OK. My turn again and firstly an apology to all of our avid blog followers (you poor fools) for the lack of updating these past couple of weeks. The gentle nagging of various loved ones has prompted this belated post and all I can offer is this: find something better to do!
Firstly my job. I work at the Inns of Banff ski shop and am a fully (if dubiously) qualified ski tech in a variety of brands. Yes, I can sort bindings, set up skis, and fit boards however much of this knowledge remains academic as we currently average 3 customers per day. Still, at least there remains the fascinating task of testing and waxing our fleet of 1000+ skis and boards. It does have a few benefits beyond regular payment, most notably the discounts around town, and the Mt. Norquay season pass. I also have a few teaching weekends lined up at Norquay during January and February, working for Gord who was my instructor on the CSIA level 1 course. Meanwhile Laura has been settling into her job at the Rimrock, an amazing hotel up by the hot springs, which is proving not too terribly catty for her, and there are a few tips thrown in, though I think the post work buffet brunch they get is probably the best bit!
Actually, I can’t remember if we already mentioned that I’d passed my level 1, so am now a member of the club that I have stood outside for so long. No longer will my grubby paws leave grease marks on the pristine window of the Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance as I peer in from the cold. The course itself was great fun and a real eye opener as I discovered several fundamental flaws in my skiing, and worked toward being able to teach beginners (mainly young children) to progress to basic parallel. Getting some teaching experience will hopefully be a valuable tool on my way to aiming toward level 2 by the end of the season.
I’m suddenly aware that this entire post has been Nick dominated and for that I will make no apology as it was partly by design, with Laura telling me to write about the job etc., and partly because I’m very interesting and witty. That said, perhaps we can broaden our horizons a little.
I wanted to write about the other things that we have been doing here but as I flick through the diary I vaguely fill out to keep my head a little less bamboozled, it strikes me that we have settled into something of a normal working and living rhythm. That’s not to say we haven’t been doing things. A couple of Thursdays back it was the Banff Lodging Co. (who own the Inns, and half of Banff) Christmas party at Wild Bills, a local bar. All was going so well until the buffet stage, at the sight of which I ate my way into a food coma from which there was to be no respite. Such was my plight that alcohol consumption was irrevocably slowed, and my wrists, that must have been fatigued after all the cutlery work, ensured my showing at table football that evening was truly substandard. Another highlight was Laura and I parking ourselves firmly upon the knee of Santa much to his delight (!?) to have our photo taken, only to be told that it was in fact the company President. And that was the extent of the evenings’ bigwig hobnobbing. A few days later it was the pleasure of the 5 * Rimrock hotel to entertain us, and my word that was a fine spread. Tender turkey, succulent beef, and an excellent curry followed by such a choice of puddings that I one of each. With a degree of Churchillian thinking not usually associated with us, Laura and I proved ourselves the proverbial wise man leaving plenty of room to use up our drinks tokens, and then use up some other ones, and then not have fun at work the next morning.
We have also, of course been doing some skiing, but only recently together. I had a couple of weekends at Norquay, the closest mountain to Banff, for the CSIA course, and have since been back with a colleague, but last week was the first time Laura and I went up together. We were in for a diverse few days as the Rockies treated us to a relatively rare dump of 5 inches over the Wednesday we skied Sunshine. The next day brought blues skies, and freshly groomed pistes, with swathes of powder on the lesser-skied runs, while Friday was a great one to test out some carvers. Laura had the first cause for ski repair after she hit a rock Thursday evening and needed to get a punched edge fixed. Unfortunate though this was, Friday was a good day to go out on some bigger skis as they had just opened the final lift, giving access to the entire mountain, and there was some great fresh snow to be had off piste. Thursday night became fondue night as we went to the Grizzly House with a few chums. The menu came with four courses, three of which were fondue based, plus one soup/salad, neither of which would have enjoyed being dunked in hot oil/chocolate/cheese, or put on a 500 degree hot stone. Beef and scallops were doused in garlic butter and sizzled, while Laura opted to incorporate as many animals as possible, enjoying boar, venison, and bison. Our share of the bill was fronted by Ben, as a Christmas present to Laura, and for that, sir, my appetite thanks you. (The picture is of Laura enjoying a Bulldog - a frozen margarita with a bottle of Corona on top, as it turns out, the perfect apres fondue drink.)
So yes, we have been doing stuff, but it falls decidedly within the category of business as usual for where we now are, and to me that is awesome. I would hope never to take somewhere as stunning as this for granted, but that we have settled into the swing of things here bodes well. It can’t all be giant lego whales and hockey matches. We’re looking into getting a car at the moment and that would add an exciting element of freedom but for now we’re looking forward to Christmas. I was about to go and do my wrapping but as Laura has just wandered in for a nap I might wait a while. Her job gets her up even earlier than mine when we work mornings so it’s well earned, especially as she was on the night shift yesterday. Right, I’m waffling now. Goodbye, and Merry Christmas from Banff!
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