September 21st to 23rd

Weather continues to improve. pottering around in the morning on Saturday sussing out market for potential for dave. Checked out pool and then went to library, joined and immediately got scrabble out. Librarian explained to me that scoring different on french scrabble which may be why when we last played it, it was a French version!!!! I thought I should have cruised that one and then lost. Wasn't able to use this as leverage for league though. Anyway tried to remember English scoring and played where we  played and then wrote down french words to try and use it as a lesson in French, long game!!!! I won.

Sunday I headed out for a bit of a cycle and then bumped into some young English girls (and I mean half my age), Sophie and Megan, and tagged along with them on what I thought was an average Sunday cycle. OMG ended up doing a climb of 1000metres in 11km to a beautiful spot Lac de Emesson. This has the steepest funicular railway access in the world, that's how steep it was!!!!! 60km in total. Felt amazing once back in Chamonix. Hopefully might have some work coming from contact with Megan.

Monday Dave went out to do some e-mailing etc for work and I went for a walk up above Chamonix. Stunning. Then by chance while checking Chamsocial noticed 3 hours work for the afternoon. Got it helping to unload car, cleaning windows (which they have never seen as clean, thanks H!!!) and packing stuff away. If can continue to get bits and pieces (another job on Wed) will be good.

Gallery on tow to Chamonix!

Finding a venue for my paintings in Chamonix is proving to be quite difficult. I'm painting the locality now but fast running out of boards and brushes. The locals get their supplies on-line...have to put an order in.
A portion of the gallery so far....

David-french/artcove.co.uk

David French art/society6.com

September 20th

Gorgeous day and so exciting to wake up in apartment, with lovely view of Brevant and the para gliders overhead. 1st breakfast on balcony with nothing but squirrels passing by :) Big shop, then off to bank to sort accounts. Dave then finished the painting from yesterday and we did indeed bump into The Aussie couple, twice. I went for a cycle up some hills (serious hills) but then came to an end. Will have to suss out longer tracks. Popped into library too. We so take it for granted in UK, free banking and libraries, whereas both cost out here. But, you can hire scrabble and dvd's and they have an english book section so will be worth it I feel. Internet too with printing ability and really friendly staff (just like Morecambe library :-) of course!! ) Quiet night in afterwards but in our own place - very happy.

September 19th Moving in day!!!!

Up to great news that advert I placed on Chamsocial for work has got me a cleaning job for next week. Deep cleaning a chalet. Hope more will come to from that advert. Will keep posting the advert. Weather set to improve. Misty this morning but had a cycle up to Argentier and clearing as we returned.  Dave then went to do a painting in Place d'Eglise after a bit of lunch and I bought anew purse. Was looking for a really tacky one "I love Chamonix" type activity but they don't do them.

Then at 4pm descended upon Dominique in the estate agents and excitedly went round with her to studio. They sure do thorough inventory's here, all the sinks/bath/basins even and obviously as furnished with all the cooking stuff too. After an hour all sorted, keys handed over and made her blush when we gave her a bunch of flowers.

Quickly got sorted and then headed to Bard'up for happy hour and to meet Ian (Dave's old student) and Mark (from Destination Cycle) and Andy his mate who used to own Old Bell, in there for a few beers on their final night here. Too many beers again!!! Nice Aussie chap there too who is here for the season with his fiance. Keen to talk French so hopefully as they live just next to us we will meet up again and chat en Francaise.

Artist dessert in the Alps

Arrived in Chamonix and sorted accommodation and potential for work...decided to find  about the art world.
Walked into a he only gallery in town and realised that the painters had one over on me....they were dead and very expensive....so I quietly sloped out of the door without any further enquiries. Think the market is the place for me and I'm sure that I'll fill the gap in the 'market'. Sunny day tomorrow so will do some painting in town and see how the land lies as far as interest.

Can't wait to set up and paint next to a local café and ...then have a coffee!

September 16th to 18th

Monday up early despite the happy hour malarky!!! Off to estate agents. Found a really nice 25m2 place with washing machine/dishwasher/proper hob. Gorgeous pics. Started off at 750 euro, quickly dropped to 620 so arranged viewing.  Cycled out prior to the viewing. Too far out of Chamonix!! Damn. Dave being ultra sensible and talked me out of it so went back to cancel viewing. Price dropped to 570 but still had to say no :( Went to another pre-arranged viewing at 2pm. Tiny studio but right next to Savoy lift. Great balcony and am sure if it stopped raining great view. We commented on size so price dropped from 550 to 500, with the pending ok from owner. Result. That is good for Chamonix.

Went to sno-station where needed letter to say about work in December. Dave chatted to Tom in adjoining office about work for him, looking good. Then mentioned that maybe we could go on local radio to talk about our "journey" and then they looked and felt the weight of my bike with the gear on. They were well impressed at what we had done. Made me feel even more proud of achievement.

So all fitting into place. Got the OK on the Tuesday but the lovely Dominique wasn't able to sort it there and then (as I soooo wanted her to) so we are back in the Gite/hostel at the moment, but will be in by Thursday 19th, 4pm. Excited!!!! Booked flights home now sorted, and hopefully may be getting cheaper lift to Geneva on the 3rd and maybe able to sort return cheap lift too. Website called cham serve networks accommodation, jobs, lifts and just about everything!!!!

Photos below are of the happy hour frenzy and what I look like drunk (that should stop me drinking really) Will ban use of camers instead!

September 15th

Just establishing all the potential places to rent in town. Rainy day unfortunately or would have gone for a cycle. Love planning and researching. May well take on the place Siobhan has offered to give us breathing space. We shall see.

oh my lord what an evening dave talked me into  happy hour and then we went to a place full of Lancaster people!!!!!  the guy who has worked on my bike and someone Dave taught in college. Mental!!!!!

September 14th what a day!!!!!

Cold night and morning so internet search for hostel required. Found one, not too expensive and kitchen facilities, so all good. Warm shower to defrost then into town. Due to see Siobhan at sno station at 2pm so had a look round town. Saw accommodation in an estate agents so did a check out and have lined up viewing for Monday.

Then off to see Siobhan. Job sorted!!!!!! Start in December. Dave offered job in chalet but even Siobhan identified that perhaps not for us. Small studio and not really enough time for skiing opportunities. Prob going to have a look at the chalet though to truly make decision. Siobhan also offered us reduced rate property for the interim CFO at least the next month, so couldn't have asked for a better meeting.

Then off round town again checking out further estate agents. Into century 21 who are known for season aire accommodation and before we knew it we were viewing a place, right in the centre of Chamonix sud, opposite cheapest bar in town (not altogether a good thing). All going pretty fast!!!! Place could be ours if we wish.  Pretty good day. Will sleep on it.

Lancaster crowd in the Alps

Here in Chamonix and out for the happy hour...bumped into an ex student and the chap who sorted our bikes in Lancaster...bit crazy and a little worst for wear after session! Tomorrow will sort accommodation and then flight back in a couple of weeks. All looking good for the winter season and looking forward to painting over the next few days....if ,you are looking in Dad...see yo in the the Stonewell Tavern for a Thursday afternoon session, and look forward to the jazz!

September 13th St gervais to Chamonix 28km

Gorgeous day to travel to the ultimate destination of Chamonix. Felt a bit nervous as it stood to reason it was going to have some hills. Not a great start when we cycled onto a motorway again!!!!! Too easy to do it at times. Dave had to lift the bikes over barriers twice good job his side is much better :/!!! Once on right road, yeah some pretty steep climbs but manageable, must be getting pretty strong in the old legs. Amazing views of Mont Blonc at each turn so made it all the easier. 3 hours of cycling and then we arrived!!!!! Good that immediately it did have the great feel that we remembered previously. Still buzzing with people and the sun shining.

Searched out sno-station but Siobhan not there but advised to pop back later and some-one else there. Time for coffee and then popped back and chatted to a guy called Rick who got really excited when Dave mentioned his trade. He spoke to Siobhan and  arrangement to meet tomorrow. If this works accommodation could be included. Then we went to accommodation place, where as well as sussing out potential places if required more job offers in potential. So all good really. We then went to Youth Hostel but  expensive for what it offered so back under canvas for us. Quite a eclectic mix of people here, bit of a political conversation going on as i type, luckily the Israeli/Palestinian question being handled by an earth politician :-)

September 12th Albertville to St Gervais 32km

Swiss couple from two nights back hailed us in the morning. They had spent two nights there and joked about bumping into us in Chamonix. Set off thinking get to Megeve and if up to it onwards to St gervais, with a night in a hotel. Cycle route to Ugine and then a big long climb out of it through a deep valley. About 10km in total climb. Coffee in Flu met and something to eat, getting cold, cloudy and a bit rainy today and into the skiing zone. Another 9km to megeve and feeling good so onwards to St gervais which is as lovely as we remembered. Sussed out a cheap give and after an hours wait managed to contact proprietor and booked in. Like q youth hostel really, use of kitchen etc, the proprietor had an unusual manner, and kept checking that things worked as he showed us round, but it is a bargain at 15 euro each, so all in happy. Out for some beers then back later for pasta supper.