Bonjour!
This is only a tiny update, as we're currently cooking jerk chicken with rice and peas whilst our current clients are out eating (and, to be honest, we don't fancy seeing them when they get back, or tomorrow, or ever again).
Although this week hasn't been the best, the previous two groups of guests were excellent. The first one had four different groups, all of lovely lovely people. They thought they were outrageous, but other than some late-night jacuzzi usage, were entirely considerate and friendly. Really enjoyed the week, and we now have a friend in China who we hope to visit at some point this year. But yeah, were really sad to see them all leave, which is a pleasant but unpleasant experience.
Last week we had a genuine group of Flemish-speaking Belgians, complete with eight kids. Again, a really nice group, who left us with some amazing beer and a couple of bottles of stunning wine. It was great to have a different (non-English) perspective on the chalet, our hosting, and everything. Also so interesting to have comprehensively mulit-lingual guests around all the time.
Both groups were very friendly, complimentary and generous. Really make the job, and the long hours, feel worth it.
Also, we tried a bit of "skating" cross country skiing again a couple of times. The first time we even did 10km of pretty strenous terrain. The last time wasn't so successful My ankles are poorly designed for this type of exploit. We may go back to the traditional "Nordic" style next time. It's lovely to be down at Pont Baudin though. Quiet, beautiful and good.
Today we went to Albertville, bought treats (including the less-spotted houmous) and bought a tandem bike online. But more about that to come.....
A point of practice. I've now figured out how to allow comments on this blog, so feel free to do that by clicking on the individual post and using the comments box at the bottom. It's nice to know someone's listening/interested/has some free time/nothing better to do.
Also (plug) my Mum's got a better blog than me. She's travelling a lot more than we are at present (Albertville and back). Apparently that's how the world works now. Check it out here: www.blogspot.travelswithacockroach.com
No finishing picture today. Chicken almost ready. Mmm chicken.
The last two days off we've enjoyed have not been spent (simply) snowboarding and recuperating from work. In fact we've done some very exciting things. It's almost time for another day off (tomorrow) so I thought I should update on the last couple of Wednesdays and the amazing pastimes we've experienced over the last couple of weeks.
Two weeks ago we snowboarded across to Arc 1600 (which was a route we had not travelled before) and took the funicular down to Bourg St Maurice train station. It definitely put the "fun" in funicular. We walked around the town (which I belatedly realised I'd visited once in the Summertime) and went to an actual shop (Lidl, also visited during that previous visit). It was my first venture down the mountain, to a place with even ground and traffic lights, for over 5 weeks. Awfully exciting all said. We then 'boarded back, which was fairly uneventful.
Our guests this week, after days of fairly restrained behaviour, turned up to Thursday's dinner absolutely rocking. Apparently they'd found Jimmy's Bar and had been hitting the Jagerbombs, as well as the complimentary caramel-flavoured shots. It made for quite an evening of singing, chanting and general madness.
In the general meantime I've been trying to write postcards where possible, and reach the outside world with tales of our continuing adventures.
The following week, on our day off, there was the Festi'Nordic down at Pont Baudin. We therefore took the "lobster pot" Lozagne lift down to Peisey, had a look around the village, bought some interesting postcards (cute little place, with lots of cool dilapidated-looking buildings) and boarded the free bus to the Nordic area. Once we'd had a wander around the area (former lead mines, and general forest) we signed up for some free biathlon, nordic cross-country skiing (alternatif), and snowshoeing. The laser rifles are awesome, with genuine feedback. I shot five in five, with holding your breath key to accuracy. No idea how they actually do it after skiing, even at rest it's tricky.
I donned some skis (that's right, skis) for some "alternatif" cross-country. The boots are like the most comfortable slippers ever conceived by mankind. However, I was quite bad at it. This has not deterred me from wanting to become semi-professional by the time we leave the resort. I think a lesson, followed by some pretty intense practice may be "on the cards." I think we might try to take up the "skating" or modern form of cross-country though, rather than the Nordic. Not sure. Was absolutely fine going uphill, but really struggled to get into a snowplough position with the super thin/light skis when on a slight downhill incline. The area was gorgeous though, between La Plagne and Les Arcs, with Tignes over the other side. Definitely enjoyed the peace and quiet (not that Plan Peisey is a bustling metropolis).
Furthermore, the Nordic area is home to dog- and horse-sledding. We also did some snowshoeing, which is essentially walking through really deep snow with special plastic duck-feet on. Oh, and we had free chocolat chaud. On the way back we visited a local bar, before ascending via the lobster-pot to our regular abode. That evening we had Tartiflette and local sausages with crozets at Le Solan restaurant: all local dishes, all overpriced and all a terrible idea. I recommend not eating meals which are primarily made of cheese and fat.
Leading up to now I've had a massive cold, which has been pretty rubbish. The weekend was absolutely horrible, with both of us employed doing client transfers when we should've been "turning-around" the chalet. But at least we can say we've done it, and hopefully will never have to do it, whilst trying to do everything else, again.
Yesterday, we got some fun 'boarding in, with some genuinely high-speed high-jinx, as well as the obligatory off-piste dicking about. Definitely pretty proficient now. Looks like there's snow on the way, so hopefully there'll be plenty of "Pow" about tomorrow (that's for you Charles). Oh, and last week we got up the Grand Col a couple of times for serious off-pisting in thick snowy stuff (as we only had 10 guests, and so a good couple of extra hours free time).
Finally, we managed to get over the £400 mark with our charity website www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/snow
which we're very pleased with. Thanks to everyone who's helped the total along. We'll keep adding as money comes in.
Ok, that's some of what's happened. I'll try to keep you all informed of future developments. To finish, enjoy this photo of a cloud pretending to be a fire-breathing dragon.
