The Christmas jumper for you?

It's nearly Christmas!!

It is not. This is a lie. I felt annoyed as I browsed in Boots at the weekend with Christmas songs humming out around me. Despite the fact that it is not nearly Christmas (maybe not even nearly nearly Christmas) I have started to consider my Christmas jumper options. I've never had one that I can remember but this year is going to be the year. 

I have found a range of jumper options to suit people with different viewpoints on the Christmas jumper concept. Enjoy!

1. The "I want one but I don't want it to be too obvious, I take myself seriously" option:

Dorothy Perkins

NEXT

2. The "I want it to be clearly Christmassy but not too bold" option:

Dorothy Perkins

NEXT

3. The "Can you get them with tinsel and baubles hanging off?" option:

New Look

New Look

Where are the battery powered flashing lights?

Most stores place these types of jumper among their online 'Knitwear' section. New Look has a separate 'Christmas Jumpers' section.

4. The "Cute but not really Christmassy" option:

Dorothy Perkins

Dorothy Perkins

Why are polar bears associated with Christmas? I thought they lived in the Arctic all year round? Do they only come out to play when they hear jingle bells? Either way, this last option is adorable. I think I'll go for that one and and option 3.

My Summer A-Z(ish)

What can I say? Ended up pushing the boat out and spoiling myself with two summer holidays. A week in the French Alps and two weeks around Croatia. 
Here's the A-Z as it really happened.

Abseiling - Quite unexpectedly, this did actually happen. Backwards I went over a waterfall in a gorge near Chamonix. I was wearing a rather fetching wet suit (what a shame there is not much photo evidence) and putting my life in the name of a man I'd just met named Jan. He lent me his gloves because I dropped mine and this has greatly challenged my stereotype of the Frenchmen.

Biking - Yes indeed. Twice in fact. First time there were even hills involved on which I mainly got off and pushed. Second time in Croatia was flat but HOT! 

Not prepared to show close ups of this French sweat fest.

Enjoying the InterSport helmet in Croatia

Canyoning - Really so much fun. Certainly took me out of my comfort zone seeing as I usually have to hold my nose to jump into a swimming pool. I want to do this again one day.

Looking good!

Downhill roller coaster - Yes! Video evidence below

Eating crepes - This should be replaced with general EATING! There was a lot. Including this rather wonderful crepe in Hvar Town.

Free fall - I'm afraid not. But there were lots of Ferries instead! Made the near fatal mistake of sitting too close to the kids play area on one of them. Effective contraception.

Hmmm already used up Gorge walking as Canyoning. Going to replace it with Gazing instead. One of the coolest nights in Chamonix involved watching the sun set on Mont Blanc and then lying back and watching the stars appear and gazing for a few hours. Wine included.

James has camera tekkers!

Horse riding did not happen. Will replace it with Hog Roast. Had a yummy one at a fab wedding back in Berkshire in-between trips

Ice climbing....no. Got quite close to some ice though...

Mer de Glace

Lots of Ice Creams were also eaten.

Jugs of beer....pretty much done.

Kayaking - plenty of this on the stunning Adriatic Sea.

Cove near Zaton Bay, Croatia

Looking - I do like to just sit and watch. Sophie and I spent a fair while, on various days, sat on this wall in Dubrovnik Old Town watching the tender boats of the wealthy come and go and the tourists pass. 

Musuem - couldn't think of anything for this in previous post...but we popped along to the Museum of Croatian Independence in Dubrovnik. Didn't think it was very good though.

Natural swimming - looooads in Croatia due to temperatures and inviting waters. Very rocky coastline in most places so you often need to be agile in order to get in. Also buy some sexy rubber shoes to avoid sea urchins.

Octopus - don't really want to think about this too much. Rubbery.

Paddle boarding - found this a lot harder than it looks but still lots of fun. It's a real work out for core muscles as well. Looked like an albino foal trying to stand up for the first time as the bronzed Croatians zoomed past me. Oh well. If it gets too bad they are great for sunbathing on.

Queuing -  Boring. The worst queue I faced was for the Aiguille du Midi cable car in Chamonix. Worth it though...

Slopes of Mont Blanc just behind my left shoulder

Rosé drinking -  Yes. And so cheaply too!

Skiing? No. Snorkelling? Yes. Had a go at this in New Zealand but got scared of being eaten by a shark and got out quite quickly. Gave it a decent go this time on the island of Kolocep. No shark bites either. Good times.

Train - probably the only type of public transport I didn't use on my travels. 

UV rays - plenty of these. Good job I'm a sensible/paranoid sunbather. See earlier albino comment.

Views - absolutely smashing, stunning, breath taking and beautiful in both Chamonix and Croatia. Here are my favourites from each place.

Just to clarify - this is me enjoying the view, not saying my favourite view was that of my backside.

Kolocep

White water rafting - lots of fun and very wet! I was the first to fall out of the boat. Doh! Not too scary on grade 2-3 waters either.
Evidence: http://vimeo.com/72916591

X-rated - thought I might have some stories about Sophie and her antics in Croatia. Sadly, she behaved.

Yolo - I've seen a bit more of the world without getting too lost and hope to see more if my bank account can ever recover from this summer. 
A quote I heard this summer and haven't forgotten: 
"It's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years".

Alpine fun continued...

Well here it is at last. I would not want to let anyone down :-) Not all letters guaranteed.

Kayak
Despite holding a BCU 3* certificate I don't think I will be having a go at this. 1) I have a fear of being tipped over and not being able to get out. 2) I actually cheated in my 3* assessment back in the day.

Luge
Truth be told, the Chamonix version doesn't look as good as the downhill roller coaster mentioned in my previous blog. I had a go on one of these in Queenstown, New Zealand. It was fun. Wasn't brave enough to ignore the brakes though!
M - watch this space

Natural swimming
There are a fair number of lakes and rivers to take a refreshing dip in!

O - come back later

Paragliding
Would be breathtaking...

Unfortunately, I think my version of P is more likely to be 'pitching a tent'!

Queuing
But hopefully not too often or for too long.

Rosé drinking

Yes please!

Skiing
A possibility at high altitudes even in the summer months. Probably something I won't partake in due to two of the people I'm going with trying to kill me last I went skiing with them. Long story.

Train
The Glacier Express is an express train connecting railway stations of the two major mountain resorts of St. Moritz and Zermatt in the Swiss Alps. The scenery looks spectacular.

U - unconfrimed

V - to be decided

White water rafting

Something I've always liked the idea of but a fear of drowning puts me off! Hopefully I will be brave enough on this trip.

X - suggestions welcome

Yodelling
Most definitely a possibility! YOLO

Ziplining

Epic! I would do this!

Come back in a month or so to see how many of the A-Z get ticked off on the trip!

Holidays are coming!

Seven and a half weeks until summer holiday time. Hopefully it will fly by. I'm planning a road trip to the Alps with a few chums. Actually, I'm not really planning it, just planning to go on it. So what might we get up to once we get there? Here is the A-J of what might become an A-Z.

Abseiling

www.bmg.org.uk

This is not a photo of me and probably never will be. Well done to someone called Malcolm Roberts for abseiling off the summit of the Salbitschen in central Switzerland. I think I'd be shaking with fear. 

Biking

This will probably be me. Easy riding.

 This might be me if I'm feeling brave. The brake pads will disappear quickly.

 Going uphill? No thanks.

Canoeing
This is an area I have experience in. Qualifications even! You wouldn't think so judging by these photos...

Gold D of E expedition on the Allier in 2004

After a swim. Oops.

Downhill roller coaster
I will be gutted if we don't do this. No braking allowed!

See video here...

Eating crepes

When in France...

This photo was taken in Greece

Free fall

I've done it before 

Lake Taupo, New Zealand

I'd love to do it again here but fear it will be too expensive.

Some other brave soul free falling in the Alps.

Gorge walking

Walking, scrambling, climbing, jumping, abseiling or swimming down a steep sided river valley. According to Wikipedia hazards include high water flow, flash floods, hypothermia and hyperthermia, potholes and very narrow slots.

Horse riding

Another area of experience, no qualifications though. Get on, hold on tight and don't let the animal sense fear (apparently).

Queenstown, 2008.

Ice climbing

If you go high enough I expect this is do-able in the summer. I assume the photo below was taken in the summer. I won't be doing this for a number of reasons. 1. I will feel intimidated if the female guides look like that. 2. My bum will look horrific in the harness. 3. The ice could melt??

Jugs of beer?

All of these high adrenaline activities will require refreshment. Here is a selection of what you find by Googling "beer jugs alps". 

Ok...

Right...

Dear oh dear!

I think I will stop there. Come back for the K-R of Alpine fun soon!