Monday 2 October 2006 Up early to check whether it was a good day for skiing. It was so got into our ski gear and waited for our pick up. Got taken up to Cardrona Alpine Resort. The drive up there was a little scary with a mad driver speeding up the mountain round the bends! Ski's and helmets on we went to have a little play on the snow before our lesson. Managed to amuse ourselves for about half an hour before ski school started! Good start considering Rita had never been skiing before and the last time Ellie was on a pair of skies was about 12 years ago when she ended up flying down a dry ski slope crashing into and over a barrier! Put into a group of 10 beginners with Rachel our teacher, spent some time learning to take our ski's on and off and balancing on one ski. Gradually we got further up the slope perfecting our balance and learning to slow down and stop! We advanced to the poma (drag lift) spending the rest of the morning going up and down. Learning how to change direction was a problem for Rita, often ending up on the other side of the mountain than the rest of the group! 'Come back!' Quick break for lunch then time for another play before the afternoon lesson. We lost a couple of the group over lunch, some having had enough. Some more tips from Rachel perfecting our turns before heading to the chair lift! Don't think she realised how old Rita was as she took her hand and told her to sit with her! Up to a more advanced slope (well away from the beginners!) and it was steep! Rita throwing herself on the snow to avoid going over the edge of the mountain, Ellie skiing behind taking pictures! Still not getting the hang of the slowing and stopping Rita managed to use everyone in the group as her stopper. Another mountain and a scared Rita couldn't face it so Rachel held her hand and skied with her to the bottom.... one little slope to go, Rachel let go of her hand to go and get her poles and Rita went off 'Bridget Jones style' straight into a barrier which didn't really stop her! Good day on the slopes......

 Wednesday 4 October 2006 - Wanaka

 The rest of our time in Wanaka was spent chilling and watching videos.  Ellie made it out for a   morning run around Lake Wanaka (well, not ALL the way around!!) and a mini night out with people from the hostel and experienced drinking from the teapots!