MT RUAPEHU!!!!

Well I think I'll start where I'm up to at the moment.

Work - I've been working at Mt Ruapehu for a couple of months now. It is one of the main things I was looking forward to since leaving the UK. After givin Snow Boarding a try back home with Jen, i decided it was something I'd really like to give more to. After managing to score a job at the ski resort in the cafe, I soon was moved to Customer Services where I've worked all season. My job is pretty straight forward, get a problem, deal with it and move on. It's like being back at Maccies, just turning the punters over and moving onto the next!! Below is the building where i work. The front is the ticket windows and just around the side to the right is Customer Services.

Fack-a-papa - I'm based on the Whakapapa side of the mountain. Whakapapa is pronounced Fack-a -papa, New Zealand thing!!! The other side of the mountain is Turoa which is the same company but we compete for customers and staff competitions.

Mum - Already as I'm typing, I'm thinking my Mum is checking my spelling and grammar. Well don't because it won't be very good!!!!

Time - Any way my job is contacted until the middle of October, however due to poor snowfall recently we're really struggling to get that late in the season. But with a really good "dump" of snow we should be OK.

Boarding - I try to get on the slopes as much as possible. Which tends to be my two days off I get per week. After a few lessons in the UK, I've found it quite easy to pick up the basics and with a couple of good lessons from friends out here I'm loving my time out on the piste!!! I'm currently at what I'd call intermediate level, which means i can go pretty much anywhere on the mountain, but can only go on the blue runs. Green- beginners, Blue - intermediate, Black - advanced. Don't think I'll get as far as advanced, an age thing I think! I tend to spend my time riding with the lads on my day off, they're all about early 20's. They haven't found the fear factor yet, and pick up new things a lot quicker.

The Park - I'm currently staying in National Park, which is approx 30mins from where I work. The place is called The Park. It's quite a cool place to be, mainly because of the people here. I've made so many friends that I'll hopefully know for life. The place itself is a good clean standard of living, especially compared to the Hairy Berry Backpackers that i came across earlier in my travels. The Park has a bar on site, ran by two guys, Dan and Sam. They're cool guys who make drinkin too much of a pleasure sometimes. We have a large kitchen which to be fair is mainly clean until people go in there and make a shocking mess!! There's a large eating area, TV lounge and internet access, which is where i'm doing this blog.

I'm sleeping in a loft room which has 2 floors. Upstairs has a double bed and downstairs has a single bed, fridge and bathroom. Everythin you need to survive really!!

Roomie - Well after Craig departed back home I managed to get roomed with Andrew, a lad from Australia. Now better known by everyone as Roomie. Bry, you know how it is, original names are crap, better changed!! he's a really cool lad and we get on really well, maybe too well at times. Below is Brandie (British Andy), me and Roomie (aka Randie - Roomie Andy). We also have a Candy (Canadian Andy) but he doesn't like it for some reason.

Poker - Well that's all your getting for now. I'm going to cook Dinner and get mentally prepared for poker this evening. I haven't won since the first game and i'm feeling that tonight maybe my lucky night, or not!! By the way you get a $100 bar tab if you win so, game face is on.