What goes on tour......

So I spent 4 days in St Anton.  Which can only be described as ..... Decadent.  We went for David's boss/friend 50th Birthday.  Massively, generous he paid for all our accommodation in the most amazing Mooser Hotel. In total I think there were about 24 of us. To cut a long story short. Within 5 hours of us arriving we were dancing on the tables in the Mooservirt (après bar attached to our hotel)... That is pretty much how it continued.  I have never drunk so much expensive wine, champagne.... and Jaiger Bombs!  Someone described it was like telling a group of 24 people they had 6 months to live! One lunch came to EUR 14,500. Epic! Not the cheapest 4 days of our lives and maybe made a bit of a mockery of David having a go at me 2 days before for spending £80 on a pair of snow/hiking boots. (Especially as they were £160 elsewhere).  Anyway, we will be able to eat for the rest of the year (just about) and it was an amazing way to spend your 50th with fun filled memories for all of us. Thank you Orf and I hope it was worth it xxx

Skiing wise, despite I have never been on a snow holiday and skied less. It was perfect and without doubt one of the most successful for me.  I am a complete coward up mountains, there is no other way to put it! People are usually quite shocked by this, my husband included. But if I'm honest my emotions go from sheer terror to satisfied exhaustion at its best. I had never even been up a mountain until David took me when I was about 30. Where I learnt to snowboard (skiing was not cool). To be honest I was alright, for the first holiday in Tahoe. But, it went downhill from there (ha, ha).  I do totally believe I would have been much more successful if I had had someone to snowboard with. But it's quite a lonely place up the mountain when your not good at something and your on your own. These and David would agree, we're not his finest moments. So eventually after broken ribs I just stopped. 

Then at 40 we were asked to go with a group to Austria.... Orf and Sandra again :-) and I learnt to ski! Wow, how easy is skiing! In the 4 days in ski school I fell over twice (this would be my best 30 minutes snowboarding).  The next year, went to ski school again and had to start all over again. But enjoy the camaraderie that comes with ski school and then go and après with everyone else.  Not ideal but better. Although, if I'm honest it's still not my favourite place to be. 

This year I was determined to progress. So although due to lunches etc I knew we would only ski in the morning, I had to move on with it. In a now or never type way. So I booked a private instructor for my first 3 hours. Joined by the lovely Sam and Ian. Sam an exceptional horsewoman with a heart as big as the moon (for animals anyway) and Ian the fabulous husband of my other friend. Both of which were as nervous as me and in need of some help. This went well and got me up to speed quickly.  Now just for repetition and practise to get the feeling.

Without boring you to death about skiing the same nursery slope for 2 days and my left side issue..... The final day ended in Fraser (Sam's exceptionally patient husband, who also happens to be the most phenomenal skier) along with David (changed man) got Sam and I from the top of the mountain to the hotel! I only had one hissy fit and took my skis off (seriously I have no pride) but as long as I stay in my rhythm I can get down the mountain.  I may add as this is St Anton a notoriously hard mountain where most of the blues are red runs.  I skied a red!
It was exhausting and looking back. I think I loved it.  I certainly wasn't terrified just tired in the end. Turning right is an issue for me and when I get scared my brain freezes (way out of the learning zone) and it must boil down to me not being able to unconsciously put my weight into the left of my body. So as long as I keep turning to reassure myself I can and keep weight left. I can ski!

Now trying to remember all this when I go again next year, is another matter......