January 2019 and a Happy New Year

We celebrated New Year in the UK and France this year, which was different to our normal ski trip.  

Toulouse

Charlie and I went to Toulouse and had a great time eating pizza, burgers and others children's favourites.  We went to the cinema and watched a few classic French kids films including the latest Asterix. We walked around Toulouse taking in the New Year ambiance.  Tom and Evie enjoyed seeing friends in the UK and spending some time with Grandad.

The children enjoyed the Christmas and New Year break and are now back at school.

It's cold today, but spring seems to be early, with violets and other spring flowers starting to appear...must get on with the gardening!

I am looking forward to the summer, markets and good seasonal produce.  This year I again hope to grow enough vegetables and fruit to allow us to cook a meal or two from the garden most weeks.  

We had an unfortunate loss of our two chickens.  So in the spring we will replace with eight more and maybe a few running ducks!

Why I love the mountains

Snow sculpture

Snowcat

This month I was lucky to go for a ski weekend with some friends and to see what is required to get our chalet house in Fontaine Le Puits ready to rent for the next ski season and for walkers and cyclists in the summer. 

We arrived by car, plane and van.  The village road was very icy, so we put on the snow chains.  Winter tyres required! 

Great to be in the mountains again.

We had a fabulous time in the three valleys skiing,  Courchevel, Mèribel, St-Martin de Belleville and Les Menuires.   We were lucky with the weather, blue skies, no wind and fantastic conditions.  With a huge snow fall in the village, we almost lost the car.  With an extra metre of fresh powder we had a great last day.  

You can check out the worlds largest ski area here:- https://www.les3vallees.com/en/

For our new venture Janine will design a web-site and I will take some photographs.  We have decided that as we have a good Gite business and we should add another property.

View onto terrace!

Ready for cement

We are converting the under barn for Janine's mum and the building work is going on at a fast pace.  Three weeks in and they are ready to complete the foundations, plumbing and first fix.  We will complete works by the end of March, so we can get ready for the new season.

The old cottage kitchen has been removed and the new floor is being installed followed by the new Martin Moore kitchen, complete with granite worktop.  A recycled set of patio doors will lead out on to the new terrace with views over the valley.  This will add to the cottage's charm.

I have a target to complete all upgrades by the end February, early March.   Looking forward to seeing the work completed, photos to follow of course.

View from Voie Verte

 

Great to cycle

Stream

We walk the Voie Verte converted disused train lines that are found all over France.  We have one nearby that runs between Albi and Castres (around 35K) great for walking or cycling.  

Here are a few photos from Janine's last walk. On a rare warm day with blue skies, sunshine and 16 degrees.

Roll on the warm weather