Vicki really is in Verbier!

Yes I am still here!! Apologies for the lack of posts but it’s been hectic and I’ve hardly had time to think about anything apart from menus! But I’ve been skiing twice this week (which equals my total so far!) as I’ve had really great guests who don’t want cake or cooked breakfasts!
It’s been quite tough getting used to the change of job. The first 2 weeks of training were OK, but long days as I only got to come home for about an hour before we all headed back for dinner together. So not much time to see each other. But they are very understanding and I even got let off one of the evening activities as the top boss said that if I didn’t see Rob soon it might all be divorce!

I’m now onto my third week of real live guests and feeling like I’m starting to finally get the hang of it. The first couple of weeks were quite tough what with trying to get used to cooking full on breakfasts and 5 course dinners every day, cleaning the chalet better than I’ve ever cleaned our own flat and discovering a whole new world of shopping for food in French in a tiny supermarket that shuts for 2 hours at lunchtime. Oh and where the rest of Verbier, including all the chalet companies, seem to shop!

Luckily all the guests so far have been really lovely and not too demanding which is just what I needed to get me into the swing of things. A real mix of people, all with kids but they’ve all been pretty good and eating the same meals as the adults so I haven’t had to do separate dinners. The chalet owners are in next week for 2 weeks which will be odd as they know everything much better than me and I’m the one trying to take care of their chalet. And as they are here for 2 weeks it means I’ve got to expand my menu from the 1 week rotation I’ve just got comfortable with!

Everyone here is really nice. There are about 55 Ski Verbier staff out here and we all see each other and go out quite a bit. Quite a lot of the others live in the same apartments and there is another chalet in the same building as mine which is nice as we can help each other out! There are a few oldies, but most people have just graduated from uni. Being married has never been such a novelty and everyone thinks that I’m about 25 which is nice!! (More based on assumption that everyone else had just graduated rather than my particular youthful looks and personality). I’ve also started managing my rep a bit better and he’s starting to come into line more now! Not sure he knows what hit him, the poor guy!

New year was great. Everyone congregates in Place Central with bottles of champagne and one of the bars does the sound and lights and there are loads of fireworks. It was even dumping it down with snow which made it feel very festive, if a bit chilly. Party continued very conveniently in the pub below our apartments which was handy, if a bit noisy for Rob who had to leave early to get some rest before his 9am lesson. I managed to get a day off!

Verbier has been heaving this week. Loads of people around for Christmas and New year. I’ve never seen so many fur coats, Chelsea tractors (which admittedly do have a purpose out here) and yappy dogs in one small place. Hopefully they will all go next week and things in resort will get a bit less busy (smaller queues in lifts and supermarkets!) With so many regular visitors it does mean that there are a lot of very good skiers out here which makes the ski back to resort pretty hairy at times with people flying past at speed down a narrow track! All good fun though.
We’re still researching cheap places to stay and will hopefully have a bit of an update soon. Nothing is very cheap Robs hopefully off to try and get some more inside info from the Tourist office this week!

Sorry – very functional post but they will hopefully get a bit more regular now I’m starting to get the swing of things and getting a routine going. I hope!

Hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas and New Year!