Here’s a question, how often are you stopped in your tracks by beauty each day? That kind of question could easily lead to people sounding smug without meaning to.
Often I read on Facebook how people are chuffed in life; they love their current situations and are constantly full of the joys of spring. To be honest I’m probably guilty of such statements myself in the past during winters, especially if fresh powder and happy clients are involved. But yet again, even though the snow has gone, I’ve been constantly stopped in my tracks by beauty this last week.
This time it’s because Harriet and I have ventured further into the amazing Vanoise National Park. With the snow fast disappearing from the mountains we were distracted by huge peaks - bright white glaciers still covered in fresh snow - towering above deep lush valleys. We were being exposed to some magnificent wildlife: Canon and I have been on overdrive it has to be said.
We’ve enjoyed observing Bouquetin (more commonly known as Ibex) and Marmots in their natural environment.
Plus we’ve studied the maps and have investigated old traditional farming hamlets and villages that have been occupied for generations.
But the thing is, are they occupied because these hamlets and villages appear deserted. They are spooky places, occasionally we saw shadows move, we heard something cough in the background, smelt farm yard smells and saw evidence of activity but weren’t sure what. But we hardly saw man nor beast in these places.
That all changed at the weekend when we went to visit friends over in Chamonix. Suddenly we were surrounded by loads of people in this bustling town, but if anything the scenery was even more stunning.
Joy and Jim are both very busy with work during the winter as well. So it was the perfect opportunity to catch up with them just after their season had finished. Joy is an International Mountain Leader (‘accompagnateur’) and a Pilates instructor amongst many other things, and Jim is a High Mountain Guide. We had great fun reviewing our winters and spoke about many things that stopped us in our tracks. What I found interesting was that we all spoke with passion about how much we are looking forward to next winter already.
Harriet and I leave Méribel today, and I’ll be honest to say I’m gutted. However, I’ve got loads to look forward this summer. I’ll be back in a driving school car in a couple of weeks time, not with BSM this summer but with an exciting new school just starting in Leamington Spa. Next week I’ll be attending another intensive Photography Workshop in Derbyshire, specialising in Wedding photography. This will be the launch pad for further photographic motivation and a possible lead for work. With several weddings in the pipe line already I can’t wait get going this summer.
I hope you’ve all enjoyed reading my blog again this winter. Have a great summer everyone. Don’t worry, only 219 days until the lifts open again next winter.
Martin
Plus it's been great being able to get fitter, what with more and more footpaths being exposed earlier than normal. On Thursday afternoon I decided to try to drop a little further down the valley to start my annual Widlife Photography challenge, which normally ends in failure, deer stalking. How did it go? They are still beating me hands down, and spotting me well before I see them.
I'll report more about that walk on my next post. Harriet has flown out from the UK to be with me during my time off work. Yesterday we went for our first walk together, in the sun again of course, up into the Vanoise Parc National. We saw our first few marmots of the Spring, from a distance. They are as gorgeous as ever, and so playful with each other.
I've my final lesson of this winter on Wednesday, and then it will be holiday time, yippee. Have a great week everybody.
Even though it was hot and sunny in Méribel, because Val Thorens is so high, you can still come across challenging weather, especially wind. That wasn't going to stop everyone from having fun though. 
One of the Tilsons, Gilly, is a keen photographer, so we were all happy to pose, practise and experiment with each others cameras. This next shot was fun, taken by my very own Canon, of Gilly wearing her goggles with a reflection of La Folie Douce mountain restaurant. 
Another fun shot was when I took Gilly's camera and squeezed her friends and family together in a tight semicircle in front of her goggles again. So instead of a mountain restaurant reflection, you could see everyone hugging each other. 
I've heard a rumour that the Folie Douce franchise may well spread into the Méribel valley soon, located at the Choucas restaurant close to the mid-station of the Burgin Saulire bubble. One of the many things I love about my job is being with people on their precious holiday. The relaxed, playful, happy and many other emotions are all very infectious. However, I also occasionally come across another mental state, competitiveness. This appeared on our final ski back down to Méribel, when the two Nicks wanted to go into the 'Fun Park' to do some jumps. There were two jumps close to each other, which were later discussed and judged down in Méribel during apres ski over a beer. So here goes with Nick T's first jump. 
At the end of my last day with Rohiyah my feelings swung from one extreme to the other, ie having loads of fun with her one minute to hard reality the next. After I left Rohiyah at her hotel, I skied down to the school to drop off my ski kit. However just before I reached the school I noticed a couple of my colleagues racing towards the Tougnete bubble. Immediately I thought that was a little odd, but as soon as I reached the school I was hastily told about an avalanche on the Combe Tougnete piste and rescuers were urgently needed. I took a huge gulp and rushed across to the bubble at the same time as Alain, the Big Cheese of the school. His phone was ringing like mad, as were different channels on his walky talky. 
They've all been burning the candles at both ends, as is to be expected, with perhaps Graham going beyond the call of duty sometimes. Meet Graham. 
Oh dear, I don't think he's looking at his best right now, something to do with toffee vodkas. We'll go back to a photo of him a little later. Graham first put skis on last August, in Chile of all places. He had three days as a complete beginner over there, and I took over to help him progress on and beyond the green pistes. However, he had a major problem, incredible pain in his ski boots. It stems back to a few problems in his youth, plus breaking his foot when running to a meeting in London. Instead of jumping up to mount the pavement he instead swiftly whacked the kerb with full force, hence the broken foot. Cue wincing from all readers. Two operations later and his feet now look like this..... 
