08 February, 2006 (Wednesday)

Jae is off-mountain
Jae went for his first Big White snowboarding lesson this morning. I can only assume that the lesson didn't go as well as planned as mid-way up the Black Forest chair lift around 12:00 I got a call from him... from the ski patrol hut. Apparently he'd injured his shoulder during the lesson and needed emergency evac down to Kelowna. So it seems likely that Jae will be out of action on the slopes for at least a few weeks - that's what I assume if it's serious enough to send him into town to the hospital. (Picture: Jae looking at his chest)

Aside on Ski Patrol service:
Ski Patrol provide on-slope policing and medical support on the mountain. They're pretty easy to identify in their red jackets with white crosses and heavy looking bandolier of radios and equipment.

Josh got to the Ski Patrol hut a few minutes ahead of me. The guy at the front desk apparently stared right through him while he banged on the glass partition until I walked in. When he did finally offer to assist us he didn't seem to have a clear idea - about who had checked in or out, whether Jae had been there, about anything really. He just kept on saying "I've been on a course this morning" with his classy shades, week old beard, hazed eyes and threadbare jeans. Even if he didn't have a clue I guess he was looking pretty funky.

In the end we got him to check through the paper records that they are required to keep. Even these didn't prove too helpful. While there was a page which stated that Jae had been at Ski Patrol, there wasn't any sign-out or release, nor was there any detail or record of what kinds of injuries Jae had sustained or how it had occurred. Nice. Could you guys register a missing person for us? Oh, can't find the paper work. What a pity.

On our way out, Lisa - a friend of Dave's, was sledded in with a suspected broken arm. Dave's comment later was that he knows he could have provided a better sling and that the splint wasn't even done properly. Inspiring confidence? Not really. Those Ski Patrol guys sure look nifty in those red ski suits.

As injuries go, Jae has had a pretty bad run since arriving here. First it was the ribs, which copped a beating in my first few days here. Suspected fracture. He was out for most of December as a result. Since then he's had a few tumbles, but nothing too serious (well except for the time or two he re-landed on the ribs)... until now.

So from what I understand Tim (one of our neighbours in 306) has driven down to provide some moral support, hand holding and a return ride back up to the mountain. Fingers crossed that the injury isn't too serious and that Jae will be healed and able to ride again in a few weeks. When I spoke to him this afternoon he wasn't too specific. Josh said that Jae had his arm in a sling a while before he left for Canada. Old injury?

Aside on Jae's injury:
Jae's back and in a bit of pain, but at least he's in one piece. Apparently it looks like a damaged ligament, the same one that put him in a sling before he made it to Canada. The doctors at the local hospital weren't too specific. In fact Jae said that he didn't even get to see a doctor despite paying $600+ entry. He just got a page of prognosis and instructions to pop pain killers and try not to bang it around too much. I guess you don't realise how good you have it until you travel - back home you'd probably pop into your local General Practice to get it examined with our Medicare system taking some of the upfront sting out. No specifics on how long it will take to heal. Fingers crossed for you Jae!

On a selfish note, knock on wood I'll stay hale and hearty. There have been too many injuries lately. Carla (from retail) broke her upper arm, just below the shoulder, so she's not allowed to board for the rest of the season. James, Kiwi Kate's other half, fell off an S-Rail in the park the other night and did something awful to his shoulder. He's been on painkillers the last few days. So far I've knocked around my knee and lost both my skis a few times, (Today I managed to catch the front of my ski and cartwheel over, losing my second ski when I bounced. Unfortunately Josh missed the performance, but he saw the aftermath - my body sliding down the slope sans skis, one pole and my left ski way upslope, the second ski and pole a good 3 body lengths further downslope. Beautiful.) The helmet was a good investment, even if I look like a Dark Helmet from Spaceballs with it. The goggles probably don't help the image - they are HUGE.


The romance of X (some not so creative writing)
This hill is a place of romance, and there is no more touching a story than the romance of "Xena" (while names and details may have been modified to provide anonymity, the story remains true).

This story begins back in Australia, where "Xena" had happily been with"Yakob", her long-term boyfriend, for some time. Yet, "Xena" yearned for more. She yearned for snow capped mountains and clear pine bordered skies. She yearned to see the world and experience it in all it's splendour. She yearned to travel. So, despite "Yakob"s best protests "Xena" made plans and found her way to snow swept Canada to realise her dream. "Yakob" was left behind in Australia, sad but supportive.

It didn't take long for "Xena" to settle in her new home. She found a job and for a while all was well. "Xena" however was not a solitary soul - warm hearted and bubbly she missed "Yakob" terribly. Yet, alone and ground under the pressure of work she found that she needed comforting and support. Comfort and support that "Yakob", being half-way across the world, couldn't provide.

So it was that "Zack" came onto the scene. "Zack" worked with "Xena" and, while not universally liked, soon came into "Xena"s confidences. This friendship soon flourished into something more, although what eactly that was depended upon who you asked. "Xena" and "Zack" moved into together. Before too long it became clear that "Xena" had not one, but two boyfriends - her original true love back in Australia and her new acquisition on the snowfields. While this new relationship blossomed it was clear that it could not last. (Picture: Ski rack in the village - my skis are the ones with the very crooked poles. I've managed to land on them a few times which has left them at almost right angles. Oops!)

"Zack" was enthusiastic about his new relationship, but also uncontrollably abrasive and jealous. He was demanding on "Xena"s warm spirit, and although she tried to defend her new beau's selfish ways, people saw through her protestations. This mean spiritedness soon overflowed to more destructive impulses when, weeks into their new relationship "Zack" decided to act.

It was a fateful night when, mad with righteous jealousy and lustful wrath, "Zack" cracked and traced "Yakob"s details. Intent on having "Xena" to himself and only to himself - in mind and spirit - he wrote an email to "Yakob" revealing his relationship with "Xena". Yet "Zack" went further and embellished his angry email with his own wishful feelings, making it clear that "Yakob"s part in the romantic triangle should end.

"Yakob", upon receiving the email was distraught. He had trusted "Xena", and although he felt betrayed he still loved her dearly. He spoke with "Xena" at length, hoping that this strange email was a hoax or some kind of crazy joke, but instead "Xena" confessed, explaining her painful predicament. "Yakob", his ardor un-phased by distance, while hurt forgave "Xena" for all she had done.

Upon hearing that "Yakob" had not capitulated "Zack" was livid. Consumed with jealousy and riding the subsequent emotional high he called "Yakob" late at night, not only waking him but destroying his sleep with accusations and suggestions. This was the last nail in the relationship, "Xena" vowing to move out that very day.

It hasn't been an easy few weeks for "Xena". Despite (or perhaps because of) her protestations of only having been to the pub 5 times in the past 2 months her attempts to find a new place have been only met with frustration. Her first choice, a Snowpines commune sharing with 8 others, fell through the day she was supposed to move in. The next two apartments she was referred to had concerns about her ability to socially hold her own, despite her outgoing personality. As one potential housemate put it - "I'm not sure how she'd fit in. She says she's only been to Sam's 5 times since she got here and complained of having her old housemates rumble in after 12 when she went to sleep at 9pm. I'm not sure if i can even have the boys over for a drink when she's here because she might be uncomfortable".

What options are left for "Xena"?


Life in Ptarmigan 306
We've always had an open house policy with our neighbours in 306. Since moving into the Ptarmigan Jae and Josh have spent a fair bit of time sitting in front of their wood fireplace watching the wide-screen. We've enjoyed Christmas dinner there (complete with pudding) and of course our weekly Internet binges invariably mean taking over the dinner table and eavesdropping on whatever they have playing on the telly.

306 currently sleeps 6 - two pairs of couples and two singles.

• Gemma and Luke are from the UK and have been travelling for the best part of a few years. In their mid to late-20s, their last port of call before Canada was Australia, where they toured widely. Gemma has always worked with horses and runs the (famous) Big White sleigh rides in the evening, she's also been supervising the housekeepers at one of the hotels here. Gemma is a planner. She likes to know that things are in place and in motion. Luke has been working as a lifty. I guess he doesn't mind the cold. He has a Number 1 buzz-cut and tends to take things as they come (that's the official line). I'm not sure if it's a throwback from his time in Australia. Both Gemma and Luke are keen skiiers.
• Ben and Hayley are from New Zealand. I can't remember right now what it is that Ben does to pay the bills, but Hayley works at the Village Centre cafe, Beanos. Ben is a very keen snowboarder. He's always popping out for a few runs and has hiked cross country and up hill for fresh snow with Tim more than once. I think I'll always remember Hayley as the girl in her bathrobe curled up on the sofa in front of the fire.
  
• Tim is from New Zealand. He used to work as a barrista at Starbucks back home and is now one of the main barristas at Beanos. Tim tends to work around 20 hours a week and gets out to snowboard a lot. I think he's looking for a low-stress break. He's the one who (with the assistance of Jae) setup the Internet access that I'm now taking advantage of.
  
• Chris is from London. He's tall with long sandy hair and a few concealed tattoos. He tends to be popular with the ladies. Chris is 21 and recently finished a university course in media. He likes to write poetry and drink a pint or two.
  (Picture: Two of our favourite 306-ers - Chris and Tim)