It's not always a picnic for children here. When Caspar makes a mistake in his homework it comes back with big red crossings out and a little picture of a very angry face, no sentimentality spared. There's also not much evidence of 'everyone's a winner', 'it's the taking part that counts'. Here, if you haven't won then you've lost. Yesterday, a local ski race for local people started at 5.30pm with the children's categories. It was a big deal for little children, some as young as three, with floodlit piste, tannoy, video wall, starting gates, big crowd etc. Once they had survived this ordeal, and a few of them, including Mary, lost their nerve and burst into tears, they then waited three hours to find out how they'd done in anticipation of receiving a little something to reward their efforts. But, unless they'd made it into the top five they got nothing, not even a mention. We would have had a major tantrum on our hands since we had assured Elizabeth that she would receive a certificate, a medal, probably a packet of sweets (since they are so ready to give them out when the childen so much as step into the post office/bank/supermarket.) Happily, that evening we were blessed. Elizabeth got fifth place, a certificate and a medal. Caspar came eleventh in his category but won a brand new pair of free-style twin tip skis, just his size, in the prize draw. And Mary, at the last minute pulled herself together and raced down to scoop the coveted first prize of a hideous trophy which is now on display in our home.
