3 Day Weekend CatchUp

The time is flying by for my final weeks in Invermere, and after this long weekend it won't slow down as I have 10 straight days at Gerrys lined up! It has been a fairly uneventful week at work. However I have had some fun outings with my new my close friends!

Me and Dom hit the skate park most evenings after work! Super fun to try out skateboarding, I'm getting better! It doesn't hurt to have some awesome sunset on the mountains as well.

Wednesday wings night with the girls from work! $7 for 10 wings! Loved it.

I was photographed for an article advertising Gerrys! It made the paper! 

My waffle craftsmanship is improving.

Showery Sunday called for 5 pin bowling! It was such good fun, although skittles is odd coming from 10 pin bowling in the Uk.

Saturday however was gorgeous so we spent all day outside slack lining, football, frisbee and skating. It was a good day, I walked the length (15m) of the slackiline for the first time and had a cracking BBQ to welcome my new housemate to the Rack Shack. Good times.

In other news it was election week for the Columbia Valley this week and I advised Gerry Taft on his political campaign.. Let me explain: He comes in the shop asking after gelato for a photo shoot. So I say "You should definitely get the Tiger flavour to stay on brand!" His political party colour is orange. His photographer jumps at the idea and says great idea!

 Behold! My two scoops in the paper! ... #proud

See you soon! Xx

May the 4th Be With You: CatchUp!

Had six working days in the past week so it's been super tiring and busy. The weather is starting to really pick up in Invermere, mid twenties and higher which means customers have slowly but surely flocking to our door at Gerrys! I've been really getting into the creative side of things no that I'm competent at drinks, gelato and waffles. I've baked cookies, prepared soups, made waffle cone, sweet Liege (circular desserts) and Brussels waffles (savoury squares) I love it. Otherwise to fill the time I've started being a notepad to doodle in when I have no pressing jobs to busy myself with.

Prior to all that work I had a relaxed end of April. Odd days of work and day trips around the local area. I've started to get back into running so that I don't feel bad about all that gelato I've been eating!

Oh! And I almost forgot, I cheated death last week.. I was getting a lift from a friend and a deer forced us to brake which sent us into a spin, coming to a stop at the side of the road. Thankfully no one was hurt, no other cars were involved but it was still pretty scary. My friend the driver; she was very shaken up - no wonder! Myself.. I must have something wired wrong in my brain because I was very calm immediately aftwepards, and ever since been in a inexplicably good mood. I feel blessed to be alive and well in a beautiful part of the world surrounded by good people. She even had me over for dinner after the crash for a wonderful veggie lasagna and garlic bread. Her best friend has worked for 5 years under a Michelin two star chef so it's safe to say he's decent at cooking! Whereas I brought some cookies and ice cream from work! Lazy bones.

Which reminds me, I never feedback on my dinner party! Huge success, everyone brought lovely food. We all sat round a table together and had a great time. I felt very proud of myself and grown up to be honest. It was a great way to mark the end of the Rack Shack being all mine.

The chronology of this post has been higgledy piggledy but hey ho. Hope you all feeel up to date now. Cannot wait for my flight home on the 29th May to see my family again! I'll be sad to leave but happy I'll be going back to Canada soon. Bring on the summer!

Closing Weekend Opens Doors

Time goes by so fast! It's been a whirlwind since the last weekend at Panorama. There's been lots of leaving parties and end of season celebrations to keep me busy. Plus extra events held at the resort, and more recently my new job all this week!

Last Weekend of the Ski Season:
Last day at work! It was a super cruisey day, our job was to build and run a duel slalom race as part of the end of season activities. It closed at 1pm so people could concentrate and prepare for the slush cup starting at 2pm! Which meant we were free to enjoy the mountain. Me and Sylvie were hooked up by our boss Jason with some Fisher RC 4 racing skis from one of the demo tents. He's also sponsored by them so was pumped to let us give them a go. The difference is incredible. The amount of angulation, speed and edge grip you have.. it blew my mind. We were tearing it up! In my 'got-to-go-fast' outfit it must have looked so funny. However it felt fantastic. We even raced down the slalom course! Then, after having returned my uniform (so sad) we headed straight over to support our friends in the slush cup!

Got to have a first and last day selfie with my favourite Swiss colleague!

'GTG Fa$t' - by Invermere Thrift Store, NY 

Slush Cup? A competition to clear this big pool at the end of  small run-up filled with rubber ducks and beach balls. Hilarious! Everyone dresses up and there are 3 categories for award: crowd favourite, best costume, and biggest splash! My instructor friend took home best costume award with her massive unicorn floatie.. you'll see.. It must have been freezing! There was a big crowd, music, commentary and all round a good time. The party didn't stop there as we went to a 'kegger' at Micks. This included the following: kegs of beer, burgers and no peer pressure at all to do keg stands.
And that was just Saturday

Go Ditte! 

Sunday was less jam packed on paper but not at the time! I stayed home on the last day Pano was open to the public to Skype family and sort stuff out for my the first day of mynew job as a barista at Gerrys Gelati! A pretty little icecream/coffee shop. 1pm until close. I was excited. My family was excited. Not only would there be no unemployed phase but I would come home knowing new baking recipes pies for waffles, cookies soups and (most importantly to my dad) how to make a good coffee. It's so fun! So much to take in at first but I'm getting into it and all the staff are so cool. Plus testing out all the produce to practise my coffee making and to become a connoisseur of gelato is an integral ( and amazing ) part of my job! I know my Grandpa would be so jealous!

As soon as I finished I raced home to grab booze and headed straight for the Ski School Staff party at my supervisors house up the road. The party was well under way and everyone was in high, merry spirits. I soon caught up and arrived just in time to see my 60+ year old supervisors 'street' alternative persona, and then the director spitting bars on the mic! These guys are the best to work with. Next on the agenda was Rookie and Pro instructors of the year. A peer awarded award (English yay!) for people to vote for who they think did an awesome job this season. First was  rookies of the year... Ben the snowboarder picked up rookie because everyone knows how much he LOVES to teach on skis after getting his level 1 like me. Then snowboard rookie.. "now we had to call him to make sure he'd actually turn up in time for the awards. He's been eating icream all day.." It was ME!
I was so happy and lost for words. I love my job and for the people around me to think highly of me is an awesome feeling. I even got a free branded travel mug as a trophy! Josh then got Snowboard Pro (best mentor ever!) and Kennedy Pro Ski (he is the epitome of a ski instructor.)

Monday: the piste was open one last time for staff on Monday as well as a final appreciation BBQ. More burgers yay! It was fun but depressing to be honest. One last ride with everyone. Last being the sad part. I then cleared out my locker and loaded myself up like a mule to lug all my gear back to the Rack Shack (Zak Shack now I guess!) fortunately my season long buttering of the bus drivers came in handy. Byron took my picture and even dropped me off home. Like, right out side my house. What a legend. But that's not all, Jodh hosted a BBQ and bonfire evening at his awesome house in the woods. More burgers! It was so fun and chilled. He has so many fun toys! Air rifle target practise, golfing, slack lining, ladder ball and marshmallow roasting. But most of all I was happy to see his dog again.

Tuesday: cleaning in the am. Solid social calendar in the pm. Slack lining with Dom. Seeing my favourite german colleagues for the last time at the station pub , saying good by to Ditte and Geoff before their long road trip. All made possible by the uncontrollable draw to my smartie ice cream in the freezer. No kidding. We ate so much of that. Oh yeah! And then I went for a movie night at my friend.

Wednesday-Friday: solid work at the Cafe! Plus a load of my friends came in for breakfast before their bus the the airport to see me which was lovely.

Today: cleaning with my new housemates and then more slack lining  with Dom. I'm also having a dinner part tonight! Should be fun.

À bientôt. Xxx

A Good News Day

Today started fairly average and turned into something great. Something we can all aspire to do.

Let me elaborate. Last night was the end of season staff party featuring: a Panorama 2017 staff photo, free food and awards. The free food was top class. Roasted vegetables, tomatoe veggie pasta, creamy chicken mushroom, roast beef and assorted sweet desserts. You better believe I made the most of it! It was nice to have a get together with all my mates from work seeing as my housemates have disappeared. Started with some beer and pool in T bar, then the whole staff party, followed by more beer and pool.

Where's Zak? (Black cap, red checkered shirt)

Needless to say there were more bleary eyes than bushy tails walking round Pano the following morning. Lucky for me I had the early shift today so I cut my night short before it got messy, look at me being all responsible. Set up was a breeze - there were 3 people booked in lessons for the whole day so we were allowed to set up the bare minimum for the yard. Fences and benches around the beginner area. No additional flags or obstacles needed as we can meet the guests personally and there were no beginners anyway.

Today I was finally scheduled back as a snowboard instructor  - which meant I was expecting no lessons today. (I was right!) Therefore I could go rip around the mountain on my snowboard for once! It was amazing, I've missed it recently - what with staying in town to sort spring jobs, summer jobs and all that nonsense. Fortunately Josh my mentor was also on standby, so I had a snowboarder buddy and we headed straight for Tayton Bowl. The last few days have been bizarre for this time of year: fairly cold and plenty of precipitation. Thus, the backcountry was in tip top condition. Ankle deep, supportive but pillowy snow! What a dream to jump down Devils Drop again, making fresh tracks under the sun.

From then on it just got better! Went home early to find I got a barista job at the local cafe! I literally went there yesterday with my resume to introduce myself and my potential first shift is this Saturday! What fantastic timing as the last day of the season IS Sunday! My last day of work is Saturday so there will be no unemployed interim. Thank goodness. Can't wait how to learn how to make a good coffee.. for now I will talk the customers into enjoying it! I certainly can talk so hopefully it will work!

Not only that, but I had another interview for a summer camp counsellor position. I had a Skype interview on Tuesday which went really well with the hiring administrator Rachel from the Tim Hortons Ranch in Alberta. They host an awesome program for deprived kids aged 12-16 providing them with a summer camp experience that they would never normally be able to afford. They also sponsor them for a 5 year youth leadership program, which is what I'd be helping to facilitate. As a cabin counsellor I would look after 4-8 kids for their 10 day camp and be their constant. Engaging all the activities, creating a positive role model and relationship for them whilst at camp. It's a respected and inspiring camp and now I have started a dialogue, I have a contact within the organisation that I can reach out to in the future. Summer 2018 maybe..!

As a celebration I dug into my housemates goodies that they left. Chips for lunch and a dangerously tastey sweet and sour chicken with homemade fried rice for tea. Good stuff!

I've been getting creative recently too. My scrap book is looking good, despite the water damage from the floor of February 2016. I'm so happy to stay in this beautiful area for even longer.

Love to all my family, until next time! Xx