The apres skiing was also infinitely more satisfying (for a single parent) than when you are having to stay in to sort out three kids. We went out every night to eat and drink and a couple of nights we ended up in fairly lively bars. The bars seemed to be full of about 8 men to every woman. Boys on tour or “one big sausage factory” as my friend described it. The only problem being that on a skiing holiday everybody peaks too early. By 7.30pm everybody is horribly pissed and looking deeply unattractive – still in smelly ski gear having arrived at the bar at 4.30pm. The other problem was that I felt quite old…that is the one advantage of February half term or Easter- lots more people, but families and then you don’t feel such a freak. Mostly the one girl to every 8 blokes was a gorgeous, young, trendy snowboarder.

I’m very pleased to be home and will do a proper update soon….

We make an unusual group. There are four of us. Me. My friend. Her male friend and his internet date. They’re both lovely, but even though I understand they are at the beginning of a fledgling relationship, I can’t see much chemistry there. They just seem to be good friends. We’re having a laugh – going out for dinner and talking rubbish. Last night she told us that she wrote sex stories for a male magazines and has a sex thesaurus to give her alternative words for rude bits.

My skiing is improving, but it won’t be long before I take off in my ski trousers. Unfortunately I’m one of those sad people who struggle to do a poo in the company of strangers. Which means that with the combination of high altitude, too much food and wine and irregular movements I’m farting really badly. Will have to try and get a ski lift to myself tomorrow. I really hope my brother doesn’t read this because I’m wearing his ski trousers.

Anyway, I hope you all have a lovely week. I will of course endeavour to update you from wherever I am in France, but if I can’t find an internet cafe I do apologise in advance.

In the meantime I shall leave you with yet another cheery Buddhist thought for the day:

“On the day that you were born, you began to die,
Do not waste a single moment more!”

I think that when I next speak to the Dalai Lama I ought to mention that maybe the thoughts on death could be saved for a slightly less depressing month of the year.

My quote of the day, to leave you all with is:

“When your heart speaks, make sure you take good notes”.

(not obviously invented by me, but heard on the radio. I like that as a concept. Listening to your heart is important. It is the same as your gut reaction to something. Be aware of your basic feelings and don’t let your head make things more complicated than they really are).

I can’t quite believe I am going away tomorrow. For a week. Skiing!! With no children and only a girlfriend. How incredibly luxurious is that. The children are going to stay with their father and I have had to rope in numerous people to pick them up and look after them before and after school as he will be at work from 7.30am- 9pm approx every day. It’s a logistical bloody nightmare. I don’t know why mother’s get worried about being re-employed post kids…if you can orchestrate time away from your children and it all runs smoothly, you can organise anything.

I have not had time to buy anything for my holiday. I am borrowing my brother’s trousers and I have some blue shiny boots that I bought on a whim that make me look like a smurf. I am going to look deeply unglamorous – oh well. Nobody will notice.

I have decided that the break will do me good. I need to sit on a mountain and do some thinking. And some drinking. And some eating. And some laughing. And some talking. And after a bit more drinking maybe also some very poor skiing.