 Poster: A snowHead
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6 sleeps until we set off on our first season and we're packing and doing all those things you need to do if you're going away for 4-5 months - i.e. chucking out food that'll spoil; emptying the freezer (why do we freeze so much bread when we hardly eat it?!!?).
Any last minute packing tips from people who've done a season before...
...what did you regret not taking?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I always regretted not taking more money...
I am very envious. This is the first year I'll be stuck behind a desk all winter rather than living in the mountains.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Where are you going PhillipStanton? Have I missed the thread on this? Sounds good.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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We're going to spend the season at our apartment in Morzine pam w - we're leaving next Friday night; staying with my sister overnight and catching the ferry on Saturday. Coming back "after Easter" - depending on the snow, us and the finances.
We're both doing our BASI 3s with BASS in Morzine from 9 January until mid-March.
Are you out in Les Gets this season - I notice that you like the place.
mulletizer - it's not so much the case that money isn't the issue, but the credit card will withstand some emergency abuse towards the end of the season if necessary. 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Sounds excellent - have a fab time - keep us updated.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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PhillipStanton, boring but bring jumper cables and fill your windscreen up with neat washer fluid so it doesnt freeze up....
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scottp - that's exactly the type of reminders we need. Washer fluid done, but we've forgotten the jumper cables...
Smokin Joe - thanks.
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PhillipStanton, yes, of course, as soon as I sent that message I remembered you had a place in Morzine. BASI 3 sounds like a great way to have a focussed season. Who runs BASS Morzine now? Have had excellent lessons with them in the past. We are about to embark on our 5th season, which sounds ridiculous, I can't think where the time has gone. It's wonderful, and the novelty hasn't worn off yet. We come back for the worst of the Feb hols (keeps trip length below 60 days as required by our insurance) and swap our apartment the peak weeks with friends from the same complex, and borrow theirs back for family parties in off peak times. We have spent several super holidays in Les Gets and surroundings but probably won't be there this winter  We do our seasons at low cost, one season pass for the Espace Diamant and try to avoid buying too many other passes etc. We don't eat out much and basic living costs are comparable to home. Our lodger will feed the cat and her rent pays the mortgage on the French apartment. What to take??? Well, for the first time this year we are taking a PVR loaded with top films because although we like to read many of our visitors don't seem to read much, so we can sit them in front of a film! Most stuff is obviously readily available in France. We have sometimes been guilty of classic UK expat behaviour like taking big packs of toilet rolls, and if you like real marmalade, lay in a stock. Ditto peanut butter, Marmite. Baked beans. English paper backs - some things you really, really want to read. Top class French dictionary - I like the Oxford Hachette. I enjoy evenings reading rubbishy French novels and find it a painless way of extending my vocabulary, but you need a good dictionary. My Belgian neighbour helps with the words not in the dictionary. Lap top computer - assuming you have internet access. If you are keen on cooking, things like cream of tartar. Have a wonderful time. 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Yep, English books. Or French cartoons if you want to expand your vocab. I prefer Asterix and "Blake & Mortimer".
Potato masher. You won't get one out here. Or if you can, get me 5 please. (Don't worry, they're arriving Friday).
Sausages. (Proper Sausages)
Toasting bread.
Good Luck!!
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| PhillipStanton wrote: |
Any last minute packing tips from people who've done a season before |
Pack some Grass skis PhillipStanton.
Nice and Green in Les Gets, even got some outside painting done.
Have a good trip see you here in a week or so.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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David Murdoch, try an IKEA for a potato masher, I got one in the Turin store.
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| Quote: |
what did you regret not taking?
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PhillipStanton, you might regret not taking an extra 1000 metres of mountain 
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You know it makes sense.
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Dear Cartman, I've been told you need to take some talent, a shiny helmet, and a link to the Whistler webcam
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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and a bike
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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the main thing you need to remember is your confidence - I get the impression this may be a problem
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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PhillipStanton, in French supermarkets you can't buy what we call "fresh cream". Creme fraiche is, well, creme fraiche. In Les Saisies there is a "cremerie", however, where they do the cheese and all. They sell the most fantastic, unctuous "creme cru" (ie raw cream, not pasteurised). It's the most delicious thing ever and cheap; the only thing to make pommes dauphinoise. The only cream you could take from here would be UHT; Utterly Horrible Tasting. Suss out the nearest cremerie. They must be doing something with the milk from all those indoor cows!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I believe Champion has a section Anglais selling baked beans...
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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pam w - "creme cru" - mmmmmmmmmmmmm
David Murdoch - you're right about Champion - you can even buy Pataks and El Passo stuff there. There's now a "world food shop" in Morzine now - stocking mainly British food and Australian wine! There's also the "British shop" in Les Gets - which I understand has divided local opinion on its single issue focus. Strangely, noone in my area of London has any issue with the local Italian deli, French restaurant or the "Norwegian shop"...
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Thanks BernardC - are you out for the season or just for a holiday?
We don't have a landline in Morzine, but we're going to share our next door neighbour's broadband and we've signed up for the Tesco internet telephone service, which gives us a free UK landline number and free voicemail - with call charges 2p a minute to the UK and France - around the same as Skype.
We're also going to sort out French SIMs for when we're out and about.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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PhillipStanton, Absolutely no advice to give apart from- ENJOY 
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Frosty the Snowman - 
Thanks
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I;ve bought creme entier (double), creme fleurette (whipping) and creme fluide (pouring) in French supermarkets.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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PhillipStanton, hahah
Yes, I do find the part in French menus where they discuss "Vins Etrangeres" a little odd, they being the instigators of the European dis-Union after all.
I would agree with Helen, I'd have thought creme entiere easy to find. There's certainly some in my fridge. Creme Cru sounds great though. Yum.
You may now call me the "Kolesterol Kid".
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Thanks you Kolesterol Kid (I'll have a word with admin ) and Helen Beaumont.
Strangely enough, I eat very little cream at home, but when we're in Morzine we seem to have more use for it!
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You know it makes sense.
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PhillipStanton, we don't eat much here either.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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PhillipStanton, don't forget about the SIM, our UK home calls (inc a few business ones) where redirected to France with BT star service. My mobile bill was being posted to my UK address, it was only in March I was forwarded Januarys bill......for £773 
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Frosty wrote: |
| Januarys bill......for £773 |
Arrrrrrrrgggh!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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BernardC, no but I have switched to O2 who have promised me significantly lower international roaming call charges, I will only be spending a comparatively short time in France/Switzerland this winter so its less likely to be of an issue, I may still look into the sim4travel and compare prices.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| Quote: |
Strangely enough, I eat very little cream at home, but when we're in Morzine we seem to have more use for it!
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Cartman sounds like you'll be needing some 'L' for Lardies salopettes by the end of the season 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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.Frosty, on phones i like sim4travel and have used for about 6 months. great service, online topup, good voicemail and you dont loose credti as long as you make a call every few months
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| PhillipStanton wrote: |
6 sleeps until we set off on our first season and we're packing and doing all those things you need to do if you're going away for 4-5 months - i.e. chucking out food that'll spoil; emptying the freezer (why do we freeze so much bread when we hardly eat it?!!?).
Any last minute packing tips from people who've done a season before...
...what did you regret not taking? |
You lucky people.
Think of how big your total budget is, and add 50 - 100% on top. Everyone always underestimates or overspends. Don't get newcomer-fever and spank all your cash in the first fortnight.
Enjoy.
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brian
brian
Guest
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FAQ
) How's your streeeeeeetch goretex holding out?