The Wrong Trousers

There is always one. Someone who goes skiing and forgets something fundamentally important, like skis, but it is not often one gets to the ski resort only to discover that one has packed ones sons salapettes instead of ones own.  However the Brits are the most adaptable of races so this relatively insignificant problem was overcome stoically with the addition of a belt as shown below;

I think Wallace and Grommit had it, The Wrong Trousers

I am forbidden to reveal who this person is, but anyone suggesting that it may have been the author of this column will be receiving a writ from my lawyers, Messrs Sue Grabbit and Runne.

A sublime morning skiing at La Rosiere was interrupted by some light cloud which produced some flat light, so, after a pit stop for a coffee with rum at 11 30 ish, someone had to volunteer to hold the table for lunch. Selflessly I put myself forward for this onerous and time consuming (literally) task, which meant I was excused a nasty red (this is skiing parlance for non skiers, reflecting the difficulty of the piste and does not have any meaning suggesting rawness of any part of the anatomy).

Lunch was thus taken at La Traversette above La Rosiere, where the house wine was a cheeky vin de Savoie, just about drinkable, but realistically only if you are intensely thirsty, but at 2 20 euros (£1 80 at today’s exchange rates) a glass, we struggled through to the digestives, which for me was a Marc de Bourgogne. I blame Peter Lynn for introducing me to the Marc’s, a clear spirit made from all the left overs of the grapes used in the wine process. It has the effect of vastly increasing ones confidence in ones skiing ability, at least in ones own mind.

View from inside La Traversette at La Rosiere in the Alps

I always find it important to keep the alcohol carbohydrate levels high when skiing, I find this is best acheieved by the administering of expresso and cognac in equal measure.  If one were to be so pedantic as to want to measure quantity then a figure of 4 may have entered the equation. Suffice to say that I skied with greater and greater confidence, and with greater and greater belief in my own ability as a skier. Sadly this confidence was not shared by my fellow skiers.

Last night to dinner with the Surtees family, those responsible for our impossibly impulsive trip up the mountains. A rather nice magnum 2005 Bordeaux was sacrificed for the cause along witha  couple of Sancerres of the white variety and I think it is safe to say that we all decided that we had skied very well as the last vestiges of wine evaporated into out various stomachs.

New Years eve tomorrow, so I must consider my new years resolutions in earnest. Perhaps the first one could be; I will not drink wine without a glass.

Chris France

Buying a house in France, moving money? www.currenciesdirect.net/chrisfrance

Latest local news? http://www.fr2day.com/

Best Estate Agency in Valbonne? http://www.rivierarealty.net/

Best French Riviera Property Agent?

http://www.afa-international.com/

http://frenchriviera-properties.com/

Rent my house in summer? http://www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/p412514

Rent a private villa in Provence? www.cotdazurvillarentals.com

Best on line resource in Valbonne? http://www.valbonneonline.com/

Secret supper club http://www.red-radish.com/

Wedding reception? http://www.bastidestmathieu.com/

Valbonne Tourist Office http://www.tourisme-valbonne.com

Top quality interior designer? http://www.marineguigue.com/

John Otway’s New  Book? www.johnotway.com

Modular portable exhibition system? http://www.creative-village.co.uk/web_ads/bigger_picture.html

Living France, Le Blog   http://livinginfrance.mon-coach-langues.com

Best Estate Agent in Mandelieu? www.chrisma.com

Ceramic Cafe in Biot? www.latassedecouleur.com

Rent a villa in Cote D’Azur? www.myperfectvilla.com

Find A House in Cote d’Azur? www.frenchrivierapropertysearch.com

Monthly Riviera News? www.rivieratimes.com

Local ex pat information resource? www.angloinfo.com

Yacht owner? http://www.yachtownersdirect.com/