Jingle Bells!

Christmas Day at SVL was a little less snowy than we had all anticipated, but we had a great day all the same.

For some reason, the temperatures decided to take a trip up the thermometer for a good few days and it rained, a LOT. Most of the snow in town was washed away, but the upper part of the mountain had a great deal of snow, so lots of fresh powder. The lower slopes didn't fare so well, and with all the holiday crowds arriving, a few brown patches started to appear and you had to do a bit of rock hopping here and there.

At least with all the rain, it felt a bit more like home! Jethro and I were determined to go snowboarding on Christmas Day so we set the alarm for 6.45am, woke up, opened our stockings, sorted out the turkey, bunged it in the oven, and got up to the hill for first lifts at 8.30am. Phew! By 11am, we had to come down again to sort out lunch but we got a good few runs in all the same with the other SVL guests.

I decided on a Jamie Oliver extravaganza of a christmas lunch - I'd never cooked a turkey and the full works before, but it was surprisingly simple. I did a lot of prep work on Christmas Eve which helped enourmously. God Bless Mr Oliver. Couldn't have done it without the cockney geezer! We had turkey, pigs in blankets, roast spuds, roast butternut squash, stuffing, brussell sprouts, carrots, parsnips, gravy... I could go on, but it will bore you!

Needless to say, everyone was highly complimentary and I didn't poison anyone so I think it went rather well!

With full tummies, we spent the rest of the day opening parcels from the UK, watching The Simpsons, and eating more. No Queen's Speech in Canada, which is a crying shame I feel!

So that was our christmas here. Fernie is suddenly very busy with lots of tourists visiting from other parts of Canada, but the good news is that the snow is here again. It's been snowing on and off for the last day or two at the base of the mountain, and it's been snowing in town since 3pm this afternoon and as I peek through the curtains at 9pm, it's still falling steadily. We have a full lodge for New Years Eve so will report back soon!

Happy Christmas and here's to a snowy New Year!

6.45am - it's turkey time!


Opening presents by the tree (which we cut down ourselves, might I add!)


The Jamie Oliver Christmas lunch extravaganza!


Extreeeeeeeeeeme close up!