Learning to Live a mountain dream.

Life at Chalet L’Oreade has flown by to a point now in February where an open sheet lies in-front of us, on which will be written many more tales of glorious sunshine, snow and tom foolery. But for now lets focus on the stories from the last few weeks.

Christmas saw some of the best conditions of recent winters, skiing was fantastic and blue-bird skies were a common place companion to each day. In fact this year has been typified by very clear skies and quick one day snowfalls.

New year’s eve, and Chalet L’Oreade was host to a soiree for the local vicars and tarts. Robin Giles esquire came representing the cross-dressing constituents of the valley, accompanied by an eighties throwback welsh dancing queen. ‘Holy smoke!’

The Swedish brethren were also present in the form of ‘Halifax’ Toni, a true purveyor of fine cuisine, and ‘Flexible Dave’ who wooed people with his cereal box manoeuvres. A feast was prepared by  Mrs Giles, a classic English lady, accompanied by a priest whom has been on travelling on Safari in recent times, the right Reverend G.Giles. Father William Giles, who although short of sight, managed to catch a fine princess for the evening to accompany him to the rather humorous gathering, a miss L. Statham of dubious employ. To top the evenings vast array of characters a Mr T.Searby was to grace us with his presence. For those that do not know this young gentleman he is often mistaken to be of the fairer sex due to his particularly gentile facial complexion. His belle for the evening was the fallacious Charlie, tease and courtesan of high society gatherings back in our homeland of the United Kingdom.

The evening was a fine gathering of many different ideas and expressions of the present day. After searching for many treasures amongst our home we reflected on the merit of alcohol in modern society. A real test was laid out for us all after a stupendous feast consisting of fishes and rare meats, when each of our spirits were tested by the cereal box collection. A real spectacle for the ladies and menfolk, as each of us battled to retrieve the last forgotten pieces of that sacred cardboard relic we all start the day with. As the box was harder to pluck into the air, so the groans and contortions increased. Father Dave emerged victorious closely followed by Halifax Toni and Mrs Giles. A splendid night was had by all at the mountainside retreat of Chalet L’Oreade as the cold night air and snowy slopes listened intently to our plight.