Last entry of 2007!!!!

A stunning last day of 2007. The sun was out, the skies were blue and after yesterdays snowfall, conditions were great, despite the nip in the air.
As well as being a great day on the slopes, today was yet again Market day in the streets of Val d'Isere. Where better to go and sample every kind of saucisson under the sun, and even if you're not keen on sampling them, then to look at every kind!! Market day is also great for picking up things you've forgotten from home, or already lost on the pistes like, gloves, hats, goggles etc etc. They may not be the best quality in the area, but if you just want something to see you through the week, then it's ideal, especially for kids who'll have outgrown new gear by next years holiday anyways!!
Market stalls start setting up very early on Monday mornings and be warned, if your car is parked where a stall is going to be, you will be towed away!! The stall holders stay on their stalls till around 8pm, ideal for all our guests who venture down to the 'Finlays Drinks Evening' in the Pacific Bar every Monday night between 6pm and 7.45pm. Richard and various members of staff go on down in order to ply our guests with glasses of 'Kir', a French drink consisting of Creme de Cassis and White wine. Very addictive (for some), very alcoholic!!!
Hope everyone has a great evening tonight, whatever you all wind up doing. Tomorrow to celebrate New Years Day in resort, we have a torchlight descent and fireworks display which starts at 6pm, well worth seeing.

Xmas dinner leftovers.....

Who better to give leftover Christmas Turkey to than good old Ladyboy! She has taken up residency on the doorstep of the office and despite resisting feeding her up till now (mainly as we've had no leftovers to feed her up till now!!), her perseverance paid off today and a big feed of Turkey went her way! One very happy dog!

After the gluttony of Christmas day, the feast continued tonight with a meal at the 'L'Arolay', a very popular restaurant up in the 'Le Fornet' area. I have been led to believe that 'Le Fornet' is one of the highest habitable villages in France.

The L'Arolay is a lovely restaurant specialising in brasserades, fondues and big hunks of steak which you cook to your own liking on a platter with Bunsen burner underneath ( a bit like a pierrade style set-up!), amongst other French dishes.

Despite it being a Friday night, I was amazed at how busy the place was, we got there quite early at 7.30pm, but by 8.30pm it was absolutely packed and people without reservations were being turned back out into the cold. Service was amazing with our waiter scuttling around with the speed of a squirrel, he was superb, think we managed to get the best table in the house too, right next to the roaring log fire, very nice!!

The food was great, the portions huge, especially the starters, I had a salad big enough to serve three and the gentlemen of the party had a platter of Jambon Cru each which seriously consisted of roughly half a pig on a plate, it was an obscene amount of meat. Snails were served very garlicky and in cute, snail shell shaped, pastry shells.

An interesting vegetarian main option has been added to the menu this season, it's classed as a 'Panier Vegetarian', and as it rightly describes, is a vegetarian basket. The veggies come in a bamboo steamer basket which is quite novel, filled with more than enough Vegetables to fulfill the 5 portions a day quota!

For those who aren't too keen on big hunks of meat or fondues for a main course, there is also a fish dish, which although hard to describe what it actually is, was highly rated by the ladies in the party.

Of course, no meal is complete without dessert, however full one may be. Lucky for us there was a chocolate fondue which was a perfect size for three of us to share. Complete with fruit to dunk in the thick rich chocolate, it was a great finish to a great meal.

A word of advice, book well in advance if you wish to dine there!!

Boxing Day

After a hectic Christmas day and way too much Champagne ( how many empty glasses does Deborah have next to her !!??!!! (Bet they're all Richards!!!)), we were all thankful today was a Wednesday. What do Wednesdays mean....Day off (kind of)! Well, definitely a day off for all our Chalet Hosts, the rest of us had a few jobs to do but lucky for me I could do mine from the comfort of home. I have to confess, I didn't leave the house all day due to murky conditions and very flat light outside, plus our house was nice and warm, unlike the outside world.
After the indulgence of Christmas day, we decided to continue the gluttony by purchasing breakfast from the 'Maison Chevallot', the local scrummier than scrummy bakery, a trip to Val isn't complete without a visit to one of these wonderful shops, of which there are two, one on the high street and the other in the little pedestrian zone, opposite the Post office. Their cakes are exquisite and made even better by the fact they do them in single portion sizes so lots can be bought in order to sample them all. I usually opt for a 'pate d'ours', otherwise known as a 'bears foot', no animal in it at all though, just a very light fluffy pastry filled with a thick gooey, custard/ chocolate chip combo, they are HUGE too, big enough to share, unless of course you're a piggy and want it all for yourself (like me). Also very scrummy are the bread rolls baked with the local beaufort cheese planted inside....actually, everything they sell there is yummy.
At the shop on the high street they also have a small cafe which, amongst other things, serves hot chocolate which would put up a challenge to any chocoholic, it's so thick and rich a spoon can be stood in it, no joke! Shall have to make it a mission of mine for one day in the future to go and purchase one for the sole purpose of being able to photograph it with spoon upright......it will be done, it will be posted!!!

Christmas Day 2007!!!

Happy Christmas!!!

A joyous day for all in resort, especially those who venture out to Val for the festive season to actually avoid the festive season!!!

After our Chalets Hosts spent the morning preparing for Christmas dinner, we all met up for mid-morning Champagne and to exchange secret Santa Gifts. Never quite sure why secret Santa is never actually secret for very long but never mind. Everyone seemed reasonably pleased with their gifts, with a 10 euro budget, finding something not entirely naff is quite a mission. Needless to say, lots of gifts of alcohol and chocolates were given, as well as more personal gifts like gloves, cake tins (?), books, computer mice, bread baskets, more alcohol, essential toiletries, cigarettes, etc, etc, etc.

Lots of Champagne flowed and spirits were high.

A few staffed ventured out on the mountain, others returned to their Chalets to prepare early Christmas dinners for all the kiddies.

I managed to miss Santa Claus arriving in resort via parapont. After yesterdays mishap perhaps he's too embarrassed to be seen in Val again. I missed it yesterday too, but by all accounts, Santa came down to Val d'Isere via the black 'Face' run and managed to wipe out in a most spectacular fashion and loose both his skis several feet back up the mountain. Poor Santa. He had to hike back up, retrieve his skis and carry on his descent. It was the talk to the town though for a minute or two.

Tonight in the traditional Christmas manner, the ESF ski school put on a display of different boarding, skiing and telemarking techniques followed by a torchlight descent which is always spectacular (picture top right!), then capped it all off with a fireworks display. All very nice. Mulled wine was offered and the sound system guys picked a most bizarre range of music to go along with all the visuals. All in all a good show though and a great Christmas day, just have to top it off now and go for Christmas dinner!!

Christmas Eve

Happy Christmas Eve!
All our Christmas guests arrived on Saturday and are all now installed in their chalets.
My life always seems manic at the moment but today it has been even more so. Richard and Deborah ventured off down to Bourg St Maurice to battle with shoppers galore in order to collect all our Turkeys, then came the task of splitting them and all the trimmings, sprouts, puddings, sausages, napkins, fizzy bubbly stuff, cranberry sauce etc etc etc, into appropriate piles for all the Chalets. It really is an amazing amount of food, and that's without all the other food the Chalet hosts have bought. Feasts galore will be had!
In between splitting up goodies, I was visited by a distraught chalet host who'd accidentally chopped off the tip of her finger (don't worry, the onion she was chopping was binned along with the finger tip!!). A trip to the Dr's then followed and it was revealed she would live, and the injury a lot less severe than anticipated with just the very top tip layer of skin amputated. It must be have been 'Finlays' hour at the surgery as whilst we were being sorted, a guest of ours came in after a skiing accident. Luckily after the essential x-rays, he too was given the all clear, just no skiing for the rest of the week.
It was market day in town today, all the stalls seemed to be doing a roaring trade, probably aided by the fact it is Xmas Eve and last minute gifts were desperately needed. Most guests will realise tomorrow this last minute rush isn't really necessary in Val as everything opens as normal on Christmas day!!
Santa was supposed to be in town today handing our Chocolates, he managed to miss seeing me though. Maybe I'll catch him tomorrow when he paraponts into Val d'Isere at midday.

More Sun!

The sun just will not stop shining, it continues to be glorious. The pistes are still in great shape and are just so quiet. We're making the most of it this week before the season really kicks in with the start of Christmas week.

The past few days have been non stop. We're still having lots of daily new arrivals and departures, people taking advantage of our short breaks before the real Saturday to Saturday weeks commence on the 22nd.

I managed a speedy jaunt up the mountain to check out the conditions on the Solaise side of the mountain. Despite the chillier than chilly wind, it was all superb. I love going up the Solaise for the views alone, but the pistes are nice and cruisy too, a beginners dream, especially with the lovely wide, green 'Madeleine' run.

I boarded back down to town via 'Piste L', paranoid the whole way that I had actually mistaken the sign at the top claiming it was 'ouvert'. I was the only person on it and looked like I'd been the only person on it all day, it was such a great run.

We ventured out for dinner last night to the local 'Bar des Sports', also known as 'Brasserie du Grand Cocor'. Being a Tuesday night and start of season it was deserted so service was superb, I don't believe I've ever had food produced so quickly in Val d'Isere before. The quality of food is always good there and it's quite nice to be somewhere a little more French and low-key than other restaurants in Val.

I reckon enough sunny pictures have been posted for a day or two, so I'm opting for the local dog option instead!! 'Septembre' lives next door to us and looks constantly miffed. Half his life he spends with his head stuck through the balcony, looking sorry for himself and watching the world drift by down below.

Its very chilly!

Despite glorious sunshine and everything looking stunning, it has just been so incredibly chilly these past few days! The good thing about the cold though are all the spectacular icicles, they are fantastic!

The last few days have been very busy.Lots of new guests have been arriving, combined with getting ready for christmas it has just been non-stop. Everyone, guests and staff, are all having a great time though.

Most of the lifts are now open, just waiting for a couple of important ones to open to enable the off pisters to get to far flung areas.

Naturally all the pistes are in great shape after all the snow, it is a winter wonderland.

Another perfect day!

The last two days really have been picture perfect, as has today. Reports are coming in thick and fast that it is the best start of season since 1997, lets hope it continues to be this fantastic!
Most of our Chalets in Val now have guests so our Hosts are all busy looking after them, the guests themselves are having a ball on the pistes.
Managed to catch up last night with a friend who's an off-piste ski guide. He'd been off piste in the day and was claiming it was brilliant, conditions were fab and it was all relatively quite safe despite the large amount of snowfall we had last week. When he says safe though, that's safe for someone experienced like himself who knows the mountains and the dangers intimately. Venturing off piste without a guide is just folly.
Not managed to get up the mountain myself in the last couple of days, hopefully this will change next week though. Been occupying myself in the office catching up on paperwork!
Did Manage to venture out to a local restaurant on Wednesday night, opted for Italian cuisine at the local and popular 'Casa Scara'. Located opposite the church the setting is perfect and the atmosphere most pleasant. The food was delicious, the portions were a little on the small side though, probably didn't help that we were absolutely starving when we went there! The price is perhaps a fraction higher than other restaurants in Val, but it is well worth it.
Anyone curious as to the picture, it's our poor pine tree in our Persval car park. My first season it was weenie, then over the seasons it's obviously grown, but now from the weight of the snow over the years, it has bent to an amazing degree, must be the wonkiest tree in Val!!

We have Sun!

Hurrahh for blue sky and a weeks worth of fresh snow!!
I managed to sneak away from the office for a few hours at lunchtime to venture up the mountain to see exactly where snow had fallen and how much had been blown to Italy!! Lucky for us, it looks like none went to Italy. The Pistes are looking fantastic, even
better, they were all but empty and ques for chair lifts just didn't exist! It was fantastic. Bring on more days like this is what I say!
However, despite fantastic snow, I do have to say it was baltic up there today, despite wrapping up and walking out the house looking like Michelin Man, my toes and fingers rapidly went numb, the cold was worth it though.
I went up the Bellevarde cable car then just cruised around doing some good old favorites which are non too stressful for the first day out. Ambled down the Vert to the Borsat express ( which I do believe to be theee coldest ski lift ever). Despite freezing on the lift, it was beautiful to look down and see all the sparkly snow underneath, looks somewhat like every woman in the world has dropped her diamonds there and they're all glistening up at the people passing overhead. Cruised on down to the Grand Pre lift and got sidetracked just cruising up and down the Grand Pre run, it's just too nice, and that chair lift has to be the best ever for getting a morning tan. Time escaped me so bolted up the Fontaine froid lift ( another chilly one), and then all the way down to La Daile on a mixture of runs, all of which were super. Didn't make it off piste at all, the snow was just pristine everywhere though!
All in all a fantastic day out there, lets hope there's more of the same tomorrow!!

Will it ever stop?

Snow, snow, snow! Still it comes down, this truely is a great start to the season. Despite constantly clearing a path, the snow on our doorstep is so high now it really is a mission leaving the house.

The guys are still busy with the snow machine and everywhere you look people are shovelling their driveways, paths and balconies!

Most shops and restaurants are now open in Val. Two of our guests went out last night and tried the restaurant 'Casserole' for dinner. They had fondue there which they claimed was fantastic and not too over priced.

Despite the difficult conditions on the pistes, the guests are still having a great time in the snow, and of course, in our chalets!!

The Endless Job!

More snow, more snow.

The guys are spending half their life clearing the car park of snow, only to turn their backs on it for thirty minutes and find it full again!! Val really is looking like a winter wonderland now though!

Most the staff have ventured onto the nursery slopes to play in the white stuff and they are loving it!

More and more pistes are being secured and pisted and once the high winds drop the conditions will be perfect!!

An old friend dropped by the office this evening who has worked as an off piste ski guide in Val for years, by all accounts he claims this is the best start to the season since 1996!! He'd been off piste today and was totally raving about the conditions!!

Richard working hard!!

We awoke to yet another snowy morning!!

Richard Finlay started out the day by digging out the pick-up truck in order to drive down the Valley. Snow always looks like it should be soft, fluffy and light, but it actually weighs a ton!! I managed to nip in past him to the warmness of the office to commence my day there!

We have even more guests now, all of whom are returning from their days out with good ski reports. It really is a great time to come skiing as the pistes are always so nice and quiet this early in the season and the ques very short!

We've all been too busy setting up the Chalets to venture up the mountain yet, we have all rented our skis and boards in preparation though and the lift passes are due to arrive tomorrow!

Yet more snow is forecast to fall overnight!

Skiing is Great!!!

Just a quickie to say the first guests of the season, who arrived last night, have been quizzed about the skiing to be had and they claim it is GREAT!!! Admittedly not everything is open yet but there is more than enough to keep everyone happy.

The snow is still falling and so no doubt more and more will open as the days go on.

First Guests have arrived!!

The snow just keeps on falling!

After a few manic days, our Chalets are all now spotless and the hosts are busy honing their cooking skills! We're loving being catered for and sampling all the delicious food on offer.

Our first guests arrived this evening, they are regulars of ours and I cant wait to talk to them tomorrow evening to see how the skiing went!

For those of you who read my daily weather forecast on the Finlays website, this picture is of our Persval car park. I venture out with my ruler each morning after a new snowfall and measure all the white fluffy stuff to report back to you exactly how much snow we've had!!

1st snow of the season!!

We returned from Les Coches to discover a light covering of snow had fallen over Val d'Isere. Hurrah for snow, the season is underway!!

We also saw the odd random skier, skiing down to La daille. The pisteurs really have done a great job getting some runs open for when the resort opened yesterday.

All the staff were thrilled to get to Val and see their Chalets and personal accommodation.

We have the staff, we have the snow, now we just have to wait for the first guests to arrive on Wednesday!!

We have staff!!!

All our staff arrived last night and we are all now in Les Coches for the training course! Everyone is getting along really well and it looks like we're set for a great season with hard workers.

Unfortunately during our lunch break, we noticed the Chalet next door (not one of ours) was producing quite a lot of smoke. It was established that it was in fact on fire and much drama then ensued with the fire brigade and police coming to put out the flames and do reports. What a nightmare for the poor owners. It really was a very sad sight to behold and such a tragedy. It really brought home to us all how quickly disaster can strike and also how much damage can be done in such a short amount of time, not only from the fire and smoke damage, but the water damage too.

Quite a scary experience.

Needless to say, our lunch break was extended for quite a long time, then the training continued.

We take all the staff back to Val tomorrow to introduce then to their Chalets and homes for the next 5 months!