 Poster: A snowHead
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So we've done it. No longer satisfied by 4 weeks skiing a year and lurking on the sidelines of Snowheads for virtual snow fixes, we have found a season let for winter 2008/2009 and robthenav, the flying bogee et moi have started the countdown to 5 months of living in the alps and skiing when we please.
We're off to St Gervais which if you don't know (and most will) is a smallish pretty as a postcard ski/spa town in the Mont Evasion (Megeve) ski area a hop and a skip down the road from Chamonix. To say we're just a touch excited is somewhat under stating it!!!!
So, having sorted out the house, the dog, the work at this end and the accommodation and school (as far as we can at this stage) at that end what else do Snowheads think are the things to think about/put in place before we go?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Spare bedrooms so we can all come and stay 
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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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Post directions for all here so we can find you
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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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Annie, Get your ski boots fitted properly and buy some fat touring skis
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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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Annie, congrats! Not taking the dog with you?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Annie, French lessons? And don't forget to be aware of any date restrictions for buying cheap season passes (in our area, for example, you have to have ordered and paid by end November). Sounds great. 
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SZK You (or actually Lee at Lockwoods on bootfitting day) have already done a sterling job with my boots, but if you're back in business next winter we'll be knocking on your door for the bogee and to see if anything can be done with robthenav's 'vehicles of torture'.
Someone in St Gervais did suggest that hiring skis for the season rather than buying might be a sensible option so that as we improved (I'd better!) we could swap and change them, especially the bogee who will only just be 11 - any views?
pam w Badly needed French lessons are on the way, 1:1 tutoring with a native French speaker start tomorrow and had picked up that mid November seems to be optimum lift pass buying time.
eng_ch Would love to take the mutt but think he'll be happier here rather than in a 3rd floor apartment.
Vetski, Ordhan et al Visitors always welcome - After all it was snowheads that got me thinking that this might be possible - might be a bit small for a bash though!
Anyone got any experience of setting up an internet connection (obviously as this is an internet forum, you will have) preferably short term?
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Annie, Good luck. I am very envious. Suggested the same idea to wife last year but she chickened out. Good luck. 
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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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Annie,
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Anyone got any experience of setting up an internet connection (obviously as this is an internet forum, you will have) preferably short term?
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"Borrow" someone elses wireless connection in the block 
Good luck, the 32 weeks will fly by.
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Annie, As regards skis .... take a knowledgeable 's advice. The skis they recommend will grow with you .... I was castigated for taking SZK's advice ( Volkl Bridge) for this last winter as an 'off-piste' ski. They became my weapon of choice ( and in Missus-A's opinion , improved my skiing) on-piste as well ... although they didnt work for me on 'true/real' ice (as opposed to hard-pack)....
Edit -- PS .. I am a not a knowledgeable slushnut ... others' choices!
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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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Congrats Annie's tribe, but I do think it's a little OTT just to improve a couple of places in next year's Bash Race 
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and personally I'd rent ski's and agree with the shop you can change them for different types periodically.
France Telecom have an english page and the front end booking is/was really slick. An actual first time connection for me was fraught with problems and delays but if the line is already at the flat then I've heard its a lot easier to set up a simple account in your name. Although a phone line is nice to have you still need a french bank account to set up your internet and phone. If you want to avoid these hurdles then I'd look at wifi hot spots in resort and take a laptop. (The hurdles are part of the experience though IMO).
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You know it makes sense.
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Annie, You could just try a mobile broadband connection? I know the likes of 3 & vodafone have good European networks in place for this. Best of luck with it and I hope the 32 weeks is quick in coming.
Thanks for the Invite I might be in Chamonix at some point next winter so I will look you up.
You will have to post a blog and let us all live vicariously through you
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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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Annie, it took France Telecom just two days to connect my new line so it can be done quickly if they want to. Orange also do a Broadband package which has no contract. I'll post the links later in the week when I get my laptop back. FT have an english speaking helpline which was excellent, and they can probably sort out your broadband too. For a French bank account try www.britline.com .
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Poster: A snowHead
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Helen Beaumont, Wish I'd known you a couple of years ago 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Annie, I couldn't leave my dog behind though.
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Annie, Great news. I shall watch this post with interest as we plan to do the same 2009/2010 season.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Annie, are your utility bills included in your rent? You will need a French account to pay your bills if not.
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Thanks Helen - I've seen Orange advertise a six month deal on billboards in France so was pretty sure that such a thing existed but couldn't see details on their websi and I'll have a wade through your link. Utility bills are included in the rental so that bit isn't a problem. I need to think about/investigate all the details some more - we only did the accommodation deal last week so it's all a bit new at the moment.
Mouth, Don't worry, you can rely on me not only to bore you silly with our anticipation but also to ask every daft question in existence! IIRC you already have an apt in France, so you've already had all the fun/angst of deciding where and what. Have to say it was great fun looking at everything from postage stamps to a vast chalet which was beautiful in an overdose of wood kind of way.....it was the dead animals in the corner that put me off that one - still not quite sure if they were taxidermy or well, just dead!
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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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Annie, The apartment I've stayed at in St Sorlin a couple of times is like that. Several deer heads mounted on the wall and all of the coat hooks are deer hooves. Very bizarre.
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Annie, out of interest are their children involved and if so what age? We have made a decision to go that winter as mouth junior will be 3 so not in school (he is in full time nursery already). One of the objcticves is to let him learn to ski and also have lots of exposure to french language through attending the piou piou in our village.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Annie, haute-debit a la carte is what you need to look for on the website.
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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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| Helen Beaumont wrote: |
| Annie, I couldn't leave my dog behind though. |
Same here. We take our woof to Laax whenever we go (both of them before Caspar died) and being right at the bottom of the slopes it's easy to pop back for him during the day. He also gets to stomp in the snow and, being an apartment, goes out for more walks each day than when we're at home. An apartment is not a major obstacle to having a dog with you - unless your rental agreement says otherwise.
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Mouth, James is 10 now so will be in his last year of primary here. In theory he'd go into his first year of secondary in France but as it's for such a short time and he has minimal french language, the consensus was that the school would allow him to 'repeat' the year with pretty much the sole academic remit (from our perspective) being to learn some french which should help with modern foreign language at secondary when he comes home. My other real reason for sending him to school is that I think he'd be bored out of his brains with just mum and dad and the occasional small visitors for company! I'm semi interested in trying to negotiate part time attendance but fear that would make him even more 'different' and hamper his chances to integrate (as far as is reasonable in 5 months!) as well as putting unnecessary pressure on the school. I certainly wish that we'd done this when he was younger, though that was pre-snowheads so probably wouldn't have had the courage. It's still a relatively good time though, 11+ out of the way etc. - and at least we know he loves to ski!! Hopefully he'll get into the club des sports or if not join the club du ski which should do both his french and his skiing lots of good.
French lesson went OK today - I'm c***, but on the other hand managed to drag up more than I thought I might or the tutor expected so some hope!
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You know it makes sense.
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Annie, All sounding good. I have details of a publication I subscribe to for french language and have been doing so for 3 years now. Details are at home so will post later. There are 2 levels one for intermediate and one for advanced. When we first purchased I took lessons with a french native too but she went back to France and have not been able to find anyone since. I used to really enjoy these lessons and we would just chat on all sorts of subjects. Best way to learn though!
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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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Cheers Mouth, that would be useful........though where is the beginner catergory???? Seriously though, the tutor is pitching me at about half way between GCSE and A level at the moment, so imagine the intermediate stuff would be about right. We also host french secondary school kids on visits to the UK so that helps a bit too (slang and swearing mostly!) Though generally their english is pretty good and they are supposed to be practising it, not giving free french lessons!
As per the link Helen Beaumont, posted, France Telecom are indeed very helpful and sorting out the phone/snowheads... whoops I mean internet connection doesn't seem as if it will be too tricky.
Have also tracked down the FFS contact for club des sports and, as Easiski has suggested 'I get my oar in now' it's off to practise the fledgling franglais
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Poster: A snowHead
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Annie, I am normally in les contamines for all of jan perhaps you would like to call for a drink when you come up to ski in contamines.
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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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Cheers Mouth, the order is in! The examples of material on the site was very useful.....and reassuring! brock, t'is indeed good to know there'll be a friendly face around and am sure we'll look you up
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FAQ
)
Joking aside, that race really switched on a button with the small green one - he LOVED it! 
- and there's another thing to find out about!
