Well, well, well. Somehow or another I’ve now been away from home for nearly four months. It seems like such a long time ago that I was at home. This, oddly enough, feels like home now - which at one stage I never thought I’d say!! The reason why it feels like home but it because I’ve got new friends and a new semi-family!! (Make shift but still, family 
) Anyway, I haven’t posted a heap so this is a rather looong story…
Georgie (Parker – not from A Country Practice) has been my closest buddy the whole time I’ve been here. One of many, but yet my closest! She’s my lil sidekick! Pretty much from our first night out we’ve always hung out! Probably because we’re similar in that we both play pool, drink beer, gossip, have bad humour and love to snowboard! Anyway, last Wednesday she broke her ankle (long story, but she was at the pub dancing – crazy Canadian she is!!!) The end of the story is that she had to go home for a few reasons. But it was for the better! So I had to say goodbye on Thursday! And it was so sad. In fact the whole week has been sad. We’ve had many a teary moment!
But, it’s just so crazy. In six weeks I have to say goodbye to everybody here apart from the four I’m going to Coachella with… what will I be like then? Imagine the blubbering mess I will be!! Now that I’ve been contemplating all of this it really has hit me that travelling, alone especially I guess, I’m going to make some magically relationships and some totally amazing people … but then I’m going to have to say goodbye! What a crazy life to have ey? Meet, greet, and then leave? Dunno that I’ve really got it in me to do this too often. I guess that’s why it would be easier to not ‘settle’ in places. Similar to the people I met in San Francisco – great people, but we never developed a relationship…
So yes… it’s been a hard and heavy hearted week for me here at Big White. It’s made me realise what I have at home and how lucky I am to know that when I do, eventually, return to Perth – my friends and family are still going to be there! My positive spin is that I also have friends scattered throughout all of Australia and different parts of the world! Including a very special one in Ontario! So if any of you want to go visit her let me know =P
On the upside, I had a fantastic weekend at Sun Peaks last weekend. I felt terrible leaving G. behind. But, she survived. I really enjoyed Sun Peaks and consider going there for my next season as there is a massive village and (I think) lots to do – unlike Big White.
Another plus was my twoooo packages I got last Friday! Mum sent me a bunch of (well overdue) photos of the family! It seems her computer literacy is rising while her impatient daughter is away! Rach (sister) sent me photos of my lovely niece and nephew! They all look so big and make me miss home a heap. But that’s okay! So my little shrine is now a HEAP bigger! It’s quite fantastic!
Work has been crappy. It’s presidents week in the US and we’ve been pretty full all week. I think my impatience and miserable attitude probably haven’t helped but I think it’ll get better now. I had a really nice night last night with one of my mates Tim after drinks in the laundry at work with the housekeeping boys (yes it’s a team of housekeepers that is all male, bar the supervisor and one other girl). I did 1.5 days housekeeping this week for some extra cash! So I got to share their beers! They do recycling so they got some cash – sweet! We had a snowball fight in the laundry (it’s inside). Pretty funny stuff!!
What else? This time next week I’ll be two hours away from THE road trip! I’m so excited. Though, this has caused many a headache lately. Money matters drive me nuts and as much as I try to ignore/deal with them they still seem to rear their ugly head and ruin just perfect plans!!! But, after much deliberation we got a Dodge Grand Caravan hired for 14 days for about $900 (CA). Expensive ey? Not cheap but totally worth it! There are three of us (Kiwi & Andrew – I live with Andy and Kiwi came on the last road trip to Edmonton too and we all work together) leaving Saturday afternoon and then Wednesday we pick up a Scottish lass called Claire – she’s such a darl and from Edinburgh which is GREAT ‘cause I’m def. going back there!!! (She works in the restaurant in our hotel as a server). Our plans are vague but that’s what I wanted. We’re going back to Red Mountain and then to Whitewater in Nelson, which is east of Rossland – they’re both reasonably close to the US Border. Then we’re going to Fernie and then up the Rockies. Thinking about a few different routes depending on where the snow falls and how much fun we’re having ☺ A few definite are Sunshine Village in Banff and Kicking Horse in Golden. We’re also going to hit some hot springs! Ainsworth Springs in Nelson and maybe the Radium Springs below Banff. It’ll be so much fun!
The snow has been great here at Big White this week. And it looks like it’s going to continue. We’re due to get a decent dump tomorrow and then Monday! Yay! Monday is my only day off this fortnight and I may even try to get some housekeeping in! Got to keep that cash flowing in for Coachella and the next road trip!
So all in all its been a pretty dodgy week for my travel adventures. But, what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger right? (love the cliché) And… I think I might have just learnt one of the harder lessons in travelling the world. Can’t be all glory after all right?
Love and miss you all (as always, but particularly a lot this week).
Ohhh I nearly forgot, my personally football fever has kicked in. If the Eagles make the granny I’ll be there this year (Dad – you’ll be in the line for me right!? ☺) And, I’ve got a carton on the eagles beating Sydney on March 31st. We can’t even get a radio-cast of it here – bloody ridiculous with the technology we have that I can only watch the score tick over online, but never mind. Can someone record it and put it online for me? We want to watch the game.)
I had heaps of fun… did the Powder Chair this time!! Not too scary, quite high on the mountain but super, super slow… Might try the biggest lift there is tomorrow! That’ll test my braveness…
