Next year I am defo gonna fly Feb holiday to
break it all up; seems like only yesterday I was driving back from
Morzine/Feb hols........

THE END

Its all over..................

Everyone tired out and getting ready for a 4am start and homeward bound.

Today was another stupendous day for majority in park; JF nailed
switch 9 mute off big lump of snow. JB nailed 720 double safety grab.
Francis continued perfecting his 3's & Ellie sat out. And Rob kept
falling and Teri was a no-show (claims working).

Votes of the day;
Fran; Coward=Teri & Skier=JF
Ellie; Coward=Rob & Skier=Daddy
JF; Coward=Teri & Skier=Rob (for being first to the lifts again)
JB; Coward=Rob & Skier=JF
Roberto; Coward=Teri & Skier=no vote as being silly
Teri; no votes as no show
Papa Dom; Coward=Teri & Skier=JF

JF gets skier of the day - saved it till last!!!!!!

Will let you all know how journey home goes & my summary of this
simply smashing week.

Competitive Dad

Dominic Birch

Sent from my iPhone so apologies for brevity of message. And remember;
avenge my death.

Our Great iMovie!

Our latest and greatest iMovie is now available on YouTube. You can view it at:

Feb 08 Part Two

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwBQZMwrlKQ

Although a few spills Josh gets his first 9, Ellie her first 5's and Francis his first 3's off a big kicker

Enjoy!

Dominic Birch

This message is intended for the above named only and may be privileged or confidential. If this message has come to you in error, you may not copy, distribute or take action based on it; please notify "competitivedad enterprises ltd" immediately by replying to the sender. Any views expressed in this email are those of the original sender, except where the sender specifically states them to be the views of Big Dom, T/a "competitivedad enterprises ltd".

competitive dad enterprises ltd is not registered in England, Wales, Scotland, the Cayman Islands or anywhere else.

Please consider your environmental responsibility before printing this email.

And remember; avenge my death.

13 great iPhotos

Spent another great day in the park with Francis progressing to 3's off BIG kickers and Ellie on 5's from the same BIG kicker.

JB achieved his 1st 9 and JF got his 1st landed switch 9

AWESOME day all round

Coward of the day - unaminous vote by all - Gayvin

Skier of the day

Francis votes Ellie cos she got her first 5

Ellie votes JB cos he got his first 9

JF votes Rob "cos he likes his bottom, sorry, grbs

JB votes Ellie cos she got her 1st 5

Rob votes for his pupil Francis for his 3's

Teri votes for her star pupil Ellie for her 5's and bravery

Papa-Dom votes for JF for overall jumping

As you can see from enclosed photo's it was a great day shadowed by Ellie's fall. Thankfully nothing broken so she's free to ski another day.

Hopefully we'll post another episode of youtube tomorrow morning (as internet so slow) as its edited and ready to go.

Everyone sad today as last full day tomorrow..........................

Been a brilliant holiday and although we've met the usual cocks we've also met up with and skied with some great characters such as Rob, Teri and not forgetting George Walton, Joe Tomlinson and others.....

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My Great iMovie!

My latest and greatest iMovie is now available on YouTube. You can view it at:

Feb 08

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDMG4kuwrII

Enjoy!

Dominic Birch

djxbirch@mac.com

This message is intended for the above named only and may be privileged or confidential. If this message has come to you in error, you may not copy, distribute or take action based on it; please notify "competitivedad enterprises ltd" immediately by replying to the sender. Any views expressed in this email are those of the original sender, except where the sender specifically states them to be the views of Big Dom, T/a "competitivedad enterprises ltd".

competitive dad enterprises ltd is not registered in England, Wales, Scotland, the Cayman Islands or anywhere else.

Please consider your environmental responsibility before printing this email.

And remember; avenge my death.

Another Awesome Day inthe Portes Du Soliel

another totally, totally brilliant day

another early start (after another late night watching DVD's) to bus stop outside hotel - 8:45

rob forced himself to re-join us after a late night, along with Teri again and today we got the whole route nailed

met george in avoriaz baby park and off we all headed;

1st to chatel via linga and then attempted to get bus to super chatel but ended up going back to linga! so stayed on bus back to chatel and got off to wait for new bus to super chatel - as i was getting off bus i checked with driver and he said stay on this bus to super chatel - so back onto same bus again..................

got to super chatel and then the horrible walk from the bus stop uphill and thousands of steps to super chatel bubble. took bubble up and found the super-chatel park which was rated the following;

teri - 4/10

JF - 6/10

JB - 2/10

francis - 7/10

ellie - 6/10

did 3-4 runs where competitive dad got massive air off side of green kicker and then nigh on back-flipped hip - everyone thought he was great and could win every catergory in the masters brits

had a LOVELY steak lunch where the meat was nigh on not actually being cooked................

then onto morgins but as usual when the snow is not plentiful there was no run down to it so we had to chair it down - thank the good lord i overruled everyone who wanted to "chance it" - when we looked back up the hill it was just green grass without a drop of snow

then blasting our way all the way round morgins to closets and then back into avoriaz about 4pm

really, really, really good day - no real park action but all agreed it was an ace day and loads of fun - made our way down thru the fools, idiots and punters and back into morzine 5pm

off to the jacuzzi and now gotta think of something for tea but get the feeling all will be asking for pizza's again..............

till tomorrow.......................

Relaxing after a hard days cruising in the Portes Du Soliel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4 great iPhotos

On our first runs of the day......................

Francis racing the flats

 

nathian, rob, terry, JB & JF

 

nathian, rob, teri, JB, JF & francis

 

ellie

 

HOW embarassing!

Teri the mong managed to cock up getting on a simple chairlift

HOW embarassing!

 

soooo looking forward to the day ahead!

Early start as we head for the "full tour" of the resort.

Where's the bus and JF looks like he's got special needs!!

soooo looking forward to the day ahead!

 

RE: Mon Update

ha ha ha, thats so funny and loving the updates, keep em coming! Wish I was out there playing with you guys, sounds so much fun.

U sharpie
----------------------------------------
> From: djxbirch@mac.com
> To: patsharples@hotmail.com; yfawcett@hotmail.com; djxbirch.anticipate@blogger.com
> Subject: Mon Update
> Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:58:12 +0000
>
> 7:30 and just had tea but had to add to info already
> supplied...............
>
> COWARDS
>
> JB, JF & Ellie. Made a girl-strength curry for tea and the only one
> that could take it was Francis!! At least Ellie admitted it was too
> hot for her!!! The two gay-boys were holding hands under the table,
> crying and claiming it was too hot for their lips. Total
> lightweights............
>
> Pic is of them entertaining themselves come evening time and Ellie is
> in another corner on her lappy - what's it all about?? Everyone seems
> to have lost the power of conversation!
>
> Also outstanding is a Birch tradition; skier of the day and coward of
> the day. Catherine always tells me off for doing coward of the day but
> its gotta be done.......
>
> Sat/1st day;
> - coward of the day -: no votes
> - skier of the day -: Dad (yippee)
>
> Sun/2nd day;
> - coward of the day -: Dad (bottled out of skiing all day)
> - skier of the day -; JB (front flipped all 3 kickers in a row in park)
>
> Mon;
> - cowards of the day:- Webbo, Bungle and Gayvin for not even coming up
> the hill
> - skier of the day -: Ellie AND Francis -tied vote!!!!! Ell & Frankie
> got big in the pipe and both got alleyoops and 360 alleyoops
>
> Roll on tomorrow..............
>
>

_________________________________________________________________
Share what Santa brought you
https://www.mycooluncool.com

Mon Update

7:30 and just had tea but had to add to info already
supplied...............

COWARDS

JB, JF & Ellie. Made a girl-strength curry for tea and the only one
that could take it was Francis!! At least Ellie admitted it was too
hot for her!!! The two gay-boys were holding hands under the table,
crying and claiming it was too hot for their lips. Total
lightweights............

Pic is of them entertaining themselves come evening time and Ellie is
in another corner on her lappy - what's it all about?? Everyone seems
to have lost the power of conversation!

Also outstanding is a Birch tradition; skier of the day and coward of
the day. Catherine always tells me off for doing coward of the day but
its gotta be done.......

Sat/1st day;
- coward of the day -: no votes
- skier of the day -: Dad (yippee)

Sun/2nd day;
- coward of the day -: Dad (bottled out of skiing all day)
- skier of the day -; JB (front flipped all 3 kickers in a row in park)

Mon;
- cowards of the day:- Webbo, Bungle and Gayvin for not even coming up
the hill
- skier of the day -: Ellie AND Francis -tied vote!!!!! Ell & Frankie
got big in the pipe and both got alleyoops and 360 alleyoops

Roll on tomorrow..............

End of 2nd day

Good day had by all

Josh & Josh had fun in pipe am and then 2 parks in the afternoon

Ellie & Francis spent day training with Rob Taylor - cool guy; not a
popstar at all........!!

RE: First day, first thing!

Hey guys.

Thanks for the updates. So jealous as im stuck in the Chill Factor! Please keep updating us and sending pics. Have a fantastic week and will be thinking of you all.

U Sharpie
----------------------------------------
> From: djxbirch@mac.com
> To: patsharples@hotmail.com; yfawcett@hotmail.com; djxbirch.anticipate@blogger.com
> Subject: First day, first thing!
> Date: Sat, 16 Feb 2008 12:06:37 +0000
>
> Met up with Mavin.......
>

_________________________________________________________________
Share what Santa brought you
https://www.mycooluncool.com

Francis worn out after 1st full morning

& two v.late nights at lunch!!

First day, first thing!

Met up with Mavin.......