How to leave a ski resort

So, you’ve been skiing for a week. You’ve had a great time with some fantastic snow conditions, and even the sun shone during the day while the snow fell at night. You’ve enjoyed the company of the lovely friends you haven’t seen in ages, and you’ve eaten lots of cheese and spent far too much money on some wild nights out. You just don’t want to leave. Alas, the time has come when the cleaning lady kicks you out of your apartment and you have to go home.

Snowman on a car

When I was a kid, I remember these days well. I remember watching the last bit of snow disappear from view as we wound our way down the mountainous roads of Falls Creek in Australia, often annoyed that the fresh snow was falling on the day that we were leaving, when we had spent all week avoiding rocks and grass on the “amazing 35cm of snow” that the weather reporter had lied to us about. It was never a happy day even if the snow was minimal. I guess that’s how a lot of people, both young and old, feel when their holiday ends.

Snowman on car in La Clusaz

So, what can be done to overcome these feelings? Well, I decided not to leave the resort, but if that’s not an option for you, what about taking the snow away with you? That’s what the people in the photo did the other day. That’s a snowman (a “bonhomme de neige” in French, or “good man of snow”) on top of a car. Judging by the happy smiles of the car’s occupants, the snowman did indeed relieve the departing holiday-makers of that sinking feeling. You have to go back to work? No worries: just build a snowman on your car and watch the frown disappear! You didn’t do your schoolwork while you were on holiday? Not a problem: dump it next to the snowman and get him to do it on the drive home. He’s likely to have lost his head and probably all his body too, but what better excuse is there than: “Sorry miss, but the snowman lost my homework when he fell off our car.” Complete this with some sobs, and the bonhomme de neige has come up trumps again.

As I mentioned, I decided not to leave the resort, so technically, I don’t need a snowman. But maybe a snowman-on-a-car is a solution to every-day situations we don’t want to have to deal with. For example, my car keeps breaking down lately, and I’m now wondering if a snowman on top is actually the way forward. The car won’t accelerate? No problem: I have this great snowman on the roof and he’s way more fun than driving to Annecy to see the accountant. The flywheel has lost its teeth? Hah: the snowman up top there could do with some teeth, and finding something suitable is a treat compared with hitting the supermarket for some fresh fruit and veg. The ignition key hole has seized? Don’t worry: use the key as half a moustache, and the spare as the other half. After all, they’re useless to you right now. So, next time you’re leaving a ski resort, consider the humble snowman as a roof ornament. The car behind might like the surprise when the snowman’s head splats on their windscreen. Who wouldn’t?

About

I'm a technical author, journalist and writer from Australia who has been living in Europe since 2000 and exploring the world from there. My passions are writing, snow sports and travel.

1 Comment on “How to leave a ski resort

  1. Ah, now I know the answer to all of life’s problems! We’ve had snow the past couple of days here, so maybe this is an idea whose time has come! Thanks for the laugh