Rob and Jan January 2007

Just a short one. As the Village is progressing, there always seems somehting else to write about.

Jan and I enjoyed our trip by day Eurostar. Expensive but so easy. We linked up with Nigel, Dan and Arthur/Tina to  take the taxi up to he Village.
Already booked Valentinos, we had a beer and wined and dined very well at 9.15, and we were all very well treated by Laurent and his staff. In fact the most hospitable restaurant of the week! Book Saturday night from the train, as people were being turned away.
The snow was meant to be poor, and the off piste was crud, but the piste skiing was fine and got better thru the week as the temps rose. We skied all the way down to 1800 with no probs. Relief.

We have an apt at RDM, and a new one in SDM. So it was interesting to compare. On the face of it the service seemed more professional and proper. One day I told the receptionist that I cut my finger in the Sauna, my tv was not compatible with the DVD and the oven had a problem. Well, it was all done in 5 mins, the guy knocking on the door as I put the phone down! Loved it.
Our new apartment is decorated and furnished in a more modern style than the other (darker furnishings and less light) and we found it very comfortable, with big pillows and duvets and better beds. I was very pleased, and out of the 2 prefer my SDM  a lot more(although its cheaper-ground floor-terrace!) Another bonus is our olfd friend Thomas. So helpful and pleasant.

However, I did meet Cait (HMC), and she was a breath of air, so maybe HMC are sorted as well.
The Village was and looked beautiful. The bakers were there happy selves a bit like the Truman Show! Melis had great hot dogs when you want nothing more with good chips. Our trip to Luigis was the Curate's Egg! The menu has expanded to provided a bigger choice, steaks etc. And the DOK Estate starter which we always share was excelllent apart from sliced and not chopped tomatoes on my Bruschetta! But my rare rib steak was well done entrecote! But the chips were good. They need a good front man here, because they have boys serving and they dont quite know what is right or wrong.

There is all new staff here and the bar, and the new bar manager, Thomas, is a Basque Rugby man a good bloke. The bands were good and the bar lively.
East served a good curry but poor buffet starters. Service was good but we couldnt have the Mongolian BBQ because a large table were ordering that! Oh well!
Chez Anne, was a disappointment. They have tried to inject some cosiness to the place which almost works, but the Maitre D was the lady owner, who although pleasant looked worried, creating an atmosphere with the staff. It didnt settle us, when some old freinds who were staying as guests asked for a table for 4 and were turned away even though the tables were half empty. Nothing changed thruout our meal and we thought it odd. My tartiflette was fine but Jan's duck was awful and we were pleased to leave and have a cafe/ cognac in the Belle Pintes! Jan wont go there again.
Hemmingways..no thanks

Au Tour Des Vins, was a welcoming venue, with Tim aleways in good spirits and making our pre dinner wine a bit of fun with quizzes and tastings etc. Its getting to be a good meeting place. It will also do well when the Brassierie and the Michelin*! opens.
The new lift Arcabulle is a boon, but we didnt see it when busy. It was having teething problems and kept stopping
The owners ski discovery day with Spirit was good with advanced in the morning, lunch at Belliou and red runs in the arvo. I am not a bad skier but the morning was hard, as it is off piste and the snow was crud everywhere, some pulled out and us intrepid ones were releived to arrive at Belliou le Fumee in one piece! So take care when you book. It was a fun day tho and good to meet up with the other owners.
Finances apart, I love my Village and cant wait to get back in March. I think we are going to enjoy this

Love Rob and Jan