21 - 27 February 2011

According to the latest of very many suggestions from innumerable home doctors about the cause of Simon's back trouble and the best remedy, his problems stem from career worries, financial insecurity, a feeling of powerlessness and denial of his sexuality. Well, of course, a ski instructor who can't ski would be concerned about his career which inevitably leads to financial insecurity and a feeling of powerlessness. Simon takes it all with a pinch of salt and flounces back to the kitchen to bake more biscuits.

14 - 20 February 2011

Justine has had the best ski instructing week of her entire 4 season career thanks to Simon who has done his back in. He is off work which means that Justine can work full days. Finally out of the snow plough position, she took a school group from beginner to black in five days. Simon stepped in to teach Justine's recorder and flute lessons while she was on the piste and has baked copious amounts of biscuits.

7 - 13 February 2011

An eerie mist swirled around the churchyard on Monday night, as we passed on our way out to dinner with visitors Rebecca, Jonathan, Kate, Paul and Mick. Venturing closer, the eerie mist became more of a thick impenetrable fog, dense enough to hide a fair few zombies, exuding from a large crypt. Against our better judgement we walked into the fog for an even closer inspection and discovered a huge sandwich toaster heating and softening the frozen ground of a family grave into which the next relative was to be welcomed the following day. How considerate to deceased family members and gravediggers!

31 January - 6 February 2011

Justine still has some difficulties with her German. This morning she confused the reflexive verb sich umziehen (to get changed), with the verb umziehen and told Elizabeth to tidy her room and then move out.