Ski Instructor Report 26 January 2013

“Any snow forecast?” That is the second most frequently asked question to an instructor.( What do you do in the summer?” is the most frequent.) For the last two weeks we have not heard that question, due to the fact that it has snowed virtually every day for a fortnight. However, on Friday morning the sun shone and the sky was a magnificent shade of blue. The snow was deep cold and powdery. It was a brilliant day for skiing. I took a group of Irish clients up the mountain for the first time. They found the view stunning and the skiing great. We all thoroughly enjoyable lesson. By the way, the snow has returned on Saturday morning. As I write this on a Saturday morning, my memory of Friday night is very fresh in my mind. So if you forgive me for mentioning again the live music. Semipro in El Cau really have since they formed earlier in the sesaon. Velvet Blues seem to have an endless supply of great guest musicians, who jam with them, giving a great depth to their play list. In the Quo, Elvis had the liveliest audience. I would have made it to the Derby but I was hijacked by my Irish group. We ended up in El Moli, where we played Giant Jenga. Whoever knocked down the pile, had to do a pole dance. Thank goodness ot was not me. The victim was a very attractive Irish girl. I enjoyed that. I did not submit a report last week as I was in England; I had a difficult journey back to Arinsal, due to South West Trains cancelling my train to Gatwick and the following one, due to “The threat of bad weather”. Fortunately my wife picked me up at the station and drove me to the airport. We did not experience and bad weather, although it was very cold. Bad marks to S.W.T. and well done to Easyjet for getting me to Barcelona, in time to catch the Novatel bus, with ten minutes to spare. I was dropped off at the hotel in time for dinner. “Elvis” was not so fortunate, his Ryanair plane from Liverpol was late and he missed the bus. He had to catch the slower Directbus and pick up a taxi from the bus station. He got to the Palarine before the bar closed. When I finish this, I shall unpack my kilt for tonight’s belated Burns’ Party. You will receive a full account in next week’s report.

Ski Instructor Report 13 January 2013

The weather was very warm at the start of this week but turned colder towards the end of the week. The clients enjoyed good skiing conditions. Although the snow was getting thin in places until the snow cannons were able to make snow. The forecast for next week is for temperatures down to -15 , with snow forecast for every day. We must wait and see if the forecasters are correct. I had a very jolly après ski this week; firstly , I was in Quo Vadis listening to Mike ( Arinsal’s top entertainer) perform when a girl from my class came in with some friends, she got me up to dance, we boogied, we danced to smoochy tunes and I supported her in Karaoke. Next day in class, she admitted that she and her friends and had been out drinking earlier and was very drunk when she arrived at the Quo. I found this information devastating, I thought that she danced with me as she thought that I was devastatingly handsome and had irresistible charm. NO, she danced with me, because she had on her “Beer goggles” So you see lads, even ladies wear them occassionly I went to hear Mike at the Palarine on Thursday Party Night following their splendid Oriental buffet. He had an amazing supporting act , Josh Cuell, of the Palarine, who performed “Gangster Style/ He was great. So good in fact, the following night he was invited by Elvis to close his act in the Quo Vadis. The show ended with thunderous applause. (Elvis is alive and appears each Friday evening.) As previously reported Friday Night is Music Night in Arinsal, with live music in the Arinsal bar, El Cau, Quo Vadis, Bogart’s bar and the Derby. I find it hard to fit them all in. I arrived at the El Cau just as the band finished their final session. I did not hear them play but it looked as if the joint was jumping. I am returning to England next week for some eye treatment, so I hope that the forecasted snow does not delay my bus trip to Barcelona. I am looking forward to seeing my family and my badminton friends again and to appearing in four performances of Fawlty Towers on the Groundlings Theatre in Portsmouth. I have minor role and my daughter plays one of the main characters, Polly. There may or may not be a report next week.

Ski Instructor Report 5 January 2013

HAPPY NEW YEAR. This year started well for us in Arinsal, with new snow on the 1st and 2nd. The last couple of days it has turned sunny and warm. We were quite busy this week; I had a morning group of intermediates and an afternoon class of beginners. The morning group was great fun, everyone was here to enjoy themselves and they did. I was unable to take my beginners as far up the mountain as I would have liked. However they all tried very hard and all were pleased with their personal achievements. I cannot report on New Year week without mentioning the après ski; the Palarine had their annual fancy dress party with free bar. This is included for all the hotel guests but the tour companies had not told them about this. Some had made other arrangements or had not brought a costume. (Maria always has a few spare ones). The locals who had booked this evening looked spectacular. Most had made a great effort. I wore my kilt for Hogmanay and visited a few of my usual bars to pass on the seasonal greetings. Several ladies were very keen to find out what I was wearing under my kilt. My stock answer was “Give me your hand and you will find out for yourself.” One screamed “That is gruesome.” My reply was “Yes and it grew some more.” I saw in the South African New Year at the Quo Vadis, then the Andorran New Year back in the Palarine. We stayed up for the British New year then partied for a while. The Party broke up about 3-30 am. The hard worked bar staff went to the Quo to relax and saw in the American New Year. The people clearing up after the late night party were joined by the staff who had arrived to lay up for breakfast. I believe everyone enjoyed themselves. Of course, I retired a bit earlier as I started work at 9 am. All of my class, bar one were on time. Later on in the week, we were entertained at the Palarine by Mike (Elvis) Jones. The guests loved it. This will be a regular gig, on Thursdays, following the “All You Can eat Oriental Buffet” this should prove popular with the locals. Mike’s arrival means that we have even more choice in Arinsal when we are looking for live entertainment.

Ski Instructor Report 29 December 2012

I had a pleasant surprise this week. There were some lovely guests in the Hotel Palarine, who actually read my reports. It is very nice to know that someone reads my rambling thoughts. They even said that they enjoyed some of my reports. I thought that I should give you an update on the smoking ban in Andorra. On the positive side: a bar man told me that he has much more time to serve and talk to customers as he is not constantly clean ashtrays. One pretty barmaid told me that she now feels that she does not have to wash her hair, after every shift, to get rid of the smell of smoke. On the negative side, smokers appear to go out on to the street to enjoy their cigarettes. This means that you can no longer walk down the main street in Arinsal enjoying the clear fresh air. Now you have to go into a shop or bar for fresh air. One of my very nice group complained that there were no tea making facilities in her room. In even cheap B & B s in England you would expect this facility but I cannot remember having this in a ski resort. I have asked, if anyone knew of a hotel in Arinsal which provided a kettle in the room. No one could think of one. So if this is important to you, I suggest that you check with your hotel and bring a travel kettle, if one is not provided. Friday night is music night, so I went out to listen to the bands. Firstly, I went to Bogart’s bar and as usual, enjoyed Velvet Blues. I then went to hear a new band in El Cau. This band has just been formed from local workers and I went there with no great expectations. However, I really was impressed, I thoroughly enjoyed their music. I would describe it as Country Rock mixed with some modern pop. Danny, the front man, did a great job involving the audience. I hope this band will be around for a long time. They are so new they do not appear to have a name yet. I did enquire and someone suggested “Semipro”. I suspect that a more appropriate name will be found in the near future. ( Suggestions please, to the webmaster.) After a pleasant time in El Cau, I moved down the hill and visited the Derby. Their resident musician is Keith, an Irish singer and guitarist. This young man is excellent in audience participation. The whole bar was enjoying his eclectic style of music. He appears there, most days and has an extended session on Fridays. With so much good music in the bars I do not know which bar to go to next week. I think the best solution would be to go to them all.