Catching up.....

More than two weeks of mayhem with the family has landed us neatly into French School Holiday time. Last week's  invasion from Marseille was just the start of it........

{From the cafe at Molines - chairlift full, and proper queues...}

If you're used to skiing in the larger resorts then this probably looks quite quiet but I can assure you that normally there are no queues here.

The bizarre thing is that even the retired or those without children at school still choose to take their holidays during this month of madness. At Ceillac a couple of days ago we chatted to a French couple with a holiday apartment in the village. They had come from Valence where they lived after retiring. They were very knowledgeable about Scotland as they had a daughter who had worked in Aberdeen. They weren't skiers but had been walking. I did ask myself why they had chosen to come during such a busy time.

Of course, during this month everything operates at full throttle - supermarkets are open longer, restaurants spring up everywhere, there are plenty of non-skiing activities to try. On the down side, the roads are busy, the shops are crowded and the prices go up!

{Waiting patiently behind the wheel.......}

Our skiing days are now confined to arriving at the car park around mid-day - when quite a few leave for lunch. The pistes are emptier until just after 2 p.m. when the hordes return. We stop for our picnic lunch while they get themselves organised on the chair-lift, in ski classes or go up the drag lifts. After that we join them on the slopes, trying to avoid any crowded parts. It's amazing how used you get to skiing on more or less empty pistes!

{At Ceillac, finding a good view at lunchtime}

There are loads of cleaning and tidying jobs to do around the house after our visitors from Shanghai have gone. Both children loved the skiing and their parents had time to relax. They all enjoyed the fresh air and lack of pollution in the Alps. I haven't downloaded all the photos yet but here's a sample......

{Playing in the Igloo at Abries....}

{Brodie confidently on the tow...}

{Maree trying to beat Mum down the hill....}

Time to load the washing machine....again!