Paulo and the Snoozy Crew !

All of twenty seconds after the five o'clock whistle and with ski's packed under one arm and boots under the other, this Friday I shot out of the office and headed down to the bus stop where to grab the Snowbus up to Whistler.

As is usual for those of us who endure the mire that is a standard working week, Friday night brings a surge of energy and enthusiasm long since beaten out of your average worker in the hours since 9am the previous Monday morning.

So upon my arrival and staggering up the snowy village streets of Whistler (packed with revellers quaffing apres beverages) I grew ever more anxious to join in with the festivities side by side the ranks of BA visitors Doogie, Franki, Clare and Ian who I was certain would be propping up the Blacks Pub bar with a round of shooters ready to go ! Those crazy kids won't let me down I thought !

No such bloody luck ! Three phone calls later, in staggers Fonters looking like a bear just woken up from hibernation with a grumpy mood to suit ! I should have known better ! I mean - it was past nine o'clock and his usual seven o'clock ski holiday bedtime !

In fairness to the fella, two beers later he did come round and wipe the sleep from his eyes. Shortly therafter Ian (armed with authorising approval note from his travelling team of personal physicians, therapists, dietitians and sherpas) accompanied by Franki arrived to join us for a nightcap.

Ian's poison these days of course being a ginger tea or shot of milk of magnesia ???

Not wishing to give him opportunity to instigate one of his defensive verbal tirades on why he was being such an old woman, I let him be and hoped that he was just taking it cooly in preparation for a hard days skiing.

Photgraphic evidence of which said hard skiing I would love to provide. Unfortunatley I have no such pictures to provide as our man didn't come out of his suite next day. I did hear however he scored a new record for watching 8 episodes of CSI in one day ! I'm not sure what that is but it sounds a bit dull !

Fabulously though I was lucky enough to witness the wonderous display that is the 'Italian Silk Cut Ski Leader'. The amazing Lady Fonters of Godalming herself ! Never one to let a ciggy, mobile phone and lipstick get in the way of her driving prowess, Franchi has now mastered the art of managing all three whilst skiing moguls at break neck speed too !

Truly amazing ! Not so is Lord Fonters insistance on skiing a pair of cocktail sticks that barely reach his waist.

Great too was bumping into my old Carillion mate from days gone by as a graduate on the tear in Dartford and Rugby - the one and only Mr Paulo Martini ! One who really does live by the motto 'Any time - Any where - Martini' ! The motto really should actually include 'Anyone' as well in my opinion !

Refreshingly still unable to drink more than three pints without degenerating into a state of giggles that resembles an eight year old who has just seen his first naked girl, all the old tales of past misdeeds were recounted over several more Kokanee's in the GLC and MoJo's.

Accompanied by two fine fellows that seemd to love their U-Boat commander wooly jumpers we even managed to sneak in a Vancouver pub crawl the following week before they had to head home.

Good to see you everyone ! Paulo - get yourself out here for the summer you big tart !