A week of wet snow

Winter has yet to arrive in the South of France. Our usual ski-fest has been somewhat thwarted this year. Temperatures of 17C do not lend themselves to the formation of fluffy white stuff.

This fine powdering of snow is all we found upon our arrival in the Pyrénées. At this time of year, a good covering of half a meter or so would be the norm around our little abode. Not this year.

At this point there is usually heard the cry (from certain quarters) of ‘Global Warming’. Well, maybe, but the Pyrénées is not renowned for its snow as is the Alps or maybe the ice-age bound Canada. Here, snow is not guaranteed and we have to make the best of what we get.

Thus along comes Geoff with daughter Jenny and boyfriend Alex. That’s not Geoff’s boyfriend btw. They arrived ready for skiing, so skiing we went.

This is Geoff looking for vague evidence of snow…

and this is Jenny and Alex coming over all romantic…

Only one of the slopes was open, off-piste being on-grass. The sprinkled soil was pretty but not of much use.

Well, off we went, the intrepid adventurers, to show our mastery of the elements. Both Geoff and I did ok for old farts. Here’s Annick showing a turn of speed, thanks to photoshop…

Us ‘Saga skiers’ can cope ok, but what really gets our hackles up is when young upstarts come along thinking they know it all. It gets our hackles up because normally the do know it all. Take young Alex for example. First time on snow and, after attempting a couple of back flips,

…he was comfortably parallel skiing like a pro. What kind of pro you ask? Don’t ask.

The weather was 'changeable’ as is its want. Upon achieving the summit on that first day, it decided to deteriorate to the point of vengeful wrath.

We were marooned atop a mountain, roughing it in, ahem, a qaint little restaurant. Tough break. Jenny and Alex were without fear and laughed in the face of danger….

After a couple of days of skiing and dog hugging…

…the conditions deteriorated due to water falling from the heavens in a non-white format. We returned early to Lamothe to discover the effects of that rain.

And so, another week passes in the varied and exciting life of the Hydes. Geoff and party left our shores, as John and Susie entered.

Thus another old farts team made ready to part to the Pyrénées, only this time, with added snow.

Stay alert for the next exciting episode…