Day Two: White-Out! Tuesday 17th February

We awoke on Tuesday to a very overcast sky. Breakfast was at 8.15 and we were out and ob the way to the Ski Shop by 9.30. It wasn't long before we were at the top of the Rhodos lift and off skiing down to the Altiport ski-lift. A couple of times around and we were warmed up and ready for a quick coffee before our lessons at 11:30. It was just such a different experience from last year for me and Mags - we had found our feet and the freedom of travelling so fast overground under your own steam is exhilarating.

Katy and Lisa, Uploaded by M+MD.

The lesson took us up the Saulire bubble again. We learned to do parallel turns and also how to to longer slower step like traverses which meant less steep turns and more control. As we passed by the Rhodos lift Adrian (our ski instructor) sneaked us onto the end of a Red (next level up from a Blue) and we really didn't notice as he made is do extra long traverses. We then sped down to a new chair lift which brought is up under Dents de Burgen and the start of the Geai Blue run.

Mags Skiing
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Senan Tired
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Time flew by. I discovered that I was having a problem with my left hand turns. Adrian said I was using a snow plough(basic) turn when I should be turning parallel as he had thought us. I had no problem with the right hand turns. I struggled with this for the next day or so. I had't knee bandages and a thigh strap, which I found very helpful last year after I had strained my knee. This year it was working well to keep the strain off the knees. Apart from that the lesson went well and confidence and speed was increasing. We finished up the lesson and met with the kids and headed back up the Rhodos to the Rhododendron restaurant. It was a much better experience on the previous day.

Senan's hat, Uploaded by M+MD.

After lunch we went once more around the Rhodos run and then headed for the Dents de Burgen lift. The kids hadn't done it yet so I thought it was a great opportunity to impress them! As we went up in the lift the mist was getting thicker and when we reached the top we could hardly see more than 10 feet in front of us. It was a complete white-out. We made our way past the Red run and onto what we thought was the top of the Blue But when we looked down we could see nothing but white. We decided to wait until another group arrived off of the ski lift. But there were not too many people travelling up in the mist! A group arrived - but they headed down the Red slope. After a while another group arrived and they set off smartly down the Blue. We had to move quickly to keep up but soon they were moving out of sight. But by then we were committed and we carried on in wide traverses. It was pretty strange skiing with white snow below you, white sky above you and white mist in front and behind you. Distance and speed get difficult to judge. We needed to stop regularly to stay together and to re-focus on our direction and destination.

But as we descended we could see further and soon we were down in more familiar territory. It was an interesting experience - not exactly frightening but more disorientating than anything else. But it used a lot of adrenalin and we skied a little longer but by 3.30we were ready for home.

The girls and Sen decided to try to meet up with Conor who was going to ski home (as he does every evening.) It was loose arrangement they had to be at the top of the Plan de Homme lift by 4 pm. They were up there at about 10 past four and thought they could see Conor in the distance. But he was too far ahead and he is a fast skier. They skied down the Blue but icy "Gelinotte" run and missed the tiny exit off to the left that is the narrow piste home. They survived the "Gelinotte" run - though it was a little tricky in places.

Lisa Messing
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Katy Messing
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There was tea and homemade biscuits waiting for us when we got in and the ski de-tox routine of shower, hot tub, sauna and bath worked a treat. Rest, wine, dinner and chat made up the rest of the evening before we retired for bed sometime after 10.

Day One: Back on Skis, Meribel Monday 16th February

Meribel 2009, Uploaded by M+MD.

The weather was great on our first day. We got our gear in the ski shop. Its much easier to get up on the slopes than last year in Morzine. Our lessons don't start until 11.30 so we headed up the Rhodos cabin to a lovely wide Green slope.

Telecabine RHODOS
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Altiport Chairlift - Saulire in the Background
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With some trepidation I put on my skis. Will my legs work? Can I remember how not to fall down. Will I be brave enough to look down the mountain?

The memory of that wonderful last day of skiing last year keeps me going.
- Skis on. I gingerly push forward with my poles.
- It all seems ok! I am moving forward, in control.
- In fairness it's a gentle slope down to a flat area before the slope begins in earnest!
- But it's all working and the turning movement is coming back to me.
- Look down the mountain!
- Don't be frightened of the increasing speed, pressure on the downhill ski.
The kids are off and waiting for us but we've got the hang of it!

Its a lovely wide run and soon enough we have all made it to the bottom. Not even a hint of falling! Its just like riding a bike - once you learn you can't forget. Well maybe that's taking it a little too far.

Up the Altiport Chairlift, Uploaded by M+MD.

We took the lift back up to the top and went down and around again. Then it was time to take the cabin down again to meet up for the lesson.

Adrian our Magic instructor
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We were with a new ski school this year - Magic. They are only in the 3 valleys and they have much smaller classes than ESF. Our instructor was Adrian. Lisa Katy and Senan are in the slightly more advanced class. We set off back up to the same slope we had just practiced on - so that helped the confidence. The class are a nice bunch and we're all at pretty much the same level. Adrian slowly took us through the basics. Soon we were travelling at reasonable speed and with confidence down the runs.

We headed down for lunch and met the others. They too had a successful class apart from Senan losing his class just at the end when he fell off a drag lift - easily done. But he found his way back ok.

Mags and I had a second lesson in the afternoon - a great way to get up to speed at the start of the week. Lunch was a bit of a nightmare. We went to the Castors Restaurant by the Magic Ski meeting point. It was bedlam. We finally managed to order - but we had to leave to join our class before it arrived.

Meeting at the Chaudanne, Uploaded by M+MD.

We went up the Saulire bubble to the first stop. We skied down a fairly gentle Blue run getting instruction on skiing parallel between turns. Time flew and at 5 pm we were tired but back in tune. We met up with the kids and the Salibas in the ski shop and called Highlife for a shuttle home.

Back in the chalet there was tea and Quiche ready for us. We then spent some time in the hot tub and 10 minutes in the sauna followed by the application of Deep Heat and Ibulieve and various magic ointments and potions! A little relaxation and catch up on our days and it was 7.30 and time for dinner. 3 hours and 4 bottles of wine later we were ready for bed. Myself and Chris tried our hand at the Highlife song book - maybe that's what cleared the room so fast!

Arrival Meribel Sunday 15th February

We had a 12.45 flight to Lyons while the Salibas were driving from Hitchen through the Chunnel. We got a call from then while checking in to say that they were in Rheims and had 400 miles to go. They expected to arrive at 6.00. That means we should be in around the same time. The flight landed on time. As we landed the Ireland V Italy 6 nations match was starting in Rome. Terrible timing! But the Internet updates every few minutes meant that we could keep well informed. I maintained a running commentary in the 2 and a quarter transfer to Meribel. It was a good result, with Ireland winning 38 to 9.

Chalet Elodie, Uploaded by M+MD.

Its a longer run than from Geneva to Morzine (just an hour) but it is motorway almost all the way and much more comfortable as a result. We arrived just after 6 and went straight to the ski shop to get fitted for boots and skis and this avoid the morning rush. Once we were jutted out we went back to the chalet where Deirdre and Chris and crew were settling in.

Conor our host and Sol our chef were there to welcome is with a mulled wine (vin chaud) and a roaring log fire. Dee and Chris took a run down to the ski shop before dinner and we were all sorted.

Sol our Kiwi Chef
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Conor our Host
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We had a lovely dinner and plenty of wine. We discovered the Highlife song book and when Chris and I started the singsong the others suddenly got tired and went to bed!

Ireland 30 France 21, Croke Park

It was a great day and a good start to the 6 Nations season for Ireland. We don’t beat France very often and they spoilt our party 2 years ago when we played the first match at Croke Park. We owed them this for a long time – for the world cup defeated; for our second half comebacks that never quite made it. Munster had done it to Biarritz and Toulouse – now Ireland needed to show that we have a rugby team that can win a Grand Slam. But now I get ahead of myself – one victory and we are already Masters of the Universe!

I was sitting in the Lower Cusack about 20 rows back at the 10 metre line – a great spot for taking photos. Below you have the 52 second sequence from the point where Paul O’Connell takes the ball at the line out and the forwards work through the phases until they let it out to Gordon D’Arcy who runs straight as always and power spins through the tackle to roll over the line. It was a great try and it put the match just beyond reach for the French.

D'Arcy's Try: T-52 seconds, Uploaded by M+MD.

D'Arcy's Try: T-50 seconds
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D'Arcy's Try: T-38 seconds
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D'Arcy's Try: T-35 seconds
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D'Arcy's Try: T-34 seconds
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D'Arcy's Try: T-33 seconds, Uploaded by M+MD.

D'Arcy's Try: T-32 Seconds
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D'Arcy's Try: T-31 Seconds
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D'Arcy's Try: T-24 Seconds
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D'Arcy's Try: T-23 Seconds
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D'Arcy's Try: T-22 Seconds
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D'Arcy's Try: T-21 Seconds
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D'Arcy's Try: T-14 Seconds, Uploaded by M+MD.

D'Arcy's Try:T-10 Seconds
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D'Arcy's Try: T-9 Seconds
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D'Arcy's Try: T-8 Seconds
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D'Arcy's Try: T-4 Seconds
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D'Arcy's Try: T-1 Seconds, Uploaded by M+MD.
D'Arcy's Try: T-0 - Touch Down - Try!, Uploaded by M+MD.

Munster V Ulster, Thomond Park.

Munster V Ulster, originally uploaded by M+MD.

A disappointing performance by Munster. But 2 things happened to compensate for this outcome. First Ulster went on to beat Harlequins in the Heineken cup match. Secondly Munster got the fright they needed to top their Heineken Cup pool and get a home draw in the quarter finals. Every cloud...