Basically I and the white stuff do not get on. Never have, never will. OH learnt to ski when he was 8 (in the olden days) when skis were horrendously long and boots were tied on with string. So he can ski anywhere. When we got married there was no way we could afford a skiing holiday (thank God) but when our kids were 7 and 9 we did an exchange to Sweden for 2 months, right in the middle and about 40 mins from the main ski resort. There the kids learnt to ski by their father. In Sweden they learn to ski at about the age of 3/4 and look cute. I was in my 30s, hopeless at balancing and very self conscious. I actually did pretty well but I have a rare condition where my skiing prowess, from that moment on, went downhill, in every conceivable way. We then started having the annual skiing holiday which was sheer hell for me. In our 33 years of marriage, those holidays were the only time OH and I argued, to the point where he would reduce me to tears. Once the boys were old enough, that was it, I was not going. Then the boys left home and OHs opportunities to ski lessened.

OH and YS are actually off on a ski holiday a week on Saturday. (OH is attending a course but it is at Val d'Isere) YS is totally fearless, has no style, still has never had a lesson in his life and will go down anything. We call him Mr Kamakaze of the ski slopes. OH thinks he is fitter and younger than he is, which should be amusing! Do I envy them or anyone, for that matter, having a skiing holiday. NO WAY!