New Year 2006

As yet another successful year draws to an end, it wouldn't be right to end it anywhere else other than with the staff and guests of Le Carlina, Morzine! This year was as good if not better than ever (well what we can remember anyway!). The snow was great, the people were great, the staff were even more accommodating and the bar bill was the largest yet! Added together you've got yourself a damn good time!. Ok, so here goes:

The journey started from Brighton on the 28th December, far to much kit on board as usual and we all forgot the red-bull...Again. Mad rush to Dover to find out we were booked on the freight crossing, no duty free and only a very small bar!

Off the other end only to find a snow-storm in Calais. After travelling at a mere 25 mph for the first hour and a half, it was time for the first coffee break! Driving conditions got a little better from there and we eventually arrived in Morzine at 0900 on the 29th after 15 hours of horrible head banging tunes! Two croissants and an untold amount of very strong French coffee and it was time to hit the slopes (after spending 800 Euros on lift passes of course). Up the Pleney and a few runs around Les Gets and that was about enough for one day, especially for the drivers who had now been up for nearly 2 days solid! Yep, the Carlina's bar was calling and it had our names written all over it. Few swift halves then off to get changed for dinner. As usual the kitchen staff excelled themselves with the evening meal then it was back in  the bar for a few more swift halves followed by an early night for everyone (except Yellow of course who can't sleep before 6 o'clock in the morning!!).

Day 2 started with 5 very much more refreshed boarders. It was time to hit Avoriaz on what was quite possibly the coldest day in the world......ever! Penfold had to stop and buy a scarf after his lips  froze together. Up the Super Morzine bubble, down to the 4 man chair, past the runway, down to the next for man chair then down the run to Avoriaz. Doogle, LJ and the Mole hit the park while Penfold and Yellow hit the 'Tree Run', possibly their favourite run in the area, often known as the 'Race Run' to which Yellow is still convinced he beat Penfold, obviously a physical impossibility!! (50 Euros would secure a re-run!!) All met for lunch (and maybe just the one swift large half) then a few more runs around Avoriaz. LJ got lost as he 'Didn't see the 3 very large lifts' so the next couple of hours were spent trying to find him. By now the day was drawing to an end but it would have been rude to walk past the Buddha bar without stopping in for a cold pint of Carling or three before dinner! After dinner a trek down to the Cavern bar was in order (only to say hello to Russ of course, no intention of having a drink!) Olivier arrived and through the no drinking idea out the window. (Didn't really think we weren't going to drink now did you!?!) LJ, Yellow and the Mole stopped in the Opera nightclub on the way back to the Carlina.

New Year's Eve was a bit of a no go as the weather was pretty bad. We made our best attempt in the morning but were back in the hotel bar by lunchtime. That was it for the day until it was time to prep for the evenings festivities. Out came the jackets and shirts along with the fashionably ripped jeans then it was off down to dinner. Quick drink in the bar accompanied by a bowl of olives started it off nicely! Untold number of delightful dishes included Caviar, Smoked Salmon, Fois Gras, Crayfish, Lemon Sorbet, Pheasant and Cheese to name a few coupled with the odd alcoholic beverage, namely Chablis if I remember correctly! It was all going so well and the decorum was as good as could be expected, that is until just before midnight Ute decided it would be a good idea to get the party poppers and marble sized pea shooters out...Big mistake! Obviously the proceedings went down hill from there! In fact it was at this point we met the two newest and youngest members of the 'boardagain' firm. Olly and Tom 'thumb' introduced themselves by shooting Penfold in the head at close range with one of the aforementioned giant sized pea shooters, welcome aboard boys!! Of to the bar again to continue into the early hours. Penfold and Yellow by this time were starting to feel the effects of the alcohol as they decided it would be a good idea to purchase some champagne, not just for themselves of course, that would have been to easy. No, it was champagne all round!! In fact there were so many glasses required, the Carlina staff had to go and source some more. Ouch,  i think the Room 17 tab is starting to build up somewhat! Oh well, we'll worry about that on the last day! The shots then started flowing which was obviously more than Penfold could take so it was 'goodnight Penold!' Doogle and the Mole shortly followed. LJ and Yellow went of to the Irish bar with some of the Carlina staff, Lj then returned while Yellow hit the discotheque with Olivier!!

New Year's Day - January 01st 2006 - It's Penfold's birthday so why shouldn't he have a lie in!!?? Yellow the crazy little round man returned from the discotheque at 0800 with Olivier in tow and decided after a coffee it would be a good idea to get on the first lift, obviously not the sort of thing any normal human being would do!!! So they did and it was a very 'sketchy' run by all accounts! The rest of New Year's Day was spent messing around in Les Gets and Penfold who was due to meet the rest of the boys was given the only radio with a flat battery. It was due to this that we spent half an hour sitting in opposite bars waiting for each other!! New Year's Evening was a fairly quiet one in the bar but most notably was the birthday cake made for Penfold. May I take this opportunity to thank Freddie for the homemade cake and all for the birthday card.

02nd January - It's the last day and Penfold is now another year older, much to his disgust!! For the last day we became 7! Olly and thumb accompanied us on a trek to Mont Cherie. Obviously we don't normally allow skiers to join us but today we were feeling nice so made an exception!! The two lads did really well and we would happily take them out again in the future! The day was maxed to the full but there was still time for the obligatory group photograph! A few beers in the Buddha Bar followed by the Coyote bar finished the day off nicely. After dinner we ended up in L'Etale (not that Penfold can remember!) as it was G's birthday (happy birthday G!) Olly did us proud with his shot competition against G's mate! Yellow and Doogle stayed out again until 0630, not a good idea as Yellow was supposed to be driving 2 hours later, looks like Penfold will be doing the first stretch again!! (Has this happened before I wonder!!!)

03rd January - Home time - It was time for the after mouth of New Year's Eve. Yep, time to ask for the Room 17 bar tab!! 1300 Euros (approx £1000.00). Oh well, it was a good night. (Who's idea was it again to buy the champagne??!!!!) After a hearty English breakfast over the road it was time to say farewell again for another year (well 2 weeks if your names are Penfold and Yellow!!) - 9 hours later we arrived in Calais. Quick Curry and 2 glasses of wine later we were on our way home! Back in Brighton for 0100 on the 04th January 2006, 1400 miles later, it's the end of the road so to speak. (Apart from those of us who are tasked with cleaning and returning the hire car tomorrow!)

Well that's about it - UNTIL NEXT TIME!!!!

If you fancy taking part in the action next year (or if just to see Olivier asleep on the toilet!) or indeed come on any of the other organised events please feel free to contact us through the 'contacts' page.

Olly , Tom, Mum and Dad - (and anyone else we met) Keep in touch!! (info@boardagain.co.uk)

All the best,

Team 'boardagain'

www.boardagain.co.uk