 Poster: A snowHead
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I'm looking for somewhere to go skiing during February half term with husband and kids (husband a good snowboarder and kids are age 10 and 12 and can both can already ski. I can ski but have not done much
and am still gaining my confidence).
I thought we had a healthy budget but I'm realising it won't go as far as expected in the school holidays and my first thought of Austria isn't quite working out as I'm looking for a resort with lifts in the town which doesn't seem too common there (I have some health problems that don't affect skiiing but mean carrying my kit is really difficult, so I need to be able to leave it in a ski locker by the lifts and collect each day. Therefore having to get busses too much would be tricky.
As the kids are a bit young to go in their own room but too big for us all to be crammed in together, I think self catering accommodation would be best but we'd like something spacious and pleasant, not those little Pierre et Vacance shoeboxes. Whilst we don't need apres ski, we do like a resort that is in a real village or town with a bit of charm and atmosphere where we can go out for dinner or a drink at the end of the day. We need equipment hire with lockers to leave our kit near the main lifts. We're happy to walk up to a mile into town to get on the lifts. We need enough slopes to stop the rest of the family getting bored (mix of blue and red is fine) but enough greens/blues for me to have a few progressor lessons.
Ideally no more than 2 hours from an airport you can fly to from Gatwick. Happy to arrange everything independently and hire a car to get from the airport.
I've already asked a few questions but so far have not managed to find what I'm looking for, so apologies to those who've already contributed. Anyway, would welcome some help. Any and all suggestions welcome please. Also, would Chamonix fit the bill for us? Thank you
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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@Flipjango, Zell am See ticks all the boxes
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Flipjango wrote: |
| Also, would Chamonix fit the bill for us? Thank you |
No. You can't really avoid using buses, and the way the runs are distributed over different areas doesn't sound as if it would meet your requirements.
You could think of St Gervais which is basically the next valley round from Chamonix, similarly convenient for transfer from Geneva. Nice town for atmosphere and those restaurants and bars, and a lot of the self-catering apartments are in the vicinity of the ski lifts around 10 mins walk from the main centre. Some pretty mellow blues and greens as well as more challenging runs.
You would have to organise it yourself though - it isn't a place used by tour operators - and I don't know what half term prices will look like.
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Another vote for Saint Gervais & if carrying kit is an issue there are heated lockers in the boot room directly under the gondola that hold 5 sets of skis and boots for hire at 10 euro per day.
Even though I have a place in town centre, I still hire a locker as it’s a nice 10 minute walk via the bakery to the boot room and after a long day skiing, it’s nice to know you don’t have to carry gear home & if you want you can stop off for a beverage on way home in normal shoes.
It’s also got a great mix of green / blue & reds for those not 100% confident
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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[quote="j b"]
| Flipjango wrote: |
You could think of St Gervais which is basically the next valley round from Chamonix, e. |
My only worry is we went to Megeve last February half term and the snow was terrible. Maybe somewhere higher might be better?
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| luigi wrote: |
Ortisei in Val Gardena, Italy?
The flights aren't gonna be cheap to anywhere for HT now, should have booked those months ago!!  |
It's a lovely idea booking a year ahead, but I don't know how people manage be that organised. We had no idea if we'd be able to get time off work to go until now. Plan is to book a weeks accommodation but travel Sunday to Friday to keep costs down, but I've just checked flights to Verona and even that way its twice the cost of Geneva or Salzberg so I think Ortisei won't be on the list unfortunately.
Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Sat 26-10-24 20:05; edited 1 time in total
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| Flipjango wrote: |
| luigi wrote: |
Ortisei in Val Gardena, Italy?
The flights aren't gonna be cheap to anywhere for HT now, should have booked those months ago!! |
Thanks, I'll take a look.
It's a lovely idea booking a year ahead, but I don't know how people manage be that organised. We had no idea if we'd be able to get time off to go until now. We'll probably book a weeks accommodation but travel Sunday to Friday to keep costs down. |
I was going to say if you could do Sunday-Sunday or Friday-Friday, it would help with the flight prices, but maybe the accommodation would be trickier, but you are willing to stay some distance from the lifts, so that would help there 
Sunday to Friday can work too, if 4/5 days skiing would satisfy.
Some of the smaller Italian resorts have a lot of rooms spare Sun-Fri, as a lot of their customers are Italian weekenders who tend to travel up Fri evening, stay Fri & Sat night and home Sun evening. Ortisei is mainly Germans who stay for a week though!
Last edited by After all it is free  on Sat 26-10-24 20:22; edited 2 times in total
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I'm looking on Skyscanner...BA are showing on there LGW-VRN on Fri 14th-21st for £300pp. Easyjet are £330pp. Similar to GVA.
All these will likely be plus baggage.
Car rental will be a fair bit cheaper in Italy than Austria or Switzerland.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| luigi wrote: |
I'm looking on Skyscanner...BA are showing on there LGW-VRN on Fri 14th-21st for £300pp. Easyjet are £330pp. Similar to GVA.
All these will likely be plus baggage.
Car rental will be a fair bit cheaper in Italy than Austria or Switzerland. |
The kids don't break up until the 15th, and the prices shoot up as soon as school holidays start - I was looking at about £800 per person with easyjet and there's 4 of us. We can do geneva or Salzberg for about £300pp.
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| Flipjango wrote: |
| luigi wrote: |
I'm looking on Skyscanner...BA are showing on there LGW-VRN on Fri 14th-21st for £300pp. Easyjet are £330pp. Similar to GVA.
All these will likely be plus baggage.
Car rental will be a fair bit cheaper in Italy than Austria or Switzerland. |
The kids don't break up until the 15th, and the prices shoot up as soon as school holidays start - I was looking at about £800 per person with easyjet and there's 4 of us. We can do geneva or Salzberg for about £300pp. |
Yes, the Saturday flights are well booked up, hence the astronomical prices.
So is them missing the last day of term an option, so you can fly on Friday?
It was no good for us as my wife works at a school and term time absence is a complete no-no.
Last edited by So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much  on Sat 26-10-24 20:30; edited 1 time in total
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You know it makes sense.
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| Flipjango wrote: |
| My only worry is we went to Megeve last February half term and the snow was terrible. |
Fair enough, Megeve and St Gervais share the same ski area. Last year wasn't typical, but obviously no one can make any promises about next year.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| luigi wrote: |
| Flipjango wrote: |
| luigi wrote: |
I'm looking on Skyscanner...BA are showing on there LGW-VRN on Fri 14th-21st for £300pp. Easyjet are £330pp. Similar to GVA.
All these will likely be plus baggage.
Car rental will be a fair bit cheaper in Italy than Austria or Switzerland. |
The kids don't break up until the 15th, and the prices shoot up as soon as school holidays start - I was looking at about £800 per person with easyjet and there's 4 of us. We can do geneva or Salzberg for about £300pp. |
Yes, the Saturday flights are well booked up, hence the astronomical prices.
So is them missing the last day of term an option, so you can fly on Friday?
It was no good for us as my wife works at a school and term time absence is a complete no-no. |
I would prefer not to, but can't see it'd work with the accommodation that way anway - most stuff is available Saturday to Saturday, so flying first thing Sunday morning on the 6am flight and back Friday afternoon means not missing much but saving lots of money. I find it works really well as because you'd paid for Saturday you can check into your apartment by 10am Sunday if it's somewhere close to geneva and still be skiing half of Sunday (whilst you couldn't check in till probably 4pm on Saturday so you'd waste that whole day anyway). We did it last year and it was great.
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Flipjango wrote: |
| luigi wrote: |
| Flipjango wrote: |
| luigi wrote: |
I'm looking on Skyscanner...BA are showing on there LGW-VRN on Fri 14th-21st for £300pp. Easyjet are £330pp. Similar to GVA.
All these will likely be plus baggage.
Car rental will be a fair bit cheaper in Italy than Austria or Switzerland. |
The kids don't break up until the 15th, and the prices shoot up as soon as school holidays start - I was looking at about £800 per person with easyjet and there's 4 of us. We can do geneva or Salzberg for about £300pp. |
Yes, the Saturday flights are well booked up, hence the astronomical prices.
So is them missing the last day of term an option, so you can fly on Friday?
It was no good for us as my wife works at a school and term time absence is a complete no-no. |
I would prefer not to, but can't see it'd work with the accommodation that way anway - most stuff is available Saturday to Saturday, so flying first thing Sunday morning on the 6am flight and back Friday afternoon means not missing much but saving lots of money. I find it works really well as because you'd paid for Saturday you can check into your apartment by 10am Sunday if it's somewhere close to geneva and still be skiing half of Sunday (whilst you couldn't check in till probably 4pm on Saturday so you'd waste that whole day anyway). We did it last year and it was great. |
Good option! I've done Sun-Fri a few times at HT with my son when he was at school and it's worked well. 4 or 5 days skiing usually feels like enough.
Hope you can find somewhere nice to stay! 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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@Flipjango, Have a look at Zauchensee, no buses as all the accommodation is clustered around the bottom of the lifts. Near Salzburg so should be possible with public transport. Downside is that it is not a traditional Austrian village.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@munich_irish, a schlep on public transport but shared transfer is very cheap
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| Flipjango wrote: |
THank you, and thank you for trying to help. I think it'd have to be somewhere easyjet flies to and with several flights a day realistically - Geneva, Salzberg and Milan seem most likely. |
Towns with skiing:
Geneva- St Gervais, Chamonix, Megeve
Salzburg- Zell am See, Kitzbuhel, Schladming, Bad Gastein
Milan- Aosta(Pila), Bormio, St Moritz
Turin- Bardonecchia, Briançon (Serre Chevalier)
Of these, I think it was mentioned already, but Zell am See is worth investigating if you can get flights to Salzburg at a satisfactory price, it has an atmospheric old town by a (sometimes) frozen lake.
If a traditional village resort (not a full-blown town) with atmosphere would also be good, there are quite a number of resorts in Austria that would match.
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@Flipjango, would you consider driving? If you live near Gatwick then it’s about 10-12hrs driving time to French or Swiss resorts (+traffic which you’ll need to get advice on here about avoiding or it will be 18hrs!).
Alternatively, Easter is typically cheaper and less crowded. And an easier drive if that is an option.
Your suggestion of a walk of up to a mile each way is ambitious IMO. It might not sound it now, but even if you’ve left boots and skis in a locker, you’ll still be wearing full ski kit, with gloves, helmet, goggle etc bashing around. It risks putting an element of dread into the end of the ski day.
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| snowdave wrote: |
@Flipjango, would you consider driving? If you live near Gatwick then it’s about 10-12hrs driving time to French or Swiss resorts (+traffic which you’ll need to get advice on here about avoiding or it will be 18hrs!).
Alternatively, Easter is typically cheaper and less crowded. And an easier drive if that is an option.
Your suggestion of a walk of up to a mile each way is ambitious IMO. It might not sound it now, but even if you’ve left boots and skis in a locker, you’ll still be wearing full ski kit, with gloves, helmet, goggle etc bashing around. It risks putting an element of dread into the end of the ski day. |
No, definitely wouldn’t drive, way too much stress especially as we live so near Gatwick.
We walked nearly a mile to the lifts last year. Absolutely no issue to us- we walk a lot at home and live in a very hilly town in the Surrey hills so that’s a gentle stroll for us, as long as the walk is reasonable flat and safe like it was in megeve.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| luigi wrote: |
| Flipjango wrote: |
THank you, and thank you for trying to help. I think it'd have to be somewhere easyjet flies to and with several flights a day realistically - Geneva, Salzberg and Milan seem most likely. |
Towns with skiing:
Geneva- St Gervais, Chamonix, Megeve
Salzburg- Zell am See, Kitzbuhel, Schladming, Bad Gastein
Milan- Aosta(Pila), Bormio, St Moritz
Turin- Bardonecchia, Briançon (Serre Chevalier)
Of these, I think it was mentioned already, but Zell am See is worth investigating if you can get flights to Salzburg at a satisfactory price, it has an atmospheric old town by a (sometimes) frozen lake.
If a traditional village resort (not a full-blown town) with atmosphere would also be good, there are quite a number of resorts in Austria that would match. |
What about the area around Passo de Tonale in Italy? Hits the 2 hour drive mark.
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| luigi wrote: |
| Ortisei in Val Gardena, Italy? A pretty little town with some easy snow-sure skiing. |
Was the first place that popped into my head.  Very pretty town, lifts either side of the valley for plenty of skiing.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Flipjango wrote: |
What about the area around Passo de Tonale in Italy? |
No. A small basic resort which is very exposed and a bit bleak.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| Mollerski wrote: |
| luigi wrote: |
| Ortisei in Val Gardena, Italy? A pretty little town with some easy snow-sure skiing. |
Was the first place that popped into my head. Very pretty town, lifts either side of the valley for plenty of skiing. |
sadly the flights to Verona are astronomical compared to Geneva or Salzburg.
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Double post.
Last edited by So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much on Sun 27-10-24 9:34; edited 1 time in total
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You know it makes sense.
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That's odd. Verona is usually in the middle to lower tier price range. Try Innsbruck, we use Easyjet. Only a 1hr 40m transfer. You could also look at Venice (Marco Polo). A very pleasant two hour transfer/drive.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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The alternative to lifts with lockers at the bottom is having an apartment just a short walk from the lifts. That is easier to find in France, but flights now are all going to be very expensive for this peak week of the year. You have rejected driving as "too stressful" but airports and flights on such busy days are hardly restful and driving on French autoroutes is very easy. If you can fly to Geneva and rent a car then Les Saisies might be a good destination. A pretty town, and plenty of nice apartments (some of them very smart and expensive though!) near the slopes. What is your budget for accommodation? Have a look at Peak Retreats which have only good quality apartments on their books (in Les Saisies and in a range of other French resorts, some quite small). Many will already be booked for half term, though. Their prices include Eurotunnel but if you want to fly, that can come off the price.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| munich_irish wrote: |
| @Flipjango, Have a look at Zauchensee, no buses as all the accommodation is clustered around the bottom of the lifts. Near Salzburg so should be possible with public transport. Downside is that it is not a traditional Austrian village. |
What is a traditional Austrian village and how is it different? I've never been to Austria before! Thanks
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Origen wrote: |
| The alternative to lifts with lockers at the bottom is having an apartment just a short walk from the lifts. That is easier to find in France, but flights now are all going to be very expensive for this peak week of the year. You have rejected driving as "too stressful" but airports and flights on such busy days are hardly restful and driving on French autoroutes is very easy. If you can fly to Geneva and rent a car then Les Saisies might be a good destination. A pretty town, and plenty of nice apartments (some of them very smart and expensive though!) near the slopes. What is your budget for accommodation? Have a look at Peak Retreats which have only good quality apartments on their books (in Les Saisies and in a range of other French resorts, some quite small). Many will already be booked for half term, though. Their prices include Eurotunnel but if you want to fly, that can come off the price. |
I guess everyone's idea of stress is different but for me the options are two carsick and bored kids by driving versus two happy kids playing computer games all the way on a plane and I'm afraid there is no contest! Flying outside Saturday and on an early flight really isn't much stress. We can do twighlight bag drop the night before and then just rock up to go through security in the morning. Last year we got up at 4.30am, left the house at 4.45am and we're at the bottom of the lifts buying our lift passes in Megeve by 12pm.
I'll definitely have a look at Les Saisies, thanks. Geneva is a nice short hop and the flights and car rental aren't too pricey so somewhere from there is probably the most tempting idea.
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I know you have concerns about Saint Gervais but if you’re saying you are going to have a car, then you perhaps should consider Les Contimens, gives you access to StG/Megeve if snow is good & if it’s poor LC always has good coverage.
If LC has poor coverage, then skiing is in in the alps is in trouble
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Quote: |
If LC has poor coverage, then skiing is in in the alps is in trouble
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True. Les Contamines (like Les Saisies) often has the best snow around. But especially with kids I think being somewhere where you can just walk out and ski is ideal. From Les Saisies you could drive down to Les Contamines through the "back door" in Belleville if you fancied a change but I wouldn't normally bother if you only have a week. We also always found that kids of all ages were happiest if they had snow to play in right outside the door.
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| Jonny996 wrote: |
I know you have concerns about Saint Gervais but if you’re saying you are going to have a car, then you perhaps should consider Les Contimens, gives you access to StG/Megeve if snow is good & if it’s poor LC always has good coverage.
If LC has poor coverage, then skiing is in in the alps is in trouble |
I'm not sure I'd want to rely on that option. We rented a car with a ski roof rack last year, and it was nothing but trouble - it wasn't big enough for 4 people's ski's and we couldn't fit them all in the car as well and 4 people. In the end we didn't end up using it.
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Fly to Milan and drive to Aosta valley, either Aosta and upload on gondola to Pila, or Courmayuer, both have ski lockers at the gondola arrival points, and being Italy won’t be a busy as France ( in my experience )
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I'm afraid cost is narrowing things down to Geneva as airport of choice as its half the price of anywhere else and has more flight options as well as shorter transfer times. Any opinions of La Clusaz as another option?
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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It's a nice town, very French, and a usefully short drive from Geneva. But the town itself is quite low - no guarantee of snow in the village itself. I've driven through between Geneva and the Arly valley several times and the lack of snow has been conspicuous! Can't comment on the skiing though I get the impression it's a bit disjointed.
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the location of your accommodation might be quite important.
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FAQ
I'd shortlist quickly and get it booked if I were you? Just saying. 