Last weeks mention of 2 4 1 Sunday at the Den seemed to have done the trick. I went for a nice chilled out evening drink on Sunday and practically had to fight my way to the bar. The place was rammed. Go to Jack's for Toss the Boss instead this weekend will you? I don't like queuing!
Jokes aside, Sunday nights do pose a big dilemma in Meribel with two great venues offering two great deals. If you are a little alarmed by the mention of Toss the Boss you needn't be. Go down to Jack's Bar on Sunday evening and order a round. The boss will roll a dice. If you can then beat his roll with yours the round is free of charge. It's great fun, even if it does cause you to order bigger and more elaborate rounds of drinks than you ever would on a normal night out.
This week saw the return of beatboxing group DUKE to Meribel. They played a stomping set of their own recreated versions of well known tunes to a packed out Le Pub on Tuesday night and are continuing to play a string of shows in Meribel and the Three Valleys so definitely check them out if you get the chance.
Some of you will no doubt have heard the tragic news that someone died in an avalanche two weeks ago in the Chanrossa area of Courchevel. This sad incident shows that the dangers of off piste skiing are very real and it is important for off piste skiers to be as prepared as possible if they are going to ski in these areas.
This past Tuesday I took part in an avalanche training session run by ski school, New Generation. The two hour session was taken by Simon, an experienced skier and former bumps champion.
The session is very informative and teaches you how to look for the signs of an avalanche, the different types of avalanche and, most importantly, how to effectively use a tranciever, probe and shovel to rescue someone from underneath a slide as quickly and efficiently as possible.
All very important skills which, as Simon pointed out, hopefully you will never have to put into practice.
Finally, if you would like the feeling of the hangover without actually sipping a single drink then I would heartily recommend La Galette restaurant in the centre of town. The hangover feeling was completely my own fault and caused entirely by cheese. Delicious cheese. A fondue, hot stone and half a raclette wheel shared between six is enough to give anyone the sweats and it was a thoroughly enjoyable way to wind up in a cheesey coma.
I'd like to add that the cheese hangover disappeared after just one blast down from the top of Saulire to Meribel Village in the morning so no harm done!
