Category: Chalet Diary 2006

  Hope you have all had a great christmas and best wishes to everyone for NY. We are so lucky here in that all our resorts with the exception of La Rosiere are open and to tell you the truth we have had decent snow. Up high its great and low down, especially in Les Arcs, there are that much snow making facilities not that coverage is good despite not having a snow fall now for a couple of weeks. Les Arcs actually has the most snow making machines in all of Europe now!!! Most runs are open and we skied there the last few days in sunshine and blue skies. Here is a picture from yesterday!     Ste Foy is not as good at the moment, the slopes are very patchy and stony and we are having to download on the first lift. Its not a problem for us though with having Les Arcs so close at hand. All we can say is we are in the right Valley again, with resorts not opening accross France and snow non-existent in Italy and parts of Austria!!!! We have had a lovely time here, very busy with guests from 15th through until now non – stop really. We had a great time with our friends when they all came over for Tina’s 40th. It was hectic and we packed so much in, from helicopter trips to meals out and a trip up to Val D ‘Isere for a good night out. We could have done with a week off to recover.Thanks again for coming over and heres to the next 40 yrs Tina!!!!!! Fletch , Gill , Andy and family were the next to arrive and everyone got on really well despite not knowing each other. We had sunshine and blue skies throughout and great entertainment from Harry Little. Come back soon.This photo was taken at the end of the day after we all skied together!!! We have now got Kevin Tomas and his family in and they are with us until Friday. Jonny took the girls to the live nativity on Christmas eve in Villaroger where they saw Santa and had vin chaud and hot chocolate. They were both very excited.We all skied xmas day, Fi came with us too and then had canapes and champagne at 6pm followed by dinner at about 7ish. Some made it into the hot-tub with their champagne beforehand.Anneha and Fi ate with the guests too so it was a lovely time for us all. Well I will close for now. Don’t forget we still have a couple of rooms left for the week of 20th- 27th Jan which we would like to fill if we can tempt anyone. Bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Ste Foy and Paradiski have opened, yesterday in fact!!!!We have snow but the lower slopes are a little patchy at the moment. However we have been skiing in Val and Tignes and the snow there is good for the time of year. We had a great few days with Chris and Nicola, Jack and Hannah, best of both, fresh snow and then blue skies and sun. We even sat outside to have lunch one day. Jack is the first ever person we have had that has actually climbed in and sat in our water basin in the village.It was after midnight and a few mutzigs, that he decided to strip off in -3 temperatures and take a dip. It was hilarious but no-one was quick enough to get a photo. For those of you who know our village you can imagine it was very BRAVE of him to say the least!!! We have Harry and co in at the moment for Tina’s 40th!!!We are all having a great time, us included and had a big night out in Val last night. It was snowing up there and so today everyone is skiing in Val.I am at the chalet as Fi has chicken pox, started yesterday so Jonny and I are taking it in turns to look after her. We are out to the Monal tonight for a meal for Tina’s birthday and meeting up with some others, Andy and family who are coming to us Tuesday. Ive just spoken to Jonny in Val and its starting to snow again so hopefully the forecast is right and we are in for a dump this week.He says the slopes are good up there today. The new lift in Ste Foy has made a big difference. We were on it yesterday and its a fast 6 man. The run off the top had near perfect snow on it and there was no-one around, we had it to ourselves. Anyway will end for now and will put so photos on next time when I get a minute.

The new bathrooms are looking good we think and Jonny and I have have had a competition going as to whos bathroom is best. Ive chosen everything for one and he has chosen everything for the other. They are both very different and have made a big difference to the chalet. My friend Tina is 40 in December and has taken over the whole chalet before xmas to celebrate. There are a few people coming who have never skied before so we are looking forward to seeing them in ski school, and having a few laughs, but obviously not at their expense!!!!!! Xmas and NY we are looking forward to seeing Kevin’s party and then Sue’s party who are guests who have been before!!!!!It will be great to have you all here again, thankyou. We had a ski sale in Ste Foy this weekend and Ffion got kitted out for her first season learning to ski. She was very proud of her helmet and insisted in keeping it on most of the day, even to eat her tea!!! Ive enclosed a photo below. Anneha has lost her first tooth and the next is on its way out! Michelle at La Ferme is due to open 16th Dec and have seen him passing every day, getting ready for the start of the season.The owner at the Middle restaurant in Villaroger. Le Solliet, has handed it over to someone else to run this season and I hear they are doing crepes as a speciality!!Guess where we will be stopping on the ski back down. Well we are all getting excited and trying to get fit for the season. Jonny and I are both on the bike when we push ourselves, otherwise we are making the most o watching TV in an evening as another week and there will be no time for that!!! Look forward to seeing you this winter!!!!

We have just got back from our visit to the UK. It was as mad as ever and sorry to all those people we didn’t get to catch up with. We were thinking of swopping the Toyota but have decided to keep it as its perfect for out here.We stocked up on all the things you cannot get out here and bought some things for the chalet which are cheaper over in the UK. We came back via Hull Zeebrugge for a change which worked really well.Normally I fly back with the girls and Jonny takes the car via Dover-Calais but this trip we decided to try the Hull option.The ferry is a bit more expensive but it saves on the long drive down to Dover for us. The road at the bottom of the village is being widened this week so it is closed between 8am and 5pm. The only person they open it for is the school bus. I think I will have to be making a cake for them so maybe we can get the same favour. A trip to Ste Foy which is normally 10 mins is now 20 mins as we have to go via the forest road.It will be great when it is finished, especially for the coming season. We are all stocking up on our wood for the winter.The villagers of Le Loissel get 2 trees given for wood but ubfortunately we have missed out this year as our tax bill went to our address in England instead of here. They will only give you the trees with proof you have a tax bill for a French address. Typical!!!! We have ordered 8m3 which will be arriving this week. Our friend Mac, whose wedding we went to, arrives today to give us a hand with last minute jobs on the chalet, oh yes and stacking logs!!!!!He will probably stay on a bit with us as its “silly season” here now, when all the chalet owners start panicking, wanting jobs done for the chalets to be ready beginning of December. Jonny has a large chalet to plaster out and the owners are wanting to be in for xmas!!!! Val D’Isere and Tignes are due to open at the end of the month, so we will be hoping to head up there on the first day.We are all doing the snow dance at the minute!!!!!! Before I say bye I would just like to wish my lovely niece Rohan a happy 3rd birthday! Bye!!!!!

  Its nearly the end of October, its gone so fast. The kids have been back at school for nearly 2 months and we have been working in the chalet ever since. Things ae coming along nicely though and both bathrooms will be finished I would think in the next week or so. The weather is still pretty mild and we have had lots of sunshine.We have had a bit of snow up high but not much frost at the moment.Its been great to sit out and not have to get wrapped up, infact we havent packed our summer things away yet!!!That will change though as we are heading back to Uk tomorrow for a short break and no doubt the weather will be cold and grey, especially when we land there. It was my friend Sue’s 40th birthday party the other week and we went up to the Chalet Alpage at Les Pigettes, owned by Simon and Andrea Farley. It was a great day, we were outside and she had a band playing (Andy Sissons and Co) for those that have seen him, and she had made lots of different curries. The wine was flowing and everyone was up dancing on the mountain side.Below is a picture of Sue (still standing!!!) We have got to sort our lift passes out in the next week or so, a reminder that the season is nearly here. We are looking forward to it very much and Jonny is already planning what new skis hes getting this year!!!I cannot decide what to buy, but hopefully will get to try some at the start of the season. We went to the neighbours the other day for luch. It was really nice and they had made so much food. We must have had about 4 desserts, the girls loved it!!! I’ve added the photo below as I think its really typical of rural french people!!!!Its a neighbour and his aunt I think, Jonny took it whilst we were there!! Ffion has started wearing a tea towel on her head and saying lets play grandmas, now I realise why! The new lift in Ste Foy will definitely be opened for this season, its nearly finished.We all love to ski there and this year wil be better with the extra lift. It will be so quick too compared to the other 3, no doubt everyone wil head there. We are doing some last minute bookings for 19th – 23rd Dec and 7th – 11th Jan if anyone can be tempted. Please contact us if you fancy coming out. Will close for now as have to be up at 5am in morning to head for the airport. Bye for now!!!!!!!!!!!  

We have had lovely weather here over the past couple of weeks, which has meant we have been able to get out on our bikes and go down to the lake for picnics.Today though its miserable and just when we were trying to get the outside of the dormer stained and finished.The alterations are coming on well and Jonny has finished the plastering job up in Val D ‘Isere.We had the neighbours round for sunday lunch yesterday, they loved the yorkshire puddings, I couldn’t make enough.They stayed most of the afternoon and then we went down the village on the bikes with the girls. Martin from Grizzly ski is sorting out his new stock this year, once again he will have the latest skis and boots to hire. We are trying to sort the menu for next season. We are having a few friends round on Saturday and will try out a new recipe or two.Jonny went to our friends’ “cave” the other day and bought a few bottles of red to try for next season. I think we nearly finished them all this weekend!!!! Everybody is predicting a good season for snow again this year, due to the summer we have had. Lets hope they are right!!!! The girls have settled into school although Fi has been a bit tearful some mornings. She is only just 3 so I suppose its only natural, but they do start school so early here. Below is a photo from the other day before the weather broke. Not much more to report at the minute so will say Bye and write again soon.  

  We have just returned from our friends Mac and Zoe’s wedding in Andalusia, Spain. We have had a lovely break and my mum and Tony came over and looked after the girls here in France. Thankyou again to them.They live in the hills close to Velez Malaga, and they have just built a fantastic house. Its amazing with all the latest sound equiptment, lights, kitchen, glass staircase and infinity pool. Even the toilet seats go down on their own. We think you have done a fantastic job Mac and Zoe and wish you all the very best for your new life in Spain.Below is a picture of the house. Ffion has started school at Ste Foy, and is loving it so far. I took her myself the first day and then she asked to go on the bus with Anneha the day after. So now they both leave from the village on the bus at 8am in the morning.I might get more time now to do things like this diary entry etc!!!!Anneha has settled back well into school and has a new teacher from Paris this year.The dormer is now finished and we have been shopping for bathroom things and tiles. Cannot wait to get it finished but Jonny is keeping busy with lots of plastering jobs.We can see the new pylons that have gone in for the new lift at Ste Foy from our house. Its going to really open up the area, and I think its going to be a 6 man lift so that will speed things up.Jonny thinks the off-piste will be amazing, with lots of skiing through the trees.Our bookings are going really well and its great to see so many of you coming back to see us, thankyou so much. We are really looking forward to the coming season and although its really warm here at the minute the valley is changing colour , meaning it won’t be long before the season is upon us. Bye for now and will write again soon.

  Jonny and Steve managed to do the Mount Blanc Tour except they had to cancel their last day due to the weather. What a disappointment for them as they had really pushed themselves, having done over 45kms some days. They were advised to stay off the mountains due to a large thunder storm, so we picked them up from Chamonix.They said they had had a fantastic time staying in the huts and meeting other walkers doing the same thing. Its definitely a must to do again next year, and finish, says Jonny!!!! The photo above shows the route they took following the valley bottom.I have now had my knee op, which I think has gone well, to remove the pins from my knee that I had put in 9 years ago when I broke my crutiat ligament. Its quite painful at the minute and I am hobbling about but I should be fit again in 3 months time. Lots of swimming/biking for me apparantly.We have been up to the new Pool on Tignes which is great. Its got slides, a cave and is fabulous for the kids.I think we will be visiting it lots.We have started the dormer on the chalet so we have more head height in the big front bedroom.Its coming along well and should be finished next week. Will write again soon.

  Im writing again as we have just downloaded the photos from Mick and the lads mountain biking this week. They look to have had a great time and have really covered some miles. Thanks for coming to stay and look forward to seeing you all again soon.  

  We had a great time down in Port Grimaud last week and the weather was very hot. Its a beautiful place and the beaches are gorgeous. The campsite was very busy and so was the beach but it didn’t spoil it. We stayed in a Mobile Home which was small but you are not in them for long, just sleeping really. We caught a boat across to St Tropez to see how the “other half live”!!!I took the picture below because we were so amazed that it had its own helicopter. Port Grimaud itself is a beautiful little place with all inlets running through it between the houses and restaurants. We ate some gorgeous food along with some good wine, infact the girls are now hooked on “moules marinere”, they had them most nights!!! We arrived back to good weather too in Le Loissel, infact its being in the 30’s for the past week. On Wednesday I went into hospital to have the pins removed from my knee that I had operated on over 9 years ago. The surgeon said it would be a little op, but I’ve been in agony ever since and need crutches. He said I cannot do much for the next 2-3 weeks!!!!Work is commencing beginning of Aug to make the chalet fully en-suite. We are looking forward to getting it finished. We have built another terrace at the back of our house so we can sit in the sun until 9pm now.Its pretty high and has got the view of the mountains all the way round.When my knee is back to normal we will be having the neighbours round to christen it!!!We will be going to “Chez Marie” soon, the restaurant with its own pool. You have lunch in the garden and they have a little pool to use after. Its got a beautiful garden. Jonny is walking the “Tour de Mont Blanc” this week, or he is as long as my knee is ok.He has been doing plenty of training for it and will be away 5 nights.Its 107km in total and they are camping on the mountain on a night.Frank , the mountain guide from Ste foy has asked if he wants to do the Matterhorn too this summer!!! Anyway must close as Mick and the lads have just arrived back to the chalet after a day out mountain biking, they take the lifts up from Les Arcs 1600 and were going over to Peisey Nancroix today, so will see how they have gone on. Write again soon.