No post for a little while and this is mainly due to the man-made disaster that is half term week. Just under 120 people descended on the resort for this phenomenon. And during this week people switch almost everything off, reason, calmness, tolerance to name just three.
They then refuse to occupy certain rooms because last time they were here they thought they were haunted. The room not the person... at least I think. One complained that the room was too small, although it is the size he booked, unless of course he had to fit the ghost in.
This week I have had ruptured ligaments, a trip to the hospital with a stiff neck and to the medical centre with a cut to the head. And before you even think to start worrying this is not me but the occupants of the hotel.
From the airport was a nightmare with people complaining they weren't on the same bus as their family, there were 18 of them, not sat together on the plane and not sat together at dinner, although this complaint was before they had even gone in for dinner so unless they were clairvoyants I think it might have been a guess. Also a complaint that they had put the non-skiers at the back of the hotel so they couldn't look out of the window at the skiers. Unfortunately the hotel staff are NOT clairvoyant so were not able to tell the skiers from the non-skiers just by the booking reference. Please relax you are on holiday, smile, not everything goes completely right but none of it is fatal.
One of the ski instructors said that people go on holiday determined not to enjoy it.
It has turned very cold here, with wind chill of -20 at times and very windy, hence the wind chill I suppose, although I am no meteorologist. But skiing is still good.
Shelley comes out here this week with her niece and I have told the hotel staff that we will go out drinking on one night. Should be fun.
The Assistant Manager had an unusual request though, the mother of one of the staff had brought some Salt and Vinegar crisps from New Zealand and now he is hooked, so he asked if I could get some brought over. Apparently he has tried to obtain this delicacy in Austria, Italy and Germany. So Shelley may tip the scales to overweight with Salt and Vinegar crisps.
Strange but true, which brings us back to the haunted room...
Friday, 25 February 2011
Sunday, 13 February 2011
Busy, Busy, Busy
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!
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!
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
Update
Been a bit quiet here, hence no post for a bit.
The weather now is quite warm for this time of year. 11 degrees the other day driving home. Great danger of the snow disappearing certainly at the lower levels. Not good as we are going into the busy time of year. This Saturday I have 73 people arriving and the following week 119! They say they will try and get someone over to help out, we'll see what happens there.
Things not so bad apart from the snow front. The last week I had someone say how could the company sell a holiday in the British mags and brochures to somewhere they don't speak English. At first I was not sure what to say, then suggested that there was always USA and Canada to avoid the language difficulties.
I went on to say that most of the European ski destinations do not speak English!
She said that the sleigh driver spoke to the German speaking guests but not to them.
When I told the girls in reception this they laughed, they said the sleigh drivers are not very interesting and only speak Horse anyway, which is a mixture of clicking noises and 'Get on' (in German of course).
This week is Viennese week in the hotel, and apparently the locals hate them. They say they treat the staff like yokels. In the hire shop he said if they had these guests every week he wouldn't do the season.
Oh well, back to working on the tan. If we get no snow in the next week it won't be a very happy half term holiday for some.
The weather now is quite warm for this time of year. 11 degrees the other day driving home. Great danger of the snow disappearing certainly at the lower levels. Not good as we are going into the busy time of year. This Saturday I have 73 people arriving and the following week 119! They say they will try and get someone over to help out, we'll see what happens there.
Things not so bad apart from the snow front. The last week I had someone say how could the company sell a holiday in the British mags and brochures to somewhere they don't speak English. At first I was not sure what to say, then suggested that there was always USA and Canada to avoid the language difficulties.
I went on to say that most of the European ski destinations do not speak English!
She said that the sleigh driver spoke to the German speaking guests but not to them.
When I told the girls in reception this they laughed, they said the sleigh drivers are not very interesting and only speak Horse anyway, which is a mixture of clicking noises and 'Get on' (in German of course).
This week is Viennese week in the hotel, and apparently the locals hate them. They say they treat the staff like yokels. In the hire shop he said if they had these guests every week he wouldn't do the season.
Oh well, back to working on the tan. If we get no snow in the next week it won't be a very happy half term holiday for some.
Monday, 31 January 2011
No Change
Well, there hasn't been much happening here in Austria.
The weather has been quite cold but no snow since last week. Just have to scrape the car off every morning. I think -17 was the lowest one morning when I drove to the resort.
The skiing has continued to be good, and my cold has just continued.
Apart from that not much to report. The sun has been shining so working on the face tan, not wearing goggles so I don't end up with panda eyes.
Guest-wise it's very quiet, only 14 in the hotel this week, although the hotel itself was 100% full this weekend. Not a room to spare.
I am expecting it to pick up in a couple of weeks time when the schools go on half-term. But until then just enjoying the quiet and ski-time.
The weather has been quite cold but no snow since last week. Just have to scrape the car off every morning. I think -17 was the lowest one morning when I drove to the resort.
The skiing has continued to be good, and my cold has just continued.
Apart from that not much to report. The sun has been shining so working on the face tan, not wearing goggles so I don't end up with panda eyes.
Guest-wise it's very quiet, only 14 in the hotel this week, although the hotel itself was 100% full this weekend. Not a room to spare.
I am expecting it to pick up in a couple of weeks time when the schools go on half-term. But until then just enjoying the quiet and ski-time.
Tuesday, 25 January 2011
Skiing At Last
The snow last week and then it snowed yesterday has meant that it is now almost perfect for skiing.
The guests I have this week all want to ski and a lot want to come out with me so I can show them the slopes. With the good weather this means that I have been out everyday the last 3 days and yesterday was all day.
There is still some ice around to make it interesting.
The hire shop want me to get guests to upgrade their rental skis so have lent me a pair of professional skis to try. They are great, so I can recommend them to guests.
All in all it is pretty good. Just what I wanted, skiing every day and fortunately very little hassle.
But putting on chains is a messy business, taking them off is far messier!
The guests I have this week all want to ski and a lot want to come out with me so I can show them the slopes. With the good weather this means that I have been out everyday the last 3 days and yesterday was all day.
There is still some ice around to make it interesting.
The hire shop want me to get guests to upgrade their rental skis so have lent me a pair of professional skis to try. They are great, so I can recommend them to guests.
All in all it is pretty good. Just what I wanted, skiing every day and fortunately very little hassle.
But putting on chains is a messy business, taking them off is far messier!
Wednesday, 19 January 2011
Snow...At Last!!!
At last it's snowing here. Hoo-bloody-rah!!
The green meadows outside my window have now gone back to white, for the moment.
So today, my day off, I decide to go for a drive round to explore. Not the wisest of moves, I headed up hill. and see lorries stranded with police direct cars round them. My second encounter with the local police in so many days, but more of that in a bit. Anyway I get to a town and then decode to head back as it was not easing any, and the locals still drive like nutters.
I don't want to have to put chains on so eventually head home. Then spend a quiet day resting.
But last night I did the quiz at the hotel and left for home about 9.40. I get to the main mountain road and there are police everywhere, stopping everything. Now I have to be honest I did have a couple of small beers while waiting to start the quiz about 3 hours earlier and the limit in Austria is lower than the UK. So bollocks did cross my mind. I had a cop who spoke English and I managed to tell him I had been working and I also managed to get in that I had been in the police in the UK. But he still breathed me. I told him I had had a small beer, just the one mind, thinking something was bound to register. But it was zero, not a jot. So I bade him good night and carefully drove off down the mountain, on the road of course.
A bit of a scare, but they say they are bastards here no leeway at all, especially with speeding. So I will be extra careful in future.
Anyway with all the snow around you have to be careful because it's slippery stuff. It would have the UK on it's knees but all it does here is make the locals go about 10 kph slower!!
Who cares IT'S SNOWING!!!!!
The green meadows outside my window have now gone back to white, for the moment.
So today, my day off, I decide to go for a drive round to explore. Not the wisest of moves, I headed up hill. and see lorries stranded with police direct cars round them. My second encounter with the local police in so many days, but more of that in a bit. Anyway I get to a town and then decode to head back as it was not easing any, and the locals still drive like nutters.
I don't want to have to put chains on so eventually head home. Then spend a quiet day resting.
But last night I did the quiz at the hotel and left for home about 9.40. I get to the main mountain road and there are police everywhere, stopping everything. Now I have to be honest I did have a couple of small beers while waiting to start the quiz about 3 hours earlier and the limit in Austria is lower than the UK. So bollocks did cross my mind. I had a cop who spoke English and I managed to tell him I had been working and I also managed to get in that I had been in the police in the UK. But he still breathed me. I told him I had had a small beer, just the one mind, thinking something was bound to register. But it was zero, not a jot. So I bade him good night and carefully drove off down the mountain, on the road of course.
A bit of a scare, but they say they are bastards here no leeway at all, especially with speeding. So I will be extra careful in future.
Anyway with all the snow around you have to be careful because it's slippery stuff. It would have the UK on it's knees but all it does here is make the locals go about 10 kph slower!!
Who cares IT'S SNOWING!!!!!
Monday, 17 January 2011
Austrian Spring
Well the weather here is decidedly spring-like. The nights are cool, around zero and the days are warm 4 or 5 degrees. As we speak the snow is disappearing. The warmer weather means we get some great mist patches around the place and so here are yet more views from my window in the morning.I have been skiing but it is hard work.
So I have been exploring, on Mondays I have to go and do the banking and post which is in a nearby town. This means that I drive a different route back to the resort.
On the way there are some great sights such as this castle, the Schloss Moosham. It was closed when I visited but I will return. With the mist blowing around it looked really good.The castle I spoke of in an earlier post, at Mauterndorf, I have since found out was owned by Hermann Goering and it was where he was arrested after the war.
Also on the castle front every Saturday I have to go from the resort to Salzberg Airport on the Autobahn. On the way I pass another castle. This one is called Schloss Werfen, but you may know it better as Schloss Adler or maybe even better known as the castle from Where Eagles Dare.
It looks spectacular perched on a rock overlooking the valley, but alas no cable car. They went somewhere else for that. See here for more info:
http://www.cinema-astoria.com/cinematography/filminglocation/locations/whereeaglesdare/index.htm
Well enough of castles and the lack of snow. Forecast says we will have snow on Wednesday, my day off, and Thursday and then maybe some days after that. It better do or we might end up mountain biking here.
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