We’re here
the view from the patio on arrival in Chatel
We made it. That is we got through four nights at Mum’s without collateral damage and, after a brief stop at R&C’s for tea (thanks! – we didn’t stay overnight because Caroline has the same throat that C had) and I drove to Chatel overnight.
Mum’s was as best as might be expected. We didn’t do a great deal – she was more than happy not to leave the house, although I did walk her to the local shop on Christmas Eve – and so it was three whole days of TV, light chat and food. Christmas Day was quiet; C
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everyone should have one of these … and a mother
knocked up a fab lunch and then we settled in for Paddington 2. We stayed Boxing Day, which we weren’t expecting, and headed off on the 27th. There were a few harsh words here and there, which we all must take some responsibility for, but overall with rubbish weather and locked in the same four walls, we managed it. At 86 and frail it may well, of course, be her last. I asked her about that. She was not in anyway worried; not necessarily looking forward to joining Dad, but not afraid of it. She is an amazing woman in so many ways.
The journey to Chatel was different from anything I’ve experienced before. C had made it clear that she wasn’t feeling up to driving and I’d made the choice that we’d drive through the night, rather than catch an early ferry and get to Chatel in the evening. I never relish heading up the valley when it’s dark. Last year, you may remember, we drove up in snow and I hit the curb and got a flat. I was determined not to do that again. We have 4-season tyres and chains, but even so.
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at Dover. Yes, burger and chips …
On the other hand the last time we travelled overnight I promised myself I would never do it again. It can be extraordinarily tiring (obviously). But it does mean you arrive at the resort in daylight – if you haven’t driven into a ditch by then. This year, and clearly without thinking, we had decided to travel down on a Saturday … which is handover day, on the biggest changeover of the year, Christmas to New Year. I checked the traffic and the view was that it would be horrible. So we needed to get there early.
In the end it was easy. I stopped for two 30 minute naps and only felt tired once. We think the reason was because we had an audio book playing (a Jack Reacher), or maybe I was feeling well? I dunno … but we hit Chatel at 11.00 am without seeing any traffic of note. We were unloaded an hour and a half later (if we get snowed in, C has ensured we have enough provisions for two weeks, which is always fun when the apartment is down three flights of stairs.) and I sat on the patio in fabulous sunshine and got a half-hour tan.
And hats off to the Focus. Yet again the old girl didn’t miss a beat (14 years old). I averaged 60-65 mph all the way and she just pottered along. Fab.
We will be out of here three weeks today. That is the longest we’ve ever stayed in a ski resort (thank you so much E&A!). It doesn’t quite tick the box of spending a season in the snow, but it’s a good chunk. And the snow is OK, the weather set fair for the next week at least – we couldn’t be luckier.
Will let you know how it goes!
