homecoming?

That's it then. Season is over. Winter 2011-12, Morzine, done and dusted. Epic. That's pretty much all I can say about it to encompass just how awesome it was for me. Yes there were down moments, times when I was homesick, when things weren't going quite right, work issues, relationships that proved problematic and days where riding didn't even come into the picture frame. On the flipside, or sunny side, there's been friendships forged, skills learnt, fun times, happy times, drunken times, powder days, slush days, sunny days, laughs, above all so many laughs. I cannot stress enough what an amazing experience doing a season can be. I'm going back for more, without a doubt.

Looking back at the events that led me to do a season I find it hard to believe that a relatively short time ago, in the grand scheme of things, I was licking my war wounds and trying desperately to mend a broken heart and spirit. Looking back at that person it's hard to equate her with who I am today, but of course what doesn't kill us makes us stronger and makes us the person we are. To throw another cliche into the mix, time heals, and time well spent in the mountains has certainly helped to heal. Things happen for a reason and though you might not see it at the time, you will get it one day.

So much to look forward to and so many happy memories from the season. Can't wait to catch up over the next few weeks with friends old and new before I head off on the next adventure... the summer season!

tonsils, laundry rooms and ghost towns

I got tonsillitis last week. Is it any wonder though when I went out partying till the wee hours on many consecutive nights...silly me. Still haven't learned that I can only push it so far before something gives. It was Basscamp the week before so had to take advantage of all the shenanigans going on. Made a friend who happened to be involved so got a rather fun insight and had an awesomely fun yet tiring week. Now I'm paying the price with daily visits to the Doc for some hardcore antibiotic injections. Still...it was worth it!

What is it about seasonaires and laundry rooms? Turns out that laundry rooms are very popular places to sleep in, or "sleep with" in. I know someone who unfortunately got pulled up by a manager for just such an incident. Yeah, laundry rooms (aka the abattoir), funny old places.

We have one week to go. One week of intense cleaning, eight chalets returned to their owners in pristine condition. That involves such wonderful tasks as toothpicking limescale off of taps, bleaching toilet brushes, flipping mattresses and cleaning on, in, around, behind EVERYTHING! It's the highlight of the season....Not really no.

One highlight was when we performed a goodbye dance for the last guests on Sunday. Yes, we actually danced them off. They must've thought we were totally mental! Anyway, guests are gone and we're cleaning and the town has gone very quiet indeed. Walking around tonight it was eerie, nobody about. I only just realised the other day that the Pleney bubble wasn't running anymore, I'd been looking at the mountain and couldn't place why it looked different to me. Unfortunately due to my tonsillitis I missed out on the best of the last minute end of season snow that we've had, but unbelievably it still is snowing high up, so Wednesday is the day for a bit of riding up in Avoriaz. Then that will most likely be it until next winter season. Excited already for that, and everything in between.

Wasn't too sure about being back in the UK for a bit but now I'm really looking forward to it. Seeing family, friends, little trips here and there to spend time with loved ones and the possibility of seeing the little idiot. One week to go, till the end of Morzine 2011-12 winter season, and what a season it's been!

between two lungs and cosmic love

Yesterday was day off. I rode alone and I loved it. I listened to music whilst riding for the first time this season and I wonder now why I didn't do it before. My playlist consisted of Florence and the Machine, Ladyhawke, Friendly Fires, Kate Nash and Aloe Blacc. There were a couple of moments when the music just made the day amazing. At the top of the mouille au chat chair, standing there on the ridge between the ranfoilly bowl and the chamossiere, the mountains shrouded in low clouds with Florence singing between two lungs, it was an awesome moment. Valleys full of trees are in actual fact just like lungs, the lungs of the world. Yes, my name is Trine and I'm a hippy tree hugger! Then at the very end of my ride, last run, piste b on the home stretch, I was flying along and it was magical and happiness inducing with Florence singing cosmic love. Yes, I have finally embraced the truth - speed is your friend and that song is just so lovely, I felt the need to just raise my arms up to the sky as I was flying along the piste. I was very happy indeed!!!

Then bedlam and mayhem occurred. It's Basscamp this week and a few of us partied hard yesterday. You know it's going to be a good night when it starts with 45% dark rum and coke.... Suffice it to say that whilst I was cleaning today I had spinny rooms. In fact I'm pretty sure I'm still a bit drunk. So going out for a ride to blow out the cobwebs from my fuzzy, booze addled brain!