TIME & TIDE....

We've just been looking back at our original blog on http://alpscateredskichalet.blogspot.co.uk/  It's amazing to reflect on the past three years and realise how much has changed since those early days. Now we feel like veteran entrepreneurs on our way to our fourth successful summer season. No longer just newly weds with a common vision but parents to our beautiful Sofia too. What a lot we've accomplished and what a future we have ahead of us.

FAREWELL TO MEAT...HELLO CARNEVALE

This weekend Bardonecchia is preparing to celebrate four days of Italian Carnevale frivolity to mark the start of Lent. Originating in Venice in the mid 13th century to dispel the gloom of winter the spirit of carnival has spread throughout the world. The party kicks off on Saturday evening with a parade of floats around the streets with festive music and a profusion of coriandoli confetti setting the scene. The fun continues until Martedi Grasso Mardi Gras with masked balls, fancy dress ski races and street stalls serving cakes and warm drinks. The town and slopes will be at their busiest as Italians flood in to indulge their love of tradition at the same time as British families arrive for a half-term break. Fortunately a new dump of snow will mean that the pistes will be at their very best and the local cafés and restaurants will do their utmost to meet demand. Our guests will enjoy the best of both worlds by soaking up the atmosphere during the day whilst avoiding too much of the hubbub and mayhem as they relax over their meal in the calm of the chalet during the evening.
For more information on local events take a look at the town’s two websites http://www.bardonecchia.it and http://www.bardonecchiaski.com
February 5th 2013

FROM NURSERY TO NURSERY SLOPES

Skiing has always been a family affair for us when as youngsters we took to the nursery slopes from three years old. But what are you to do with young babies and toddlers before they develop their ski legs? No parent can enjoy their own holiday unless their offspring are happily settled and entertained. With Sofia now over a year old she loves the company of other children and so we take her to the local nursery just a short stroll from our chalet. Located on the same site as the Primary School il Nido (the Nest) is beautifully equipped and staffed by well-trained, sympathetic nursery nurses. A perfect solution for us with a flexible 30 hours of childcare for €225 to use as and when we wish, it’s proving to be a very popular option for our guests with younger children too. So instead of leaving your kids at home or hanging up your boots to gather dust for a couple of years, you can head out onto the slopes with a happy heart.
January 30th 2013

SNOW BLOWER FUN

So we are four weeks into our ski season and Christmas and New Year seem far behind us. Our season began back in early November putting the finishing touches to the chalet and testing out new recipes as we finalised our dinner menus with Pete the chef. Then we held our breath and waited for the snow and guests, hopefully in that order! Fortunately, both arrived in spades and since then Graeme has been putting his new toy, a snow blower, to the test clearing the drive and pathways leading from the chalet. Although it means an early start to the day and over an hour of hard labour before heading to the kitchen to cook full English breakfasts all round, it’s strange that he won’t relinquish the task despite several offers of help. There is obviously much satisfaction to be gained from tinkering with a temperamental engine and spraying snow into neat sculpted banks with his multi-directional chute. Now I’m not sure when we have a new dump of the white stuff whether his excitement is for a day’s boarding on the slopes or his dawn snow-clearing duties!

January 16th 2013