Scottish Skier

This feels a little pointless but I really want people to know how shocking BT’s customer service is.
I currently have a problem accessing the internet from my laptop, so I phoned BT asking for help, after explaining for the 100th time to the foreign call operator that my computer could not acquire an IP, I was told that it was a fault with the line which would be fixed within 24hrs. I was also told I needed a new hub which I questioned and was guaranteed I would have Internet access in 24hrs.
So I waited 25hrs reset my hub and tried again, funny same problem. Phone BT and said what’s going on, you have a faulty hub, “but I had been guaranteed internet in 24hrs”, there solution we will send you another new hub, I requested next day delivery for inconvenience, “BT cannot provide next day delivery”.
New hub arrives, again still no Internet. So after 2 months I still cannot access the Internet on my laptop.

It gets better, I have now decided to rent out my flat so I better cancel the phone and Broadband service, ok say BT but that will be nearly £70, for a service I have had for over 7yrs. Let me think about it I reply, decide the next day I’m not going to argue, OK il pay the £70, guess what its not £70 any more its now 70 plus an extra 40, your kidding right, £110 to cancel my phone line. Which they will then charge the person who rents my flat to start it back up again. What a scam.

They then have the bloody cheek to phone me the next week and ask if id like to add BT Vision to my package. WTF!

I know the title says pipe band comps but we weren’t intrested in the pipe bands, sandra and I took the girls for the highland dancing. They we both competing Abbie in intermediate and Chloe in premier. We arrived very early to get settled and set up, it also allowed for some sun bathing while wait as it must of been the hottest day so far this year.
They both did 4 highlands along with horn pipe (the one of the pics is of Abbie in her horn pipe outfit), so it was a short but very enjoyable day. They both danced very well and I was very impressed with them both. The other pics are off Chloe and Abbie during the dances.
We all enjoyed the Dumbarton pipe band comp but there was one huge downer on the day thoughout the whole time there the amusment rides that were also in the ground didn’t every shut up, they must of been at full volume, with a constant thud thud thud, it sounded like a vauxhall nova driving thought Maryhill, with only one song. Just a suggestion for the organsiers “I think you should maybe volume or number or rides”. But again I will say the day was very well organised and I will be going back again.

Just having a wee play trying to see if I can upload images straight from my phone, let me know if they appear. Thanks

Have just finished dinner in Windyhill, it was delicious. I have the porks belly with BP balls to start and the sole goijons with handcut chips and the assortd fruit sorbets to finish sandras only diffrence was she had the haggis to start. Was brilliant everyone must try it at some point.

The Salomon GC, I just had to write about it as it is my favourite ski. It has great responsiveness and is still forgiving on that odd ocassion when something goes wrong. I have taken it on and off piste and it’s been great in both, if it has any draw backs it is a little stiff as it’s a race ski but not the best in tight situations (bumps, trees) but it can still manage them fine. I have used it to teach and it’s very good as it has a reasonable waist to it and can pivot really well. I ski on the 08/09 version but I have also skied the 07/08 model the are very similar my guess is the only change they made was the top sheet. Would recommend this ski to anyone. If you want an on piste ski that can still go everywhere it’s perfect 5 out of 5.

I thought I better put a little word out about this, as I will probably be doing most of my blogs this way. I have just managed to get my Wordpress App working on my Iphone with a little help from Glen again, go G. Iv just posted my dinning out blog using it, love the fact I can upload my thoughts and photos without having to be near a computer. If your a blogger and have an Iphone this is posibly one of the best apps you could get. Give it a go. If anyone out there know of any other great hidden apps drop me a wee mail. Thanks Gordon

Out for dinner at the River Inn, which is located in houston. Sandra and I are enjoying the Sunday Carvery. We both had only two courses, the starters were perfect and of a good size, sandra had the prawn cocktail and I had the chicken fillets with Garlic Mayo. The carvery had a brilliant selection of mains, we both had the roast beef with all the triming I could fit on my plate. It was delicious we never got to desert but they all looked amazing. Well worth the price £13.95 or £15.95 for three courses definatly worth a visit on Sunday. Will report back on the rest at some point.

Thanks Glen,
This is just a little thank you to Glen for helping to get my blog working again, I can now upload images which everyone should now be able to view. Thats the first 10 or so images online, hopefully many more to come in the next few weeks.
Thanks again Glen

This is a question I get asked a lot, some times it also comes with when should my child learn to ski?

Well I will answer one at a time, when should an adult learn to ski? Simple answer NOW! If you want to learn to ski then go for it nothing should hold you back. If you want a more detailed answer, I’d say in a month. Get to the gym, go cycling, walking, get your self prepared. Everyone thinks its easy no effort, that’s right once you can control your speed and and turns, but to start with it can be a bit of a work out, so I would recommend getting into shape first. Two things to work on leg endurance and balance (I will do another page on ski fitness but that’s not what I’m talking about right now). Once you feel your ready go for it, take some lessons and have some fun.

Now children, this is a difficult one. The younger you get them on skis the better but on the other hand if there too young and there brains and muscles haven’t developed yet they will struggle with the movements required to ski and stay in balance while skiing. If your serious about getting them skiing then I’d say once they can walk get them on skis, but it has to be a private lesson or you can teach them yourself if its on a nursery slope abroad. If you can wait till they are around 6 years then you could possibly think about group lessons but they do get distracted very easily, so I would recommend private lessons until they are about 8 years old and they have most of the required muscles developed. This is my point of view as an Instructor, others may say different but it is extremely hard to get a 3year old to snowplough in a couple of hours with out the help on an”edgy-wedgy”. So to make it simple I’d say wait till there are at-least 6years old.

I hope this helps, please leave your views if you think differently.

I want to keep a record of what im doing but along with that I really want to help everyone who wants to ski. So hopefully I will get weekly tips going on my site helping people to improve there skiing. So if you have any questions just ask I will try to answer as quickly as possible.

Once I get used to how this thing works and I understand everything I will try and get some videos and pics explaining technique.

Come the start of the next season I will be looking to put up some ski/boot/equipment reviews and if your lucky I will explain the diffrences in skis,boots etc…