This is a bit posey... I hadn't seen the kiddie-winks for a while, and we always liked to go skiing together... but I was in Hong Kong and they were in England.... so where to go..?? We'd "done" Europe enough by now, but didn't fancy inflicting ourselves on the poor unsuspecting Japanese or Korean ski-resorts. Naturally we thought about US resorts but - I think - because of easier flight connections decided on good old Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia.

As it turned out - flights weren't all that conducive - mine from Hong Kong arrived in Vancouver about 07:00AM in the morning and the kids came in from London about 17:00 in the afternoon. Apparently the shuttle-bus to Whistler took about 2 hours - so I decided I'd just hang around the airport 'til they arrived - boring!!

They eventually arrived having spent a lot of the flight on the flight-deck apparently - and they were most unimpressed with the lack of "flying" the crew had to do... they said the pilot said "watch this" - got a radio message to turn to a new heading, just leaned over and turned a knob onto the new heading - and the plane just banked and re-settled itself.

We got ourselves onto the shuttle bus and Brittsy I remember was looking out the window watching "everything" - mostly mountains, snow, fir trees and log-houses whilst Inga and I fell asleep in the warmth. On reaching the resort we eventually were let off at our "residence" - again Brittsy and I remember so well - waiting on the pavement (for the driver to open up the baggage compartment) whist behind us Inga was getting herself off the bus. The next we heard was a sort of FALUMPH sound (for those of you who know - just like a pile of snow falling off a roof) and we turned round to see Inga flat on her back on a pile of snow - she'd completely missed her footing getting off the bus and had - luckily - broken her fall with the nearest offering... what a laugh!! We nearly collapsed... what a start to a skiing holiday!! The people on reception must have wondered what sort of a family they were getting!!

This is a "resort hand-out photo" of Whistler Blackcombe - miles and miles of skiing - but alas for us the weather was mostly overcast and dull.

Skis, boots and ski-lesson booking the next morning - and I think we had the rest of the day to ourselves - kids wanted to ski for a day or two - then switch to snow-boarding - I stayed on skis - sitting on your bum in the snow most of the day didn't appeal...

Our intrepid duo... see the heavy cloud...?? -and all of a sudden - the first day's skiing was over...

English couple we met at the bottom of the ski-lifts - there was a collection of Brazilian guys who were having a good time at the main bar... basically - raining...

Back home - get washed and dressed....

Off out for dinner - don't think we ate in the same place twice - big choice and very pleasant

Next day - no piccies....

Day after only this one...

Looks a bit brighter....

The following day - a big day for piccies...

Just setting off from our apartment...

No, of course that isn't my glove at left - professional photographers don't do things like that!!

Our ski-teach at left, and 2 members of our "class" - shame - have forgotten her name - lovely lady - very helpful!!

Back home - all cleaned up watching TV before going out..

Brittsy meditating another hot-dog onto her empty plate - didn't work!!

it was some sort of Ski-School "evening" - I think maybe collecting orders for piccies etc.. - our ski-teach again - at left...

We were all happy enough - and I do believe the kids got me out to a disco after this - what a raver!!

No piccies on the 18th....

Waiting for the Ski-lift...

Up top - ski-class assembling...

Yo Ing!!

  Not only was it dull - it snowed too!!

We had to do a Slalom one class versus another .....

No - not Franz Klammer - but myself, hurtling down the slope - do you like the camouflaged ski-gloves - don't they just "match" - or can't you see them, because they're camouflaged??

But that was to be the end of Ski-School and Skiing for the kids....

First.... ditch the skis, boots and poles....

Then go get the boards etc... wander home - get cleaned up...

and out for dinner...

So - next day was to be snow-boarding day...

  Working well.........

Oh dear!!............

We took the boards back and....

Had a little drinkie...

End of hol.... we flew off in our different directions - good time!!

This last piccie was another "last-day ski-school test" - we were assembled and told to create some sort of a "scene" for the photographers to record... we ended up deciding to spell out WHISTLER with our bodies and skis etc..

Our ski-teach is the W at left - Inga is the T, I am an L (ski-poles make up the base)  whilst Brittsy is attempting to be the E - such fun!!

Home

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Go to my other Sites: Home Web-Site | Lived | Worked | Family | Schooled | Pools | Computers | OddsnSods  | POWWEB-1 | POWWEB-2 |  Photos | Christianz Interiors

Last update - August 1, 2006 - email to djmikecurley@gmail.com  - Most pictures/images - Cannot click to enlarge