Twelve ‘S’s’ of Christmas

Slovenia (1)

Kate, Rob, Sal, Tim, Mel, Kel, Kaz and Josh met Weisie and me at Stansted, where we were doing some last minute shopping. The ten of us then hoicked it over to Slovenia, picked up hire cars and drove to Lake Bled. Josh, fearsome in control of any vehicle (car, bicycle, shopping trolley, etc), revealed his secretly cautious side by conveying the car we were in (Car 1) safely to our accommodation. We remained in contact with Kel's car (Car 2) via little walkie-talkies. Over.

Stinky pizza (2)

After inspecting the flats, we discovered a single small oven between us. Unbothered, we set off in search of a warm meal, settling for a toasty pizzeria with views across the lake of luminous Bled castle.




Following a round of beers, we ate something best described as garlic cheese with a bread-like base. We then hit the hottest pub in Bled, Bled Pub, and struggled to make friends as we drank, danced and disgorged noxious vapours.

Spar supermarket (3)

The following morning (Christmas Eve), we piled into cars, bleary-eyed, and made for the nearby Spar, which we noticed driving from Ljubljana Aerodrome probably because they were about the same size. Karen co-ordinated the hour-long shopping session, during which I fought (but lost) to keep my "Chocolate Super Dickmans" in the trolley. We made for the checkout and paid relatively little for a truckload of booze, a couple of chooks, half a pig and all the trappings necessary for a Christmas feast.




Strolling (4)

Our pre-dinner amble around the lake took longer than expected - it was difficult to resist all the photo opportunities. From foreground to backdrop, it was postcard perfect: still blue water, charming island, evergreen pines and spectacular white-dusted mountains...




Sing-along (5)

Appetites well earned, we prepared dinner and a sizable batch of eggnog in the tiny kitchens. The meal began with the pulling of Sal’s home-made crackers (thanks to her friends at Morgan Stanley) and was finished with countless bottles of wine. When we were sufficiently in(to) the spirit(s), Rob, begloved and glamorous, delivered the Queen's speech followed by Weisie's favourite 12th Man moments.




As happens with gathered progeny of the 70's, we spent the night singing our favourite pop tunes to condiments and common kitchen utensils (video to follow). The kids will be so proud.

Santa Clausette (6)

After dinner, Santa made a surprise visit but she forgot her sack so decided to stay and party. I feel sorry for all the Good Children of 2005 who found empty vodka bottles in their stockings the next day!




Serenity (how is it?) (7)

In the wee hours of Christmas morning, Tim and I trudged into town to call loved ones back home. Thick snow lay all about (neat and crisp and even). We made the calls in our soberest voices from phone booths with commanding views of the moonlit Alps. It was both moving and magical.

Swimming Santa (8)

Late on Christmas morning, when the haze began to lift, we mustered for Kris Kringle. Apart from Mel and Weisie having to be helped out of bed (well done ladies) the day was off to a fine but chilly start.

After noon, we had a drink by the lake then watched some ice hockey, biding our time until nightfall and the start of local festivities. Standing amidst the crowd in the snow was almost unbearable in spite of the atmosphere and the flaming radiance of 44 gallon drums. The story of a sunken bell, later retrieved and good for a few wishes, and something about a fair maiden was boomed out in many languages, one of which may have been English.

The festivities ended when Santa, inebriated and wearing a wetsuit, made a slurred but well-received speech before he plunged into Lake Bled followed by a hundred young men (equally inebriated) who circled around in the icy water, flaming torches held high looking for him (pictured below).




To complete our unusual Christmas Day, we dined in an eclectic little restaurant. Perfect.

Skiing (9)

It snowed over night (an understatement). I have never seen such enormous flakes! We spent the day at Kranjska Gora, which had some good slopes for all grades. Some of us had to buy half our gear (“what, no rentals?!”) but even with the added cost the day was quite reasonable. We all had fun, even Sal (don’t deny it) apart from my numerous NDEs on the championship slalom run, thoughtfully captured by Tim on his new camera.




That evening, we ate at a great little seafood restaurant under Bled Pub. The service and food were outstanding and topped off an already excellent day. Weisie and I flaked but others kicked on, notably Kate & Kel who did not make it home until around 5 am.

Slippery Stairs (10)




On our final day, most of us took a boat out to the Church of Assumption perched on Lake Bled’s lone island. The stairs leading up to the church were covered by thick pads of snow. Nevertheless, I carried Weisie up the 99 stairs as my father had done with Jacqui a few months before. We all took turns ringing the church’s famous bell. Once outside again, a snowball fight broke out, which ended in tears (of laughter) when some git nudged a snow laden tree that Josh was standing under. Sorry mate!




Steam Jet - get it? (11)

Kel, Kate, Sal and Rob planned to stay on a few days, so we bade our farewells and drove back to the Aerodrome. We were pushed for time due to a pomme frites pit stop, but need not have been since we ended up spending a couple of hours on the tarmac.




So much snow was falling that the ground crew could not clear the runway fast enough. Our aeroplane required two de-icing sessions (steam and chemical sprays) to “decontaminate” the wings - get it now? I suspect we were all secretly hoping to be grounded but eventually we took off and made our way back to Drizzle Island.

Stupid Stansted (12)

Flight delays, in-flight food shortages and a cancelled Stansted Express nearly put a dampener on the end of the trip, but we had had such a fantastic time in Slovenia that these things were quickly forgotten.




Thanks to all our friends for making it a wonderful home-away-from-home Christmas!