Merry Christmas and a happy new year!!

So it's been a while since I updated, the work side hasn't changed much, still not really getting more than a few hours off which means I haven't been skiing much at all! I'm really trying to find the time to get out but with guests not leaving til ten am it's a bit difficult! However I am not going to carry on complaining about that, we have had enough annoyed chats with each other out here to not bore anyone reading this with it all! I will start to get out earlier and on the up side my dinner service is going really well, got it running smoothly and getting good compliments, feedback and tips! So it's just getting on with finishing the morning stuff!

On to the fun stuff, had another couple of lessons, I am improving technically I just need to get my confidence back, so as long as I'm not on the shopping trip tomorrow, I'm off to the short steep run where I can practise!! I'm going to have more lessons in a few weeks hopefully! I even skied a red last week! Shocker for me lol!

Christmas went well, dinner was great... Apart from when I set the oven on fire, but that was only a minor blip :-) we all met at lunch time and had champagne at the top of te lift, I might be working hard and occasionally wishing I had more time free but being up there on a clear blue sky day looking across at mont blanc made it all worthwhile!! Didn't ski much because by we had lunch (yummy tartiflette!) I had to go back to put the turkey in! photos are from Christmas day!

Loving my guests this week.... Group of Geordies! Makes a change to be able to talk bout home and summer work places and them know where I mean! Plus the whole group (southern half included) are just really nice!

In other news my parents are coming on the 28th jan! Can't wait, will be so nice to see them and ski with them, I also think my skiing will improve a bit more with them here..... Well it has to or dad is threatening to hit me with his skis! Im already thinking of nice runs to take them on like the long tree line blue to la roche, and across to bellecote!! Plus I get to get stuff from the uk :-) So I really need to spend the new four weeks on the hill as much as possible so I get back to how I was last season!

Too much snow??

Well it's been a while since I posted, this is mainly down to being ridiculously busy setting up chalets, cleaning, getting surprise last minute guests, shopping trips on blizzards to bourg, drinking and an odd bit of skiing!

Er well chalet set up etc is very dull so I will spare you the details, first guests arrived on Sunday, so first transfer day is tomorrow.... Cooking and everything is going well!

I've been out a few times, mainly to scotties, where I manage to get incredibly drunk on a couple of pints and spend the rest of the night bouncing around to whichever crazy French band is playing that night and just generally have a fab time. Now my guests have arrived I'm only really going out on a Tuesday night so I can sleep in on my day off!

The resort opened last Saturday, I did ski, not much but enough to convince me to spend some hard earned cash on lessons. I've gone for private lessons because it's a confidence thing with me! First lesson was entertaining! Great instructor but my skiing was bad for the first hour, after that I got a bit better! Thursday we all had a free group lesson which again really helped, despite the fact we were skiing in a blizzard! The snow was awesome, best I've been on in a long long time! By the end I was feeling pretty good about my skiing so tomorrow I'm off for another private lesson to kinda keep the momentum going! I wanted to go up today but there was more chalet set up to be done!

On the snow front I think we've had about 90cms in the last two days? It's definitely a lot anyway! It looks so cool out there but it is delaying full resort opening which does kinda suck! I think this is the week it's going to turn really cold.... Down in the -20s I believe!! It does make me laugh though, seeing the news about snow chaos on the uk! Here it's barely a problem on the roads!

I don't really have any pics for now, sure I will get some soon :-)

Right its time to head back to work!

SNOW!

Snow!!!! Been snowing on and off for 24 hours now and is due to continue for most of wknd :-)

The photos are from this morning, so there is obviously more already!

Have moved into staff accom today but had been greatly distracted from unpacking properly by a slight hangover and the snow outside! Will post some pics and a proper update soon!

La plagne

I'm now in la plagne, living in one of our chalets waiting for staff accommodation to be ready on Saturday. La plagne seems nice, it's a real ski resort though, lots of 70's style apartment blocks, no snow unfortunately yet, causing a bit of concern at the minute as the forecast keeps changing! It's warm and sunny here, but real cold at night.

We've been here two days, cleaning and drinking! Last night we went to scotty's, had good laugh, met a few people working for Mark warner, there arent many Seasonnaires here yet.

My chalet is beautiful, as you can see below and the views are incredible! In fact this whole area is stunning and will look much better in the snow!

My staff accom might, if I'm lucky, have a clear view of mont blanc! It's weird here, like the resort is perched on the side of the cliff! Different to the other resorts I've worked in before, we feel very high!!

Oh the other fun thing that happened was Natwest blocking my card because my spending pattern resembled recent fraud activity picked up by the bank! So one long phone call later I was able to get at my money again! I was mainly annoyed because I had told them I was coming abroad!

Right, I think lunch is over so I had better get back on with sorting my chalet! Am currently organising the kitchen to exactly as I want it! It's a bit sad but I'm really enjoying getting it sorted out :-)

Au revoir Val d'isere

So it's end of training ad we are packed and ready to go to la plagne to start set up for the first guests on the 11th. It's been fun being back here but I am really looking forward to getting to la plagne and getting settled in! We are moving into one of the chalets while are staff accom is sorted out, so more luxury surroundings! :-)

Training has been really good, met loads of people and actually had some fun! Our team seems really good and I reckon we will all have a fab time this season......... If the snow ever comes!

Apparently it's coming tomorrow... We shall see!

Right it's time to climb into the van and get going! Be in touch from la plagne :-)

Hungover day off!

Am now about halfway through training and all is good, apart from my head, which is banging, pretty much cos of too many drinks last night! However I have learnt that I really should have enjoyed the nightlife in Val last season!!

So the last week...... Modules (which I don't always have to go too seeing as I did it all last year) and cooking, followed by a dinner party every night, I've cooked twice now and both times have gone well, obviously there are things I need to work on and it's a lot more stressful than having normal guests. Especially when your guests are the executive chef and area manager!

Ive been out a couple of times, mainly to pacific, v spot and doudoune, normal nights I've only stayed out for one or two but last night was day off night so obviously stayed out later! I came back around three, think most of my flat got in around 6! It was great being out with everyone and I reckon I spoke to more people than I normally would have! so far everyone is pretty cool, especially the la plagne team! I was especially pleased when three people said I don't look 31!

Despite enjoying training I do really want to get over to la plagne and get settles into our resort, I'm also really desperate to know which chalet I'll be running, they are all nice but I would quite like the platinum chalet!!

On the downside we have no snow yet! Gutted! Although the locals say the snow is coming this weekend so fingers crossed!!

I did walk home in snow last night...... Unfortunately it's fake but still!

Je suis arrive!

Well I've arrived!! Looooong coach journey, interspersed by traffic problems, missed ferries, no sleep, drunken lap top breaking (not me or mine!) looking out into foggy france to see giant men on toadstools and prancing deer or signs but generally ok!

So we get here on sat lunch time and it honestly doesn't feel like I was ever away! It's only been six months since I last wandered the street of Val d'isere and it still kind of feels like home! Training started yesterday and it's all pretty straight forward, I got let out of customer service today seeing as I worked here before which was nice! We have a pretty full on couple of weeks now, all the paperwork side of things and cooking demos, we are all taking it in turns to cook the chalet meal on a night, including being graded on it by the bosses so it's been a bit stressful for some I think!

We are somehow managing to find time for getting to know the local bars and I've finally made it on a night out here which is good!! Am also managing to get to know all my fellow la plagne people and a lot of others, again a bit different to last season!!

I still feel surprised that so many of the managers remember me from last year, I have confused a few people by being blonde not brunette this time! It is nice though to be remembered for good reasons!

There isn't much snow here yet, bits on the top but there is some kind of blocking pattern over Europe so weight wait a bit longer for il neige to arrive!

We are staying in guest chalets until we head to la plagne and they are very very nice, but at 2k per person for the guests I suppose they have to be!

Well I'd better go study for my brochure test tonight and get ready for the big boss's talk in an hour!

And Here I go!

I'm writing this from a lovely virgin pendolino tilting it's way through Cumbria at high speeds, I've already struggled to get my bag in and out of the car, said bye to my brother and sister in law and causes unimaginable chaos on the train!

Basically my bag is too big to fit down the aisle of the train, a kind gentleman helped my lift it onto the seat next to me and now I'm praying that the train stays fairly quiet! And that the tilting doesn't tip it over and crush me! I'm also hoping my lovely friend (who I am staying with tonight in laaahdan) knows how to put the backseat down on her car!

Despite the fact I'm really looking forward to spending my winter surrounded by snow (fingers crossed) I am still a little sad to be waving goodbye to my friends and family for six months! Still I am working on cunning plans to get various people out to see me, seems a shame not to share the sunshine and snow!

One thing that bothers me more than anything is the journey! I'm rubbish at travelling unless I'm driving, so right now in my head little disasters are playing out like scenes from casualty and one in particular like the end of the Italian job! Even though I know the ferry won't sink and the coach won't fly off the hairpin bends and implode on the bottom of the valley, I still like to stress myself out about it all! However a day of stress is definitely a price im willing to pay!

So for the rest of today i think I will be telling myself happy thoughts about the stunning alps, clear blue skies and fresh snow! And of course missing the delightful grey and grotty British winters!

Three day countdown

Hello!! Well this is my attempt at a blog for this season.... Hopefully it won't be full of bad snow and horrible accommodation and work mates like the start of last years! Fortunately this year I'm back with a good company who I very much enjoyed working for last season so fingers crossed all will be well!


So, in three days I will be at Calais waiting for my ferry with 60 odd other people heading out for the winter! Despite knowing since I came back from Val in may that I was heading out in November, I'm still surrounded by piles of stuff I want to take and worrying constantly about everything I have left to do, as you see I have a pretty big bag and am well stocked up on everything I might need over the next six months!

And I'm still certain I'll get there and find I've forgotten something really important! I have lists and lists of things to remember and do before I leave for London on Thursday, but I figure do what I can and if it isn't done there's nothing I can do about it from France!

Still I have found time to fit in a hair appointment with my amazing sister in law :-)