Saturday

The day that we have been waiting for since long before the house officially became ours finally came. It was our first day on the slopes at Superbagneres!

Unfortunately this also meant yet another early start to the day, it was almost dark still. I tried my very best to be as nice as possible but it doesn’t come naturally first thing, although I consoled myself with thinking that if we were going from the UK we’d be up at 5am to go to the airport, instead we were on the slopes about 30mins after leaving home which wasn’t bad.

Weather first thing certainly wasn’t anything to write home about, even if that is exactly what I am doing. It was very foggy when we got up on the mountain, you could make out people from enough of a distance but the light was completely flat so hard to see any definition in the snow. To make things worse – or possibly oddly better – you simply couldn’t see very far so very difficult to read the slope more than maybe 10m ahead making it quite interesting when you dropped over the edge. Gradually the sun did start to try and make an appearance.

After skiing the Lac a couple of times we then headed over to investigate Lozza and Sebastien’s place so had to take on the Hount-Estrete. One sign, placed rather terribly a long way before the turn onto the run nearly caused me to ski straight off a drop into the off-piste, on later inspection the top of that wouldn’t have been terrible but you’d soon find yourself on rocks having to very carefully pick your way through something not very nice. Thankfully Matt passed me and spotted the actual turn before I could went over, for which I am incredibly grateful.

[Piste map here: https://www.esf-superbagneres.com/public/files/plans/plandespistes.pdf]

Almost at the bottom and my legs were already really aching, all of a sudden I mistimed a turn and did a not unspectacular teddy bear roll winding myself a little in the process. After a short lie down to catch my breath I was back up on my feet. Thankfully Matt had somehow spotted that my phone had gone flying out of my pocket and picked it up. Once at the bottom it was time for a drink.

Another couple of runs and my legs were burning. The weather was gradually starting to improve too so a nice break now and hopefully we will have a clear afternoon – although unclear how long my legs will last. I’m sure it never used to be like this, we’d ski all day even on the first day and in the evening be dancing on the bar in our ski boots. Matt helpfully reminded me that I am not as fit as I used to be and much older, thanks darling.

Lunch was great, I went for the baked camembert while Matt had the plat du jour – duck a l’orange, the sauce was incredible. With the food out of the way we headed out to the terrace for a drink in the sun. It was honestly beautiful, we are so lucky to live here and have this on our doorstep.

Back on the slopes and some patches were a bit more frightening than they had been when we couldn’t see them. Definitely a few places where the snow had been pushed off and were a bit icy and some of the parts were rather steeper than previously imagined. I could already feel it in my legs again so we started to make our way back to the telecabine. As we headed down to a road bit I got Matt to go first in case I needed to tow him. It didn’t quite work out like that however as once I started I realised that I had very little strength left in my legs to turn – which is the same thing you do to both slow and stop. Suddenly I go tearing past Matt at a slightly frightening speed, stayed on my feet but was very glad to reach the flatter part and lose some speed, I quickly drew much of the last strength in my legs to brake as another skier was meandering down the road. Finally the last section of the run and we’re nearly down, as I turn to stop for a short breather a teenager went running straight into the back of me and took me out. He asked if I was ok but didn’t even apologise.

At the bottom and we decided that it was only fit and proper to have a drink at La Chapelle, where we’d had drinks with mum, Tonia, Lee and Vicky when we were house hunting.

After a quick hot chocolate we were soon heading back to Luchon.

Back at home and once the essentials are done – bringing in some more wood and getting the fire going – it seemed like a good time to call mum. Thankfully I managed to get her before she went over to my god mothers for dinner. Good timing for a call too as the calendar that I made for her turned up today. After a good chat it was time for us to have dinner, this skiing thing is hard work and certainly builds an appetite. Leftover roast pork, potatoes and gravy.

A quick shower and bit of TV and Matt is off for an early night. Although I’d almost fallen asleep twice I figured that a can of coke was just the thing to keep me going and get the day’s blog entry done. So now it is, I’m off to bed.

[8 January 2022]

Sunday

Matt was watching TV and relaxing downstairs so I decided to stay in bed and watch what I wanted to avoid compromise. Ok.. you got me, I was having a bit of a lie in and then dozing on and off between watching shows but I was up quite late doing the blog updates. After months of being very behind we are now up to date – on the writing at least, we still need to drop in all the pictures and get Matt’s update – I’ll try my hand with that again tomorrow.

Matt came up around 1:30 to check if I was awake, just as I was finishing the latest box-set of something unimportant but it bought me another 10 minutes. It seems he has been a little more productive as he’s also made some more of Muma Camp’s marvellous muffins – there were 12 but they disappear quickly round here.

Not long before he’s back though and ready to crack on. First job was to do the ‘goop’ – apparently this is some super strong stuff that is kind of like cement but is used to stick on the plasterboard direct to the wall and to fill the gap between the wall and metal where the wall is all bendy to stop it flexing. He started with the gap first and then moved on to the top of the wall.

Yes, there is a gap right at the top but, in my infinite wisdom, I have decided that your standard spot lights will be the best thing in the room so that it has plenty of light and can be placed where we want, nothing worse than a dark bathroom. As we don’t want to mess with the floors upstairs too much the dropped ceiling will provide flexibility and will hardly be noticeable in an ensuite as the ceilings are already plenty high enough. It will also provide space for extraction of moisture without encroaching on the space too obviously. [Of course, because every choice has been discussed and examined at length.]

The next job is to get the door in. Sounds simple enough but requires a lot of measurement, planning and adjustment. The left hand side wall needs to be made to measure as the wood frame sits inside the metal frame. The bottom also needs to be measured to ensure that the gap at the bottom is right – allowing for things like the gradient of the transition piece and finished flooring. The whole thing feels a bit wobbly as the door opens and closes. Although it will become much more robust once the plasterboard goes on as it seems best to reenforce it a bit. Finally it looks pretty good.

In terms of renovations, doors are quite exciting. They are a clear sign of solid progress, decisions made and rooms becoming, well.. rooms separated from other places. There’s still more work to do to finish it off clearly but this is a bit step forward.

Time for dinner. After a few days of roast dinners I’d decided while laying in bed we should move to a more ‘Boxing Day’ feel. So tonight we are having a variation on bubble and squeak with cold pork and (hot) beans. It was lovely.

Once we’re done with dinner Matt cracks on finally with his blog update while I finish the laundry. Since blogs take so long I decided that I should probably grab his phone and get his pictures so I can finish off all the other blogs I’ve written. Eventually he’s done – and with a new appreciation for how long it takes – so we decide to take a break and relax. Now he’s gone to bed I’m just going to get today’s written.

[9 January 2022]

Monday

Finally time for our boosters so we’re off to Lannemzan. They noticed that we were there together so took us in together, which turned out to be rather fortunate as for some reason neither of my previous vaccines were showing on my dossier. The first vaccines had been done on my temporary number and seems didn’t get transferred across for some reason, but they were on my Pass Sanitaire on my phone so she was able to take the details from Matt’s record and copy them across. Otherwise all pretty quick and painless – I am now the epitome of the Modern(a) Woman – 3 for 3.

On the way back we had a quick stop at Lidl for the exciting purchase of a new steam mop, Weldom to look at paints – unfortunately the selection didn’t cut the mustard as I’d already made my mind up on what I want and it had more of a hint of grey; we also saw a handle which I quite liked but it seems a bit spendy for what it is so will think longer and look elsewhere. Thankfully I remembered where I’d seen it and even the name of the colour so we stopped off at Rural Master too. Paint is oddly expensive here and often hard to get a tester pot but this is the one I had in my head so need to now paint up a board and see if I still like it. Of course I reserve the right to change my mind, although this will only be permitted until we get the board in and then I’m going to have to live with it so let’s wait and see.

The weather has been pretty epically miserable today. The river is super high and lots of flooding on the surrounding farmland. It was pretty impressive. Superbagneres was apparently closed today due to the conditions but looks as though the snow has probably been coming down heavy with more expected tomorrow. With any luck it will be a bight day on Wednesday and we can find some time to sneak off early and get a few runs in. Hopefully our new discount cards will be here by then too.

Back home and time to concentrate on work. The delivery guy had called while we were out and dropped our new wood store for the kitchen on the veranda so Matt made it up after work while I cleaned up. I think it looks pretty good myself.

Matt accused me of having a short nap while watching Gold Rush so I reassured him that actually I was very busy, my body was fighting Covid again from the vaccine. A bit of TV and relaxation and Matt’s off to bed. The cat was outside most of the day since we’d gone for our boosters and she was a pain last night so I’ve been trying to play with her so that she gets tired and stays in the kitchen. I think she might almost finally be asleep now so I can wrap this up and get to bed myself – I’d rather be up late than early and if this stops her waking us up it’s worth a shot.

[10 January 2022]

Tuesday

Another early morning. Today we are off to register with the doctor. They are based at St Beat but also do sessions at Marignac which is handy as it’s less than 5 min walk from home right by the station – even if it isn’t fully up and running. It was also incidentally the first time we ever went through the St Beat tunnel which is almost always closed and why the trucks end up going past our place instead.

At the salle de sante (doctors office) we found out that their card machine isn’t working so Matt had to go get cash. [In France you ‘pay’ €25 for your appointment which is then refunded to your account from the state. This is usually done without any money changing hands on your Carte Vitale (health card) or for larger fees not covered by the state refunded from your health insurance in the same way. But, occasionally the technology doesn’t work, like today, and you pay in cash and then they give you a refund.]

[Matt journey to bank]

They were about half an hour late with the appointment but by the end of it we had been given a range of referrals to set up and officially have a nominated doctor (medicin traitant) so that’s something. Weather is much better today but lots of local roads still closed as they work to clear them.

Time to get to work and make some money to pay for the house.

[11 January 2022]

Wednesday

Good morning! Ok, I still struggled but I didn’t complain very much – having convinced Matt that we don’t need to be up at 7am, 9 was ok.

So why is that a thing? I don’t even like 9am – but I will take that for a half day blue bird ski trip and ‘sacking off work’. I say that flippantly of course, as I am only officially contracted (and paid) for 4 days and Matt took a half day. Either way we are off up the mountain for what should be a lovely day.

In all honesty it wasn’t ideal, more routes were closed than we’d expected and despite the recent snow it seems that yesterday’s sun has just made some crushed ice. A few quick runs and then back up to the top for a break.

I fancied one more before we left, ok two. But the second one was good, some soft fresh snow almost untouched. I couldn’t leave without bringing Matt down it too so on the last quick run we just about managed to head off the impending ski schools and finished on a high note.

Back at home and work is beckoning, loudly. Meow found her comfortable spot while I just got on with interview and recruitment prep/feedback – wish I could just get Tonia to do it.

More wood needed but thankfully Chaney is on it. Time for dinner. Since Matt has not really taken time off but pushed back his day he is still working so it is up to me. And today is tartiflette.

Matt had put on the boiler so time for a quick haircut before his shower, with a little support. While he was in there I was reflecting on the day and the weekend. Although I’m starting to get back into the swing of things the one thing I do recognise is that everyone benefits from a bit of help. I’m not as young and confident as I once was. It seems that my mountain guide and local tourist office, Lozza, knows someone that can help. A good ski instructor who has good English so can hopefully work on my technique and take Matt to build his confidence as a skier.

Short time to relax and then it is bed and blog and now bed.

[12 January 2022]