Well, it seems global warming has officially arrived. Something's certainly going on with our planet, because we've been having some exceedingly weird (and kinda wonderful) weather here in Whistler as of late…Basically, it hasn't snowed in a fortnight. In January. IN WHISTLER!! Very unusual…and a few weeks ago I was skiing in no more than a jumper, without even wearing gloves. It was warm. One might even go so far as to say (although not technically according to the very strict criteria that Matt and Dad and I came up with a few years ago) that it was balmy. A balmy winter's day on the top of Whistler mountain. And indeed I have seen a photo of the thermometer up top of Blackcomb mountain reading 20 degrees Celcius - although it's position in direct sunlight probably makes that a bit of an exaggeration. But the weather man has confirmed an alpine high of 12 degrees Celcius. Consider that, a few weeks ago in December, we were having record lows of minus 25 or so…which means a change in temperature of 37 degrees within a matter of weeks. And now, although it's still nice and sunny when skiing, a lot of the slopes have been turned into sheet of sheer ice, and there's still no snow predicted until Tuesday!

Anyways, I've been doing my best just to take it as it comes and enjoy the sunshine, of which, given the noticeable lack of it in my life over the past few months, I've come to be much more appreciative. I had a few really lovely days skiing with people from my house when the sunshine first hit. One day I went up with Jess, our very own amazing ski instructor, and she really pushed my limits, gave me lots of tips, and even wrote me my very own report card at the end of the day - complete with stickers!! :D She's an incredible skier, and an equally incredible teacher, so I consider myself very lucky to be able to ski with her.

A few days later I went up first thing in the morning with Liz & Juzzy (the two Aussie girls who live in the flat downstairs) and we were able to catch the early morning sun coming over the tops of the mountain. We had a pretty cruizy morning, pottering down the runs, stopping for a mini photo shoot at one point. Juzzy was pretty keen for us to have some of the professional shots taken by the photographers roaming around the mountain, so Liz and I obliged and we spent half an hour or striking "relaxed poses" in the snow with our skis crossed while standing on one knee (don't know who exactly relaxes in this way, but they obviously don't normally do it wearing ski boots!). We even took a cool shot of us jumping face first into a big pile of powdery snow, that Liz and I were foolish enough to brave without gloves on. Not smart. It may be warm in the sunshine, but stick your bare hands in knee deep snow and it burns all the same. Fortunately it was a mere hobble to the café where I could stick my hands under hot water for several minutes to thaw. Juzzy and I spent an hour or so chit chatting and drinking tea up at the Round House before meeting Jess for a few more runs. We saw the cutest little kids from ski school ("minis" they call them - as in, 3 or 4 years old, like, can barely walk let alone ski) with two balloons attached to each of their helmets like mickey mouse ears. I suggested we kidnap one and take it home to put on our mantle piece, but I think we might have gotten in trouble for that. I shouldn't poke fun at these kids really seeing as most of them are better skiers than me anyway!

A few days ago Maggie arrived home from visiting her friends and family back home in Vancouver Island and we celebrated her 19th birthday. Liz and I walked into the village earlier that day, down by the lake (which is a truly beautiful walk) and went shopping for all important cupcake ingredients and hideous 80s clothes to wear to Tommy's that night. We went to my new favourite store - Peak to Party Novelties Co. - that sells a super supply of hideous costumes, including sexy wigs, with appropriate names such as "Used Car Sales Girl Wig" haha aaaah…good times! We stocked up on sweat bands and leg warmers and cupcake mix and betty crocker icing in a tub (incidentally, the best invention EVER) and headed home to bake. After Juzzy and I nearly burnt the cupcake whilst watching seriously addictive and crazy reality TV, we did some creative icing and took them upstairs. Jane and I wrapped Maggie's pressie in toilet paper, because we were too poor to buy wrapping paper…actually we didn't even have any toilet paper and had to raid the boy's cupboard haha But we stuck stickers on it and I feel that made all the difference ;) Then we all had a few drinks and blew up balloons before going in to meet Maggie in the village after she finished work.

We had an awesome night at Tommy's, with the best d-floor action I've had in ages. I was wearing sneakers. I was a very happy girl. Anywhere I can go, dance for 5 hours to old school tunes, wear sneakers and pink leggings, I'm a very happy girl indeed! We headed home around 130 or so and all feasted on cupcakes in the kitchen. Steffen had done a pretty amazing job of cleaning our kitchen earlier that day because his parents were arriving the next day, but we managed to undo all of his hard work within about 20 minutes. Maggies loved her pressies, and all of us had a really great night (as the 100+ photos are testament to). I didn't fare so well in the next few days though, having finally succumbed to the virus that seems to perpetually circulate the members of this house. I'm pretty sure we'll never all be totally well this season! Thankfully, I have a plentiful supply of books Mum sent me, so I've just been curled up in bed devouring one after another, resting, drinking lots of fluids etc etc on doctor's orders. It kinda sucks being sick when you're away from home, but fortunately my lovely lil' Whistler family looks after me very well. Liz & Juzzy are both paediatric nurses, and Liz arrived at my beside the other evening with Cold and Flu tablets, and lozenges and soup, insisting that I come down and get her if I needed anything (again, I find myself wondering how I got so lucky to be living with such lovely people…except maybe for that fact that Maggie has now brought 3 extra room mates to us - 2 bull frogs and a crayfish. Both dead. She's doing a biology course by correspondence and has to dissect them. She keeps threatening to dissect them on Jess's bed and she squeals. I just tell her she's lucky she doesn't have them sleeping in her room!).

So now I'm seriously looking forward to getting back to work tomorrow! Frankly, I just want to get out of the house, and anywhere will do - even work! My cousin Caity and her boyfriend Tim are coming to visit next week so I'm stoked to be catching up with them, and I also got the chance to ski with Leah (my lovely Aussie friend from SFU) a few days ago. It was her first time ever on skis, and she was a star! She's probably the tallest girl I know, which makes it infinitely harder - your centre of gravity being so much farther from the ground - but she kept at it like a champ, and we rode the magic carpet, which was super fun! Hehe

Well, I best be off to continue reading! Hope all you Aussies out there are set to party this Monday! I know I am :D We're planning a true blue Aussie BBQ out on the patio, and Liz & I are determined to ski a run in t-shirts…I'll let you know how that goes! Haha

LIVxo