Valentines Day 1978, Switzerland

Destination Ski Resort

It was almost 8.00pm when they finally arrived at the ski complex.

Navigating the twists and turns of the steep incline and narrow roads had been Joe's job but Jill was responsible for giving directions and deciphering the myriad of road signs. Sitting attentively in the front seat she had tackled her job with a ferocity that Joe found to be absolutely adorable.

For her part being enclosed in the car together was a whole lot of fun, reminding her of long evenings watching a drive in, cuddling under a blanket in the front seat, hands wandering, lips meeting lips ...

She felt Joe's thigh muscles bunch under her hand as he prepared to change gears. They should buy a manual at home, she decided, running her palm along his thigh, the better to feel him flex.

Once he had negotiated another tricky turn and geared back up a little he took a chance to peek at her.

Grinning as she cheekily scratched her fingers against his jeans, they both had that curious mix of not really wanting the car ride to end but also longing to arrive, to find the accommodation, to see it and experience it and settle in.

'There it is!' Jill exclaimed, peering through the darkness at the sign that loomed up ahead. 'Champery Ski Resort, turn left in 500 meters', she read aloud. Joe smiled at the eagerness in her voice as he flicked the indicator and turned left.

Driving up the roadway he could see light streaming from the chalet windows that flanked the drive. The timber buildings were solid, dark, tall, they seemed to loom over the roadway.

'They must be the hostels', Jill said, looking at the signs posted outside. She looked back down to her lap.

'According to the map we need to keep going straight on for the reception. The hotel is there, with the bars, restaurants and the other amenities and we get the keys for the chalets there too. It says that guests can then park or drive onwards to the appointed cabin depending on their booking preference. What did we book, Joe?' she asked.

'Ah, it's a self-contained chalet anyway, I think it's called Mountain Lodge or something, I'm not sure, honey, It's on the booking form though', he replied as he slowed to let two people cross the road. They were carrying luggage so he guessed they must be pretty close to the reception.

He smiled at the sound of Jill rummaging through the pages of the booking confirmation he'd printed last night. 'Ummm, ok, I have it. Lemme see', she murmured, searching for their cabin name on the map. Ok, got it, we're in a little cul-de-sac of six others', she said aloud. 'We'll be able to leave reception and drive a little bit then park near the chalet. Ohh, I can't wait to see it', she exclaimed, peering through the windscreen again.

'What are those?' Joe asked her, pointing quickly through the side window towards a collection of huge elegant buildings set a little apart from all the rest of the complex. He figured they must be up the mountain slope a little, judging by the way they dominated everything else around them.

They were constructed of lighter coloured wood than the hostels they'd passed making them more elegant, lighter somehow, as if they were floating on the snow rather than grounded in it.

They also had huge windows. He'd bet the view was stunning. Quickly checking the roadways and flicking his eyes back for a moment he reckoned they were aligned towards the valley, not the mountain. 'We seem to be looking at the back of those, no?' he wondered, following the signs for reception as Jill consulted the map of the complex again.

She flicked through the brochure, turned back to the first page, set one slender finger on the map and then doubled the page over to check again. Beside her Joe watched out of the corner of his eye, he thought his heart would burst with contentment as he watched her familiar antics.