KEITH T. DENNETT | REAL LIFE | CONTACT
In tragic news for one of Betoota’s high tax bracket battlers, a yearly trip to the Australian snowfields has been called off.
The Advocate understands Martin Smiggens-Smith, an investment banker from Betoota Grove, has had to break the news to his three private school educated children this morning, who were devastated to learn they won’t be heading to Thredbo this coming school holidays.
The news comes as Martin, who takes home a cool $350,000 a year, battles with the skyrocketing cost of living and the insane prices Australian ski resorts are trying to charge to tumble down a small hill with a thin frost.
“I’m sorry kids, but I just can’t afford it” Martin told his family this morning, over a cafe breakfast at The Boathouse on Betoota Lake.
“The lift passes are $220 a day and Qantas want to charge us $300 each just to add ski gear as additional baggage. I know we got our boots custom fitted in Niseko last Christmas, but I won’t have you lining up to hire boots like some kind of beginner peasant!”
Despite having hookups to stay at his brother-in-law’s ski lodge, Martin says blowing $25,000 on an Australian alpine adventure just can’t happen this season.
But in a light sweetener, Martin has reportedly delivered the grim news with a promise that instead the kids will be off to Timezone today, and will get $50 worth of tokens each to blow on the basketball machine.
“I’m sorry guys, I promise I’ll make this up to you!” Martin pleaded to his kids.
“And if I get a bonus next quarter, I promise we’ll be off to Cortina d’Ampezzo for Christmas. You loved it there last year.”
