Two words

I have avoided the ‘two words’ so far. Only because we are not going to be there to celebrate even though there will be lots of people in their smart clothes, good food and drink, a few tears shed and someone wearing a nice dress. So here goes;

‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY’ Elliot and Roger!  
Four and Four more plus, plus today!

Hope you have a fantastic day celebrating your 'royal' birthdays today. We would love to be there but obviously we are here.  When we get back we look forward to seeing the photos and seeing your new toys Elliot as I am sure you will get lots. Rog - we would love to see your new toys too but I don’t think they will be as fun!

Obviously, the two words on everyone’s lips today and for the past few weeks is ‘royal wedding’.  I won’t add to the mile upon mile upon mile of tedious OTT coverage or be sarky either.  It is what it is.  All I will say is that I’m glad we are here and not in the UK!  And I’m looking forward to seeing her dress. And that’s it. As I have said, I won’t add to the tedium already being aired.

We are due to leave here in a couple of hours. Mat is fitting in two more dives this morning before we set sail for Manado then tomorrow for our mountain region. I think we are leaving at the right time as the place is suddenly over-run with children - mostly of the small, screaming in a really loud way kind whose parents tend not to tell them that it is not acceptable to behave this way.

I’m not going to tell people how to parent as it is none of my business, but it’s just polite isn’t it? If an adult was carrying on that way, someone would have a word. And before I get people saying but the children don’t know any better, there are children here both of Indonesian and non-Indonesian flavour who are not carrying on with such hullabaloo. That’s the problem with ‘nice’ resorts, they tend to attract families because of the ‘nice’ environment here but obviously you can’t choose the guests or how they behave! Anyway, rant over.

Snorkelling was pretty cool again yesterday and yet another turtle! The currents were also fairly strong and I’m glad I had my flotation vest on and Mat with me otherwise I would have ended up in on the coast of the Philippines. Really not a fan of deep water - there are too many unknowns for my liking.        

Just noticed that the battery is about to die on the lappy so posting this now. Laters.
                

A short review of the diving in Bunaken by Mat

Seeing as Mat has done a fair bit of diving out here in Bunaken, I thought I would get him to write up a review of it as I know some of you will be interested. Enjoy!

 

The diving in Bunaken has been world class. While there haven’t been very numerous or large shoals of pelagics, there has been enough to keep dives interesting as something always seems to appear from the deep. Sharks (white tip, black tip), blue fin tuna, bump head parrots and Napoleon wrasse have all made an appearance while others in our group also saw eagle rays.

Bunaken’s highlights however are the spectacular corals, reef fish and macro stuff. On every dive, the dive guys point out numerous tiny shrimps, crabs and nudibranches all of which, in appearance, are stunning varieties whether hairy, transparent, colourful or spiny.  There is always something new and interesting to see in every dive. It is often very difficult to know where to look as scouring the coral walls makes you take your eye off the deep blue. Truly a place where you need eyes in the back of your head or a very good dive guide!

Another massive bonus for diving in and around Bunaken are the turtles. On most dives around Bunaken you will see at least one often many. And on every snorkel trip on the house reef we encountered turtles.  

I also sampled a bit of muck diving around Manado which was fascinating. Sea horses, cuttlefish, shrimps and rays abound. This was the first time I had tried it and something I would like to do more of although I was glad to be back to the steep coral walls of Bunaken for its multitude of life.

All in all, I would give the diving in Bunaken an 8.5 out of 10. The only thing missing is a bit more of the big stuff.

A fish, therefore I am

Thursday 28th April
Bunaken Village Resort
Sulawesi
11.10am

Just had a really embarrassing moment. Whilst walking to the snug area by the pool, I slipped and fell over! No harm done apart from a bruised right knee and I held onto this laptop above my head so that wasn’t damaged but because the floor was so slippery, I couldn’t get up again without help from one of the staff. I kept slipping back down! I must have looked like a stupid cartoon character. The floor hadn’t dried yet from this morning’s cleaning job and I hadn’t noticed. A ‘Slippery When Wet’ triangle sign would have been useful but never mind.

It is properly tipping it down right now. A full on tropical rainstorm where it is still really hot but raining heavily. I reckon for another 10 minutes and then bright sunshine again. 

It is our last full day here and I will be glad to be moving on. Although it is very nice and very chilled out here, it is a little too chilled out for me now.  What with me not being a diver and a reluctant snorkeller, I find all the fish talk really dull. How much of a philistine am I?! 

Here I am in one of the diving meccas of the world where marine life is at its finest and I utter the word 'dull'.  But really come on, once you’ve acknowledged how beautiful the fish are, the coral is stunning, the turtles are amazing and described the cute antics of various other marine life there is really no need to further have an existentialist discussion on all things pelagic. It's just diving. I get the spiritual feelings some people have from the sea but fish?

I think I am missing Ed and Alex. They left for Bangka yesterday for the second leg of their diving holiday and I miss their company and the way they think. They were ‘normal’ and on our level. There was a bit of a performance with their departure yesterday and I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye properly as the lady doing my pedicure in the spa was taking her sweet time and by the time I had got out, they were already on the boat but we have their email address and hope to contact them once we are back home.       

Speaking of pedicures, you should check my toes out! Right now, I possibly have the best looking toes in Bunaken. The spa lady yesterday was treating them like they were a work of art, painting my nails like she was Picasso or something. I thought it was only going to take an hour and it was double that!  She was clearly not busy.

Also, last night I got to see some phosphorescence in the sea. Glowing plankton or bioluminiscent plankton are present just outside our hut and Mat noticed them a couple of days ago after his night dive. It wasn’t quite like that scene from ‘The Beach’ with Leonardo di Caprio where he was swimming around in it with the French girl. It was more like Leonardo the Mutant Ninja Turtle as we paddled about in the dark wearing our head torches trying to make them glow. It was pretty cool but I was a little freaked out not knowing what was lurking in the sands so we didn’t stay long.

Anyway, lunch is beckoning so will sign off for now. Perhaps more snorkelling later too. Woop!

Bunaken village wanderings and turtle-ly amazing snorkelling

I saw one of these today. It was amazing!

  

Bunaken Village Resort
Sulawesi
18:26

Had quite a busy day today, well, “busier” than usual! While Mat did another couple of dives this morning, I headed back to Bunaken village and spent a couple of hours just wandering around. On my way, I saw so many beautiful butterflies just fluttering around that they put to shame the Wisley butterflies we saw a few weeks back.

Bunaken village is not the prettiest village I have ever been to and I like to think there is still more to see of it but it was good to have a meander here and there saying hello to the locals.  It was clearly ‘wash day’ today as a lot of the women were squatting outside their homes by their giant metallic circular tubs scrubbing away at clothes like there was no tomorrow.  I would say because the sun’s out, but the sun is always out here!

My wanderings took me to the muslim part of the village which was a nice surprise as I didn’t realise that there was a muslim part here.  The catholic church in town is very imposing and I had just presumed this was the main religion at this part of Sulawesi. It wasn’t any different to the christian part of the village just lots more women covered up wearing their burkas or headscarf and a mosque calling people to prayer.

Because of the searing heat, I stopped for a cold drink at one of the little makeshift stores that was in one of the houses.  I was charged 5000 rupiah for a bottle of Coke which was more of a bargain that the bottle Mat and I paid for 2 days ago. Then, we got charged 10,000 rupiah for one! That store clearly saw us coming.

Anyway, I parked my backside onto the bench out front to observe village life and was joined by the lady shop owner. I think she wanted to practice her English and although it was a little hard as my Indonesian is none existent and her English limited, we communicated somehow.

Her little girl who was about seven ran out from the house and decided to join us. The lady seemed embarrassed by this which I didn’t understand and then she kept pointing to her daugher, then her head and then shaking her hands. I then realised that the little girl had learning difficulties and the lady thought that I wouldn’t want to be around her because of this which, of course, was ridiculous.

For around 20 minutes the little girl was sat between me and her mum and learning difficulties or not, she repeated all the English phrases I was asking her to recite back word perfectly which made her mum very proud. The cheeky thing also took a shine to my sunglasses and kept trying them on and stroking my top and leaning against me - clearly a girl with taste. She is apparently going to a ‘special school’ in Manado and I was glad to hear this. The thought of this child cooped up in a back room somewhere not being stimulated made me a little sad.

Back at the ranch and after lunch I finally went for it and went snorkeling with Mat. Even though I had my flotation vest on and I was holding on to Mat for most of it, I still felt scared going over the coral. I just keep thinking they are going to pierce me which is stupid as I was way above them but you know me and my irrational fears! 

The coral reef and marine life here is amazing. Everything is so colourful and healthy looking. To my untrained eye, it is probably the best I have ever seen and that’s taking into account the reefs I have bobbed about on in Mexico, Philippines and Thailand. And the best bit - I got to see a sea turtle!! I was a little jealous of Mat seeing all these turtles on his dives and to see one so near me was incredible. It was swimming about with not a care in the world. I was very impressed. Even if I don’t snorkel again on this trip, that’s it for me :-)   It doesn’t take much does it?!

Anyway, on a final note I have observed and heard today that Indonesians like to sing. A lot. Regardless of whether they can or not, if there is a tune playing they like the sound of, an Indonesian will start singing away. A bit like me although when I sing I think I sound like Mariah Carey when in fact people are hearing Jim Carey!

On that note, I bid you a tuneful buh-bye for now and if you haven’t signed up yet for your Olympic 2012  tickets, hurry! You never know, you might just get some.

Massage ready Miss Vanessa & a haircut in the heat

Bunaken Village Resort
Sulawesi
23:36 

Other than wandering around the resort, taking a few photos, watching geckos and crickets, the main 'activity' for me today was an epic 2-hour reflexology massage at the spa. It was blissful. The spa itself was really gorgeous and my therapist was lovely although I was rather glad I had 2-hours with her as it took this long for us to understand each other!

Because of my dodgy back, I told her about 4000 times to be really gentle around the area where my tumour had been when massaging me and by the 3999th time I think she had got the message or massage even! Poor thing. I was just making sure that's all.

“Thai massage no good for Miss Vanessa. Miss Vanessa back problems be bad. Thai message too strong for Miss Vanessa. Refrexology better."  By jove, I think she's got it!

Having experienced a full on Thai message and the footsteps of a little Thai lady walking all over my back, I already knew this but it was nice to be told of the better option all the same. She obviously cared. I got to learn about how she met her husband at 15, how she had been with him 20 years, how she had 3 children, how she had worked in Hong Kong and Singapore as a beauty therapist, how she knew lots of Filipinos, how she really wished her “Ingrish was more good” and how she loves working here etc etc. I couldn’t shut her up!  I didn’t mind as for whatever reason I always get beauty folk chatting away to me anyway - Indonesia, Inlondon, Indahouse.  I must nod in all the right places.

She pummelled and prodded me like a piece of tenderised steak and covered me in various lotions and potions. So much so that afterwards I had to keep stroking myself as I felt so much softer than usual!  I declined snorkelling in the afternoon as I wanted to retain my velveteen texture for longer - no nasty saltwater please.  I spent good money on this!

Mat went on more dives and saw yet more turtles and took some really good video footage of coral and fish with our new camera whilst out snorkeling.  We are so in love with it we are fighting on who gets to use it! It takes a great picture and is waterproof, shockproof, Vanessaproof - it’s wonderful. Highly recommend the Sony TX10 - this in silver.

He also got his hair cut and it looks good!  We were going to the village to hunt out a barber but got stopped by Jun one of the dive masters as “he will do it. I used to be a hairdresser”. Wasn't sure if he was joking at first and there was lots of banter from other guests and staff as it was done in the bar area but Jun did a great job. So good that other folk apparently got their hair cut too after Mat. Poor Jun, I bet he wished he hadn’t said anything!

Dinner was a lot better than last night and more great conversation with Ed and Alex. I wonder it we will keep in touch outside of Indonesia? 

Beyond tired now so going. Ciao bellos.
               

A few observations

Bunaken Village Resort
Sulawesi
23:46

Well, dinner was disappointing food wise. Mat and I were expecting the same if not better tasty treats as last night and instead we got a rather dry piece of chicken escalope, an Indonesian style spaghetti bolognese and a nice veggie dish but not a patch on last night's food. Boooo!  I think the chef may have had the day off for Easter.  I am hoping this is a temporary blip as we are food captives here at Bunaken Village otherwise I may have to resort to hunting down a warung.  Or eating the wildlife as the Indonesians have apparently a tendency to do. We shall see.

Anyway, the food may have been lacklustre but the company was certainly sparkling tonight. We met Ed and Alex(andra) at Manado airport and they did the planes, trains and automobile route with us to here. What a charming couple.  Extremely bright, fun and good conversationalists it pleases me that Mat and I still get the opportunity to meet people like them.  People that have interesting things to say, things that you can learn from and about and not in a snobby, patronising way either.

I could say that ‘birds of a feather flock together’ but I’ve seen some of the other ‘birds’ flocking here and their table manners leave a lot to be desired. Certainly not ones I would want to be associated with anyway!!

I’m going to rant now. Why are some people lacking in table manners? I only really notice it when I go abroad and I hate to say this, as I know I have readers of this blog from over there, but the ones I always notice to be the worst offenders have been from that massive country that begins with U and ends in A and has an S in the middle.  Sorry folks. 

I appreciate and know that most people from said country know that food goes on a plate and cutlery is a useful asset to eating but why do those that don’t are either in my line of vision or sat near me?!  And don’t get me started on the waste of food either! Surely you only ask for what you can eat not what you think you can eat? And there may be waiting staff available but they are not there to tidy up after you or your child's none food mess? Oh dear, I better stop now before I create a diplomatic incident.
           
Health wise, I am ok by the way.  I know that some of you have been privately thinking is this a wise trip for Vanessa to do after all her treatment. To a certain extent I don’t know myself yet but I’m ok at the moment and I am hoping it stays this way.  My consultant was happy for me to go and if she is happy, then I’m happy. My joints get a little stiff and my back a little sore but it doesn’t last long and we are diligently taking our Malerone having been vaccinated against everything else.

Anyway, I’m going to read my book now. Believe it or not, called “Life is Too F£$%^&£ Short”.  On that note, I’ll leave you to it.

It's hot here and not as we know it

24th April 2011
Bunaken Village Resort
Bunaken, Sulawesi
02.12 AM

The jet lag is kicking in and I have just woken up and can’t get back to sleep.  It didn’t help that a coconut has just fallen on our roof and it sounded like a bomb had gone off!  It’s just gone two in the morning Easter Sunday here while I am guessing it is still Easter Saturday in England and St George’s Day? Actually, I just realised that depending on what time you are reading this and when I get internet connection to post this on the blog, I best get my various greetings out of the way now:

Happy St George’s Day!

Happy Easter everyone!

Happy Easter Bank Holiday Monday!

We are in a predominantly Christian part of Sulawesi - lots of Easter messages in the streets and there is a gigantic cross in the mountain so not quite sure whether Easter will be celebrated here in some way today. I hope so. There is nothing like a religious festival for a good  celebration!

Bunaken Village Resort is in Bunaken (strangely enough!). We arrived late afternoon yesterday from Singapore having used four modes of transport to get here.  All we needed was a horse and cart and we would have done the full set having got to Changi Airport by tube, we flew into Manado, then got to Manado harbour by car and then a speed boat to here.

‘Speed boat’ makes me sound like Jackie Onassis but I bet she never had to hoik her trousers up, put her sea booties on and walk 500 metres to shore because the tide was too low for us to be dropped off nearer the beach! Oh the glamour. Speaking of which, dinner on Friday night was at a Japanese restaurant (the name of which escapes me) at Clarke Quay by Singapore city harbour.  It is clearly where Singapore’s bright young things (and tourists) hang out and as it was only a 5-min stroll from our hotel, we thought we would join them. A nice area but again, all a bit too clinical and built up for my shabby chic taste but good to visit all the same.

Anyway, back here in Bunaken we shared the boat trip with four other tourists, the owners of the resort,  their impossibly cute baby girl and a load of food supplies. I bet Jackie O never shared her speed boat rides with fresh tuna and various bits of fruit. At least we got to see how fresh our food is. Dinner was delicious so they are clearly shopping in the right place.

The resort seems pretty informal and laid back and nicely laid out. Mat and I have been eyeing up their outdoor lighting already for our garden!. It is not as big as I thought it would be (their website makes it look a lot larger) but I think we’ll be ok here for a few days. It is very chilled although that’s about the only thing chilled here as it’s hot, hot, hot. Lots of nationalities here ranging from Americans to Dutch folk.

Mat is beyond excited to be scuba diving again. We were greeted by a turtle as we were waiting to go on-shore so I think we will be ok for seeing some amazing marine life here!

Getting tired now so bonne nuit and all that.  Over and out.

24th April 2011
Bunaken Village Resort
Bunaken, Sulawesi
18.13

Just waiting for dinner at 7. I have had a very lazy day today where I have spent most of the day napping. I think it’s a combination of jet lag, fatigue from the heat and just general laziness on my part! I am on holiday after all!  

Mat had a couple of dives this morning where he saw a number of large turtles, various fish and nudibranch - he asked me to write this, so I haven’t gone all Jacques Cousteau on you.  I may be tempted to go snorkelling tomorrow as it’s meant to be awesome.

We had a wander down to Bunaken village earlier where the people were super friendly. Lots of very cute smiley kids and their parents saying hello.  As it’s Easter there seems to be lots of festivities going on.  We watched a ‘sports day’ like event going on at a local school where the children were going mad cheering each other on during a ‘fetch the balls into the box’ game where the winner is the one with the most balls in his/her box. As in any sport, there’s always the one who’s really slow and comes last and I was cheering him on but he was hopeless. And ever so slow. Never mind, it’s the taking part and all that.

I am getting the impression that some of the Indonesians we are meeting are not quite sure what to make of me.  I think some of them think I am Indonesian and expect me to say something Indonesian and are disappointed when I don’t, whilst others think I am a bit of an oddity with my close crop and oriental features. And Essex accent.  Odd bod or what?

It is very much like some parts of the Philippines here and the language sounds similar. 

Dad - Bunaken village reminds me a little bit of some parts Manaoag but smaller. 

We didn’t see any local restaurants or bars in the village so food and drinks wise it looks like we are the captive guests of Bunaken Village Resort for the moment but not really fussed as the food is delicious here.  Speaking of which, best post this and fill my belly.  Mat has now stopped chasing lizards on our porch and taking pictures of snakes and has passed out on the hammock. Best wake him up for feeding time at the zoo.

Heading to the far east - and it’s not Essex!

22^nd April 2011

London Heathrow time: 07:08

Singapore time: 14:08

Right, first off I’m REALLY sorry to those of you who are waiting for a response to emails, texts etc sent to me. I will get round to responding to you all but it has been pretty hectic lately so haven’t physically had a chance to do so. Where I can, I have been resting.

Anyway, I have lots of days of R&R ahead to catch up so check your inboxes!

As you may or may not know, Mat and I are in Indonesia bound for our travels and I am typing this on the plane in the middle of some turbulence. I’m glad we are inside a fat A380 Airbus so it feels quite sturdy in the middle of all this shaking although it still impresses me how something so big manages to take off let alone fly. Frikkin hell, it currently feels like we are in a washing machine on a rinse cycle. It’s a good job things like this don’t really bother me but excuse my spelling as it is making things a little tought ot type!

We set off from Heathrow yesterday at 2200 and it felt like the whole of London had decided to leave the country for Easter. I had never seen Heathrow so busy. Glad we weren’t flying Virgin as their check-in desks looked fairly chaotic with the sheer number of people queuing. And queuing really badly at that. Yes love, you are going on holiday and yes you need to sort your suitcase out but no need to do it at the spot where people walk through eh? FFS.

Anyway, apart from the turbulence (it’s still going!), this Singapore airlines flight has been efficiently uneventful. We had someone decide they didn’t want to fly out for whatever reason so we were slightly delayed taking off while their baggage was sorted and there’s a loud tw%t in a hat a few seats up and intermittent crying baby but overall it’s been ok.

Have flown Singapore Air before and it never ceases to amaze me just how stunningly beautiful their cabin crew are. Noticed lots of mirrors in their service area - I’m guessing to ensure that they always look immaculate but if I looked as good as they do I would look at myself all day long. “I love me, do you?”. Mat reckons one of the girls in cabin crew needs to eat a couple of kebabs as she is too thin. I have to say that I agree with him as you get a really unattractive back bones jutting thing going on every time she bends to give us anything. Vom.

Not really slept much so to entertain myself, instead of watching films, I have been playing DJ and creating a playlist from the vast music collection on the in-flight entertainment. Only on my playlist do you get Rihanna, Run DMC, Take That, Neil Diamond, Adele, Eminem, Radiohead and Cee Lo Green vying for attention. Oh and some 80's classics. The Whole of the Moon anyone? Together in Electric Dreams? Circle in the Sand? Rush Hour? And that wedding stalwart Come On Eileen?! Don’t think Fearne Cotton has anything to worry about though do you?!

Signing off for now as beverage is being served and it would just be my luck for yet more turbulence to happen and a very wet laptop incident to take place!

Ciao for now.

22^nd April 2011

Singapore time: 20.57

Finally in Singapore City, having arrived safe and sound.  We are checked in, showered and just about to go and get something to eat.  We're here for one night only before we fly out to Sulawesi tomorrow morning. We're in a massive business hotel called 'Furama City' in Chinatown.  Nice and clean room with everything you need but as to be expected in a business hotel very functional with lots of 'it does what it says on the tin' details.  Randomly, there is a set of bathroom scales in the bathroom.  Not quite sure why unless their guests like weighing themselves after all these business dinners?!

Although I have been to Singapore on stop-overs before, I have never actually had a chance to wander around the city proper and first impressions are good albeit in a really, really sterile, Truman Show kinda way.  I can't believe how clean everything is!  I thought their tube network was cleaner than some people's homes! Incredible.  And no evidence of grafitti either. 

And now I am in South-East Asia proper, I feel like the over-fed cousin around all these petite, finely boned creatures with their silky long black hair. Ann T - if you are reading this, they all remind me of you honey!

Anyway, we're hungry and don't want to be too late out tonight so logging out for now.

Over and out.

I hope to post on this blog each day depending on internet availability so brace yourself!

With friends in high places - Skiing!

There is still a faint smell of reblochon cheese in the house where we tried to re-create the 'raclette' experience last night and it seems a little strange to write about a winter sport activity when there is glorious sunshine outside but two weeks after the event - I came, I saw, I conquered and cried a little bit.  Skiing not skiing - done!

As already mentioned, a bunch of us went to a ski resort in the Alps called La Clusaz in the Haute Savoie region of France close to the Swiss border. From an original eight of us going, seven of us eventually made the flight over with five of the group skiing and myself and David doing the whole skiing not skiing thing.  A good time was had by all.

It was the first time I had been abroad, let alone on a plane since all my cancer treatments so I was a little nervous about how my body would react even though I had been assured everything would be fine. Yes I know I can be a bit of a drama queen but visions of my body blowing up to Professor Klump levels like in the 'Nutty Professor' can make a girl nervous you know.  As it is, the most exciting thing to happen was the actor Simon Callow being on the same flight as Mat and I.  I entertained myself trying to work out why he would be flying to Geneva having bought a white 'Thomas Pink' shirt (stalkerish, much?!) and wished I had the courage to engage him in conversation - he would have been so interesting to talk to. Never mind, next time.

The drive from Geneva aiport to La Clusaz was a little 'bendy' to say the least!  We were in the Alps after all and so as we got higher, the roads got a little narrower and more vomity twisty - good job our taxi man knew what he was doing driving in the dark! 

We stayed at a place called La Ferme which was a lovely ramshackle chalet that served the most amazing food (best restaurant in town) and as it was on the slopes, you could ski in and out onto the decks quite easily.  I loved staying at La Ferme.  I really liked the whole informality of it all - the rooms were comfy and it was up to you to make yourself at home - which we all did obviously!  Their 'petit salon' had never seen so much business when we were there. The only strange thing about our stay was breakfast where we couldn't have anything egg based (boiled, scrambled, etc) until 9.30am because the 'egg man' didn't come in till then!

The rest of the weekend was just a non-stop hive of activity where the skiers and boarders amongst us did their thing and David and I bimbled along doing our thing and then we met up for food and drink après-ski which was, obviously, the main thing we all did!  With lots of laughter.  As a non-skier, I won't go into too much detail about conditions etc but being so late in the season snow wasn't great.  Apparently. There was a lot of 'brown' visible which made it all abit tough going between slopes and the lack of powder made it all a bit icy going down. Do I sound like I know what I am talking about yet?! 

I also got to ride in a 'telecabine' or ski gondola for the first time (didn't like it) and rode on a ski-chair (hated it even more) and when I eventually got off the frikkin ski-chair I cried from the sheer relief of not being on it anymore! How scary are those things?!  I don't think skiing is going to be my 'thing' going forward if I don't even like sitting on the things that take you up the mountain to be able to do it but I just saw it as a means to an end. One to see the glorious scenery and two, to meet up with all the others.

As an aside, Mat took to skiing like the proverbial duck to water. He hadn't skied for years and years but you can add skiing to all the other high risk activities he does - climbing, scuba-diving, ju-jitsu, living with me, fish-keeping, living with me and oh yeah, living with me! 

Being in the mountains, breathing in all the fresh air and just seeing the pretty villages and stunning scenery made the trip all worthwhile for me. I got to go to Annecy for the afternoon on Sunday and it was absolutely beautiful. The town likes to call itself 'the Venice of the Alps' and not sure if their tourist board got a little over-excited there but it certainly was stunning.  I fell in love with the place and I fell in love with France all over again.  The food, the people, the culture. If I could, I would be there in a heart beat. I could be living in Annecy now with Mat climbing in the summer and skiing in the winter.  And when I woke up from my dream I remembered the bins needed emptying and reality set in.  Never mind, one day.

I was just happy to be well enough to go on this trip and to actually enjoy it.  Yes, I could have rested a little more so I wasn't so fatiguée in the days afterwards but you know what, it was worth it. Just a few short months ago, I didn't think I would be able to look at a ski-chair let alone be on one but just like with anything, when the opportunity arises, you've just got to go for it.

all photos courtesy of kingborris