Birthday Smiles

Contrary to the rather pesimistic opinion aired on the last posting, being 31 is the business (that is so long as every day at this age consists of daydreamy skiing and boarding at Lake Louise, blue skies and fine hosteleries to finish off the evenings). Needless to say, the birthday bash weekend was a treat!

Saturday saw Brina don the skis for the first time in a good while too - after a stint of cajoling and some bullying tactics Brina hit the slopes in fine fettle of form. She's still fighting off the dratted lurgy, but had a blast on the slopes and was even coaxed down a number of the steeper runs.

Here she is zipping off the first lift of the day, a la Franz Klammer. It was great to be out in the snow, although the temps were still bloody cold. This was remedied however by the fine gift sent across the oceans by brother and sister (inlaw) - thanks Kidda and Luce. The big green jacket I was sporting all day is the perfect wear for winter days in the Rockies - a real toasty number, plus the most gadgets and pockets of any jacket ever made - pockets for goggles, pouches for phones (not that I own one), seceret holes for ipod headphones, stashed chamois for cleaning lenses - I'm sure there's even a toothbrush holder tucked away in one of the arms; but am yet to find it.

The evening was spent in this room in Lake Louise;

They even put the flag on top for us. What made it better was views like this below from the bedroom in the morning;

Saturday night was topped off with some fine apres ski in Lake Louise - hosted by Alexender Keith's finest Indian Pale Ale (actually real beer that tastes a treat- a rarity for North America), and eager chit chat about how this weeks predicted snow fall will top things up nicely for the first weekend ski of March! There were lots big smiles;

And we reckon there'll be a bit more of this white stuff too;

Hoping you all had a super weekend, and here's to being 31 (or whatever age you are)

Off to have another search for my toothbrush holder,

S&S.