Left promptly at 1600 with back of car full to top of seats. Queues at Waltham Abbey and then a 10 mile queue to the Dartford bridge due to earlier accident. Arrived at Dover at 1900 just as the boat was leaving. Slightly surprised to be directed to a separate shed and asked security questions. Got the 19.45 boat. Very pleasant because mostly empty. James not happy with being on the boat. Found Calais Holiday Inn and the Dawsons easily. Katie not happy with sharing a bed witrh James but we managed.
Buffet breakfast at 8.00 off at 9.00. Misty morning. New car going well. Used same route as last year. Stopped north of Rheims at 11.10 at Mont-de-Nizy. Then straight forward run to Langes? for picnic lunch of pasties at about 1300. Ended up about 3/4 of an hour earlier than last time. Sun came out eventally. Stopped again after Bourg-en-Bresse just after the hills started about 1600. Through to Annecy at about 1700. Traffic was much better than last year. Novohtel was OK except right about railway was the train vibration was noticable. Walked through the old town to the lake. Sun just making some to the rock go pink. Back through the old town, very picturesque with an interesting collection of Castles, catherdral, old houses, rivers. Meal at the hotel, quick but a bit bland. Kids watched Cinderella in French. Kate's cough was bad. Difficult to sleep; room was too hot, Debbie snored, James wriggled and made funny noises. Kate coughed and the trains came through.
Up very early. Breakfast 7am. Kate tired. Off at 8.00 Traffic picked up after Albertville. Held for a few minuted by the traffic lights for the Alps but got up to Courchevel for about 10.00 as last year. Sunney day. We seem to have managed to get three apartments together. Ours had a very small living room. Nick and Rosie's was palacial. On the slopes by 13.00. New boots feel OK. Family run down Verdon then chair to Biolley and the Biolley Verdons run. Bit harder than Debbie was wanting. Ben in clips but going apace. D went down we did Praulang. Bit icey. W & C rather slow James & Kate bombng down. Some more Verdon and bumbs. Kate went right down and spent some time looking for her. Pizza supper Dyers arrived about 19.20 Kate thrilled. KD. looking very jaunty in Lulu hat. Tired. Early to bed.
Up to another sunny day. James went off with the Dawsons. Rest of us up Verdons and met up with the Dyers. Down and back a couple of times. Debbie discovered she could do half-pipes. Early lunch at Verdons before the girls ski lesson at 12.30. Debbie and Anne went and lunched instead but the three girls enjoyed themselves. David and I went off to Vizelle to do Creux. I did it in one and went too far down to get round back to Verdons so wentr back up Marmottes and then did Marmottes. It wa rather icy. Met up with David at Vizelle and we did Combe Salire, which was easier than expected, but more coplicated near the bottom than I remembered from last year.
Met the Dawsons and James at Verdons and went off the Coqs to Chenus and Loze and down towards La Tania. Back up the Dos des Lauches to the Col de La Loze, down Lac Bleu right down past the Forum to the Plentrey lift. Down Loze Bleu, which was a bit icy in mid section but good at the top. Down just after 4. Welcome beer, bath and soak. Malcolm had arrived with pictues of ski touring. Sledging under the Forum again. Hurt my pelvis on a nasty bump on a tea tray. Big joint meal in Nick and Rosie's. Kids played Monopoly and gameboys. Tired. Generally good day had by all. Difficult to get to sleep with the bump.
Out with the family up Verdon about 10. Another glorious day. The lifts were getting crowded so we went back up Chenus and all came down Lac Blue and Loze Est. Debbie and Katie stayed down for lunch while James and I went back up Verdon in time to go down with the Dyers. While the girls and Anne had a lesson Dave James and I went up the Boilley chair and down Marquetty for James. It was a bit icy and fast at the bottom. I had a fall on the bumps and wrenched my left calf.
We went back up to the Verdons restaurent to see Debbie. She had gone but we found the Dawsons and started a tour with Nick, Malcolm, Dave James and me. Up to Vizelle, down Creux up the Chanrossa chair down Roc Merlet and Mont Russe to the Aiguille de Fruit chair. Down Park City and back up to Vizelle. Nick was called away so we went down combes pylones in Malcolm's care. The top was steep and icy and James was very careful but relaxed a bit later. The up Coqs and down the green runs for James's benefit, although we were all tiring. Kate had locked herself out so we came in and left Malcolm to do a bit more.
Katie, Ellie and Kate had a fun time trying to clear the balcony of snow when Katie was suddenly sick and continued to be sick the rest of the evening. The boys and big Kate went sledging and great fun was had by all. Early night. My leg had now swollen up and was hurting so took 400mg of isobrufen.