Another month has gone by without a blog, so here is a catch up of what we have been up to…
So Christmas 2024, where did that come from!? We had a relatively quiet one with family. However Boxing Day was less quiet, we went to watch some Rugby, Old Pocklingtonians (the Public/Private School in Pocklington) v Pocklington Rugby Club, a fixture first held in the 1890s. Pock Rugby Club won the game. We had a ‘few’ drinks and a Pizza on the way ‘home’. We were expecting rotten hangovers, but by some Christmas miracle neither of us were too bad, it must be something to do with the fact that we were home by about 8:30pm (we think!).
Visited the Sales, Rog got some new ski gloves, he ‘needed’, what do you call a collection of gloves?? …. A fist full??
We spent more time packing the car, how come however much space you have, you end up filling it? ….. last time we went skiing we flew with 3 bags between us, this time we have filled a Volvo XC90.
29 December, we drove down to Kent to spend some time with Nic’s Brother and family.
Friends who we visited in Auckland in 2023 were in London on 30 December, so we got the train up to the city, did a little sightseeing with them, followed by lunch, it was great to see them again.
31 December, headed to a house party, Rog drove and Nic had a couple of drinks. We left at around 11:00pm, as we had to leave early on 1st.
1st January 2025, 2025 how did that happen, what happened to 2024, it flew by! Anyway, we had a 10:48 Shuttle booking, as the roads were really quiet we got there early and they put us on the 9:48 Shuttle. The Shuttle is a train which takes cars through the channel tunnel to France in only 35 minutes, it’s the first time we have used this service, but it was great! We also felt smug because there was a storm and high winds affecting the ferries.
So better explain why we are heading to France, we are heading to the Alps again to Ski. (Last time we went was in was 2023).
The drive down through France on the toll road was relatively easy, it took us two days, overnighting on the outskirts of Troyes.
For the toll roads we bought a electronic tag, but the first time you drive towards the toll barrier you don’t know for certain that it will work, have we activated it correctly?, have we put it in the right place on the windscreen? Thankfully we had, it worked and then we could use the ‘30 kph’ toll lanes, you don’t even have to stop!
We got down to Morillon in the France Alps on the 2 January, we have rented the same flat we used in 2023. It’s exactly as we remember it.
The weather for the first couple of days was not great, so we didn’t ski. Once the weather improved we started skiing, managed a few nice days, good snow and sunshine.
Whilst wearing full ski gear, helmet with visor and a face mask, Rog got stopped at one of the ski lifts and was challenged about his age (ski passes have your age and your photo) as he “looked too young and hip to be 50”, as soon as he removed his visor they agreed that he was in fact old! But you take what you can get, and Rog is happy that he apparently looks younger when you can’t see his face!!
On Saturday 11 January Rog had a fall whilst skiing, resulting in a broken right collarbone. Rog can’t remember much of what happened, but does remember hitting the deck and guessing he had damaged his collarbone! He got to his feet, removed his skis, but next thing he knew he was being told by the kind souls who had stopped to help, that he had passed out! Ended up with a stretcher off the slopes, an ambulance down the mountain to the local clinic, which is next to our flat ! Nic was already at the flat having headed back earlier while Rog had a couple more runs.
X-rays confirmed a broken right collarbone. Put in an attractive immobilising sling and referred to the hospital for a further check up in 10 days!
Nic has continued to ski a little, obviously Rog can’t ski !
Family visited for the weekend to ski, they rented an apartment very close to ours, it was lovely to see them and to catch up.
Tuesday 21 January, went to the Hospital in Sallanches, a town about 45 mins away from Morillon. Had to check in at the Emergency department, the staff were great, thankfully everyone spoke English, and kept apologising for the delays as they were busy, however we were there a total for 1hr 45 mins, to check in, have two X-rays, be seen by the doctor, be referred to the Orthopaedic department and pay a bill of €19.61 as we have a’Global Health Insurance Card’ (GHIC, the UK replacement of the E111 – if you live in the UK and don’t have one – get one – https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-uk-global-health-insurance-card-ghic/
A bit of a mixed bag of weather over the last few days, including rain, frost, snow at higher altitudes.
We’ve been looking out to see the ‘planetary parade’ (6 planets visible in the sky at once), but each evening the clouds roll in so have not managed to see it yet! But will keep trying.
We managed a walk back from Sameons through the forest, down by the river, a little dodgy underfoot at times, a mix of snow, ice and mud, but an enjoyable walk nonetheless.
New Year’s resolution….. must try and do a regular blog.
Travurple 