However, when I hear "California" I immediately recall "Mrs. Hamilton's" description in "Fawlty Towers" when she said: "California is wonderful, you can swim and sun-bathe in the morning and then drive up into the mountains and ski" and the same is true of the Costa del Sol.

It is sometimes easy to forget that just two hours drive north of Malaga you can find Southern Spain's popular ski resort - Sierra Nevada. Not the most picturesque of resorts as the piste lies above the pine forest instead of within it. Nevertheless snow, skiing and snowboarding are in abundance, and a spot of fun sleighing or skating is also possible.

The skiing season ranges from approximately mid-November to sometimes as late a May, depending on the weather, of course. However, I find it quite safe to assume that, between December and March, if it is raining on the Costa del Sol it has been or will be snowing in Sierra Nevada. This theory is not always accurate, but often it is.

The beauty of having a ski resort virtually on your door step is that you don't have to take a skiing holiday as such. Obviously if you're one of the lucky ones who can get the time off work and can fit a week on the slopes into your schedule, then great! There are numerous hotels to stay in ranging from five down to two stars or more economically one can rent a self-catering apartment- However, if like me, you cannot fit in a week away, then merely a day up on the slopes, or a weekend, is feasible - and with the close proximity of Sierra Nevada, why not?

Getting there couldn't be easier - from the Malaga by-pass follow signs to Granada, from the Granada by-pass follow signs to Sierra Nevada and slowly wind you're way up through the pines to this "winter wonderland", and truly escape from it all. If for whatever reason you are unable to drive up or simply prefer not to, then you can of course take the bus. During the skiing season there are regular buses that run directly from the central bus stations of the Costa del Sol to Sierra Nevada. You can enquire about prices / times and travel from the "portillos" of Fuengirola, Marbella, Estepona, in fact any of the major towns along the coast.

Do not worry if you have never skied before or if you don't have any of the equipment because, like all ski resorts, the town's people will do it all for you. As long as you wear something warm you can hire or buy all the accessories you need from the various shops around the main square. From ski-suits to goggles, glasses and gloves, and of course not forgetting hire of ski boots, skis and snowboards. If it is your first time or you're looking to brush up a little, group or private lessons can be booked from one of the two ski schools with prices from around 8 to10 Euros.

If you are one who prefers to spectate, taking in lunch on the slopes and soaking up the atmosphere is also very enjoyable. There is good apre-ski down in the town with plenty of bars and restaurants to choose from, and on Saturday nights during peak times, on go the flood lights for an evenings "night-ski" for those who dare.

Now you know how easy it is, you just can't deny that Sierra Nevada is a perfect weekend escape - see you on the slopes!