Merry Christmas!!

Although it doesn't really feel like Christmas this year, it just feels like another week and very busy week at the ski school.

It's been a pretty busy month trying to get the ski school running smooth. I think it's finally coming together, hoping for little breathing space in January. With The Vale opening next door there has been an abundance of extra walk ins. The latter half of Xmas week the schedule board for the instructors was covered in red meaning mostly privates have been booked. With the big spenders, I've been seeing a fair few black AMEX cards. How elite.

Right at the start of the season, I passed the entry level APSI ski instructors course. Was an intense four days skiing round the mountain, but I think I've improved my technique and have learnt a few things about teaching children to ski.

Had my first lesson last week. I don't think three year olds should be in a group lesson for three hours and I also think that the parents of these three year olds should be no where near them during the class. Out of my class of eight I ended up with two five year olds, I was confident that we could go up the lift, of the two, one started to cry at the top and would not stop the whole way down, had to have her in-between my legs for the run while the other little boy was doing so well and having fun which is the whole point at this age.

When I have had a chance to leave work, I've been mainly eating. Tried some raw oysters in a new restraunt open this season, Ezo Seafood.

Christmas day I was at work, everyone got to leave early. First part of Christmas dinner dining was with Aliesha at Senshou, a seafood restaurant. Part II, a family style feast at Gavin and Chook's house with a few people from work. I ate so much that I was suitably full to what is expected on Christmas day.

Spend boxing day in Sapporo, getting out of the village and seeing the shops.

Roll on 2010.

December 09 in Hirafu

Tokyo Mini Break

For a pre-season mini break, I went to Tokyo to watch the final of the Bledisloe Cup – a tournament between New Zealand and Australia. The final was held in Tokyo to promote rugby and build hype for the rugby world cup that will be held in Japan 2011.

Although not really any kind of sports fan, I do enjoy live sport matches and the Bledisloe cup was no exception. A nearly full stadium of a mixture of Japanese and gai-jins. One of the guys I was with, John, managed to rally up enough support to begin a Mexican wave around the stadium. To be fair, the first attempt wasn’t that good, but it got better, with one making it’s way all around the stadium.

Outside the stadium all five of us purchased what was probably fake rugby strips for a very reasonable price. I did buy a Kiwi shirt for the practicality of use after the game. A black polo shirt I can use while I work out, a bright yellow one isn’t so useable outside of Australian events.

After the game we all headed to Shinjuku for an izakaiya dinner and more drinking, to carry on the Kiwi theme, I discovered a kiwi sour with real kiwi’s in the drink – yummy.

Rest of the Tokyo trip was really fun, shopping, Cold Stone, high tea at The Peninsula and a seven story, women’s only Uni Qlo.

Returning to Hirafu on Tuesday I was greeted to a very white landscape. While I was away it snowed for basically the whole weekend. It has since melted in the warm weather we’ve had this week. A great semi start to the season none the less.

Tokyo Halloween 09