Brigadoon

Once again the skies were clear as we were woken by our 7.50 alarm. I have been sleeping so well and long over here, it’s wonderful! We met up for breakfast again at 8.30 and I decided to take my phone for a photo of our lovely round table. But someone had stolen it so here’s a photo of breakfast at a rectangular table

The 2 (two, TWO) people in the background are the table rustlers.

This table did give us a good view of a more senior gentleman skier exit from the hotel opposite and proceed to do a 30min warm up involving every part of his body. He then had to get all his stuff from his backpack, hat, gloves, buff etc, and don them. He must have forgotten something because he had no sooner got his backpack back on then he had to remove it again. Eventually he was ready to depart. It was all like watching a mirror image of Ian. The plan was for TWPAMJ to go off up the mountain and ski some nice blues while I went off down the mountain to a small town called venosc. Eventually they were ready and shortly after, as I was wrapped in my furry blankie, I saw them exit the Hotel and disappear up the button. Later Kathy told me that as she was walking through the ski shop to get out she heard a guy complaining to the shop assistant that his skis were not working. Apparently, although all his friends skis let them ski parallel, his kept turning in at the front meaning he could only snow plough. As Alex came through he was causing a scene because the shop guy wanted him to pay €18 for a replacement pair. 

As I snuggled TWPAMJ were busy skiing up and down the mountain. Here’s some snaps they sent me

Kathy puzzled because her skis keep going parallel

Ian stopping to do a few exercises

Chris watching Kathy as she gets to her knees to try to sort out those drated skis (one of the top ten worst things to have ever happened to her)

Vicky and Alex minding the edge

Somewhere up a mountain

Meanwhile, after a bit of furry relaxation I layered and lotioned up and set off for Venosc. One of Ian’s clients had recommended it as a beautiful alps village. The girl at reception was also fullsome in her praise. I was really looking forward to it. I walked through town, which was looking really pretty in the sun before arriving at the Venosc cable car. No queues here, in fact I was the only Person around. It was a steep decent taking me to the bottom of a valley with mountains all around. I got off, still only me, and looked around. Didn’t look too promising. I followed a road to my left to find nothing. A few houses and an iced over swimming pool. I walked down to a river. The view with the mountains all around was pretty special but no gorgeous town. I walked along the river a bit, although I was slightly alarmed by the sign that said that the river level could rise dramatically at any moment if they opened the damn a bit further up. I came last a few houses, back up the road, and arrived once more at the cable car. Still not another sole in the world. As I climbed back onto the bubble I noticed a signpost. Venosc to the right. And as we rose majestically back up the hill I spotted something I hadn’t earlier. A lovely little town set into the hillside. Ha. So that’s a visit for another day. 

The river in Fake Venosc

After a trip to the chemist for more dressings for Kathy’s still sloughy wound I wandered back past Jandri1. Kathy had just texted that they were having lunch so I asked if they were at the top of Jandri 1 thinking I could jump on and join them. No, they were at top of Jandri 2. By the time I got up there they would be itching to get back to skiing so I returned to the hotel, grabbed a coffee, and tucked into the pair I had stolen at breakfast. Another text from Kath. They were at Jandri 1, she had gotten confused! Should have known better than to rely on Kathy for directions. 

By this time vicky had had enough skiing and returned down the mountain, leaving TWPAMJV to do loads of blacks. Included with our lift passes was a visit to the pool so vicky and I decided on a swim. It was a small open air pool and we enjoyed a good half hour in the water before nipping into the jacuzzi. You had to pay extra for that apparently because after about ten seconds we were chucked out. We did get nicely warmed up though. 

We met the rest at afternoon tea, by which time I was ready to gnaw my own arm off. Chris was a bit upset when I asked him about his afternoon. It seems that The Valley of the Giants has been pisted so that the huge moguls are hardly worth talking about anymore. In fact it’s as if they were never there. "It’s a bit like that film where that village only appears every thirty years or so. What’s it called mum?" "Brigadoon" I replied, with tears in my eyes. My baby boy knows of an obscure musical from the fifties. 

We all rested, bathed, and watched pointless. (Richard and Alexander Are on our French telly but we can’t pause. Those anagrams are impossible in real time)  before reconvening in the bar for round two of yatzee. The scores were all turned on their heads tonight with Chris and Vicky doing best. Tea was of the same standard as usual, although the smiley Hotel manager was manning the raclette. A big cheese that he melts and pours on your potato or meat or  it was time for bed and Another long long sleep. Maybe I’ll have another go at visiting Brigadoon tomorrow.

Man of the day

Difficult to chose between two. You know which ones. But I think I’m going for ski shop man. He gave us all such a laugh