We're on top of the world!!

We had met a Spanish girl just before we left Banff and mentioned we were heading to Big White, she was going to go to Jasper & then coming to meet another Australian she made friends with, so we couldn't offer her a ride then and there but we could offer a few drinks before we went out. We went to Hoodoo Lounge Nightclub to suss out how his club went off but I wasn't feeling the vibe, bought a few drinks & started playing pool with a couple people from Toronto, but the club definitely wasn't the place to be didn't stay out too long that night but we did get news about Banff (correct me if I'm wrong) but we were told it's the AIDS capital of Canada??

Sent a few emails off to enquire about jobs & accommodation with not a lot of luck, so we were going to have to wait until we were in town to try again. We left Banff & the Samesun Hostel... Finally making our way back to Big White on a one day drive stint, passing back through Revelstoke for a bit of food & into the hostel in Big White by about 8pm. Realising after we paid for 3 nights that we didn't want to stay here that long, no refunds either... Guess were putting up with a tiny room, the strong smell of marijuana as you walk through the front door & the stubborn staff for a few nights yet. Contemplating to stay in Kelowna & drive up every day until we found proper accommodation was highly thought of but the hour's drive every morning and night just to get back to a bed was off the books as we needed that time to research. After so much time spent in Banff & now in big white on every site possible, looking for accommodation & posting out hoping to find us shelter for even a couple of days, we found ourselves needing to get out of this hostel, there was no hot water after Christmas for 3-4 days and a black out on the last day too. Thankfully we finally found us a place in snow pines estate, two bedrooms and a hot tub, and it's ours... now just to book & pay & move in on the 1/1/13. I also landed us jobs as housekeepers, we went in for a 'chat' & started work within a couple hours, no references or experience needed, just work. We had organised strait away to have Mondays & Tuesdays off as our weekends, gaining approval (knowing that Christmas & New Years day fell on these days) BONUS!! We also quickly became pretty fond of the un-organisational skills that the managers possessed, as we were paid by the hour, the left behind food we had been finding was useful, and the tips we had received in the first week were enough to pay for a tank of fuel. I'm still thinking maybe I should get a retail job & socialise a little more and give me a break from these boys, but I can handle this job and it's benefits for a while...

We had some pretty random guys in our hostel room for a couple nights, decided to play Horses, a drinking game before we went to an 'end of the world' party with them. Across the road from the hostel was this little cottage looking house. Pure wood & insanely packed full of people, there was a door list we wrote our own names on, but we were welcomed in, along with everyone else that wasn't initially invited. As the night went on, we saw the guys trying to pick up, the music getting louder, the beer pong table got more interest & the house got too busy to take a step in, we saw our Spanish friend from Banff. Keen to take a dance with her downstairs but by now I decided it was time to get out of this house before it collapsed... It was amazing to see how many people were standing on the steps inside & it hadn't fallen through yet, glad to have fresh air though & the world didn't end? Hooray!

For Christmas we booked into Moguls (Next door to the hostel) for Christmas Eve to Boxing day. Had our not so dreamy White Christmas, but definitely spent with friends. I was sick again, with the flu that had been going around the hostel the past week. We went for our morning board, first lift but as was everyone else. Went for a few hours in the fog but realised we were going to be happier going in for a few drinks, food & relaxing. Cleaned ourselves up & took our pork, chicken & veg to friend/couple #3's apartment to roast & start drinking. Playing UNO & making bets to start the day off we started smoking the tiny place out. Grabbing our cooked food & togs decided to take it back to our hotel room and nest in a more comfortable sized place for the night, more drinks, good company & few Skype sessions to the family. It turns out you miss your family more when they're meant to be with you. I found myself pretty upset & feeling even worse by about 9 o'clock. Feeling sick didn't help but the nice cards my parents had put in the suitcase for Christmas day had really hit home & made me just want their company and hugs. I was glad to have spent it where I was having fun though & with my partner & some new great friends. Was something that wouldn't happen again, so I am thankful for that, I'm having a memorable Christmas, but one of those smiles & home cooked meals from those back home would have been just as good.

Feeling better but still with a sore throat I landed myself a second part time job within the retail side, still organised my 2 days off with the boys & working 5 days a week, it was exactly what I wanted to do, until I realised the shop is the quietest place around town, barely anything gets moved due to people not really coming in so I sit & wait, mainly wait for people to come in lost looking for another shop. I'm a director more than I am a checkout clerk... Easiest job I've ever done, but I don't think it'll last with me. I think I'd rather be on my hands and knees scrubbing loos listening to my boys talk s***. I need more of a challenge then smiling at tourists... We'll see how the next couple of weeks pan out.

For New Years, We decided we would rather crash on our friend's studio apartment floor then to stay in the hostel one more night. We went to a house party for pre drinks before the fireworks walking down part of the slopes & running into a few people we'd met around town. Watching people get drunk, why doesn't it hit me when I want it to!? We made our way to the fireworks at 11:30 with our booze to only be hassled by the police for having open alcohol in a public place, being made to tip it out though was worth it though as the fireworks lasted for a good 10-15 minutes and were amazing! By the end though, time to go back to the apartment as it was freezing! We had not felt that cold besides coming home from the club in Banff.

Woke up about 6am to the groomer outside the apartment in the village centre to realise the sun coming up behind the clock looked amazing, it was like a fairy tale & I didn't want to go back to sleep. Noticed my partner was awake to, was a nice moment to share, but after a while it was time to go back to sleep before the light really woke us up. After a surprisingly comfortable warm sleep on the apartment floor we all felt pretty good, decided it was time for the first 2013 board! It was foggy mid way up the mountain, then you come to this clear patch where you can see to the edge of the world, actually see the horizon... we are above the clouds, can see the mountain tops, & were on top of the world again!!! Another reminder as to how incredible this next year was going to be.

No luck yet though this year, we moved into our house on the 1st with our car full & the 3 of us pumped to finally move in, walked through the door to realised the maintenance company didn't get to the house yet, it was filthy. Dishes everywhere, food & crumbs through the fridge & cupboard, vomit in the bathroom sink & beds unmade. Let alone what we couldn't see. Had to make a nasty phone call to get our place cleaned up as quickly as possible, even after they had tidied it all & we got in a few hours later then expected I was still needing to clean the bathroom & kitchen. It was a major disappointment but were in, & we can sleep in our own rooms without hassles of the hostel life.

Beside my confidence in boarding slowly getting better & the snow is finally falling more since yesterday, my immune system is failing me. Its nearly 2 weeks since I got the flu from the hostel & still have a sore throat & now the past 4 days I have been put on this liquid diet prescribed by the $90 doctor in Kelowna, the stomach bug that's been going round got me somehow, but I finally ate some red meat last night & chocolate today & I can't wait to eat more. The carnivore in me is back & I can introduce more solids, so glad as the soups were staring to be a hated thing.

I'm a lot more settled now were finally in this house; I missed having the cupboard & fridge full of food (instead of eating out of bags, boxes, the car & the esky). I missed having our own room & a bathroom we didn't have to get changed in the shower. The joys of a home & personal space, won't last long, but I'm making the most of it while were here. Our aim for the next 2 months is to work as hard as we can, save as much money as possible as we're already down to minimum & just be happy so when we go on our road trip through to American we can enjoy it a little more.

This lifestyle is incredible, I haven't felt this happy for a while, I'm with my partner, I'm making friends my own way, there are no stresses & hatred of a typical 9-5 working life, same thing every weekend, everyone is here to ski & board & make new friends, work comes second. Everyone is on holiday, Why can't we all be on holiday forever...?

One day reality will kick in & we'll have to go home because we're out of time or money, & I won't like it. Home is where the heart is, & where loved ones are. I have my man with me & my family are in my hearts, I don't want to go back to the place where drama is, where there is history & stress, I was miserable before I left.

Freedom is to be who you want, I'm here & I'm free & I'm me again... I don't ever want that to stop, I just hope that by the time I'm made to go back that I'll be stronger then before, stronger then now, & remain true to myself & not let the stress get to me. This trip is definitely a life changing experience, & a great life it is..