Alfie is very good at fetching large sticks and bringing them back, but I prefer to swim towards them and then back, leaving them for Alfie. I would normally bring them back of course, but thought I’d be unselfish and leave them for him.... We finally had to get out (we weren’t pleased....) and started the walk towards Les Houches through the forest and along the river. Aunty Allsorts was very nervous as I was off the lead and the river was all white water. I kept taunting her and going off in that direction but even I wouldn’t be daft enough to go in it – but it was good fun frightening her! It was further than we thought so yet again the grown up’s found a nice bar in the town for yet more expensive beer. Alfie’s Daddy John and Daddy Ant were very good at making baguettes for lunch so they noshed away on those and gave Alfie and I the odd scrap.... Uncle John W was a bit tired today so he went back to the chalet and the rest of us pressed on to find the Bellvue ski lift. The nice French lady in the ticket office told us it was a nice, easy walk from the top over to the Le Prarion ski lift to come down. I always though I could trust the French – but no more! She lied. We get to the top and walked a bit and the saw the other ski lift in the distance. It looked a long way but not too bad.... but a few hundred metres on the full horror hit us. We had to walk down a long steep mountain and then up a steep windey path to get back up again! But we pressed on and stopped for an ice cream at the cafe at the bottom, before starting our ascent. The walk was nice though, on the way down we passed loads of cows with big bells round their necks, and on the way up we walked though alpine meadows with lots of lovely flowers. It was all reminiscent of Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music so we all did the singing and running through the flowers. Not sure what the locals thought..... and I didn't find an eidleweiss..... but saw a few lonely goatherds high on the hill......
Alfie and I had to play along and wear the outfits too – but we did demand treats to do it so it was worth looking like a couple of prats. I can’t believe we allowed ourselves to be photographed looking so daft – what will my sophisticated friends say back in Clapham? God, I hope they don’t read this blog..... Then to top it all, the boys get into the hot tub, I must say it looked nice to be able to soak there and look up at the snowy mountains, but it was a bit too full of chlorine for me and Alfie – as you know our bodies are our temples and we are very careful what we put into them (yeah, right....) so thought the chlorine might not be good for us, and also I don’t want to change the colour of my lovely coat.....
