My weekend with the guys has been cancelled

I’ve been bummed out for the past few days because my annual ski trip to Fiddler Lake Resort was cancelled by the resort.

Fiddler Lake Resort is my favourite ‘local’ winter destination for ski trips. I’ve visited the resort several times over the past five years with families (including at times, 9 kids) and friends and I’ve never had an unpleasant experience.

I enjoy going so much that I take on full responsibility – I’m the guy who coordinates it all. And I absolutely love it. I’m so serious about this activity that I actually use MS Project in my preparation! My friends make fun of me for that, but that doesn’t bother me at all.

This visit was with the guys – twelve of us.

It was going to be a weekend of partying with good friends, playing poker and spoons, washers, skiing, snow tubing, alpine coaster riding, and pillow fights in lingerie.

Wait. The lingerie pillow fights is what I imagine happens at a women’s three night getaway.

The planning and coordination of twelve guys took months and in an instance it was gone.

Stop being mopey! What happened?

I received a call from the resort on Wednesday informing me that the owner of the chalet we had rented was no longer available. The owner had decided he no longer wanted Fiddler Lake Management managing his property and requested all contracts be voided.

The chalet was booked solid until the end of March.

I expressed my disappointment with the manager and he empathized with me. I also realized that I needed to think about this before losing my cool. I was that angry and upset.

I found it extremely difficult being Daddy to my kids that evening when my thoughts were so pre-occupied with what had occurred. What was really going on, I wondered? Was the resort intentionally bumping me for someone else? I couldn’t get my mind off of it.

I quickly posted to social media outlets like FB and Twitter- asking if anyone else had been cancelled.

If this had been any other resort I would have posted a scathing review on Trip Advisor and vowed never to return.

But I didn’t want to do that because it’s my favourite Laurentians destination!

The next morning I checked the website and discovered that the chalet was no longer being offered. That quashed any thoughts I had of my weekend being sabotaged.

And later that afternoon I spoke to the Manager and asked him to allow me to vent my disappointment.

I requested that customers be given sufficient notification for cancellations and be made a priority for discussion for the Owners who rent the chalets.

I explained to him the loyalty I’ve had to the resort and informed him of my support through my website and numerous posts and its inclusion in my blog roll.

I informed him of my support through Canadian Parents message boards, as a family friendly destination and lastly, I presented to him that I’ve been an exceptional customer: I’ve never received a complaint nor have our visits caused any damage to the chalets.

and that’s impressive with the guys!

I was satisfied with the response I received from the Manager and we’re still working out a possible solution. But at the end of the day, I’m out of a winter ski trip with the boys.

I was still mopey last night, but was rescued by Colin and Adrian. The two stood before me and begged me to battle them.

I could take out my chalet aggression on them.

“Let’s battle!” I shouted.

Adrian: Who are you going to be, Daddy?

Me: I’m going to be ‘the Amoeba’ and I’m going to tickle you until you cry of laughter! Ha Ha Ha (Evil laugh).

I knew who Adrian was going to be.

Adrian: I’m going to be T-top (triceratops) Fire Lion!

Imagine a triceratops with a mane that blows fire.

Colin said he was going to be the guy that just destroys me.

Our battle began with Adrian blowing ‘fire’ at my chest.

Me: Did you just burn a hole in the Amoeba man’s shirt?

Adrian: Yes!

Me: I was going to wear that to the Amoeba dance! You’re going down T-Top Fire Lion!

Half an hour later we were all red faced and beat.

And I was in a much better mood.

You're going down, Amoeba man!

Kissin the guns that will destroy you!