‘There are eight people living in Fleinvær this winter,’ I was told as I arrived, ‘and that includes you.’ I had assumed anyone living here must be a bit reclusive, but I was wrong! My neighbours have become amazing friends. Let me introduce you to some of them. Are the Artist When I first met […]
Work Abroad
Winter in Norway’s Arctic – The Arctic Hideaway
In Winter 2020 there were eight people living among the 383 scattered islands of Fleinvær Archipelago. I was one of them. Here’s the story of living and working as a Caretaker at The Arctic Hideaway, which was advertised as ‘probably the best job in the world’. Life on Fleinvær! Fleinvær feels like a raft […]
Slowing life down – a workaway in Austria
A workaway in AustriaSorry folks, if you’re hoping to read about the usual tales of daring bravery and adventure you have come to expect (pah, who am I trying to kid!), you’re not going to find it in this post. This is all about slowing life down as I ‘workaway’ in Austria. Miles cycled in the […]
A letter to those going to Long Point Camp
Apologies if you’re coming to hear about my cycling trip around the world – I desperately tried to get it uploaded but the wifi was too slow to upload new pictures. It’ll be up asap! This one-off post is about one of my other adventures; Camp America.Hey there,On June 21st, you will be waving goodbye […]
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, […]