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

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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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!