who hit the freeze button …

Life is presently rather sweet. The air may be thinner at 3600m and admittedly a tad cooler, but I can’t think of a better way to finish my recuperation than lying on a sun-lounger, dozing off to the ambient tones of Morcheeba.

We have returned to Les 2 Alpes – our third visit in 3 successive years which is something of a record for us considering the family’s appetite for travel and exploratory pursuits. There was a small change to the accommodation arrangements this year: Les Amis de la Montagne could not or rather did not want to take a mid-week booking so we are installed at the Les Lutins, a simple but functional family run hotel, situated rather conveniently opposite the main Jandri ski lift. Most of the Parisians (who incidentally ski the same way they drive) departed yesterday and we are not expecting the incoming Brits to hit the slopes until Sunday morning … great news for J and the boys, whose skills under the tutelage of Charlotte Swift (of Easiski), have come on leaps and bounds – a tribute to her passion for the sport which she imparts so effortlessly to her students. As for me, I’m happy just to be Caddy Daddy and go for the occasional trek down to Venosc village … gall stones are also a great excuse to put your snow-booted feet up and generally chill 😉

state of the union …

One of the side effects of being weaned off my nightly dose of pain killers is insomnia … and when you find yourself suddenly wide awake at 2 o’clock in the morning, the option to tune into the BBC’s live streaming of Dubya addressing the nation seemed more appealing than staring out at a dark star-less sky, counting sheep. And I’m glad I did, because it was enlightening to see how differently American politicians behave in public compared to their British counterparts. Lose the pomp of the ceremony, the power suits and hundred dollar hair do’s and you are left with a bunch of demure and generally well-behaved folks who seemed genuinely engaged during President Bush’s speech – a stark contrast to the crass heckling of the Ne’er-do-wells and barrow boy antics that British MPs feel obliged to display during sessions in Westminster. There is another big difference: in Britain, support on a given issue is often gauged by the comparative volume of ‘Aye’ over ‘No’ while in the US, congress demonstrate their support on points of policy by applauding the speaker with a standing ovation! A somewhat tiresome trait, but nonetheless visually effective from a television perspective …

I’m in my final days of convalescence. Yipee!!! While mobility has returned (I now find myself able to do normal things … like getting out of bed, taking a shower and making my own lunch), tiredness falls quickly and suddenly … which is enough of a worry to avoid driving – narcolepsy is forgivable behind a computer screen, but alas not behind the wheel of a car. And there is still the little matter of twangs and twinges after a meal, but I am advised by my uncle (a retired surgeon) that these sensations are normal while bits and pieces fall into place.

Other news … our house goes on the market at the end of the week. I can’t honestly say that we have put in our best effort to make it look enticing and compelling to buy – a result of my limited mobility and the fact that demolition works to the pub next door have left the site looking like a war zone, but que sera sera …