We were lucky enough to be invited to see out 2017, and see in 2018, with the Tucker-Herberts of Hove, who were holidaying in Notre-Dame-de-Bellecombe! My Mums were a bit concerned about being able to get the car out, as there had been so much snow, but the fact that they started digging – and this time with a shovel – 24 hours ahead of time, meant we were able to make the 75 minute journey from Valmorel!

Our car is under there!

Road challenges greeted us as we arrived – having to reverse along a long winding track, as well as the car in front, who happened to be driven by one of our party – we just hadn’t meant him yet! – to allow a van through,and then hearing tales of abandoned cars from our friends in the deep snow from the night before! But more importantly, Finlay and Dudley, the Westies, and Alfie the black Schnauzer were waiting to welcome me and my Mums to their beautiful barn, and introduce us all to the friends who were staying for NYE.

The three Musketeers!

It didn’t take long to realise they all liked refreshment, so they all got acquainted whilst I snuggled by the divine log burner.

Cozy!!!

The humans were all going into town for dinner at Bistrot Julien but us boys stayed at the barn, they ate my dinner, and we all got along just fine! When the humans came rolling in, in 2018, one of the party games involved me trying to get my ball out of a human’s mouth!! Sure this could catch on! We played for some time whilst more imbibing occurred!

Game on!

Needless to say, it was a slow start to New Year’s Day and we were loathe to leave our lovely room and bed. But after a hearty brunch conjured up by Mr.Tucker, we made our way out into the snowy wilderness once more to head back to Valmorel! We made it just before more snow hit,and it was 3rd time lucky to get into a parking space over the thick ice! My Mums managed to ski the next day but after that torrential, freezing rain hit,and we hunkered down for the next three days – which I enjoyed very much as it meant that they had the pleasure of my,albeit sleeping,company all day and they were at my beck and call!

Snow beard!

Before we knew it, t’was time to head to Geneva to stay with the Collinge-Timimis (previously off of Oxford). Our dear car insisted we venture into Switzerland for about 1km and so we had to purchase the €40 vignette (annual road tax to you and me)….my Mums were spitting chips…kept saying to the Border Control man, “but we’re going to France”, but it fell on deaf ears! A little black marketeering meant we weren’t out of pocket for long! We soon realised during our stay that the Swiss were sticklers for rules (passports required on buses and I needed a ticket for €5!!! Who knew??!!) I helped celebrate King’s day on our first day, which involved eating cake to find a trinket and then wearing a crown! Double fun!

King Pete!

I had a lovely relaxing week entertaining Billy, Fred and Scoob with my ball skills and leisurely walks in the countryside over the Large Hadron Collider off of CERN.

Professor Pete doing a guided tour of the hills over CERN

The resident cat wasn’t so happy……. oh, how we all laughed when he did a thorough inspection to try and catch me, including looking behind a painting on top of the piano (needless to say I was oblivious, it being some time before noon).
A much feared trip to the hairdressers for my Mums was a lowlight of the week (MN is particularly pleased it’s so cold so she can wear a hat) and then after a lovely Birthday eve celebration with Scoob we bade a fond farewell and headed back to the Alps to Montgenèvre.
We had decided to avoid paying to go through the Frejus Tunnel, us being in austerity measures,and all, and set off over the mountain, via Valloire….it was all going swimmingly until we hit snow…just snow across the road with no way around,and the only way was back…through the Frejus Tunnel!! So, it took rather longer than we had anticipated and we were very pleased to finally check in to our lovely apartment, with access to underground parking, saunas and swimming pool! We had stocked up in Geneva, so it took just the x6 trips to the car to unload!
And then we were back to our skiing routine…well, theirs was skiing, whilst mine involved morning ablutions, being left with a treat, and in peace for a few hours until my Mums came back for lunch and then we would go out and play “snow – ball!” Gettit!?

Snow ball!

On the fourth day we were there, playmates arrived in the shape of the Stokers off of Bristol. They made good time from Turin and luckily, MN applied their snow chains, swiftly, to the hire car, in order for them to get up the hill to our apartment block.
Mrs. S had work to do and so I could keep her company, whilst Mr.S and my Mums wandered around Montgenèvre when there was a blizzard or skied and boarded when there wasn’t! There was a brilliant afternoon when the inaugural International Ball Playing Walk happened, walking from France to Italy, after a few wines with lunch, and then swaying back from Italy to France after some Prosecco! The messiness then continued, and I had to guide everyone home! Once again, all too soon, it was time to move on,and bid the Stokers and France, au revoir. It had been lovely to see them puzzled by my quirky personality and habits! We had a long drive ahead of us to the Dolomites, and so we were on the road – with delicious coffee and croissant….apparently! – by 8.45am. A mere 7 hours later, including x2 pit stops for comfort breaks and changing drivers, we bade a hearty Buonasera to Campitello Di Fassa!