La Bresse re-visited

In early March, there was a cyclone off the Queensland coast, Sydney was being deluged with rain, Perth was still having 40 degree days and it was cold and snowing in Nancy.

We were going skiing.

Nancy, in the north east corner of France is close to the Alsace – German border. Between the border and Nancy is the Haute Vosges, a mountain range that although not high by Alp standards (about 1400 metres) there is usually plenty of snow. We headed to Hohneck where there is a good selection of downhill and cross country trails with good facilities for all. We drove there last year when we had a car but this time we traveled  by train and two coaches, right to the door of the accommodation.

We changed coaches at La Bresse and this was the scene at the bus stop.

This is the view from the bus on the way in. The road we traveled was beautifully snow covered.

Our self catering  studio apartment was on the wrong face of the building and looked out over the car park but this was not hard to look at.

The front door of the building opened right onto the slopes. 

The snow was good and the skiing very enjoyable.

Some of us fell over. The snow was soft and feeling just right for a good lie down! The camera person missed Peter. He mixed it with a safety fence outside our unit. No one wants to see that - or the bruise on his right temple. No other damage.....bruised pride only.

Unlike Cousin Robert  who spent five weeks skiing in Aspen, Colorado, we were only in our little place for a week and all too soon we were on the train back to Nancy. Marg’s brother, Peter is arriving Good Friday and we will be off on our adventures again.

There will be more to tell, so keep in touch.

Working in Winter

We arrived back in Nancy from Perth into the depths of the northern winter 30 to 40 degrees in Perth to 10 below in Nancy.

It was soon Australia Day and we did our best to let the locals know. Our neighbours, also Australians from Queensland did the same.

We had a small list of  things to do on Matilda and the winter is the best time to do them. Some may say, not much else to do!

People who have owned boats will now be rolling on the floor, laughing. They will know how small the list really is. Our list included - repairing/replacing one macerator (electric) toilet, continuing stripping and varnishing timberwork, replacing some curtains, installing an extractor fan in an ensuite and ducting the kitchen hood to the outside. Not to mention servicing the engine and generator for the coming season, checking out all the ropes needed, and all the other little things that have to be done.

The extractor fan over the stove has always intrigued us as to where the fumes went. In the best building tradition we found they went nowhere! – into the cavity between the ceiling and the cabin roof. – Absolutely Nowhere! We had to plan ducting to the outside but directly above the stove is the instrument panel for the motor and all the gubbins that go with it. This meant some “subtle” re-organisation, cutting of large holes and a complete rebuild of the instrument panel.

The big problem here is - where do we buy the right types of timber to rebuild the panel? We solved it by going to a charity second-hand shop and buying an old oak sideboard. This, we knocked apart and had ample panel and beams to do the job. All solid well matured Oak.

Of course there were other things to do. On one of our shopping trips through the town, we passed close to our favourite area, scattered with wonderful houses designed and built in the Art Nouveau style. All attractive with their winter trimmings.

The past few days have been positively warm, the sun has been out and the feeling of spring is in the air. Next week we head off for a week’s skiing then back to Matilda. Marg’s brother, Peter joins us early April for about four weeks.

There will be more to tell then so, stay in touch.