Weeks 19 to 23

Tuesday 4 December – Thursday 6 December 2007

Lots of work on the boat. Darryl started on cleaning off the old anti-fouling – a thankless job that looks like it will take forever whilst Christine started cleaning the inside of the boat. On Thursday Christine sneaked off to the hairdresser to get herself tidied up for starting work next week! Darryl is now beardless again (thank goodness!!!!) and looking much better (well, Christine thinks so anyway!!). We had a lovely surprise one afternoon when our French friends from St Gilles turned up to visit us and to check we had made it safely. They stayed for a coffee and a chat – it was lovely to see them again.

Friday 7 December – Tuesday 11 December 2007

More cleaning, rubbing and scrubbing. Christine had a small accident one day when the plastic storage box she was standing on to clean the outside of the boat gave way and she landed with a bump on the floor. It was like something from a Carry On moving – Darryl, who was inside the boat, had heard her fall and came running out and thought she had fallen off the ladder and shouted “stay where you are I am coming” but then could not find the ladder to get down as Christine had moved it … another shout of “stay there I am coming” whilst he located the ladder …. half way down “don’t move, I’m coming” by which point Christine was in fits of laughter having watched Darryl running up and down the deck in a frenzy trying to get down ….. and when he eventually made it down he said “oh, I thought you had fallen off the ladder, not just through a plastic box”. Luckily there was just a grazed knee and a few bruises .. but it meant Christine got out of doing the cleaning for the afternoon!!!

Met a couple of English chaps, Ray and Phil, whose boat was docked just by ours. Spent a couple of (very) late nights drinking and chatting with them and then Phil invited us for a curry … and what a feast! It was luxury for us to spend time on their boat as they have heating!! Phil and Ray are heading for the Greek islands in March so hopefully we will see them again. On our last night in Port St Louis we went to the local bar with Phil and Ray to watch the Liverpool –v- Marseille football match. Being the only English in there we tried to play down our excitement as Liverpool went into a 4-0 lead and then on to win the game …. then the very nice owner kindly bought us all a drink!

Wednesday 12 December 2007

Up early to get everything sorted before heading off to start work in Megeve. Arrived at the train station with an hour to spare so Darryl wisely used the time to find some shops to buy Christine some Birthday presents! After being picked up from Geneva and transferred to Megeve we saw our first bit of snow as we climbed the mountain – and what a pretty place it is. There had been a huge downfall of snow a few days ago so the village was looking like a picture postcard. The chef for the hotel was already there and had kindly prepared a hot meal for our arrival. We stayed at the hotel for the first few days as our apartments were not ready.

Thursday 13 – Saturday 15 December 2007

Awoken by the resident cat meowing and scratching at our door. Apparently the cat had arrived on the doorstep in September and decided it was going to stay! Spent the next couple of days spring cleaning the hotel and getting ready for the first guests who, unfortunately for Christine, arrive on her Birthday. We also had to thoroughly clean the apartments we were to be moving into as they had been empty for about 6 months and needed a lot of work doing! Spent the afternoons exploring the village – it is a very exclusive village where the rich come to holiday! The little boutique shops prove this with their window displays with clothes all in excess of 500 euros! There are lots of quaint (expensive) restuarants and bars and a Casino. In the village square there is a beautiful church and outside there are horse and carts you can hire to go sight seeing round the village. There is also an outdoor ice-staking rink which Christine is particularly keen to try out!

Sunday 16 December 2007

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTINE

Woke up early so Christine could have her presents before starting work … although she had already managed to convince Darryl she needed to have her new boots and watch in advance of her Birthday. Later Christine was called down from her work at the hotel to find all the staff standing in the lounge with a Birthday cake and candles which was a lovely surprise. Sadly, that afternoon Darryl had to head off to the airport to pick up the first guests and by the time he got back from the second run it was 11.30 pm ….. so not much Birthday celebrating was done.

Monday 17 December

Met all the new arrivals who are friends and family of the hotel owner and Manager. They were all good fun and there was a little 7 month old girl called Paris who was just lovely, she never cried and would beam at you every time you walked into the room.

Tuesday 18 December 2007

Day off! Today all the staff moved into our new apartments – they are nice little apartments with bed, sofa, kitchenette and bathroom – the only thing missing is windows as they are in the basement of a block of flats – but right in the centre of town so a good spot. After we were all moved in we went to the supermarket and bought some nibbles, beer and wine and had a little house warming party in our room!

Wednesday 19 December-Monday 24 December

Our shifts now include breakfast 8.00-9.00am followed by cleaning the rooms which is generally finished by midday and then free time for skiing before afternoon tea at 4.30pm and dinner at 7.00 pm. Depending on the guests we finish sometime between 11.00pm and midnight most nights. There are lots of lovely ski runs in Megeve which we are working our way around. Christine has been sticking to the green runs whilst Darryl has moved on to blue and red.

Tuesday 25 December

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

Unfortunately we had to work today but that goes with the job! Breakfast was a little later than usual so we managed to open our pressies before heading off for work. After our morning shift all the staff headed for the slopes for a Christmas Day ski which was great. Christmas dinner in the evening was a little hectic but the food was great. Most of the guests in for Christmas were American and it was interesting to find out that they had never heard of mince pies and had never tried Christmas pud …. and thought the idea of crackers and wearing paper hats all day very novel!

Wednesday 26 December

Day off! Headed for the slopes again for some more skiing … making the most of our surroundings. We had all decided that we would go outdoor ice-skating in the evening but when we arrived it was a special session for children only which was a shame as Christine had been really looking forward to it.

Thursday 27 – Tuesday 31 December

Darryl’s friend Simon has come to stay, it is great to see someone from home. Usual working days with skiing in between shifts and a visits to the local bar for a few beers after work with Simon. We had new guests in for New Year, a booking for the whole hotel for a group of family and friends. All the staff sat for dinner with the guests which was really nice. We had hoped to be able to go into the square at midnight to see in the New Year but unfortunately the meal was not quite finished but we did see the fireworks from the back of the hotel. Finished work about 12.30am and headed for the bar and a few drinks but ended up escorting a very drunk Simon home to pass out on the bed!.

Wednesday 1 January 2008

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND BEST WISHES FOR 2008 TO ALL OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Day off! Again all the staff and Simon headed for the slopes and had a great day skiing. Christine has now progressed on to blue runs and even did a red run (by mistake) and is now feeling much more confident …. Darryl, of course, has no fear!!! The plan for the evening was to go ice-skating, followed by vin chaud. However, after a quick trip to the local bar the men all decided it was too cold to ice-skate so just Christine and Lauren went and had a great time …. if a little cold ….. followed by a very welcome vin chaud and a pizza for supper.

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