2010 has started with loads of snow - just like the UK, and contrary to popular belief it is not just the UK that grinds to a halt! Lorries just stop and their drivers get out and wander off, the schools open but only a few children arrive and the shops are empty of food and customers!

We have just returned from a brilliant week in North Yorkshire with our 5 children and their friends and several of our friends who live in that part of the world. Now we are off to the Alps with 16 friends to celebrate both Frances's half century and that of our good friend Jane. We have hired a chalet and will pass the week indulging in lots of apres ski and too much food in very good company.

And, all the time we are living it up we are waiting for our planning permission for our little house in the Alps! Having submitted the plans in October after spending a month camping in the house whilst demolishing the interior, we received a letter telling us we had to build covered parking with the house as this is the regulations in the commune. Not having taken measurements for this we packed up our motorhome, Henrietta, and dashed off down to Bonnecine to measure up, draw plans, visit the Mairie and join our neighbours for many glasses of wine!

We set off in pouring rain and arrived in Annecy on the Sunday evening to mild weather (this was the end of November) and a lovely tranquille evening. We awoke the next morning to a foot of snow and mad chaos as the traffic ground to a standstill without their winter tyres in place!

We managed to make our way through the snow to Bonnecine and passed a happy few days working on our application and seeing friends and returned to Normandy to prepare for a quiet Christmas and time with french friends.

Here in Normandy we have put a new fire in Le Manchion, decorated the house and done a lot of small but necessary jobs. Chataigne has been spruced up for the new season and Primevera has been let for most of the year. The B&B has also had a few changes and we have great plans for this summer.

And today - 16 April, the work has started with the demolition of the chimney, internal concrete floor and fire place - more to come down before we start to rebuild but very exciting.


 

Best wishes to all our family, friends and lovely guests and watch this space for news of the wild and woolly happenings in our lives!

Geoff and Frances