At last!!

At last we can put some pictures on for everyone to see why we've been working so hard. There are a few finishing touches still to go, art work to put up etc but at least you can now see what we're raving about. The bedrooms look fab, better in fact than I imagined.

3 weeks to go

I can't believe a month has gone by and I've only just got round to posting new pics. It seems a little bit of a waste of time as they're already out of date and there will be more next week. We are just days away from getting the keys and everything is slightly chaotic as we desperately pack up box after box of lovely stuff to go down to Brevieres. I'm a bit envious if I'm honest,it all looks so beautiful I almost want to keep it at home.But,let's not be side tracked it's time for the talk to turn to the serious stuff, like whose responsibility is it to collect the fire wood and where can we buy a Christmas tree!

No time to write, just take a look

Blimey, I hope its sustainable!!

There certainly is a lot of wood going in to this place. I suppose it's understandable, we are surrounded by it. I'm assured that we are not just ripping chunks out of the National Park to build the perfect ski home. This is a picture of the underneath of one of the balconies and although it's difficult to see, they are huge slabs of wood, entire trunks, carved to shape. I've never thought about it before, but these buildings certainly use a lot of forest. It's interesting to see how it's managed. If there is an avalanche further down the valley,the trees that have been knocked down are salvaged and stacked neatly to be used later. Any wood from old buildings that can be saved is retreated and used again in the new building, in fact we have a lot of the old wood from the original farmhouse in the master bedrooms, it looks fantastic. I guess it's reassuring to know that nothing goes to waste, especially when you're paying for it!!

Oh please give me a day off!!!

Another very unpleasant job had to be dealt with last month. It's just slog, slog and more slog.It was time to find a gem of a champagne and slog it was. Actually it did pour with rain constantly and I did have to drive as far as Brevieres and back in two days. However we met some lovely producers. Mrs H as always, was very concerned about quality and grape variety, whilst I was mainly concerned with my French grammar or lack of. I thought I was doing rather well until, after speaking in my very best Francais for at least twenty minutes with one of the Gimmonet brothers, he broke in to perfect English, delivered in a fantastically sexy french tone. It was only after such a shock and tasting 5 different delicious champagnes that I was obliged, as he left the room briefly, to mention to Mrs H that he was actually rather sexy. Oh OK, OK so I got distracted, but there's no need to worry such a facetious remark was soon dismissed and I was back on track in no time! Gimmonet really is a wonderful champagne, not too easy to get here but worth the hunt.

Builders Bum

Gosh, what a busy summer! I don't think I've ever seen so many builders in one place. You can hardly move inside Chalet de la Cloche for denim and tool belts. However I must admit that I am a bit disappointed because I have been waiting patiently to add some lovely exterior shots so that everyone can see the real thing rather than an artists impression. It seems we have to wait a bit longer as all the fancy bits that make the chalet beautiful, like the bardage (wood cladding), balconies and stone work, go on last. Never mind, I can offer some proof that they are actually working on the balconies and I've even managed a glimpse of French knickers for the ladies!

View From The Salon Balcony

What a great view, it will be even better covered with snow in a few months time. It almost feels as though you could put your skis on, jump off the balcony and straight on to the nursery slopes.