Icy

The hotel is quite full now and I have new guests they seem OK, at the moment. Don't seem to want to spend a lot on my well organised excursions.

On checking the questionnaires they are asked to fill out one rated me as average then I thought I would check some of the other answers they put. He said that the Welcome Meeting was good, he wasn't even there and then he put that the rep on the transfer was good. There was no rep on his coach!

And we are judged on these, percentage-wise and bonus-wise.

That is interesting.

I have been checking and correcting the English version of the hotel's activities for New Year's Eve. It looks quite a blow out. They do an interesting thing where they drop molten lead into water to make interesting shapes that they treat as lucky charms. Very interesting from a Health and Safety point of view. I think it is probably best I don't go to the hotel that night. But they have ice sculpting and fire eaters, hopefully not in the same place otherwise could be bit of a damp squib, which reminds me they are having fireworks at midnight. Then they dance to the blue danube, which may be more appropriate than they think if the fire eater meets the ice sculpture, but enough of that.

Skiing is interesting at the moment. Very fluffy snow hiding sheet ice, when you move the snow it is quite testing. Three times on Wednesday I came a cropper, or stacked it as us pros say! Now I have a very large Blauen fleck on my hip having landed on it all 3 times.

Also the resort is very crowded so not much room for error especially with these nutters zooming round out of control. But I try my best.

Off shopping tomorrow at the big town, need a lead to put books on my reader and they don't have such things in these small places, so quite an adventure.

Boxing Day and Beyond

A busy couple of days.

Yesterday it was very cold and I was expecting carnage on the slopes as they tried to get to grips with the ice, but not too bad. A couple of twisted knees none of which caused me any pain.

Then Boxing Day was the quiz. A bit frantic as needed to find a venue at very short notice as the hotel decided to make The Library the smoking room, so none of the Brits would go in there. Ended up in the Spa reception which was really good, except the woman who runs it got all upset this morning. Don't know why you wouldn't have known we had been in there.

All the other little problems such as refunds etc were sorted.

My supervisor has thrown it in and goes back to UK tomorrow. No great loss and the feeling is the same among the other reps in my area.

Busy with paperwork today for the 50 new arrivals tomorrow. But so far looking good, apart from up at 5!!

Office were thanking me for getting paperwork in on time, my feeling is get it done and then you can ski. All in all not so bad.

Christmas Day

Well, Christmas Day very quiet here. I was meant to be ski leading but no-one turned up so I went out on my own. It was much colder today and there was a wind at the top. But the skiing was great.

I did the 6km run from the peak to the other village St. Magareten, I did stop on the way though so really it was a number of small runs I suppose, but it was fantastic once you dropped out of the clouds.

My ambition is to do this run in one go before I leave here, but the legs will have to stop burning!

Made sure everyone was OK at the hotel then headed home.

On the way back I thought I would try and find the castle in the town near to where I live, and I did find it.


Spent the rest of the day preparing for the quiz tomorrow night, sounds like there might be a lot coming. Hopefully get another mornings skiing in.

An Austrian Christmas

Okay, not posted for a couple of days, it has been a bit hectic.

Today was day off so much calmer...I wish.

Yesterday was not too bad except I couldn't go skiing because of the low cloud, meaning it was impossible to see. Also the temperature has shot up and certainly lower down the snow was melting and it has been raining. Anyway yesterday evening I went on the sleigh ride to a little wooden cabin that has a nice bar and a restaurant. It was quite nice and it was trying to snow. The horses did well and there is a little dog with a green light on it's collar to runs on ahead. They stop on the road and one of the drivers hands round a bottle of schnapps. Very warming.

Everyone seemed happy.

Today was my day off. So I thought I would do a bit of skiing. The weather was not much better, very thick cloud but a bit of snow this time. The hotel asked if I would be about later as they would like me to read something at their Christmas hoohah that afternoon/evening. Well why not......?!

Anyway skiing was OK apart from stacking it very big time because I couldn't see the edge of the piste, big head over heels. But no problem.

Big old pizza for lunch then popped home to change. Back at home the landlady and family gave me a big plate of traditional Christmas biscuits and a bottle of wine. Luckily I had a bottle of cava in the car for a prize in the quiz on Sunday. So that was their present. But they are very nice, as is everyone. They just say Gross Gott to you all the time, complete strangers, it does make you jump at first. But I am a bit used to it now.

Back to the hotel looking a bit more presentable and the general manager gives me a present of a big candle, chocolates and a memory stick. Very nice.

Then time for the celebrations, she says it is easy, she will read out a welcome on german and wants me to do something in English, then she reads a bit from the bible, from Luke for anyone who follows the Bible. OK I'll do that. Then she says everyone sings Carols and that is it.

All goes well until she says the band don't have music for Jingle Bells and she and I must sing, archipelago until everyone joins in! Well it seems to go down OK, no-one left.

Then the Kristkind arrives on a sleigh, probably the one I was on the night before, and hands out presents to the kids and everyone goes off and has their Christmas blow out.

All very nice especially as it is now snowing quite heavily. Good for tomorrow unless I have to put on bloody chains. On the car,  not me.

So that is everything up to date.


 Ski leading tomorrow so that should be good.

Merry Christmas everyone!

D Day minus 1

Well the day is almost here. The first guests arrive tomorrow, I am being picked up at the hotel at 06.30 this means that I will have to be up at 05.00. This mainly because there will be lots of car scraping, windscreen-wise.

Today was a bit of rushing round trying to get things finished. But I did manage an hour or so skiing as the instructors said it was really good. They weren't wrong.

Elsewhere there was a meeting of the reps for this area but I am excluded on account of distance and cost, but mainly cost. I hope they weren't talking about me. They were collecting all their paperwork for the big day, I will get mine at the airport tomorrow meaning I will be rushing round to get it all together. Oh joy!

We'll see how it goes.

Forecast is for it to warm up a bit, round about zero and for it to snow on Friday. That is my day off, so I don't care. I may go skiing.

Had to have my photo taken so that it can go in the Information Book in the hotel so the guests know who I am, I would have thought that was easy, I'm the bald, old bloke in the bright blue jacket. The delightful Karin took it for me. She took two but obviously I used the worst of them. If you have to do it you might as well do it bad!

And here it is to add insult to injury.

Winter Wonderland

Today was very cold and windy, this is beginning to sound monotonous. I mean very windy though.

It was so cold that I didn't go skiing, it is really nice picking and choosing the days you go skiing. Because you know that there will be plenty more days. The girls on reception say I am sounding like a local, except a local who can't speak the language. But I am teaching them better English for free!

Everything is getting ready for Tuesday when the first guests are meant to arrive. That is if you lot over there can over the little cold snap you are having and open the airports.

Looked out of the window this evening and thought it looked really stunning but not sure if this photo does it justice. I will try to get photos of more interesting things and things you might not have seen. Perhaps an airport that is open!!

Who said you can't teach an old dog new trick?

Well the day started at the hotel faxing stuff. During this they the reception staff found out that I had registered as resident. So they taught me and then had me telling everyone in the office "Ich bin ein Lungauer" which means that I am now one of them, apparently.

Another first was getting stuck on the hill up to the resort and having to put chains on. But that sorted it, so they hold no fear for me, unless I have to do it at 5 in the morning!

So then I went skiing, which was great. There was a fall of snow overnight so some powder about and I went right over the mountain to the next village, fantastic in the sunshine.

I kept falling off the drag lifts though, so I spoke to the ski school and they gave me some tips. So in the afternoon I negotiated 4 t-bar lifts without falling off one.

Gorgeous sunset as I drove home, but still fairly cold -8.

Yesterday was a blip

Still cold, went up the other mountain today, very, very, very cold.

Great skiing though not so icy that side and long red runs. I still hate drag lifts, that has been the only time I have fallen over, getting off one of the things. Whoever invented them should be shot if they are not already dead.

Nearly sorted out all the things I need to for the guests arrival next Tuesday, so this weekend with slightly warmer weather due and snow I might spend a little time on the slopes.

Have now visited all the bars in the resort some of them twice. Oompah bands could lose what little appeal they had very quickly.

Sorry no photos today, too cold to take my gloves off to work the camera.

Quite balmy now

Well break out the Speedos! It reached -2 today up the hill, but was still only -8 in the valley. But the locals are predicting it will rise at the weekend.

Visited by the Supervisor yesterday but apparently that will be the last for some time as the tolls destroy his petrol budget. So here I am on my own!

Visited the stables today where they do the sleigh rides from, trying to set up something Christmassy. The people who run it are very nice although the owner doesn't speak much English, I bumped into him in a bar later and he introduced me to some of the locals including, handily, the bar owner. Now if I could just speak the language.

Also did a tour of the hotel, it is gorgeous. Especially the Panoramic Lounge where you can lay on waterbeds and gaze down the valley. There is a gym, sauna, steam room, swimming pool (indoor and out). The Kitchen has a party night when the guests can go in the kitchen and be served from there.

Even the kids club has a sauna, steam room and their own pool. All this at no extra cost.

The photo is just a view from the drive up the hill when the sun is going down, just beautiful.

And I thought yesterday was cold

Yesterday was not a patch on today. It was -10 most of the day with a very biting wind.

First go on the slopes today. I went to the top of the mountain then tried one of the runs but the wind was vicious and had blown away a lot of the snow leaving sheets of ice, so was a bit hairy in places. Fell over only once and that was getting off a drag lift so not embarrassing.

My supervisor visited me as well, he dropped off a load of stuff I was missing said how expensive it was where I am, he paid 4 euros for a large latte. Silly him. He said he won't be visiting very often as it is a 4 hour round trip. I told him I would struggle on.

The hotel gave me a key for the underground car park which is a blessing and saves me a tramp up the hill from the main public car park.

The photo's today are from the mountain and a shot of the farmhouse I share with the cows, the farmer and his family.

Never Got Above -6

Today was very cold and I mean VERY cold, even in the valley where I live the highest was -6. At one point during the day at the resort it was -10. When I comment on this to the locals they smile as they say it can get to -25, nighttime I hope!

A day of faffing and Austrian officialdom. Had to register with the local town hall, first I tried the one where I work but he told me that I needed to go to the one where I am living. At least I think that is what he said as he spoke not a word of English and about the only word I really understood was wohnen which I think means to live.

Anyway all the 'officials' I met were very nice and I have my registration with a fancy stamp on it.

The photos today are of the main village I live near Mauterndorf and of the sleigh-ride in the resort.

Only thing really achieved was getting my season pass, for free, hoorah!!

So tomorrow couple of meetings then I will pick up my skis and try and get a couple of hours on the slopes. Really looking forward to that.

First Time in the Resort

Went up to the resort for the first time today, the drive up was OK but there are still snow showers and was windy up on the top.

The hotel looks really nice and quite big. Great views from the bar down over the valley. The front looks out over the home run piste.


It is quite a small resort, a few bars and a few shops but it is not cheap anywhere. Certainly no riff-raff.

Met the staff in the ski school and the hire shop and they are very nice and friendly.

Have arrangements to meet everyone tomorrow and get down to the official business of checking everything.

Got all my paperwork up-to-date which is really satisfying.

Looking to go skiing on Wednesday then everyday after that to make sure I know the mountain before the first paying guests turn up on the 21st.

Met the dog that lives in the farmhouse for the first time. He is friendly which is fortunate as I have to go through the house to get to my flat.

Also the farmer spoke to me this morning as I was clearing snow off the car. I hope neither becomes a regular thing, in the nicest possible way. The car because it is a chore, the farmer because I can't understand what he is saying. But he smiles when he says it so I am assuming that it is not bad.

He is milking the cows as I write this, they live next door to me and I can hear him crashing about. The cows are much quieter. I hope my TV doesn't keep them awake.

At My Austrian Home

Well it is still snowing here, a lot. The pic on the right is the view from my bedroom window the one on the left is from my other bedroom window. Yes, it is double aspect



Straightened some things out then thought I would venture off to get supplies. I was very brave and went to 2 towns. Negotiated the Spar in St. Michael mainly by not speaking to anyone but lots of pointing and nodding.

Then went to the biggest town around here, Tamsweg. The roads were much clearer which was better. But the driving is OK.

Very nice town has most of the shops you would need. And it has 2 supermarkets so will be shopping there in future. There was a Christmas market in the centre, all very jolly.

I got back home and the farmer has parked a great big tractor in my parking space! But they are nice and asked if there was anything I needed. Also negotiated the washing with the farmer's wife, she will do for 5 euros a bundle. If it saves me dragging off with it all it is worth it.

Decided not to venture up to the resort today but weather permitting will give it a go tomorrow. Skiing will not be wise due to the various injuries I've acquired since arriving.

All in all not bad but a bar nearby would have been nice but will need to explore more when it is clearer.

Driving Through Austria

Left Kitz today and headed off with one other. Car was absolutely jammed full with brochures and paperwork and clothes. Slipped on the ice and snow outside the hotel and have now twisted my knee!!

It was snowing heavily and the first part of the drive was not good. Stopped at one point by the police as they were clearing the top of the road. Then my navigator got us lost and we lost about an hour.

I dropped him at his resort of Rauris and he unloaded his kit, brochures and forms. They seemed a bit surprised to see him at the little guesthouse but were very friendly.

I set off for the next stage of my journey, better roads this time. I then get a call from my boss asking if I was still with my colleague as he shouldn't be at the guesthouse, he just eats there. He didn't have his phone so all a bit of a kerfuffle. But very firmly not my problem.

I drove through my resort which is up a very steep mountain, handy when you're skiing, and thought I might have to put chains on. However managed the up and the down the other side with incident.

Reached the village where my apartment is and called the number I had been given, they don't speak very good English but tried hard. Turns out the apartment is a bit further on. So managed to meet up with them and taken, now in the dark, to the house.

A bit rural.

Nice place very clean, bed/sitting room, kitchen/diner, shower and toilet. TV, all German I believe. Stacks of stowage space which is handy for all the bloody paperwork and brochures.

The family have said they can order bread for me and I can have as much fresh milk as I want as apparently this is a farm!! Can't wait to look out of the window on the morning. They did offer me dinner but told them I was veggie so couldn't eat their offering, shame.

There is an agricultural whiff about the place and cats.

Photo's and more info to follow...

Training ends

Training ended today with loads of admin stuff. But now it is finished and we can get out to our resorts.

I went and picked up the car. Tomorrow I have to drive for one and a half hours to drop someone off then another one and a half hours to where I will be based.

Christmas dinner tonight to test the catering/hospitality staff and as a party. the food was good, as usual.

Can't be bothered to go out and I do have a long drive tomorrow, many have ventured out, dear dear.

Hoorah, Katschberg

I got the place I thought I would, as did most of the others. Remember to Google Katschberg (?).

Collect my car tomorrow then on Friday I can head off to the resort...wherever that is!!

It sounds good, just one hotel and that is 4+ stars, apparently it is run with military precision which is good, I think, unless of course it suddenly heads off to another country and blows it up!! But maybe I have a strange view of the military.

But for anyone who might want to visit it sounds very good. Just give me a mo to get my feet under the table.

I get an apartment 20 minutes down the road in another village, how good does that sound?

So only one more day of the training. Hoorah!!

Quite a late night tonight but in bed before most of the others so might be interesting in the morning.

Will be sad to see the last of the others (although some I will see on transfer day) but nice to get out of Kitz at last.

Don't forget to write.

Glad that's over

Snow briefs over.

Got the feedback, not sure about that.

Rumours now abound that they are 2 over subscribed for reps and it may be like the apprentice where some are fired. But who knows.

We may just be stir crazy, having not really got out of this environment for the last week.

Tomorrow will decide it all when we are given our placements. This is done in true X Factor style where we are called in individually told the news then sent to another place deep in the bowels of the hotel so we can't tell the uninformed what has happened.

Oh how the tension builds!!

Good news (or maybe it's not) they have great family offers for coming over here at Christmas, offers for about £150 per person to the Neilson properties in various places around the ski areas.

More tomorrow when we learn whether we stay or go...

Skiing today, Hoorah

Skiing today in Soll. Really nice to get out of the classroom and hit the slopes which I think is everyones main intention in being out here.

Put my self in Intermediate 2 which is the second top group. No problem except I will need to improve fitness.

Really crashed out once, and now my shoulder hurts... a lot. But hopefully will have time to recover before exerting my self again.

A long day and we got graded for our suitability for ski guiding. I think I did OK. Managed a very easy black run.

We all had to be in uniform which was weird, it is bright blue so imagine 60 of those all over the pistes.

Back to the hotel, return the kit then dinner, then work, preparing Ski Briefs. Which are not thermal underpants!

And they are shutting the bar at 10 tonight, just to make sure we do it I suppose.

Strange Festivals: Krampus

Sunday 5/12/2010

Today we were allowed to finish early and go into the town. There was a very strange festival where people dressed up in costume mainly fur and devil masks parade the streets hitting people with whips. Something that you could pay a lot for in certain places!

It was good fun though. They accompany St. Nicholas as he makes his rounds before Christmas. These 'monsters' terrorise the kids into being good for Christmas. They even drag some off!

The crowd are separated from them by barriers but these are thrown around by the 'monsters'. It was all very jolly except one of the girls, Karen, soon got very brave and was calling the monsters over then trying to run off. If we hadn't stopped her.

Still a glass of Gluwein (?) makes it go well.

We arrived in Kitzbuhel on Tuesday 30th November although with the delays it was more like 1st December. Since then the training has been pretty full on. Working most nights 'til quite late.

I am the eldest by at least 11 years and then he is older than most by another 10 years.

The main talk of everyone is where they will be posted. I have said that I certainly don't want anywhere where they expect 'bar crawls'. Not up my strasse and possibly only continuing the drunken English reputation. But if they want that in some resorts...

I think they see my reasoning, it would be like going out with your father or grandfather in some cases.

I am hoping for a more sedate resort where I can poodle about on my own, there is such a one but perhaps more of that later.