the continental view
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'When friends come out to visit'
For anyone who has had friends come and stay in resort this may strike a familiar cord. The fateful day of their arrival was a Saturday afternoon, four lads renowned only in their ability to get extremely drunk and tell a myriad of stories associated with being extremely drunk. I picked the aforementioned up at the local train station from a free transfer bus that I’d managed to swing. As soon as I saw them I new this was going to be hard work. There they stood suitcases in hand expectantly awaiting me to arrive and do absolutely bloody everything for them. Don’t get me wrong these were all top boys that are who I knew from Uni days. They are all independent intelligent people in good responsible jobs, so what were the determining factors that turned them into complete and utter cripples when they came to Chamonix. I know when I’m on holiday I like to relax and not tax myself too hard, but there is a difference between relaxing and switching off the brain altogether. I had the feeling at times that it was the best they could do just to maintain an upward stance and breathe at the same time. If something didn’t go strictly to plan I was made to feel that it somehow was my fault. After having organised absolutely everything for them so that they wouldn’t fall into the usual dire tourist restaurants and bars they still found it necessary to complain about any number of things including the service, food, portions, beer etc. What they failed to understand is that the reason it’s all different too what they’re used to is just that – It is different to what your used to because it’s a different country, that’s the idea of going away. I set up a set of three snowboarding lessons for one of them, whom decided after the first lesson not to bother going to anymore on the grounds of severe malaise. This was fine "do what you want" I had said. What had really got to me was the indignation aimed towards me when the ski school had still wanted to be paid full whack. In having to pay out this "un-accounted for money" (500ff) he stated that he "would not be able to afford to come out to visit me again this season" and I was again made to feel that I had somehow robbed my friends. The fact that I had sorted out discounted lessons and free board and boot hire for him had obviously slipped his mind. Not content with just robbing one friend I thought I would try my luck in fleecing the rest of them. I had managed to get a 20% discount off the price of their ski hire to this end they decided to get the best skis in the shop. However when it came to paying they were loudly heard complaining to the shop guy (my season friend who got the discount) how they had "never paid more than £30 on any skiing holidays I’ve ever been on before" and how it was a "complete rip off" etc etc. My shop friend looked at me for help, my friends (x4) looked at me expectantly, I had had enough so walked out embarrassed and left them to it. Later on I explained that it had been at least 5 years since anyone of them had been on a skiing holiday and they had hired the top of the range skis for 9 days which is why it had cost them 600ff (still cheap). Not content and harmonised completely against Chamonix and myself they resolved themselves to be in the right, which is were they stayed in all matters until their departure, which is where you would think it all ended…alas no. Against my advice they left their bags unguarded in the lobby of our office. I had suggested that by taking the elevator to the first floor they would be able to ensure the safety of their kit in the accounts department - to which I was treated to a rousing chorus of "I’ve carried them this far, and this is far enough." On our arrival back at the office, predictably maybe, one bag was missing/stolen. The bag had been one of three bags that the owner (friend number three who had been the least difficult - comparatively) had decided to put his passport in for "safe keeping". With only 15 mins until the blissful departure of my chums I, on the basis that I lived here and the fact I had probably stolen it anyway, had to conduct an individual search of the building, phone the police etc. They had to catch the taxi so it was left entirely in my hands, the bag was not found the police were unhelpful, and stated that the relevant forms must be completed in Chamonix. The last I heard 30 minutes before the flight was due to leave was that they might have to come back to Chamonix if they couldn’t sort the problem in the next half-hour. That was two hours ago and I haven’t heard from them since, are they on route to surprise me? Please God no. What turns normally good friends, who you regard in high esteem into paranoid incapable muppets who are convinced that you are stealing from them? Has anybody else had similar experiences with the friends? I have talked to others who have said that they have also had nightmarish visits from friends, so its not just me. My feeling is that they associate the resort with me and as such embed a certain responsibility for it in me, thus when something goes wrong it is either my fault or it’s the fault of the resort (also my fault by way of association). If they are on the back to Chamonix I may be called out to carry out some emergency field based research - has anyone got a spare bed?!? [Courtesy
of Matt
Davies, Editor of the Mountain'ear] |
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