THIS AND THAT

Sunday saw us staying indoors all day and having friends over for lunch.  I cooked the traditional Bobotie, it was great and they were either really polite or really did like it. 

Still lots of snow on the ground and it's turning into somewhat of an ice rink.  It's -13C today and by the time I got back from taking the boys to school (I walk) I was frozen through.  I have to go do some shopping and not having a car as Manu is working, I may just run there.  I didn't realise how cold -13C actually was.

The boys came home after school at 16h30 starving and Manu came home for a break so we had pancakes. 

Other than that not much happening.  I have to get a hobby as suggested by my friend Heather to keep me busy.  When Manu is working I feel very lonely and trapped here but when he's home it all seems cozy and fine. 

I have to shop for mittens for Benjamin today, we are on our third pair and none seem to fit so the poor chap is on his way to frost bite. 

Keeping warm inside and watching the neighbours braving the cold

Bobotie

Pancakes for Gouter (tea)

-10C

Well it's -10 C and if you're South African and it's snowing what do you do?  You go sledging. So seeing as we actually don't own any sledges it was early Christmas for the boys and a luge each and off we set.  It hasn't stopped.   It snowed over 30 cm yesterday and today it hasn't stopped.  It doesn't feel that cold as it's a dry cold but eventually your extremities start to freeze.  The boys love it, Benjamin is a bit 'agggh there's snow on my nose, it's cold, get it off'  Samuel couldn't care less and the more snow the better.  The roads are really icy and I am to scared to drive in it.  I'm off for Gouter to Stephanie's at 4pm where the kids will have crepes and me a nice hot coffee.   The nice thing about coming home after a cold walk out is HOT CHOCOLATE.

This is what the kids wear to school to keep dry 

Who needs a dog

It's hard work actually

Pull daddy

And boy it is still snowing

HOT CHOCOLATE

AAHHHH THE ENGLISH

Went for tea at a lovely chalet owned by an English lady and her French husband down the road, I was taken by Muriel, who is French but speaks perfect english.  There we met two other english ladies, and had tea with milk.  What a pleasure.  The French only drink tissane or flavoured tea and usually black, so a good cuppa with some lovely english accents a nice slice of  deliciouis home made chocolate cake made my day.

QUIET WEDNESDAY

Kids off school today as usual as there is no school here on a Wednesday.  It make for a different week.  So we went for a walk in the woods to blow away the cobwebs.  It's been snowing lightly all night and today is the coldest I've experienced here, it's -3C but I see by the reports should drop to -11C by Friday. 

I was almost tempted to tell Manu to quit and we all move back to CT, but after some fresh air and beautiful views I am feeling uplifted.  I am going to climb into bed and read my book, yes it's the middle of the day but what else am I going to do.  Tomorrow is another day hey.

You can see the snow guns blowing snow in the distance - getting ready for ski season

The church in Praz

WINTER IS ARRIVING

Well winter is arriving with the snow falling thick and fast this morning.  I am settling in nicely here, and feel less claustrophobic with a car.  Manu doesn't work till mid December so we are planning to do little things with the kids.

SWIMMING...Samuel is swimming at the local leisure centre twice a week with the school.  They go by bus and have a number of instructors.  They are split into groups and I was surprised at how organised it is.  The leisure centre has a huge viewing bridge, so we went along this morning with Grandmere and Aunty Fifi to take a peek.  So impressed and the school has only 75 kids in it, Gosh our schools in SA are three times the size and there is no such thing as a bus.

ROMAIN.... is Samuel and Benjamin's cousin and he has been visiting for the week.  The kids are completely enamored with him.  He is such an adorable little being.

THE AIR....is so dry here in the Alps, you are constantly putting hand cream on.  I was surprised at how dry it is actually, and it's almost unpleasant at times, with your nose and eyes drying out completely.  I now sleep with a humidifier.  O the luxury.

Samuel, Romain and Benjamin

FRESH AIR

Went out Sunday afternoon with Manu's mom and sister for some fresh air to Combloux which is just down the road but you have the most spectacular views of Mount Blanc. 

Benjamin

Grandmere

FAMILY GUILLET

Well the family Guillet are here this weekend and it was off to a chalet in the middle of no where to celebrate Julien's 30th birthday - Claire's boyfriend.  Fun had by all and a very late night we went luging in the morning hoping the fresh air would wake us all up.

Fifi, Maman and Claire

All the friends - Claire and Juliene in the middle

The dancing queen

Seb the king of rice pudding

The veiw from the top floor of the chalet

My cake

The most fabulous rice pudding

The chalet

The birthday boy

Sam and Ben joining in the celebrations

PUDDING ANYONE?

When your guest says I'll bring dessert you say YES please.  This is what we had the other night at a dinner party we threw.  Yummy yummy.

GOSH.........

........I haven't written since Sunday.  Well the car's here, a little Dacia from Renault, and it's such a dream to drive a car that you know won't break down round the corner.  Not a fab pic but it was pouring rain and now it's chucking snow so I have to wait for a sunny day. 

I've spent my day shopping for boots and warm clothing as we sorted the kids out when we got here but forgot about me - isn't that usually the way of the mom.  It was also the coldest day today so I realised pretty quickly that my SA winter clothing and shoes just weren't going to do. 

We have transport now so we have squashed the Christmas shopping in two days flat.  I am taking advantage of Manu not working because come December he's going to be busy busy.

FUN IN THE SNOW

Such a beautiful day but snow still high up so we went a little higher than Praz and took the kids Luging.  Such fun and good exercise.  Here are the kids.........

CHAMONIX

The sun came out yesterday so we were off to Chamonix.  It was a public holiday in France so the roads were nice and quiet.  A pretty drive and 30 minutes later we were there.  A really nice town I thought, but cold.  The Mount Blanc towers over the whole town so not much sun but worth a visit with it's little streets and traditional shops. 

The drive to Chamonix

Feeding the ducks at Chamonix

Mount Blanc

Chamonix