Mark and Nix in Switzerland: Ma and Pa learn to ski.....!!??

Well spring has officially sprung here in Switzerland...in fact so much so that I am going to head down to our 'cave' and get my summery clothes out today!! Time to put away wooly jumpers and warm boots...
Well, during our March spring weather my mum and dad came out for a week's visit with the intention to learn to ski! There has been no proper snow in the mountains since around Christmas and so the poor Ski piste people have made a desperate attempt at keeping the pistes open and running, which means you arrive at a ski resort and see a slightly brown-tinged ski run going down a mountain with grass on either side! Which doesn't really give the best conditions for learning how to ski. However, the Clarke's are deterred by nothing and so on the Wednesday we took them to a spot where we'd heard rumours that the snow was still in good supply...ahem!

There was no bunny run!! Yikes, so with a slight bit of training on the complete flat near the ski lift Mark and I took them straight up to do a blue run, we managed to get halfway down where there was a much-needed 'buvette' for a sunbathe and a quenching drink, then after a picnic lunch we attempted the second half of the hill with some renewed energy over some pretty slushy, bumpy, non-beginner snow! I must say it was rather a strange sensation watching my parents fall...I still kind of have this 'parents-are-superheros' type mentality, and so seeing them ski was an eye-opener for me! However, despite the terrible snow conditions, the fact that they were complete beginners and that we had to go down a run to teach them to ski; they did really well and I'm pretty sure they left feeling like they had achieved something and have a new love for skiing...so, better snow next year please!

The rest of the week was spent exploring and enjoying the sunshine (when its not snowing here, its generally gloriously sunny), as with all our guests Mark and I had to carry on with our normal routines so Ma and Pa got to do some exploring on their own. We had a morning in Montreux, where we walked beside the water. Dad couldn't stop singing 'Smoke on the water' as we saw the Casino which that song talks about. Thursday 24th March was their 27th Wedding Anniversary so my dad took my mum away for a night in Leysin and we met them the next day for picnic/BBQ at the top of the mountain. We also explored Lausanne a bit too.

It was so lovely to have them stay and give them a taste of our lives here, we are so blessed to have parents that support, love and encourage us the way ours do.

Here's a few snapshots of the week;