For the past couple of years, I have been going to Murren, a small ski resort, in the Jungfrau region of Switzerland, at the kind invitation of a friend. Every year, it was over the New Year period. 

Each time, strangely, I never had enough time to enjoy the resort properly. Everything seemed to go by in a flash.

This piece is about the resort’s tradition of building an ice bar and how I learnt a very important lesson in life. 

By way of background, it is customary for guests to arrive on time to help the host to build the ice bar. Arriving late is frowned upon and met with the severest punishment. And, so, in one of my visits, I arrived late.