30th Dec - Tour Day 3

Sunday dawns, and it's off to the slopes for 3/4 of the Marais. We have to get Amber to a hospital for her required check-up before we get further away, and Mandy will be coming along for the ride.

It snowed last night, so there are a good few inches of fresh powder all about. Before we can leave the hotel, the kids are already up to all kinds of stuff in the snow..

Mandy - air guitar version of "Hotel California"...

'Teeeenhun! The troops lined up for inspection

The kids are out spotting buck foot prints in the new snow.

We dropped Michael, Mish and Pierre at the slopes and set off. Michael is in the capable hands of Miro (Miroslav) for his lessons today.

Man... at this time of year, the skiing is great - if you can get to the lift!

Hayley, by a stroke of inspiration thought of going to a closer hospital rather than trekking all the way back to Plzen. Long story short, we stopped in one of the larger towns, found the nearest hospital thanks to TomTom, and again by the synchronicity that goes before us wherever we go, were able to get to see the required people, get the required stuff done and were set for the rest of the holiday.

In the CR, if you want to see a physician, you wait outside a closed door until it opens. Understand, there is no receptionist, there are NO receptionists ANYWHERE, in any institution. So, frequently one doesn't know if one is even in the correct place at all. The sister appears like the angel who stirs the healing waters, all aglow with authority, people, especially the ones who arrived since her last appearance, all rush up or call to her and tell her what they want / need etc, she issues directives, takes documentation, and then summarily disappears again behind the closed door. We have never found a sister who can speak a word of English, so we are typically at a loss where we start, not able to get past the angel at the door. In a moment of boldness, I asked a particularly studious looking gentleman, reading a book, on one of the chairs that line the corridor that is also the waiting room, in my best Czech "Prosim Vas... Mulvite Anglicky..?" when he answered "Yes" I knew we had hit the jackpot, he immediately sprang to our aid, relayed to the heavenly sister what we needed doing, and once she knew that she couldn't speak to us she somehow seemed to soften and accommodate. 1, 2, 3, we're in, see the man, do the photo, some more plaster on the cast, a little documentation and in a flash we're out of the hospital on our way to pick up the skiing Marais and set off for Rothenberg ob der Tauber.

Michael had been skiing for most of the day with mom and dad, apparently like a pro, doing the family blue slope on his own and really taking to the snow. Mandy, with us, had been the model citizen and had preferred to come to the hospital because skiing "Takes too long." A comment we've often had from our 2, not about skiing you understand, but just about anything else - "Sarah, put on your shoes!" (for the 5th time). "Dad I can't! - It takes too long...".

After a late lunch / supper at the restaurant on the slope we bundled into the van and began the drive to our guest house, a restored mill, in Rothenberg o.d.T.

Our diggs tonight are at Pension Fuchsmühle. This guest house is really first class, everything seems like it is new, spacious accommodation and nice services, stocked fridge downstairs, coffee machine etc.

Amber bathing in her bag

"Look ma... a broken hand!"

Bed time for little people, some of whom will be sleeping in a genuine camping cot for the first time in 5 years... The kids room only had 2 regular beds, the other two sleeping spots are in camp cots! At first there was rebellion, no one wanted to sleep like a baby, until the parents spun it into a cool thing to do. Then of course, you have the job of mopping up all the broken hearts and tears for those who can't sleep in the "cool" camp cots... you can never win.

Pierre (the legend) captivating babies with his stories of somewho's doing somehow some daring doo's... and kids enthralled. I think this was the case of the escaped hamsters.

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29th Dec - Tour Day 2

Let the skiing begin. After the usual 2 hour mobilisation phase of getting families out the door we got to the slope at about 10:30. With Michelle and Pierre itching to get some snow under their ski's, Hayley and I tried to get some of the basics taught to Michael and Mandy before their lesson began at 12:00.

Mandy, in the reverse snow-plough position - the first requirement for becoming a snow-inspector.

Michael is not interested in being taught basics, he wants to do the complex stuff off the bat, and do not attempt anything without poles! You gotta have the look even at the expense of learning. Within 5 minutes, he is telling me how he likes to ski (from his years of experience) and I'm taking notes.

Mandy is another story, she's in the kit, ski's on feet, either Hayley or I are kneeling in front of her talking about what we are about to do. Mandy is staring blissfully into the middle distance, dreaming of something... not within the vicinity of her senses and it takes touching her, or calling "Mandy... Mandeeeeee!" to get her to return to her body...

Nevertheless, the time passes quickly, Michcat and Pierre return, we have a quick lunch,

then its lesson time for Michael and Mandy, and off the 6 of us go to ski while the instructors get to deal with the budding professionals.

A stunning day is had by all and there is lots of good tiredness by the time we are forced to quit by the closing of the lifts.

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28th Dec - Tour Day 1

Today is the day we officially set off for the trip. By a team effort and some superior three-dimensional packing, Pierre and I manage to fit a few metric tonnes of clobber, 8 sets of skis, ski boots, toys, and a myriad of other odds and ends into a VW transporter. Man, we used every available inch of space in that bus...

The Volksie in front of Zelený Dům ("Green House" our affectionate name for our home):

Loaded to the brim off we set for a ski warm-up session at our now regular weekend ski haunt in Arber. It has a nice selection of runs, with some really good stuff for families. By the time we got to booking the accommodation for Arber, typically in the nearby town of Bayerisch Eisenstein, there was none to be had, peak season, holidays and all. So we had to sleep in Železná Ruda a town about 3 Kms from the border, so almost no inconvenience.

The drive to DE is filled with snowy scenes and there is happiness all around

If anyone knows what these wooden thingimys are around this field please let me know - we can only speculate about snow barriers and other unlikely stories.

Yes sir, she is chilly out there

Snow on the roads, heavy van, slow driving... not that the scenery had anything to do with it!

Only arriving in Železná Ruda after 3pm, we found our hotel, up on an hill with a driveway of ice and snow, in a van with 8 people and tons of luggage... well, it's a good thing we had winter tyres on or we'd have had to walk to the hotel. The first slow approach failed horribly, and after reversing down a slippery hill... The second running attempt at the hill got us up and parked.

This is the great Hotel Dix...

With all the snow about, the 4 kids were already eating, throwing, stomping, rolling and sleighing on a little slope in the garden of Hotel Dix having a great time.

Everyone in their new snow kit...

A frozen pond to walk on, complete with a fake frozen stork.

A winter-proof Mandy steams down the slope

The broken arm, not allowed to get the plaster wet cautiously approaches the scene

Cute kid!

As soon as we'd unpacked we headed off to the ski area to see if we could get passes and things for the next day, but got there only after they close at 4. Still, the kids had enough time to sleigh for about an hour before it was time to get back for supper.

Dinner was at another regular spot of ours in Bayerisch Eisenstein - Poeschl-Stuben. If you're in the area, you should stop over, big menu, friendly staff and frequently attended by owner Jurgen, who is a really helpful guy. He also owns one of the better local ski kit shops, a hotel, ski school and other businesses in the area.

Pierre capturing some night scenes of BE from just outside the restaurant.

The hotel was functional, skimpy on the heating at night though - if you go to Hotel Dix in CZ, just take warm jammies to sleep in - we had the kids sleep in their ski thermals and pyjamas to keep them warm enough.

 

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27th Dec - Warm-Up

Cold-proofing is the mission for today. All in the family bus, and off to the shops in search of portable warmth to keep smiles on faces through the skiing and other general cold that is to come. Olympia turned out to have all that we needed, and feeling all very proud of our achievements, we left for a visit to the large ice rink that is Bolevec lake.

Mishcat trying to remember how to skate.

I'm lovin' it!

Michelle, in Hayley's boots Pierre in mine, and Michael in Ambers'. There was a lot of skating going on, and for those on foot, there were the sleighs which work just as well on ice as they do on snow when they have a cart horse to do the work that gravity so effortlessly does on snow.

Mandy was the only item not to have a skate, but she more than made up for it on the sleighs!

"Ahem... Pardon me ma'am, do you realise that this changes my ability to throw the sleigh around...?"

"Yes, yes, just get on with it!"

 

Who has the bigger smile here?

 Swaer en clean sister

"My horse! I lost, my horse... anyone seen my horse - blast this traffic!"

Giddap!
Hayley styling as only Hayley can!

Just as we were skating, walking, sleighing to the bank to go home, Amber, getting up (on her skates) off the back of the red sleigh lost her balance and fell over backwards...

She fell hard and when we heard the noise following the fall, I just knew that there was something wrong. The short version is that, after some x-rays, the doctors confirmed that she had indeed broken her arm. Apparently a typical break for kids, and not one they are worried about healing, but on the eve of departing for a three week holiday, there are better things to be doing with your right hand than having it set in a cast.

Synchronicity has always graced us with fortune as we navigated the hospital by way of bi-lingual patients in the waiting room with us, and our Czech health insurance having been finalised, and come into effect literally 3 days before we needed to show the proof of it to the medical staff at the intern hospital in Plzen. The doctors are good and speak enough rough English to match our even rougher Czech, the equipment is fast, I have never seen an instant x-ray image, it shows up just as quickly as a digital photo.

Amber feels special with the cast on her arm and all the admiration from her contemporaries. Skiing and fun in the snow are going to be limited activities for her, but we will have to see how this pans out.

While Hayley and I are having Amber repaired, the rest of the family are getting fitted for ski kit at the local hire shop. Getting back home, Mishcat whips out her culinary skills and in no time the family is eating a dish I don't think has a name, but sure tastes good.

We have to come back to the doctors in 3 days time to have the arm checked out though...

This is how you turn doughnuts on ice...

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26th Dec - The Arrival

Christmas came around twice for some this year. Ours, after having had the authentic one on the appointed day, were spoiled to have the family Marais arrive on the 26th.

Amber and Sarah had trouble sleeping ahead of both days with the excitement levels way, way up.

From the typical South African summer to a 5 or 6 degree England to a -6 degree Prague, there was a little shivering to be had, but only as a background to the goodness of the day.

... and besides seeing old friends again, there was still the business at hand of more pressies, with Tom and Churchmouse having more attention in a day than they've had in their lives.

Much excitement

Mandy discovering a Barbie...

Michael unravels a helicopter

Happiness is a smiling Amber, and smiling cow in feathers

The ever-elegant Princess Bee (in feathers)

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Christmas 07

Christmas this year was indeed different. That is putting it VERY mildly! Being used to the large family doos where everyone is together and there is much merriment and entertainment, cooking and feasting... our christmas was very different. Not bad, just different. Colin and I, being very sensitive to the fact that the girls were used to the big gathering with lots of fuss and attention, we probably overcompensated with presents. considering that for their birthdays this year they only got 2 or 3 presents and their stash of belongings was only very slowly being replenished after it was all hauled off to the orphanage before we left, we didn't feel too bad in spoiling them this year. Afterall, we had enough family members who were not with us who we labelled presents from - all the grannies and grandpas, aunts and uncles, and of course the nearly arriving cousins!

So, Christmas eve Colin & I sat up until the early hours wrapping pressies and making christmas stockings. We had organised christmas candles for the girls to light (for Father Christmas to find his way around) and of course, the standard cookies and milk.

The array of gifts was truly a sight!

Sarah has been making christmas decorations by the bucket load since early November, so the walls were also adorned for the occasion.
The christmas stockings were filled and tied to the (turned off) heater, including stockings for Mandy, Michael & A.Mish & U.Pierre.
Inevitably, the girls woke up earlier than the sparrows and we were woken up with the very loud protests that the lounge door was locked (all precautions necessary) and they could barely restrain themselves long enough for us to switch on the camera and adequately aim and fire.
After much examination, the pressie handout and unwrapping began. The tree was stashed with the Marais' presents as well, so the gifts were carefully examined and unwrapped.
Colin managed to find Ambee another cow (her "orignal" cow (stage left) really needs to retire), which was adopted as quickly as the first and has been a firm favourite ever since.
During the afternoon, we made our way to the Plzen lake (Bolevec) and enjoyed a couple of hours of play time on the sleighs before it was too dark and cold to see any longer.
Tomorrow brings the arrival of the long awaited couzins ... and round 2 of Christmas! Today was a glorious christmas day - different, but isn't that what we live for these days? Wonderfully different!