Camp de Base, in Montchavin
These past two winters have flown by. One season skipping to the next. It's been a productive time, starting with being owners of a bar and restaurant, called Camp de Base, in Montchavin. It has a great vibe for civilised après ski; not your standing-on-the-table kind of crowd, more locals and holidaymakers, including a good crowd of French and English, enjoying a drink and discussing their day spent on the slopes.
Above the restaurant there are two chalets that I've taken on to run as B&Bs to start this winter. I'm excited to create an affordable ski holiday experience, one that I would want to go on with my own family. Please take a look at the Accommodation and Availability pages on my website for more information.
Home-wise, it hasn't changed that much, just an ongoing of updating furniture and inside decor. We are about to redo our outside balconies at the front to create one large one, and we want to add some parking for our two cars, as well. Our roof needs to be replaced. We keep putting it off, as it will cost our savings!! Eeek! We've created our home in the two middle floors, like a lot of old French homes, so we're okay for the time being.
Our kids are amazing! I'm always very proud to hear them speak French with their Français accents. They now talk and argue to each other in French; I'm not sure they realise they do it. They've got the mannerisms, too, the "ooh-la-las" when asked to do something they don't want to; it's very funny.
Their skiing is superb! They've been competing as they're in the local ski club. We often go to watch them in slalom and giant races against other clubs. At the end of last season they came 3rd and 4th in La Plagne.
I didn't get out snowboarding as much as I would have liked last season, but I did eventually buy myself a split board in the end-of-season sale. I'm very chuffed with it! I'm already looking forward to the POW descents for this winter.
We're in October now, just about to head back to the UK to see family and good mates. After that it's full steam ahead for this winter season, getting the chalets and bar ready to greet our 2024/25 guests. See you soon!
And what a relief not to be mentioning the C word in my diary this time. Like the beer I mean. ;)