It’s the 13th February and we are setting off on a new adventure. A 3 day drive to Kandersteg in the Swiss Alps. We are going to be helpers at the International Scout Centre (known as KISC) for Ski week 8. It’s half term back in England so KISC will be full of British Scouts. The workforce is mainly made up of volunteers from all over he world. They are fed and watered plus they have accommodation at the centre. They are all members of the Scouting movement. At KISC they are known as Pinkies as that is the colour of their t-shirts or sweatshirts. Baden-Powell obtained the original Old Chalet in 1923 and had the vision of it being a mini world jamboree all year long. To this day his vision continues to be going strong.

Our first hurdle is actually managing to get out of bed at 8am!! I hear you all saying “Well that’s not hard!” But we have been in Spain a whole month and we have had very lazy mornings. After breakfast the car was packed with final bits and bobs and the apartment left all clean and tidy. We were finally on our way.

Today’s journey was from Villa Martin (Torrevieja) to Salt (Girona). We are happy driving for hours (no caravan on the back too) so with just a toilet stop along the way we drove the 420 miles in 6 and a half hours. As we passed by Pinoso in Spain I sent a text message to our friends, Heather and John, to say we should have popped in for coffee as we were only 15 miles away from them.

We arrived at the B&B hotel in Salt at 4:30pm. Great time to be able to have a chill before going out to eat. We went to a buffet restaurant. It was €16 each for all you can eat but all you could drink too. There was so much choice and chocolate fountains to finish with.

 

 

Thursday 14th February, Valentines Day.

I felt awful as Andy gave me a card and I didn’t have one for him! But I told him how much I love him and I had bought him chocolate.

Today’s journey was from Salt to Chambéry, France. Another easy drive along the toll roads in Spain and France with just a short toilet stop along the way. We drove the 356 miles in 5 and a half  hours and arrived at the Best Western Alexander Park, Chambéry at 3:30pm. This was really good as just across from the hotel was a shopping area. I love browsing around Carrefour supermarkets in France (This is one thing andy doesn’t really understand). As I browse around the food etc Andy looked in the electrical department. In other stores he was more than happy looking at ski equipment.

Back at the hotel we had a gorgeous meal in the restaurant. We both chose the Trout with almonds for main course, Andy followed that with Chocolate mousse and myself with Apple crumble. Add a carafe of white wine and we were both very happy.

The following morning after a lovely breakfast we set off on the final part of our journey to Kandersteg. There were wonderful views all the way with the mountains getting closer and the sunshine shining brightly. We drove the 196 miles in 3 hours and arrived at KISC at 2pm. The good feelings start as soon as we drive into the village and arriving at KISC is like coming home. Oscar greeted us at reception and showed us to our room in the New Chalet. After unloading the car we met with Adriana for a chat about the staff side of the centre, a short tour around staff areas and given our keys (these are the keys to the kingdom). If lost you have to provide cake for all the staff at KISC!! We also had to get ourselves our green helper t-shirts to wear when working at KISC. We finished unpacking and tea was served at 6pm. We had a quiet evening and set our alarm for 7am! I can’t remember the last time we were up so early! 

Saturday 16th February – We were up and ready for breakfast with no problem at all. Then it was up to the staff morning briefing & thought of the day at 8am. The thoughts were facts about laughter.

Our morning was spent first of all with Lisa who gave us another tour as we also had Miguel with us. He is new to KISC and a 19 year old Scouter from Portugal. Our tour ended in the dining room for coffee. We were introduced to Hulda from the catering team who, after coffee went through the training needed to work in the catering team at KISC. She also told us if we were in doubt just ask! I will definitely be doing that all week.

After lunch we had our training for working in the housekeeping team and this was led by Hedvig mio. So it was “Pink for sink & Blue for loo & Green for clean” never will I forget. 

 

 

Overall it was an interesting day and we were ready for our first shifts the following day.

Sunday morning and the alarm went off at 6am ready for my 6:30am start in catering. As you can imagine I left Andy snug in bed as he was on a half day in housekeeping so starting work time was at the 8am thought of the day. I really enjoyed my day in the kitchen. I became friends with the lovely dishwasher and the bread slicer. I cooked, cleaned and prepared. All this with wonderful views out of the windows, dog sleds racing past and happy co-workers in the kitchen.

 

 

Andy was finished by lunch and had an afternoon on the mountain skiing. Once I had finished I took a walk through the village and met him at the gondola station along with a group of Scouts he had been helping with on the slopes. It was a tight squeeze on the bus back to the centre but we managed.
We suddenly had many new friends from all over the world. They had all volunteered to spend some time working at KISC. We are old enough to be their parents (some even their Grandparents!) One new little friend was Lewis, he was nearly seven and staying at KISC with his Mum Kate and Dad Matt. Oh and don’t forget Mia his younger sister. We had met Kate and Matt years before as they had been Pinkies at the centre.

From my first meeting with Lewis and rescuing his dinner for him it was obvious we had a lovely chatty character to keep us on our toes all week.

 

 

Most of my days were in the catering team and I was very happy with that. It must have been Vincent’s music that made it so much fun  Everyone was helpful and I was always asking questions during the first few days but Hulda, Aiden and Arianda just kept smiling.

A couple of days I was in Housekeeping and again I was good at asking questions. There was so much washing and lots of folding. Showers and toilets to clean. Rooms to tidy and sweep. Once again there was music to enjoy.

 

 

Andy’s work pattern was a little different and he spent more time in housekeeping than in catering. He also had an evening activity (Winter Olympics) to help with and this was so much fun. It was held over on the campsites sports field. Teams of Scouts had different types of relay races to compete in. The snow was deep and this only added to the fun.

 

 

Just as you walk out of the centre, through the tunnel to your left you come to the Hotel Crystal and it’s owner Doris has been a longstanding part of any visit to KISC we have ever made. Tuesday was her birthday and we spent the evening drinking beer and eating whatever she put on the table. Chatting with friends old and new.

 

 

Wednesday evening we helped on the “Light Trail” activity that was held around the campsite. Following the light trail while carrying lit torches to bases around the site and finishing with twists and hot chocolate by a fire in front of the Old Chalet. The groups enjoyed this activity.The centre was full to the brim of Scouts and Guides (plus a little Beaver named Lewis)All enjoying their winter activities. Each day there were groups going skiing, snowboarding, sledding, snowshoeing or igloo building. They may even just have been exploring the village with a spot of shopping for presents. Injuries happened here and there but smiles were on their faces each and every day.

Little Lewis was our lookout in the dining room each day. If there was a problem with the coffee machine he would be sure to let us know. He was invited to have a look around the kitchen and the tour began with both him and Mia having aprons on. He had seen Andy through the hatch spraying things before putting them in the dishwasher. He was really looking forward to having a go himself. Watch out Andy!!

They really enjoyed the visit and yes Andy ended up very wet!!

 

 

Friday evening was time for the ski weeks campfire. The campfire circle is over on the campsite so everyone wrapped up and made their way over. With some covers on the seating areas over the snow everyone got settled and so the fire began. Pinkies, Helpers, Scouts and Guides all performed songs and skits to make it a special night to remember.

 

 

Saturday morning was our last half day on housekeeping and it was so busy as everyone was checking out of their rooms. There was piles of bedding to be washed, dried and folded. Showers and toilets to be cleaned, rooms to be checked as they became empty and Scouts were just everywhere.

So the time for being Helpers at KISC had finished and we had a few days to enjoy the snow on the mountain. We spent a couple of days with two of our new friends, one from Egypt and the other Portugal. This visit to KISC was their first experience on skis and they were making the most of it. Andy guided them and gave them a little help on those all important turns. I just did my own thing, taking it steady and just enjoying being there. Visits to the lake are always amazing. The sun was shining every day.

 

 

On Sunday evening we had another visit to Doris at Hotel Crystal. Helpers and Pinkies enjoying a meal together. Soup followed by Schnitzel and fries plus lots of extras. When you think you have finished more appears, Doris sure likes to feed people! So with a few beers too it was a great evening with friends.

It was soon time to leave this wonderful place. We always know we will be back so it’s not such a hard thing to do. It will soon be June.

 

Thank you to Felipe for allowing us to be Helpers and for trusting us to take on the role and keep the spirit of KISC going strong. Thank you to all the Management Team, Pinkies and Helpers that we met and worked with all week, for being kind, friendly and most of all patient with us. Two retired 60 year olds must have been a shock to them.

Now it’s time for our journey back to Spain and then on to Portugal.

It doesn’t matter where you are going, it’s who you have beside you.

Take care, Carol and Andy x