22 March, 2006 (Wednesday)

(Picture: Snowshoe Sam's frontage - Whitefoot carpark)

Death of Sam's
Ding-dong, Sam’s is dead. Occupancy is down below 30% on the hill and the staff have tucked their heads in for the final weeks. Everybody is trying to save a few extra dollars before going away. Almost everybody is partied out. Certainly the mountain feels smaller.

Of a week night now you’re lucky to see 20-peole in there past 10. It feels quiet. It feels like the end of the season is almost upon us. Good night Sam’s. Good night.

Generosity knows no bounds
I've finally received my Valentine's Day gift voucher. It took a few weeks of chasing and being played like a hot potato by Sam's various day managers, but they've finally handed it over - all $25 of it!

With that kind of generosity, what can I do but immortalise it online?

The original Valentine's Day promise was a dinner for 2 to a value of $200. Sam's has reinterpreted their original promise, splitting the $200 between the eight of us. Thing is, a fair number haven't claimed their prizes having left the mountain or given up. Pity, eh?

So this is my little gift voucher. I wonder what I can get with it... a pint of beer and a bowl of chips probably? It's a ready reward for my hard hours at the pub. Giving back to the community. I'm trying!