My favourite brother-in-law Neil’s choice of birthday celebration was to come skiing in Queenstown, John and I were absolutely thrilled – we have not skied for a while and where rapped at having the excuse for another holiday in Queenstown.  My sister, Neil’s wife of 25 years was less than thrilled, she has zero fat and absolutely hates the cold.  Jen has never skied and is not looking for new challenges as she approaches the half century mark!

I have to say that Jen has dug deep, remembered her marriage vows – for better or for worse, in sunshine and in snow!  Jen is actually excited, Neil cannot wait, John and I having been counting down the hours.  Sid is joining us for the 2 weeks, Neil another friend is joining us for week 1 and Sue is joining us for week 2.

Its shaping up to be a great break.

The challenge is

1. How do we keep Jen warm?
   1. She has bought every piece of warm clothing in Perth, I have bought out UNIQLO’s thermal extra smalls, layers, layers and more layers.
2. How do we not scare the living daylights out of her on the drive up the mountain?
   1. She has to sit on the left hand side of the car, I will keep her entertained with youtube skiing videos (luckily she doesn’t get car sick).
3. How do I guarantee that she will love skiing and want to go for a Day 2?
   1. Buy a 6 days ski pass, so that she feels compelled!!!
   2. Ease her into gently, have lots of hot chocolates, I may even get her to try a glühwein.
   3. I don’t have enough knowledge of skiing technique to teach her – so beginners lessons I think.  I will be there with the camera to catch her first wipe out and I promise to post….

What about Neil, after all it is his big birthday celebration.  Number one priority is to make sure that he remembers that it is 35 years since he last skied and that he is not 25 and the body doesn’t have the same capability or flexibility – so ski like an old man!!!  Anyone who knows him knows that that is not going to happen, I think a warm up with gently runs in the morning and a skiing lesson in the afternoon.  I think that I will have to make sure that Neil doesn’t go off with the other boys and be tempted to tear his ACL!

Jen and Neil have flown the red-eye to Melbourne and are trying to sleep before they board the plane to Queenstown where they land half an hour after us.  Neil (2) is on his way already, John and I are nearly about to board the flight and Sid naturally had to wait for the sun to rise and the dawn to break, the traffic to get busy before he dare set off!  Sid arrive late afternoon.