The Down Family Christmas - Whistler Style - Part I

With Amanda and Owen joining the party fresh from a transcontinental treck across north america from Washington DC to Vancouver via Toronto, team 'DownPriceHines' were now in place to mount their expedition to Whistler and an early family Christmas shindig !

Being the first time in ten months that we had all been together and of course full of tales to tell it would have been rude not to capture the excitement without a visit to a nearby watering hole !

Hence our first night was spent in the 'Mill Cafe' on the waterfront at Coal Harbour. This pub of course being well known to all my airline staff visitors as the 'BA Arms Public House'.

Several picthers and mammoth nachos later served by our waitress 'Buffy', time was called to enable a seabus ride home and some sleep before what we anticipated would be a some what scary drive up the sea to sky.

Why Scary ? Well by this point Whistler had recieved three repetitive nights snowfall of 20cm per night and an arctic storm from Alaska was predicted to be charging south along the sunshine coast to both Whistler and the city.

Scary more was that I had rented a mini van from Gupta the dodgy car hire man on dodgy car hire street for what was a scarily dodgy low price ?!?

Mmmm ? A two wheel drive mini van on packed snow and ice and from a man whose English ability ranked along side that of Borat ? Come to think of it he didn't look that unfamiliar to the big man ??

So off we went at 10am wanting to do the journey in day light and arrive in hopefully a sunny Whistler Village. Thankfully the journey was absolutely incident free and quite a breeze thanks to the many ploghs working the highway.

Such was our relief in fact that arriving for breakfast in Creekside and the Southside Diner good old Mig noted that it had now passed into the pm and as such eggs benedict were served with pints of Granville Pale Ale ! Whahey - the tour has started ! Good oh !

Not being able to pick the keys up to our plush gaff for an hour or so off we went to raid the Market place and stock up on the usual Christmas supplies.


Yep you got it, copious amounts of booze and a turkey !


Unfortunately Turkeys seemed to be in short supply so we ended up with two chickens, some smelly cheese, a dodgy looking lump of salmon (and copious amounts of booze). Job well done !

Landing with our booty at a very seriously plush retreat (thanks Amanda for the efforts in sourcing such a fabulous palace) and with birds in the oven, the now ever so slightly merry team took pre dinner aperitifs in the hot tub located three paces from the back door and with views of piste bashers working the hill in the distance !


Now it has to be said at this point that whilst I am not inknown for performing the odd inebriated idiotic stunt there is not enough beer in Canada to get me to repeat what John then strived forth and performed.

Casually stepping out of the tub he sauntered out into the three feet deep powder as if he were repairing divets on a polo field with champers in hand, before calmly laying down backward in the white blanket and liberally covering his torso with further white fluffy stuff ????

Now it further has to be said that whilst I have a huge amount of time and respect for this man who treats mum like an angel, I must say that based upon the grand act of mindless idiocy just witnessed he is clearly BONKERS !

Rather you than me big fella - I will stay in the warm water with my Piper Heidsieck thank you very much !

With respect to this christmas groover I can only assume the bubbles of the champers and the heat of the tub got to him as he worked his magic tripping the light fandango to ABBA's greatest hits.

Why is it by the way that is always the one and only free CD places like this leave around ? Unfotunately this was to be the highlight of Owens footwork as armed with skis whilst a solid and improving intermediate his action is not in the same class as his 'Dancing Queen'.

Finally sacks were hit and sleep was had in preparation for a full days mountain activity.