The end of this week (since my last post) was always going to be tough. “It’s not too late to stay until Australia”, I would often joke to Russell, my travelling companion. He was insistent though… apparently, he had to get back to something called a ‘job’. Having been there from the start, I felt […]
France
Nearing the end of France!
Since my last update, Russell and I have continued to make steady progress through France (and even in the right direction). We’ve found our way through France’s second largest forest (and it is huge), we’ve climbed a few big hills (and deliberated on when a hill becomes a mountain), we’ve navigated our way into Besançon […]
A life on the road – North France
By the time it came to leave for my cycle on Sunday, the huge turnout of friends and family to my party the night before had made it rather more difficult to leave. I’m not talking about the huge lack of sleep, although that was certainly a factor. But, what incredible people I was leaving […]
5 ways to make the most of your ski season!
After 5 months in Tignes, France, I leave tomorrow. Soon I’ll be seeing friends and family again, and preparing for the next adventure. But, overall, I have had a good ski season, and I will no doubt recommend it to others in future. When I do, I’ll be sure to also include the following five […]
Spring is here – 2 weeks remaining!
Spring is here. The signs are all around, but it’s not daffodils, new-born lambs and blossom like I’m accustomed to in England. Marmots have come out of hibernation from their wintry burrows below the snow, playfully scurrying around together, as rejuvenated and energetic as we’d be after a really long sleep! Different ski runs close […]
Ski seasons pay well!
“Wait what?! A ski season pays well? I heard the complete opposite!” Okay, let me explain! On a season, it’s very common to hear people begrudging their wage, and even, as I encountered, questioning whether it was possible to live on their pay; in a job where all your accommodation and food costs are catered […]
My first week snowboarding.
The past week in Tignes started strangely, like no other of this season; on my face, on the nursery slope. From the vantage point of my skis, the nursery slope is a ‘flat’, gentle stress-free slope, but clip into a snowboard and it suddenly shifts into an intimidating and challenging, steep-pitched testing ground, striking fear […]
Hanging up my ski boots (for the season)
Since my first run of the season, excitedly letting off a whole year’s pent up ‘ski-frustration’ down a gentle, undulating piste on an unseasonably warm December day, I’ve donned my ski boots and headed up the mountain every day. Well, every day except Christmas Day, where working a 9 course meal for guests brought my […]
Everest in a week: the results
I mentioned a week ago that I’d be counting every chairlift I went on over the following 7 days, because, what goes up must come down. I wanted to see my total ski descent to satisfy a little of my curiosity, and also to see if I could descend the same height as Mount Everest, […]
Everest in a Week: The Challenge!
Those of you who have been reading my blog for a while (probably only Mum and Dad), and have a good memory (just my Mum then), will remember that during my second year of Uni, I tallied up how many times I walked up the hill to campus, whether for lectures or various other reasons. […]