December 21st

to 29th

Busy week as you can imagine. Desperately wishing for snow as though we can get out most days the con 21st ditions are getting more rocky, and bizarre to go up on chair lifts with no snow under you at all. Skied at the weekend with dawn as well as Dave. Sunday saw us off to taconnaz to Hobbes sit, who has been in a nasty fight and sporting a black eye and a bite on his forehead, definitely jumpy and nervous about venturing outside. Rested from skiing on the Monday then a nice bright day on Xmas eve saw us have a good ski at brevent. Christmas eve out into Chamonix and met up with Megan, her family here on hols and nearly everyone I have met whilst we have been here!!! Great night. Christmas day woke up to mild grey conditions with rain imminent and felt right at home. However once up on the slopes the rain turned into brilliant snow and turned the mountain into a winter wonderland! Quite fitting for the only Santa on the mountain, I was determined to wear my 3.99 outfit, find it unbelievable there is actually something in the cham valley that can be bought for that little.

After the ski headed off to Sophie's and toms in les houches and had a great evening. Sophie now sporting a diamond!!! How romantic and so pleased to share an even more special day with them. Talked to everyone over the course of the day and managed to get a three way convo  with Natalie and harry before harry had to go to have his starts.

Boxing day I worked hard, Dave had bad hangover which could have also been a viral infection as despite the snow continuing he felt unable to ski, even the following day which was blue and gorgeous, so I went up alone. Saturday saw Dave revived and back on his skis with me working 7hrs. Busiest weekend of the season. Popped out Saturday night to meet Sophie, Megan and Jane and found out Megan in a relationship with her friend Neil for past 2 months, now outed!!! All going on in Chamonix!!!

Beautiful day Sunday, big dump of snow the previous night so met up with Megan and Sophie and had a great ski, though my style is going backwards I feel whilst Dave continues to improve. Had a big face plant in powder, nearly lost my ski and Sophie laughed a lot!!!!! Photos sure to follow. Lessons are needed soon I feel. Off to Christmas dinner with dawn and Ian tonight, looking forward to that very much.

13th December to 20th

Life continues with Dave painting, doing a couple of commissions, me working with both crystal and sno station now and getting as much skiing in as possible . In need of some snow, the slopes are becoming a little worn. Brevent opened on the weekend but unfortunately the savoy lift right behind our flat which would transport us up to the bubble up the mountain isn't so its a good walk up the hill!! All helps with fitness I suppose! Only a few runs open but enough to keep us occupied.

Christmas do with crystal on the Tuesday, lovely meal at the Jekyll and Hyde pub. Then on the Thursday had a mountain safety session with crystal which was followed by a sledge down the home run at grands montets. Absolutely brilliant. Luckily some fresh snow had just fallen. Very pleased that although by far the oldest in the group (most people could be my offspring) I was the second women down and about 5th overall. Not that I have any competitiveness at all ha ha(though I bet others not aching as much the day after, one doesn't bounce the same at 50!)

On the Sunday we went to see the chambelles, a local group of women doing a cabaret of Christmas songs for charity. Really good and I went with Sophie to see them again in the church on Thursday doing carols and some more Christmas songs, really good and getting us into the Christmas feel.

Continue to meet up with Julia for French lessons, she has a gorgeous little flat, full of character. We are so determined to improve especially as she wants to work as a vet here potentially. Met Lisa (hobb's mum) who is fluent who guided us too. Also asked us to cat sit over Xmas in taconnaz so off we go again on 22nd. Invite to Sophie's for Xmas day which is actually pretty close to taconnaz. It is lovely here and looking forward to skiing on Christmas day in my father Christmas outfit, but do miss the girls, kids and family at home, will be less homesick when it gets to January though as we remember the grey months ahead in the UK.

Back in Lancaster at he John O Gaunt

http://youtu.be/P6k3BNG9ypc

Missing the Thursday afternoons in the Stone well Tavern and Monday evenings in the John O Gaunt Pub....

2nd December to 12th December

Monday saw us returning to the studio. A bit sombre as some sad news from home, at times like that it would be nice to have a transporter system so you could nip and give someone a big hug. Settled back briefly as we then got a call off dawn asking for a blaze sit for 10 days. So Tuesday saw us packing up again into the middle of town to look after the big fluffy boy. Busy the rest of the week with dog walking, preparing his food and doing a bit of cleaning in the apartment for dawn and also 4 hours cleaning for Susie on top op evening work. Had cleaning training with sno station on the friday as well which gave us a good idea of what to expect from the seasonal work. Decided to drop those hours to 12 a week to ensure skiing time adequate. Just me and a group of young Aussies. Never mind it being little England here, its little Sydney!!!

Watched our first ever 3 d film, Dave had to wear glasses on top of glasses, not a great look!!!

Film night Friday at Sophie's, hunger games first one in readiness for when the second one is out in original form here. Then skiing all weekend at me grand montet. Not too bad conditions though slid down on back twice on home run on sat but better on Sunday. Able to Skype home a few times and with free calls to landlines in UK good to be able to chat to those at home.

Le grand montet open from now on so managed to ski twice this week. On the tuesday saw dan snow filming on the slopes, may end up on the one show in the background,  Iwas a little uncool!!!! The christmas lights went on in town too!! So pretty.Started work with sno station and have about six hours this week. Seems OK. Have found a lady from Keswick to meet up with to improve our French, Julia. Going to try at least twice a week over a coffee.

Dave continues to do his painting, using the studio as a studio. Snow scenes looking nice.

Skiing in Switzerland

A few more paintings that I've managed to complete.http://www.art2arts.co.uk/figurative-art/portrait-paintings-drawings/parasols-and-surf/prod_18030.html

25th November to 1st December

Kitchen size of ournstudio

View from back door

View from front verandha

Beautiful sun set

Dave toasting Dave farren with a nice cup of tea

Sofas the size of our studio ha ha

Hobbsy warming to me!!!

Dave's new oakleys 

Quiet day Monday, Dave worked and I got the studio in order (doesn't take long!!!) French lesson Tuesday morning, dawn came along this week so that will mean lots of practice together when she returns from the UK. Dinner at there's in the evening, last time to see blazey boy before they head off to UK. Packed gear on Wednesday and then headed to Lisa and miles's to cat sit Hobbs. Chalet in a beautiful spot with great views of the snowy landscape, especially as the sun sets on the aguille due midi. Shay and onya from next door  popped round on the Thursday night for a couple of Guinness's and glasses of wine. Nice weekend though do appreciate where we are in relationship to supermarkets/skiing areas and buses as its a cold 6km cycle in for these !! Temperatures have been as low as -12 this week. Sunday saw us off to the grand montets ski field in argent here, beautiful day and some nice skiing, though Dave having to master his new long ski is, but getting their. I found some bargain Oakley sunglasses on cham social for him too in the week, so at last has spent the birthday money given to him by my brother John, wendy his wife and my mum. I half hoped he wouldn't like them as I would then have kept them!!

It looks like we haven't done much this week but Dave has worked most of it, and done the painting and I have been cycling up and down the valley, shopping etc, working and lining up some adhoc cleaning work for next week too with Susie who I cleaned for in the first couple of weeks here, so that should take me on to starting with sno station in the season proper. Got a video evening lined up too with Sophie and Megan, the first hunger games in prep for watching the second one at the pics when they show it in English and joining their book club too. Going to be a busy winter very soon!!!!