Sunday’s Grateful List

Today I am grateful for the wonderful week I have spent in Niseko Japan.

We go regularly to Niseko to ski. In 2016 when we went, I was not well enough after my accident to ski, and last year we had a skiing holiday in Whistler. Two of my family fell over that holiday and although I think I was well enough to ski I decided that the unlucky third person to fall was very likely to be me. I had taken all my ski gear and boots but they all stayed in my suitcase.

This year I decided I was definitely going to ski. We went with another couple – Jen and Mason Cowle and had a wonderful wonderful time.

The first morning on the slope Jen and I had decided to stay on the lower slopes and find our ski legs. We were lucky enough to be looked after a Niseko local, Deb Keating who is a qualified instructor and was very generous with her time and knowledge. We went across to the Kutchan slope which was very quiet and spent a morning getting a lesson. Deb had so much knowledge and shared it in a way that I think many of the tips I will remember forever. I was pretty nervous doing an activity where I had the potential to injure myself and that involved traveling down hills at speed with the possibility of falling over and losing control. I was given the opportunity to be on my skis in a safe way where I felt very looked after. It was a wonderful way to start a week of skiing and I am very grateful to Deb and Jen for sharing their morning with me.

The snow in Niseko at the moment can only be described as epic. We have been going to Niseko for eight years and I have never seen so much snow and that is really saying something because there is always a lot of snow.

The reports say the snow fall this season is going to be about 17m.

I am so grateful that on the Monday and Tuesday Jen and I had another couple of lessons. It was so lovely to be with a friend who was a similar standard to me and we had a wonderful few days.

On Wednesday morning I went out with David, Jen and Mason, Deb and her husband Ross, and Rob McCauliffe. I am so grateful to be able to spend time with friends in foreign places. We had a lovely morning. I am not as fit as I used to be and I don’t have the stamina to exercise all day. I am so thrilled it is improving but I still have to be careful. On Wednesday I went for too long and the return down the slope at about 1130am was not very elegant. I was very grateful to get home safely, have a warm shower and snuggle up with a book and wait for the other skiers to return.

On Thursday and Friday a huge snowstorm came through and all the lifts on the mountain were closed for both days. It was a great opportunity to read my book, enjoy the onsen and explore some more restaurants in the village.

We ate crepes and izakaya and drank hot chocolate. We shared fun and interesting conversations interspersed with much laughter and many stories.

I am so grateful for these wonderful opportunities to create more memories and I was delighted to share these memories with lovely friends.

Genki is a beautifully illustrative word which means healthy and happy. This is how I feel after my week in Japan. Thank you to all who shared it with me.

Thank you to my beautiful husband who takes me away for these amazing adventures and looks after me always.

Until next time