Once on the train Squidge and I had a bit of fun.

We had a fantastic time on the train and Squidge just loved the chugga chugga sound the train made.  It’s a shame I didn’t research it a bit more as it was some sort of steam engine festival/gala/day and some ‘famous’ trains were out and about.  Not knowing anything about any of them I didn’t really go out of my way to photograph any of them.  I did take a bucket load of photos and they will be making an appearance on my Flickr site so if you really want to see trains you should head over there!  On Saturday we went to a birthday party but that’s a post for another day as it’s 1:30 and I really should go to bed!

We were all pretty exhausted by the time we arrived at our chalet. We met our chalet girl and settled into our room. Then dinner where we met all the other chalet guests. I had NEVER done anything like this and it was lots of fun. It was very homey– kind of like meeting your dorm mates in college for the first time.

On Sunday we sorted nursery and lessons. We decided that I would get more out of one-on-one lessons, I booked 2 lessons. My first one was on Monday and my parting words to Wal were something like ’ I effing hate you and I effing hate this’. Hmm can you sense my excitement at the thought of actually having to put my skis on? Tomás (my French skiing instructor) was trés cute and I had images of my humiliating myself for his enjoyment and pleasure. Sadly I didn’t disappoint on this. My first lesson went well. Didja know I have really good balance? Not bad for a woman of my mature age who has ZERO experience with anything sporty. During the second part of my lesson Tomás wanted to take me up to a practice area on the mountain. I tried to explain to him my fear of heights but he pretended he didn’t understand me and took me up anyway. I was scared shit-less but didn’t do too badly. On the first lesson I only fell twice– pretty darn good as far as I’m concerned. In case you were wondering Squidge was at a really cute French nursery while I was out torturing humiliating enduring enjoying my lesson. I took a break the next day and Squidge and I played in the snow while Wal Skied.

Wednesday I had my final lesson. This time he took me up the mountain and wanted me to ski down a piste. I didn’t want to go but I remembered that we had paid a whole lotta money for the lessons his French charms worked on me and I agreed to ski down. I think ski might be over stating what I actually did. I snowplowed very very very (did I mention very?) slowly down the mountain then took a chair lift up again and skied down to where I started then took the gondola down. I would have skied down all the way but it changes from a green (very easy) to a blue (more difficult) run and I just couldn’t do that to myself. There were tears, lots of cursing (with Tomás telling me I was using bad words and me telling him to get used to it as I was planning on using many many more that afternoon) and a couple of tumbles. My second fall I hurt my knee. What do you do when you hurt your knee while on the side of a mountain? You keep skiing because you don’t want to be ‘rescued’ too embarrassing.
Then we met up again and played in the snow again.

We had a bit to eat.

I rested my knee on Thursday which is why I was on my way to the hot tub. On Friday afternoon Wal and I dropped Squidge off at nursery and I slowly, grudgingly trudged to the gondola whining that my knee hurt and that I was scared and I didn’t want to go.. whine..whine..whine. There were tears and lots of huffing and puffing while I psyched myself up to get going. It ended up being fun (in a weird way) and I’m looking forward to our next ski trip. And THAT my friends is a statement I never thought I would say. Next time we’ll use a more ‘family friendly’ holiday company. Once we got to the chalet First Choice was great and we really enjoyed ourselves. It was just that we were the only ones with a kid that added a bit of stress.

We went skiing with these folks.

Sam is an old friend of Wal’s and Kate is his new girlfriend. They’re still very much in love (yuck!)

and I vaguely remember feeling that way about Wal. I’m joking around of course, they were great and we’re hoping to see them again soon.

All in all it was a good time. It was hard work. Going on holiday with a toddler is sooo much more difficult than going on your own but you know that going in. Once the holiday is over you kind of forget the bad bits.

Edited to add:
Just to clarify, I DID in fact have a good time. It was just NOT a relaxing holiday– it’s not in the nature of a skiing holiday to be relaxing. Am I looking forward to doing it again? YES! It’s the type of thing that scares me half to death but also makes me want to improve and see what this skiing thing is really all about. So bring it on Tomás. I’ll see you next year and maybe just maybe I’ll do a black blue run!

I’m here.  I’m alive. I’m having a good time. Squidge is in nursery– crying her eyes out and I’m about to hit the hot tub.  I know life is tough. 

I’ve had two lessons and I actually ski snowplowed down a piste (actually 2).  I can’t say it was the most fun I have ever had but I didn’t hate it and I’m still alive. 

Just to confirm I’ll be back in the UK Saturday evening so I won’t be blogging til then.  This is mainly for my mother who was VERY concerned I hadn’t blogged since last Thursday– I guess she didn’t understand what I meant when I said– see ya next week!!

I have a feeling it will look more like this.

I just really hope I don’t end up looking like this.

So wish me luck– I fear I’m going to need it and I’ll see you all in a week.

We finally took off around 10pm!  Squidge was OK.  She’s a difficult traveler because she really only likes to sleep in her bed.  In order for her to sleep on a plane I have to let her cry and scream for about 1/2 hour.  Not fun for me, her or the other passengers.  All and all it went well.  We missed our connection in Amsterdam of course.  I went to the transfer desk only to be told that all flights to Manchester were booked and the earliest flight he could get me on was at 9:30 that evening (it was 10:30am) I almost started crying at this point.  I asked him to please please see if there was anything he could do for us as we’d been traveling since 3pm yesterday!  After about 30 minutes of typing and phone calls he finally got us on the 1pm flight– YAY!  I could have kissed him.  We got into Manchester around 2 and I was just exhausted and Squidge was really good but was beyond exhausted.  We needless to say missed little Noah’s birthday party.  I will say that I LOVE KLM.  They really know how to treat people.  Northwest sucks big hairy balls and the people at the gate are mean and nasty people. 

So anyway we’re home– safe and sound.  Here are some of my favorite photos from the week.