An Ashley Story as told by his Mother
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I had taken Ashley when he was three years old and his sister Lucinda five years old to St Cergue knowing the place very well. My parents took me and my brother when we were much the same age.
Many years later I had the honour of Representative for the Ski Club of Great Britain. When at St Cergue I started teaching them how to ski, they loved it. The years moved on I decided to take them to a new place and Ashley 5, Lucinda 7. This time I looked every thing up and Neiderau in Austria was my cause, Neideraom was perfect for children good snow and easy runs when my friends started talking about this they started asking me if i could take their children I was the Pied Piper! Our Hotel was very close to the snow and easy runs. Seven children with Ashley being the youngest. After breakfast the children were be checked to see who went with how? They would be skiing till lunch time and also in the afternoon if they wanted. ALL DID. Now here we come to Ashley! I start with he didn’t want get into his proper ski outfit, all the boys wore these. In the end I said you will stay in the room. In the end he put to on. |
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In this delightful place they took all the little ones in. They had their small house, with loos, indoor play area and outside a baby ski lift which pulled them up a small slope (children tire easily if they have to climb up, only to come down again). I got myself ready to have some time skiing, was so looking forward to this, but just before starting I thought I would pop in and see how Ashley was. When I got there those in charge were in all a state, panicking. They had tried to find me but Ashley had gone and was no where in their place or childless and beginners area. Our hotel was very close, so I headed back there as fast as I could, worried to death.
Up to our room, opened the door and there was Ashley, on the bed with the sweet tin that I had for everyone. It was strictly rationed to last our holiday. Everyone had chipped in with “goodies” after tea we would choose what we wanted. There was Ashley gorging himself silly, pleased as punch with himself.
Of course I took the tin away and he had no more sweets for the holiday he had already depleted it badly. I told him that he could stay in while every one skied. This isn’t the end of the story!
I had agreed to take him tobogganing. He started at the top said Ready. GO.
Lying flat on the board he went down like a maniac. His board was going from one side to the other at every turn I was sure he would fall of! Not him!
When we got back to the hotel all the children were there they were telling Ashley that the children he had been with were going to have a skiing race. They went to the top and were to come down one at a time and the farthest over the line would get a prize. Seven children including Ashley got up to the top. The man in charge said One. Two, Three, GO. Ashley the last to go. Sadly three had fallen and the others went slowly NOT Ashley a bit like his tobogganing he took it straight down.
His Prize was a bag of sweets! Which of course all the others had to share it with him.
Up to our room, opened the door and there was Ashley, on the bed with the sweet tin that I had for everyone. It was strictly rationed to last our holiday. Everyone had chipped in with “goodies” after tea we would choose what we wanted. There was Ashley gorging himself silly, pleased as punch with himself.
Of course I took the tin away and he had no more sweets for the holiday he had already depleted it badly. I told him that he could stay in while every one skied. This isn’t the end of the story!
I had agreed to take him tobogganing. He started at the top said Ready. GO.
Lying flat on the board he went down like a maniac. His board was going from one side to the other at every turn I was sure he would fall of! Not him!
When we got back to the hotel all the children were there they were telling Ashley that the children he had been with were going to have a skiing race. They went to the top and were to come down one at a time and the farthest over the line would get a prize. Seven children including Ashley got up to the top. The man in charge said One. Two, Three, GO. Ashley the last to go. Sadly three had fallen and the others went slowly NOT Ashley a bit like his tobogganing he took it straight down.
His Prize was a bag of sweets! Which of course all the others had to share it with him.
