When Squidge went skiing...
Yesterday, I had my first ever skiing lesson.
We have also recently bought, via a charity auction, a week in a friend's flat in Aschau...which has a skiing resort.
But my favourite choice for a holiday is still sun, sea and sand.
To understand just how momentous an event this was, you have to know something important;
1. I hate being cold.
2. I can't roller skate or ice skate.
3. Skiing has never, at any point in my life, appealed to me.
So why the lesson?
Mr Squidge has been skiing - once. Years ago, when he was young and fit and a student; the memories of that time have lived on. (Even though he smashed his hip on a rock - because falling over was an easier way to stop than the method taught - and he still has a dint in his thigh as a result, twenty-five years later)
My daughter went skiing earlier this year with school, after a series of lessons at the Tamworth SnowDome. She loved it.
My son...wants to go skiing.
We have also recently bought, via a charity auction, a week in a friend's flat in Aschau...which has a skiing resort.
Result; they've ganged up on me.
Now, assuming that we can actually book a holiday when there's snow on the ground and which fits in with school term times (like looking for a needle in a haystack, unless we pay extortionate prices for flights and ski passes because the tour operators have got school holidays marked in dark red 'this is where we make the money' ink) I did say that I was prepared to skiing.
Once. To try it.
So the lesson, Katherine, I hear you ask - did you enjoy it? Did you have fun?
Erm... they are not the words I would use to describe the two hours I spent at the SnowDome in Tamworth. I didn't HATE it, but it wouldn't be what I would call fun. I did spend a lot of time laughing - at myself. I am not a natural skiier, and would probably be best repeating the whole of lesson one because I didn't feel comfortable and confident with what I was doing today. I could have done with longer to master the basics
In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if there's a video on YouTube somewhere; me going down the ski slope backwards, on hands and skis with bum in the air, doing about 55 miles an hour before crashing into the barrier at the bottom...
Will I go back? Probably. Will I get better? Maybe. Will I ever enjoy it? That remains to be seen.
Erm... they are not the words I would use to describe the two hours I spent at the SnowDome in Tamworth. I didn't HATE it, but it wouldn't be what I would call fun. I did spend a lot of time laughing - at myself. I am not a natural skiier, and would probably be best repeating the whole of lesson one because I didn't feel comfortable and confident with what I was doing today. I could have done with longer to master the basics
In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if there's a video on YouTube somewhere; me going down the ski slope backwards, on hands and skis with bum in the air, doing about 55 miles an hour before crashing into the barrier at the bottom...
Will I go back? Probably. Will I get better? Maybe. Will I ever enjoy it? That remains to be seen.
But my favourite choice for a holiday is still sun, sea and sand.