Appreciating Things More Than Ever Before

Hi everybody and welcome back to the latest post from your favourite Méribel blogging ski instructor. This week, it's all about the local neighbourhood. Firstly let's go back to last spring. Remember when most of the European continent was under the first and strictest of lockdowns? In the UK we were permitted a daily session of exercise outside our homes, together with doing essential food shopping. The list of activities was limited to walking, running or cycling from home. The roads were deserted, and the streets eerily quiet.

I remember Harriet (my wife) and I would often go out together and walk around the local neighbourhood and start to explore. Why? Because there wasn't much else to do. And quite frankly, for those of us who were inquisitive (or nosey depending on your view), it was a great excuse to learn new streets and also get up to our 10,000 steps target. Thankfully the weather was conducive to such activity. And we found new streets to walk down where we had never been before. We noticed beautiful spring flowers, and new leaf growth on the trees. We saw quirky-looking buildings, with heaps of character that we hadn't ever noticed. And it was a trend that was going on across the country.

Guess what? I seem to be going through that same process here in the Méribel Valley. During the winter season, the vast majority of my time would be up on the mountain. No bad thing, in fact it's amazing to be able to do that every year. When I'm not teaching, or sometimes free skiing, I'd be doing some chores in the apartment or rushing down the valley for a weekly shop, or just splodging on the sofa having some rest and recovery. Walking around Méribel, nah!

But this winter, I'm having much less time up on the mountain, and way more spare time than ever before to be able to go exploring. So just like last spring during Lockdown no.1 in Leamington Spa, I'm going for a stroll. Guess what, it is pretty beyond words. I've walked down roads that I haven't seen in years. I've had a nose around Morel, one of the original settlements in the Méribel Valley. The other, the village of Méribel Les Allues, yep I've poked about in the old part there as well. And La Rosiere, between Méribel and Méribel-Mottaret, been there too. It's all been beautiful.

When up the mountain skiing, one gets very used to the various viewpoints. Likewise if driving up into resort, or using the free bus service, again you soon get used to the views. But going around on foot, taking your time, absorbing what is in front of you; it really helps you appreciate things more than ever before. It may sound surprising that one advantage of the winter of 2020/21, is seeing new things even though I've enjoyed every winter here since 1998/99.

So...... you know what? Would you mind again if I stuck my head in the snow for the moment, and ignore the damn pandemic, there's no improvement in the situation in Méribel. One day at a time and all that. I hope you've enjoyed this post, even though there was no talk about skiing. I'll sign out with my pandemic credo again.... Stay Safe. Stay Healthy.... and Stay Fabulous. Martin.