The term “girl” may be a little misleading. It conjures up an image of a young woman either graduated or taking a year out. Maybe “host” would be better? This is Breezy we are talking about here. She may well have started by taking a year out as a way to brush up her skiing ability, but that was over twenty years ago. Let’s just say that her skiing is pretty good now.
December
December is exciting. Slightly edgy feeling with the whole winter ahead. Remembering how long to cook duck breasts so they’re still pink in the middle. Energy levels are high. First guests arrive middle of the month before Christmas. They are all on courses for off piste skiing. They will also be the guinea pigs for some new recipes for the winter. The feedback will determine if they go on later menus. One of them is a regular so knows what to expect.
Breezy always gets a group of 6 women friends together for 3 days of private tuition with Alison Thacker in December. Off piste skiing instruction and good catch up time; the input from Alison gives Breezy enough material to work on for the whole winter. If you think you have reached a bit of a plateaux with your skiing, consider getting a ski course or private lesson with a quality instructor.
Before anyone arrives we have to get the chalet ready. Every cupboard interior and wall is photographed before anything is moved. Then the boxes of cooking stuff come out and everything is shuffled about until it is optimally arranged for cooking for ten people, five nights of the week. Pictures are boxed up and new ones hung in their place and furniture is organised to accommodate guests. Most of the chalet owner’s “stuff” is hidden away until the end of the season when it is all replaced as was, so they would not know it was ever moved.
There is also a big shop for “dry stock” like sugar, flour and wine etc.. Over the winter there are about 70 cakes to make for afternoon teas and getting on for 600 thirsty adult nights in the chalet.
The beginning of December is also the time to meet friends and catch up before the madness of winter sets in and everybody gets busy. There are supplier’s parties, wine tastings and social evenings.
The beginning of the month the skiing is calm as people aren’t on a mission. Everyone is finding their feet again after more than 6 months of other activities. I’m always slightly nervous getting off the first chairlift of the winter.
Christmas hits and it’s like being dropped in the frying pan. It’s busy and guests arrive full of energy and joy. This is the most important week of the year for the families skiing and they want everything to be perfect. Absolutely no pressure for the chalet hosts. When they leave and head home we are out of the frying pan and into the fire. New Year is even busier. Everyone has the same expectations and they want to party as well. For anyone new to running a chalet they start with the busiest two weeks of the winter season. Bring on January.
