The annual Perisher snow trip was underway when the sun dawned bright, the night sinking below the horizon. The usual six-hour drive began with must-have coffee stops along the way.

Once we journeyed into the town of Jindabyne, the sky had suddenly coalesced into a soft grey and began to snow with genuine, dainty flakes. We arrived at the Ski hire place just as the first flakes started to gently descend, as if nature was welcoming us in its own soft way.

The Airbnb had a coastal chic charm, warm and inviting, sitting right by the glittering lake.

On the first slopes day, everyone moved about with that eager, early-morning energy. I had decided to try snowboarding for the first time, after watching my friends pick it up so easily, and booking in a proper lesson for once, how hard could it be?

Well firstly it helps if you park at the correct mountain, rather than make your way across, on a snowboard for the first time, to try and make it in time for your lesson. It was brutal; the constant falls, and the excruciating pursuit of trying to ride the T-bar after continuously failing again and again. Everything hurt, and I was panting with exertion and frustration, leading to bursting into tears and hyperventilating…I was having a full-on panic attack. I was so embarrassed, but I could not stop crying, my adrenaline pumping the blood to my arteries and leaving my limbs numb and tingling. Thankfully my wonderful friends helped calm me back down and breathing normally. I’ve endured many panic attacks but one on top of a mountain was a new one.

Finally, I slid gracelessly down the slope, finding comfort in a hot cup of tea and a chair inside a café, exhaustion sapped from my bones and my dignity wounded. It was one beast of a day.

The remainder of the trip transpired in all the comforting ways a snow holiday should entail. I learned how to make a fire (which I was extremely proud of), we indulged in absurd amounts of hot chocolate, nights occupied with card games, and the sound of constant laughter ringing through place. To add one more bizarre incident to the trip, there was a lettuce-head eating competition, a messy, hilarious and chaotic memory I’ll never forget.

Once the week had ended, our snow adventure was finished, leaving us with aching muscles and fun memories. And maybe next time, I’ll try a snowboarding lesson…but make sure I’m in the right spot first.