Well it has suddenly got busy, 73 guests turned up on Saturday, that sounds like it was a surprise. It wasn't that was the number I was expecting, the most I have had this season.
I was told I would get someone to help me but that never happened. Another Rep in Zell am Zee had an accident and damaged cruciate ligaments so had to be shipped back to the UK. So my promised helper ended up going there for the week.
It has been warm as well, 12 degrees when I was driving home on Friday afternoon. Then at Salzburg airport it poured with rain. This is obviously not good for skiing.
Then on Sunday, today it started snowing. A welcome relief.
I have a VIP in this week, a big boss. He is being treated well a very nice room, a maisonette. Then he asks for a plug adapter as they have forgotten theirs. I have one, a double one, but I need this to chrage my phone and more importantly my iPod, so he couldn't borrow mine.
He phoned the Austrian boss who scurries round and says we they will send him a couple. Not so clever as that would take until Tuesday at the earliest. So the next suggestion s that I drive halfway and meet my supervisor who will bring a couple with her. Fine except it is now snowing and I have to go over a high pass to get to the halfway point, that is if I want to avoid motor way tolls as this trip will blow my car allowance for the week.
I have a new car by the way, a Skoda Fabia. All Skoda related jokes can be emailed to me at the usual address.
So I meet with her and collect the adapters then drive back, by now it is 6 o'clock getting dark and snowing. I set off up the mountain and the chain warning sign are not flashing. About 2/3 of the way up the car's tyres are slipping about. So I drop to first gear and press on. All is not well, I could have crawled on my belly faster than I was driving, still I couldn't face stopping and putting on the new chains that I have never fitted before in the dark by the side of a mountain road, no lay-by in sight.
Ahead I can see the glow of the lights in the resort but still a bit of a climb to go. Maybe 200 meters. Helpfully the sliding car light on the dash lights up. I scream at it that I know, as the car is often a little sideways on. Then just as it is about to come to a complete stop I hit the wet bit of road under the bridge and get a bit of forward momentum going, and that is enough to get me into the resort.
Anyway I deliver the package say hello where I need to then get in to head back.
I won't bore you with this story but it was just as hairy heading back down the mountain. Getting barely above 5 KPH and having to follow German drivers who were going much slower. Obviously I slowed down! Then they pull over to let me lead, bastards, they just want me to make the tracks for them to follow.
Anyway got down without putting the chains on, now dreading the morning but at least it will be light.
Having said that putting the chains on is not so bad, taking them off is terrible, because the linking bit is no longer nicely at the top, so you have to feel around to find it. You end up filthy, the chains snag on some sticky out bit behind the wheel, you are cold and now filthy. And I have discovered that kicking no part of the car helps in removing the chains. A top tip for you!
Anyway, every cloud has a silver lining. Snow is an essential for skiing!
A solution for winter driving, cover over the roads...sorted!
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