New Year's Day

Firstly, thank you so much for your kind comments of my 4th year blip anniversary and for all the hearts and stars I was awarded. I appreciate it very much.

We had a wonderful evening last night - after feeling bit off all day and with bothersome ears I managed to perk up in time to enjoy the fun of last night. The restaurant we went to has an entertainer for New Year's Eve, and it was the same one man band from last year. When we walked in he recognised us so played all the songs we enjoyed very much last year - a mix of old music from CCR, Status Quo, Oasis, Neil Diamond (I still have Sweet Caroline ringing my ears!) and many more. Last year after too many glasses of wine, when he played You Can Keep Your Hat On, Gavin, who loves this song, got up and did a solo dance. This year, remembering that performance, he looked at Gavin and played it again and after much goading from us and some other diners Gavin got up and did his solo dance again, stripping off his shoe when the lyrics so requested. It was a very funny moment and I have the evidence on video to be used at an appropriate time!!

We walked home after dinner but stopped off to see the village fireworks which started at midnight - it is always a splendid display that goes on and on. Then Gavin and I went to bed, while the youngsters went out. The local bars all put on a party to which young and old attend, so it was a case of 14 year olds mixing with their parents and all ages in between. Adam and Molly got back at 2am but Luke and Thomas got back at 4am!! Needless to say no one was up early to ski today.

After a lazy morning at home we decided to get the gondola up one of the other mountain and go for a gentle walk. This mountain faces due south so it is very warm and sunny, and consequently it has had very poor snow this year. This is unfortunate as they have just invested SFR 15 million in new chairlifts and restaurants there, and the new chairlift is a super duper 6 seater with automatic closure of the bar and glass cover and has a seat warmer too. It was open for walkers so we rode it to the top of the peak enjoying the views, got off to walk around a bit and then came back down in it again. This is a view from up that mountain with the village lying below. You can see how little snow there is - however, heavy snow is forecast on Wednesday and Thursday of this coming week, just typical that it happens after we have left.

I have also added an extra of the lads all dressed up last night looking rather spiffy, and another of Adam and Molly who we have so enjoyed having to stay with us.

Now we are packing up as we depart very early tomorrow morning to fly home. So it is back home tomorrow and already back to school for Thomas on Tuesday, and his mock exams start on Wednesday. Nothing like a sudden start to the new year.