The Three Valleys Incident

So the other day (the 5th to be precise) Tamsin had a significant birthday. To celebrate (commiserate?) she organised for a bunch of us to head to France skiing! So last saturday Tamsin and I flew out from Southampton, while Jules, Peter and Lesley flew from Birmingham and we all met up in Chambery, jumped in a car and drove to Brides Les Bains, where we skiing for the next two days.

Sunday (Tamsin's birthday) we jumped on the gondola for the very long ride up to Meribel. Normally February is the perfect time to ski as there is usually a lot of snow and it is not too cold. Unfortunately for us there had been no snow for about three weeks and what was on the ground was slowly melting away, so we were expecting much. Luckily we found a run under the snow makers which was not too bad (it also had red, green and blue options, so everyone was happy).

Tamsin stayed with Lesley for a while and Jules, Peter and I had a few goes down the run - it was great to be skiing again, especially after the debacle in Switzerland. Anyway, we spent the morning on this run, met up with Tamsin and Lesley for a few more goes. About 2pm we decided to do one more run down and grab some lunch. I went down the red route and soon realised that I was skiing way to fast. I tried to slow down but ended up sliding out on some ice and falling over in a spectacular (I hope) crash.

Tamsin and Peter stopped to help me, but I was pretty out of it, so they carried by skis to the restaurant (which was only 30 metres away) while I stumbled and slid down on my boots (not before almost passing out a couple of times). Once we sat down Tamsin made it her mission to get some food into me, while Jules felt my right shoulder (I landed on it) and found it was dislocated (no wonder I was in a lot of pain). So she called the ski rescue guys over who said I needed to go to the medical centre in Meribel village. They took me down the hill in a body bag (a surreal experience to say the least) to a waiting ambulance (they also handed me a bill for €150.

At the medical centre the nurse x-rayed my shoulder (from the looks of it the x-ray machine was the first one ever made) before her and the doctor reset it. Before anyone asks, yes it did hurt, but I also felt relief when it was back in. They took another x-ray to make sure it was all okay before giving me a lovely bright blue sling, a bill for €260 and booting me out the door! If anyone is interested you can see the before x-ray here and the after one here.

I went back to the hotel and met up with the others who started fussing over me, but this time the pain was gone, but I was beginning to realise the next three weeks would be difficult with just one usable arm!

The next day the others went skiing while I went up to a restaurant on the mountain and sat outside reading a book. While it was nice, I am glad we only had two days skiing, otherwise I think I would have gone crazy. I sent a text to Mum and Dad letting them know what happened, but there was no response. Where is the love I ask you? After having lunch with them I headed back down the hill and went to sleep!

Today on the return flight home there was myself in a sling and another poor bloke in a wheelchair, whilst on the Birmingham flight there was another bloke in a sling and a girl in a wheelchair, so I was not alone!

Oh and in case you are wondering yes I will ski again, in fact I was a bit annoyed that I could not ski yesterday!

So now I am in this sling for the next three weeks so I cannot drive and work will be problematic. Oh and it seems it may take up to six months for it to heal properly - what joy!




Brides Les Bains


On the slopes in Meribel


On the slopes in Meribel


On the slopes in Meribel


Jules and I skiing


The body bag!


The lovely sling!


A one-armed Justin!

Christmas Dinner

With Peter, Jules and myself in Switzerland for Christmas (yes Tamsin I know you are sick of hearing about that), Tamsin and I decided to have a belated Christmas dinner here at our house for everyone.

It was a pretty cool night, we made a delicious roast and I met a few new people which was nice. Even the Ice Cream Christmas Cake that Tamsin made was good (although I was dubious in the beginning).

Plenty of wine was drunk (some more then others) and you will be pleased to know that Peter, Jen and Tamsin won the name that city quiz I made up and Jules, Libby and Carl won the name that song (you would think Tamsin and Jen would know a lot about eighties songs - turns out not as much as Libby, Carl and Jules)!

Oh and we still have some of that ice cream stuff if anyone is interested!

Switzerland, Part Six

The final two days in Switzerland were pretty cool! On New Years Day we headed back out over the frozen lake to the village proper to check it out. It absolutely reeked of money. Ladies wearing Dior Moon Boots and men looking ridiculous wearing fur coats (but apparently you cannot be without one in St. Moritz).

We saw the posh hotels, rode the longest escalator in Switzerland, saw the leaning church tower and ate some pretty nice food before heading back across the lake for a well deserved nap. As we were walking back a helicopter was ferrying stuff to the centre of the lake which was pretty interesting.

After a nap we headed to a restaurant close by for a quick dinner and the waitress asked us if we were heading out to see the fireworks (that's what the helicopter was ferrying out to the lake!). So we headed out for a pretty cool fireworks display (naturally it did not compare with NYE in Sydney) and then headed back to the hotel.

Today had to get back to Zurich for our flight back to London. The Swiss landscape constantly amazes and it was a pretty nice trip from St. Moritz (as you can see from the pictures).

So the final verdict? If you have not been to Switzerland before it is a must see destination!


St. Moritz Village


St. Moritz Village


Jules and Peter on the Lake


Me on the Lake


I think it is over there somewhere?


The Leaning Church Tower


The Town Hall


Apparently THE way to get around the village.


Street Scenes


A Posh Chocolate Shop


Street Scenes


More of the Lake


Badrutt's - The Poshest Hotel in the Village


Quick way across the lake.


The helicopter


Kids Having Fun


Nap Time!


Fireworks!


Views from the Train


Views from the Train


Views from the Train


Postcards to everyone!

Switzerland, Part Five

Our train was not due to leave Disentis until late this afternoon, so we took a bit of a walk around town. It was a beautiful sunny day and the fresh snowfall last night gave us the perfect opportunity to throw snowballs (although Peter did not appreciate that).

After exhausting all the options in the village we went back to the hotel where they had a games room with a table tennis table. Now here is a quick question, when I have played table tennis in the past (singles) when serving you had to serve diagonally to the opposite quarter on the other side, whereas Peter reckoned you just had to get it across the net. We played by my rules, but it turns out that Peter is right! Who would have thought?

Anyway, after beating the pants off both Jules and Peter we walked down to the train station, had a drink and waited for the train. As usual (for Switzerland) the train arrived on time, so we dumped our bags and headed to the dining car for lunch! The food was pretty average, but they really worked hard to make the experience something special, so it was quite nice.

By the time we got back to our seats it was dark, so we played cards until we arrived to an absolutely freezing St. Moritz. We had booked the cheapest possible place which also happened to be the furthest from the station, so we got a bus over, quickly changed and then hit the town for New Years Eve (or Sylvester as they called it).

We walked back into town across the frozen lake (!!) which was pretty cool, and found a bar called Bobby's (which, it turns out, is where the children of the wealthy tourists hang out). It cost £10 to get in, which was not too bad, and once there we spent the rest of the night (and plenty of the morning) drinking Löwenbräu's with a brief change to champagne for midnight!

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!



A Sunny Disentis Morning!


A Sunny Disentis Morning!


A Sunny Disentis Morning!


A hut on the hill.


Got him! Yes!


Our Train Carriage


Views from the GE


Views from the GE


Playing Cards

Switzerland, Part Four

Today we started our trip on the Glacier Express. A train that makes its way from Zermatt to St. Moritz through the Alps!

We got up early and headed back over to Zermatt, had some breakfast and boarded the train. The carriages were pretty cool, they had great big windows giving you a great view of the landscape. We had also organised to have lunch in the dining car which sounded pretty cool.

The scenery was amazing, Switzerland really is a beautiful country. I imagine the landscape would be completely different in summer as well (which I guess means another trip!). Unfortunately the train coming from St. Moritz was running late which means the dining car would not be connected until Disentis (instead of Andermatt), which means no lunch for us (as we were getting off at Disentis today). But we ordered a sandwich and a bottle of wine and just sat in our seat and enjoyed the ride.

We got off at Disentis not really knowing what to expect, but it turned out to be great! Our hotel room was last decorated in the seventies, so I guess it was cool again (they had this funky lamp that I wanted to bring home)! The town is in the Italian speaking part of Switzerland, so we did have a little difficulty communicating, but it all worked out.

We headed out to a smokey restaurant for dinner before walking back home through the falling snow! It was pretty magical.



On our way to Zermatt



Jules on the train



GE Views



Me on the train



GE Views



GE Views



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GE Views



GE Views



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GE Views



Disentis!