So it is once again time to pack the skis and snowboards and make our way to the slopes.
We took the opportunity to meet my cousin and her family in London and, luckily, my other cousin from the Wirral was also in London with her family. How fab! Once we all managed to meet up (after one family being in one restaurant and the other being on another 100m apart), we had a great afternoon
We are returning to Japan, still Hokkaido but this time to a different resort called Furano. We will be working for Furano International Snowsports School so will be teaching skiing and snowboarding each day but, unlike last year, can do what we wish in the evenings. I can still run Taylor Made Travel, we can relax, do yoga, go to the Onsen, go to the pub whatever. … What we can’t do is help ourselves to a free bar and an amazing international buffet every evening – oh well, I know which I’d prefer.
We had a fab last Italian near London Bridge, said our goodbyes and managed to get the very last train to Gatwick because of train strikes – so lucky!
To keep costs down (as we don’t get our travel reimbursed this year), we flew Air China (first for us) via Shanghai. Pete was worried we would be fed crickets and rice but the food was ok. We did both decline chicken rice porridge for breakfast though. Our 3 hours in Shanghai were interesting. We were held in a corridor while people were told their bags needed to be opened and searched – luckily not ours and our aerosol deodorants made it with us – thank goodness as Japanese deodorant is ridiculously expensive and has no fragrance! The WiFi allowed access to nothing- welcome to China!
And so a little jetlagged we arrived at our hotel in Tokyo, near Narita airport. Remembering all the things we love about the Japanese – on time buses, extreme politeness, white gloves, overpowering enthusiasm – we took the hotel shuttle bus to the Aeon Mall for dinner. We had the most amazing and huge Indian dosa and naan bread from the tandoor oven in the food court, with free chilled water for less than a tenner. What’s not to love???
And then today history has been made …. we were almost first down for breakfast at 6.30am and then we arrived at the airport too early for check-in!!!!!! Check-in opens at 8.30am and we have been waiting since 7.59am!!!! It’s a Christmas miracle!!!!
