Just back from an amazing trip to Austria, it was a ski trip for the majority of the party but I don't (can't) ski, I just go along for the ride really, I like being in snowy wonderlands and I love being with my family and friends. Fortuitously for me my friend became pregnant after we booked the trip so she was unable to partake in the skiing aspect, so we spent the days together and met up with the lads lads lads (AKA husbands and sons) in the day time for strudel and hot chocolate and then again in the evenings. You'd think that it would reduce the fun of an activity holiday if you can't physically do the activity but not so, I haven't laughed so much on a holiday since the last time I went away with Kim, plus we took full advantage of the all inclusive hotel and spa. In hindsight I probably should have hit the gym a little more to equal out the intake of food and very sugary virgin cocktails, yes, 6 months on from my own personal alcohol fuelled armageddon ;) I still haven't touched a drop. (At this point I can't see myself ever going back, seeing as I got through all the Christmas parties and Christmas itself and now apres ski without touching a drop I think I'm ok without it.)
I made a slight packing error this holiday, no idea why, it was a rookie mistake. I didn't quite pack enough bags, I don't mean I ran out completely, I just mean I didn't have enough to feel as confident and restful as I would have done had I packed more. I thought taking just over double what I needed would be enough, but a combination of a lot of food and drinking hot chocolate (I have a food intolerance to Chocolate). I thought hot chocolate drinks would be ok and maybe one or two would have been fine but I think I over did it a bit. Which meant I was changing my bag 3 times a day. Next time I shall pack a whole box of bags, far in excess of what I need and that way I can feel safer and less anxious. I imagine, should I have run out I could have got hold of some from somewhere but really who wants the added hassle on holiday of translating all that would be involved.
Clothing wise I packed well at least. What does one wear for a skiing not skiing holiday, well anything you fancy really. I tried to get some salopettes, but I really struggled to find any that suited my stoma position and my ginormous ar**! It must be possible to get some, people with stoma's ski, we are after all just people like everyone else. There's nothing we can't do from a stoma point of view (my inability to ski is more a balance or lack thereof issue). I gave up on ski trousers and just packed extra thermals. I bought some super soft, very stretchy ones in Tesco which were so warm and so cosy and didn't restrict the flow of my bag at all, I'm very tempted to wear them as leggings.
Kim and I thought we needed a bit of exercise so we took ourselves off for a walk, we'd been going about 45 minutes when we noticed that our hair had frozen and was covered in ice, including the hairs on my face. Deciding enough was enough we headed for the lifts up to the top of the mountain to sit in the gorgeous sunshine and face sun bathe....with of course the obligatory hot chocolate and strudel...you can see where my gut ache stemmed from. ;)
As well as eating too much I went through a lot of bags going swimming. I tend to change straight after a swim as the filter stops working. I wear a full costume for swimming pools and Spa breaks. I wear bikinis more for tan time.
Ruched front swimsuit from Rigby & Peller. I've seen a lot of ruched swimwear in the shops of late.
Jumper from Michael Kors, navy leather look jeggings from Next, boots from Moncler
Jumper from Marks and Spencer, black leather look leggings from Next, Boots - Moon boots by Jimmy Choo.
What with my Tesco thermals and my Jimmy Choo Moon boots and a coat of course I was as warm as toast...
Out for one of our walks, we went up this little hill only to find ourselves on a black run, needless to say we swiftly came back down.
A horse drawn sleigh ride in the mountains was probably the highlight of my week. I would wholeheartedly recommend a trip to Baumzipfelweg and Golden gate bridge (Hinterglemm, Austria. if you happen to be passing)
Don't ask! just don't ask!! hahahahahahahahahaha
Hat from Accessorise, Sunglasses from Jimmy Choo, Jumper from Dorothy Perkins, Coat from Moncler
Top from Marks and Spencer, Skirt from Tommy Hilfiger, thick tights with a hole cut in from Tesco, Boots from Barbour.
I have a terrible fear of heights, well not heights as such, but falling from heights and cable cars at heights definitely. The journey up to the top of a mountain is bad enough but the way back down I'm off the chart, much to the amusement of Kim my holiday companion. Even I laugh, through my terror. I can imagine what I look like freaking out...actually I don't need to imagine, Kim took a photo of me haahahahahahaha :)
Kim and her twins tucked up in her cosy maternity coat is from Mama Licious - should you need one, My coat from Belstaff.
Face sunbathing at its finest. There's absolutely no reason not to Apres Ski just because you haven't skied hahahahahahahaha.