Whistler a Happy Tune

Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to ski we go, and so far, yes that’s what we’ve done. We’ve hit the slopes (both figuratively and literally) and hit them hard. We have had 7 days skiing so far and there are 5 more to go; today is our one day off and believe me we need it. After checking in we headed out to collect our gear and went to bed nice and early so that we could better cope with having to get up at some god awful hour of the morning: 7am! We woke up to snow drifting past the window and it really hasn’t stopped since.

Our first day on the slopes was spent back at school, with James in boarding school and me in ski school and, for the first time in 100 days, we did not see each other until school let out at 3pm. Yes, that’s right, for 100 days we have pretty much been together 24/7 and, whilst it has provided for some interesting moments, this was the first time we had “news” to share with each other. The short version goes like this: James – I spent most of the morning on my ass but have discovered that I’m an ambi-turner! Me – told them I was level 3 and ended up on the magic carpet; what the hell?! Was promoted to a new instructor who said I was level 4 and needed to go to a different school up the slopes. Hooray! I get to play with the big kids!

Day 2 of the lessons went like this: James – I can link my turns and safely navigate green slopes. I’ve been promoted up to level 4 and can play on the upper slopes with the big kids too! Me – I have gone from top of the class to bottom of the class. I hate skiing and my legs hurt. Anna, I know exactly how you felt on your last ski trip and am desperately depressed. Poxy skiing.

It was this attitude that led to us spending our third day on the slopes by ourselves; James showing just how clever he was going from level 1 to 4 in 2 days and me trying to regain my confidence. We also had our first ever experience of skiing powder and had much fun falling over in it. The next day - our last day of ski school - was a more positive one for us both, with James boarding at upper level 4 and me being much happier in my new class with my new friends.

Since then we have explored lots of blue runs on Whistler and Blackcomb mountains and absolutely love the skiing. James is even keen to try some bowls, I’m not so sure, but one thing we both agree on is that we can’t get over how much snow there is, both in the village and on the mountains, and how much we are loving it here.

Some people might think that getting up early and throwing yourself down a mountain time and time again knowing that you’re going to come down covered with bruises and every muscle in your body aching is no kind of way to spend the end of your honeymoon. But we think it is perfect. Anyway, yesterday was James’ birthday so we took the afternoon off and went out for drinks and had the most expensive dinner of our lives so it is not all work, work, work. But let’s not mention that word, because it only reminds me that it’s just around the corner and I’ll have to change my tune to hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to work we go…but not just yet!