So it's half term, and we're skiing in Austria.
Everyone in our family loves skiing - the kids ahve been doing it since they were three years old, so now, at 9 and 7, they're better skiiers than me - the eternal intermediate!
I was a teenager when I learnt to ski, and my husband didn't start until he was an adult, so learning early is definitely an advantage.
We chose Austria at half term, though we love France for a few reasons:
1) It's so much cheaper, accommodation is at least half the price of France on this week, as the price rises for half term don't seem to happen in Austria. The price of food etc on the slopes is a lot cheaper too - we've been paying about 45 euros for drinks, main meals, and a couple of puddings and/or coffees - for a family of 4. In France it would be 60 - 80 euros, depending on the resort.
2) The slopes are practically empty this week - we've had a few runs where we have literally been the only ones on the slope - not something that's going to happen in France! The reason for this is that very few British seem to come to Austria ( at least here to Schladming - and it was the same last year in Nassfeld), though I guest the more "British" resorts like St Anton and Kitzbuhl may be busier. Also the main visitors seem to be Austrian, German or Dutch, and apparently it's not half term week for them this week. We're certainly not complaining!
Anyway, we're in Ramsau, just outside Schladming ( but with local slopes too) and the chalet/hotel is lovely, we're in a 2 bedroomed appartment attached to the chalet but enjoy all the food and facilities of the chalet, and have plenty of space to spread out. It's called Pension Hoffelner if you fancy googling it....
The weather was gorgeous when we arrived, very cold but sunny, but is now very snowy - well over 30 cm fell yesterday, and the powder today should be immense! Looking forward to getting out there, though we'll have to dig the car out first!
You really need a car here to make the most of the many slkiing areas covered on the one lift pass, so we drove over, taking the overnight ferry from Hull, which was fun for the kids, and "interesting" for us. We're glad we've got a 4 wheel drive car, as we've had so much snow here, and despite the snow chains it's been challenging driving
Must go, time to get skiing!
Friday, 17 February 2012
Thursday, 9 February 2012
Another Thomas Cook competition...!
This one's about travel photography - they're looking for the most inspiring travel photo!
I love this photo:
Taken by me last year, at Sunset, on the beautiful island of St Vincent in the Carribean.
So peaceful and unspoilt!
The island was beautiful, the people so welcoming, but there was a real contrast between the rich and the poor - enormous mansions sitting alongside concrete huts with corrugated iron roofs...
The relaxed atmosphere and enthusiasm was contagious, and the experience of swimming with dolphins, walking in the rain forest and lazing on the beach was incredible.
I entered the Flythomascook Photography Competition:
I love this photo:
Taken by me last year, at Sunset, on the beautiful island of St Vincent in the Carribean.
So peaceful and unspoilt!
The island was beautiful, the people so welcoming, but there was a real contrast between the rich and the poor - enormous mansions sitting alongside concrete huts with corrugated iron roofs...
The relaxed atmosphere and enthusiasm was contagious, and the experience of swimming with dolphins, walking in the rain forest and lazing on the beach was incredible.
I entered the Flythomascook Photography Competition:
Sunday, 22 January 2012
Holiday stories....
This update is part of a competition: here's the link...
http://book.flythomascook.com/news/Write-and-Win-a-Kindle--998/
So the remit is to tell a funny or embarrassing story that happened on your travels - I'm not sure where to start!
probably the most embarrassing story that springs immediately to mind is the flight we made from Leeds to Geneva a couple of years ago...
It was a miserable Winter day in Leeds as we boarded the flight to Geneva - a "no frills" airline, and a bust flight, so we had to split the family to get seated. I was sat next to a lovely, if rather anxious looking lady on my left, and my younger son (then aged 5) on my right. Immediately in front of us was my older son (then 7)
There was some delay once we had boarded the plane - described as "technical difficulties" by the crew - so we settled down to wait. The lady next to me confided that she was a very nervous flier, and the delay was upsetting her somewhat.
It wasn't upsetting my children however, though they were getting rather bored, and their voices were getting louder.
"Why aren't we blasting off, Mummy?" asked the younger - the older helpfully turned round and replied "because the airplane isn't working properly, and if we blasted off we would crash and all be dead"
I tried to keep them quiet by offering a large 'gobstopper-like' sweet each, but they wouldn't be deflected from the conversation - another few minutes passed and they loudly discussed the potential crashing options, how they might escape ("we'd actually be dead pretty quickly I expect, so we probably wouldn't escape") and who they might leave their possessions to if they died ("not you, Mummy, 'cos you'd be dead too...")
The lady next to me was looking paler and paler, and eventually called a stewardess and asked if she could try to find another seat. I was mortified, but the flight was full, so she had to stay with us. I tried to explain that they liked to dramatise things, but I don't think she was mollified. My attempts to engage her in conversation were a little feeble, and the children's conversation got louder still.
Eventually, 2 hours later, we actually took off - to cheers from the passengers, and a loud "I bet we die when we land though" from my younger son.... the lady next to us ordered a large gin and tonic as soon as we were airborne and a couple more through the flight!
http://book.flythomascook.com/news/Write-and-Win-a-Kindle--998/
So the remit is to tell a funny or embarrassing story that happened on your travels - I'm not sure where to start!
probably the most embarrassing story that springs immediately to mind is the flight we made from Leeds to Geneva a couple of years ago...
It was a miserable Winter day in Leeds as we boarded the flight to Geneva - a "no frills" airline, and a bust flight, so we had to split the family to get seated. I was sat next to a lovely, if rather anxious looking lady on my left, and my younger son (then aged 5) on my right. Immediately in front of us was my older son (then 7)
There was some delay once we had boarded the plane - described as "technical difficulties" by the crew - so we settled down to wait. The lady next to me confided that she was a very nervous flier, and the delay was upsetting her somewhat.
It wasn't upsetting my children however, though they were getting rather bored, and their voices were getting louder.
"Why aren't we blasting off, Mummy?" asked the younger - the older helpfully turned round and replied "because the airplane isn't working properly, and if we blasted off we would crash and all be dead"
I tried to keep them quiet by offering a large 'gobstopper-like' sweet each, but they wouldn't be deflected from the conversation - another few minutes passed and they loudly discussed the potential crashing options, how they might escape ("we'd actually be dead pretty quickly I expect, so we probably wouldn't escape") and who they might leave their possessions to if they died ("not you, Mummy, 'cos you'd be dead too...")
The lady next to me was looking paler and paler, and eventually called a stewardess and asked if she could try to find another seat. I was mortified, but the flight was full, so she had to stay with us. I tried to explain that they liked to dramatise things, but I don't think she was mollified. My attempts to engage her in conversation were a little feeble, and the children's conversation got louder still.
Eventually, 2 hours later, we actually took off - to cheers from the passengers, and a loud "I bet we die when we land though" from my younger son.... the lady next to us ordered a large gin and tonic as soon as we were airborne and a couple more through the flight!
Friday, 7 October 2011
Holidaying in the UK - Southwold
Almost every Summer we spend a week in the Suffolk coastal town of Southwold. This year we went at the end of August and, as usual, the weather was, well - cold and wet!
Southwold is a typical British seaside town of 50 years ago - quaint, old fashioned and a little twee. It has a large ratio of holiday houses to resident's houses, and a large selection of picturesque beach huts along the beach. The weather is always poor when we visit - it's traditional....
This year, as every year, we went to the top of the light house, played penny shove in the arcade, tried to sunbathe on the sandy / pebbly beach (often shivering in our woolies), tried out our putting skills on the putting green, and walked along to the harbour where we went crabbing with bacon bait.
Unlike previous years, the boys were old enough to play happily in the sea without us - they had a go at body boarding, and spent hours in the sea, returning to the shore only for food, and when they had literally turned blue with the cold!
Each year we rent a tiny cottage, this year the cottage was slightly larger, but was lacking in one vital thing (according to the kids anyway...) - a TV. So our evenings were spent playing monopoly, reading, and (for the kids) playing portable electronic games. Luckily the pub was only 50 metres away, so a trip to the pub for the famous Adnams beer was a regular event (we even took some home with us)
No doubt we'll return next year for more of the same - it's tradtional!
Southwold is a typical British seaside town of 50 years ago - quaint, old fashioned and a little twee. It has a large ratio of holiday houses to resident's houses, and a large selection of picturesque beach huts along the beach. The weather is always poor when we visit - it's traditional....
This year, as every year, we went to the top of the light house, played penny shove in the arcade, tried to sunbathe on the sandy / pebbly beach (often shivering in our woolies), tried out our putting skills on the putting green, and walked along to the harbour where we went crabbing with bacon bait.
Unlike previous years, the boys were old enough to play happily in the sea without us - they had a go at body boarding, and spent hours in the sea, returning to the shore only for food, and when they had literally turned blue with the cold!
Each year we rent a tiny cottage, this year the cottage was slightly larger, but was lacking in one vital thing (according to the kids anyway...) - a TV. So our evenings were spent playing monopoly, reading, and (for the kids) playing portable electronic games. Luckily the pub was only 50 metres away, so a trip to the pub for the famous Adnams beer was a regular event (we even took some home with us)
Thursday, 29 September 2011
Being 7....
Son number two turned 7 last week, and we had a party at home - movie and pizzas was the theme. Within seconds I remembered why we don't usally do birthday parties at home - 10 six and seven year olds running round the house was an 'interesting' experience! Fun, though, and despite the fact that some of the guests would rather have played football than watch the film, a good time was had by all (I think!)
Football was sadly ruled out by the rather impressive thunder storm and accompanying heavy rain, and the balloons were a big hit. The 'pass the parcel' prize was deemed 'too boyish' by the winner (one of only two girls invited, naturally!) but luckily we had a substitute prize to hand...
Two of his best friends stayed for a sleepover - by 11.30pm I was wilting, but they were still firing on all cylinders. I announced it was time for the midnight feast, to be told there was another half an hour to go. I gave them the sweets, and retired to bed - to be woken at 6.30am by more excited chattering!
It was fun for the kids, but not necessarily something to be repeated on a weekly basis. Getting 4 children out of the house by 8.45am in full football kit was another challenge...
Football was sadly ruled out by the rather impressive thunder storm and accompanying heavy rain, and the balloons were a big hit. The 'pass the parcel' prize was deemed 'too boyish' by the winner (one of only two girls invited, naturally!) but luckily we had a substitute prize to hand...
Two of his best friends stayed for a sleepover - by 11.30pm I was wilting, but they were still firing on all cylinders. I announced it was time for the midnight feast, to be told there was another half an hour to go. I gave them the sweets, and retired to bed - to be woken at 6.30am by more excited chattering!
It was fun for the kids, but not necessarily something to be repeated on a weekly basis. Getting 4 children out of the house by 8.45am in full football kit was another challenge...
Saturday, 10 September 2011
Back to school...
OK, so this week was the first week of term - new year, new start, or so my 9 yr old says!
It was surprisingly easy to get back into the routines - early to bed, early to rise - but of course, as usual we were on the last minute when it came to actually leaving the house. There was no homework for the kids this week, and that was a welcome relief for all of us. There's nothing more tedious than battling with primary age children to get their homework done when everyone's had a long day at school or work, and nobody really cares about decimal places or the religions in India - at least not right at that moment...
Is homework really needed at the age of 6, anyway?
With the term starting, so did the football - so every Saturday and almost every Sunday for the next 8 months, we're up early for the kids' football training and matches. Good result for the under 10's last week, 0-0 draw away against last years league winners. Naturally the under 7s and the under 10's have matches in different places, so we'll be splitting up on Sundays to takethe kids to their respective matches. personally I feel the 'off season' is too short!
It was surprisingly easy to get back into the routines - early to bed, early to rise - but of course, as usual we were on the last minute when it came to actually leaving the house. There was no homework for the kids this week, and that was a welcome relief for all of us. There's nothing more tedious than battling with primary age children to get their homework done when everyone's had a long day at school or work, and nobody really cares about decimal places or the religions in India - at least not right at that moment...
Is homework really needed at the age of 6, anyway?
With the term starting, so did the football - so every Saturday and almost every Sunday for the next 8 months, we're up early for the kids' football training and matches. Good result for the under 10's last week, 0-0 draw away against last years league winners. Naturally the under 7s and the under 10's have matches in different places, so we'll be splitting up on Sundays to takethe kids to their respective matches. personally I feel the 'off season' is too short!
Tuesday, 16 August 2011
Our Carribean Holiday!
Well, we took a risk, booked a last minute deal to St Vincent, and went on our first 'hot' holiday as a family!
Due to hubbie's dislike of heat (he only has to look at the sun through a window to get sunburn...) our Summer holidays are usually spent in the UK, or the French Alps (where he can escape to high altitude to avoid any possibility of heat!)
But this year, the kids were nagging for a beach/pool holiday (without the usual wetsuits), I was desperate for some sun, so we took the plunge and did our first long haul. And long haul is the right description - 3 flights and a minibus, 21 hours of travelling, and we finally arrived. But it was worth it - sun, sea and pool for me, football and tennis for the boys, boat cruises for us all and unlimited cocktails and icecream - what's not to like?
We all loved it, even the other half was (half) converted. The fact that the resort was only half built was kind of good and bad - good as it was uncrowded and the service was fantastic, not to mention a really good deal - but bad in that the food was less varied than it could have been. But it seemed a little churlish to complain about perfectly cooked fillet steak twice a week!
So we loved it, and hope to have another 'hot' holiday in the future. Back to work last week and this lag (jet lag - urgh), then a week in Suffolk - great, but not quite the same as the carribean!
Due to hubbie's dislike of heat (he only has to look at the sun through a window to get sunburn...) our Summer holidays are usually spent in the UK, or the French Alps (where he can escape to high altitude to avoid any possibility of heat!)
But this year, the kids were nagging for a beach/pool holiday (without the usual wetsuits), I was desperate for some sun, so we took the plunge and did our first long haul. And long haul is the right description - 3 flights and a minibus, 21 hours of travelling, and we finally arrived. But it was worth it - sun, sea and pool for me, football and tennis for the boys, boat cruises for us all and unlimited cocktails and icecream - what's not to like?
We all loved it, even the other half was (half) converted. The fact that the resort was only half built was kind of good and bad - good as it was uncrowded and the service was fantastic, not to mention a really good deal - but bad in that the food was less varied than it could have been. But it seemed a little churlish to complain about perfectly cooked fillet steak twice a week!
So we loved it, and hope to have another 'hot' holiday in the future. Back to work last week and this lag (jet lag - urgh), then a week in Suffolk - great, but not quite the same as the carribean!
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