A first trip around the world, part 13

JP and I were still in the Canary Islands enjoying the last rays of the hot summer sun before heading south into the southern winter, towards South Africa. 

Meanwhile, Gerard was already working and it had been a baptism by fire for him, since he began teaching on Queen’s Birthday long weekend, a celebration of the English monarch in some Commonwealth countries; he had just given his first southern skiing lessons to a group of young beginners, all students in Melbourne. 

Said Gérard: “They had uncommon learning abilities. After only two days, Bourke Street, the only ski-run open in this early winter season, no longer caused any angst for them! ". 

The fatigue of the trip and the jet lag were already long gone and Alexis and Gérard were now setting up the ski school meeting place signs and organizing the ski school. 

The beautiful weather they enjoyed when they arrived had given way to snowfalls and very humid weather conditions, a kind of frozen mix, that percolated from clothes to bones in a matter of seconds! This rather rare phenomenon in the Alps made it common to wear slicks or garbage bags while skiing in Australia… 

These weird weather conditions had forced Gérard to think about what would happen when the instructor team would be fully staffed; the 45 square foot boot and uniform drying closet was heated by a tiny space heater placed on the floor, which was as inefficient as it was dangerous.

Gérard had asked Alexis to talk to John Hilton-Wood about it, suggesting that he was willing, if okay, to improve that room by installing some electric heaters against the wall, to mitigate the risk of fire from falling objects. It was also a good way for Gérard to proceed with his second, covert objective, to bring the power into the 3 instructor rooms that relied on kerosene lamps for lighting ... 

When he heard about the request, John agreed to it, on the condition, that the work be supervised by his right-hand man. It was this guy who brought back the supplies from Mansfield, a town of 4000, located 60 km, down valley from Mt. Buller. 

After successfully fixing the drying room, Gérard had earned the owner’s confidence and got the green light to continue bringing the power to the bedrooms, should we say, dormitories? 

Thanks to Gérard's hidden electrical skills, we all would benefit from greater comfort and of a modicum of safety in the quarters we’d commonly share through the end of September.