Tom Mayne worked for Fish and Pips in their debut season a couple of years ago.  Tom is now training to become a ski instructor and is looking forward to his winter in Verbier to complete his training.  Tom ’s sense of humour will be thoroughly missed by the team this year in Meribel but we hope he comes to visit! 

WOW, where do i start, what a season i had! It was my first European season, and the girls’ first season as employers. Having been hand picked from an extensive list of experienced and thoroughly professional potentials, I was honoured that I had been welcomed into this new and highly exclusive team. All I had to do now was shine!

After days of intensive manipulation under the guiding hands of Miss Eyles and Miss Fisher, we were ready for the first guests to arrive. The combination of extemely high standards, twinned with passionate staff made life so easy for me, enjoying week after week of happy guests!

The work place was one of the best I have experienced due mainly to the girls’ managerial approach, which suited me down to the ground - work hard, play hard.  Some might say I did one more than the other, but I still stand by the fact that I did play as well! 

I like to think of myself as a very punctual, well organised and professional guy, but my love of skiing took hold me! Like a highly addictive drug, flowing through my veins I had to have more and when I asked the girls whether I could have two weeks of mornings off in order to partake my ski instuctors exam, I was happily surprised that they allowed me to.  My gratitude is still to this day not properly conveyed, so thank you girls so much for that, I love you both. 

After passing that exam I was back to work with more vigour then ever before, and quickly the plans of an end of season bbq emerged.  After more and more nights out, more and more people being invited - mainly by the easily excited Holly Fisher, we soon had a bbq that would put Glastonbury to shame! Maybe it was the punch, maybe the altitude, or maybe it was because it had been such a successful, rewarding 6 months but I thought it was the best bbq I think I have ever had. ‘Fishstock Forever!’
 

I had so much fun working for them that I had to come back and do another season in Meribel, but this time I had been propelled into the position of fleet manager, which was a part time role and self-titled (!) but meant that I was in charge….or so I would like to think, of their new minibus.  I have now heard that they may be getting a chalet pet like a small dog or a hamster to keep that homely feel alive. 
 
All the best girls and good luck without me! HA!

4 inches of the stuff…. at resort level… on the 30th October!!  This must be a good sign!

October and November are busy times in Meribel.  Building is going on everywhere, though the rooves that haven’t yet been finished might be a little worse for wear now that we have this amazing early snow fall.  Our sources on the ground report of sliding cars and freezing fingers as the resort and all it’s occupants busy readying themselves for the winter ahead were caught off guard.

What does this mean for the forthcoming winter?  Long range forecasts don’t give a huge amount away, but we are all for positive thinking and hoping for a bumper snow season to put a smile on everyone’s faces.

For webcams, daily updates and lots more Meribel info do have a look at www.merinet.com

The first flakes as they fell yesterday morning on the terraces of Aurigny, Braye and Corblettes.

Mathew Novak and Nicole Fisher came over to Europe from Australia to get more experience of the European way, and of course one of those ‘ways’ is to spend time in a mountain resort on a piece of wood travelling down a slope. Before and after the five months spent ripping up the mountains on a snowboard, they spent time just travelling in their car and camping around every where they could go. Back in Australia now, they are faced with the everyday reality of a job which doesn’t revolve around snow, and settling down, not only in a house for the first time in over a year, but having to stay in the same country!

What can we say? We had some of the best moments of our lives in the 2007/2008 ski season in the middle valley, Meribel, of Les Trios Valleys. Of course we loved the chalets and our work there, but we lived for the moment when we could get up on that golf chairlift from Meribel Village and up into the mountains. Even if we didn’t go snowboarding every day (like when the night before proved too much for Matt (!) or when I hurt my knee) it was enough to BE there, to know that you COULD.

When we first arrived in the mountains, it was before the rest of the team and we thought that Holly and Phillippa had been pulling our legs as there was no snow! However, by the time the rest of the team arrived and we started our training, we had over 2 feet and everyone was getting excited.

At the moment, we have flown back to Perth, Australia and unlike all our friends from the mountains, are not facing a white Christmas, but we will remember always the times we had in the French Alps.  The experience of a lifetime, fitted into five months.   Happy skiing, Matt and Nicole xxx

Nick joined the Fish and Pips team last year all the way from Newcastle, Australia where he had been working as a chef since leaving school.  Nick has spent this summer working for a top Asian Fusian restaurant in the City of London, and is looking forward to another season in the snow as chef in Chalet Le Christophe this winter.

Living in the French Alps, skiing, and cleaning the odd toilet - I know what your thinking life doesn’t get much better than this!

Last year was my first season in the Alps and working for the girls at Fish & Pips was a pleasure.  The first couple of weeks were a bit hectic; getting chalets cleaned and ready for guests, planning menus and moving fire wood plus exploring the mountains and of course a few of the bars as well!  But before we knew it Abi and I were at the front door of Chalet Le Christophe waiting for our first guests to arrive.

My first white Christmas was a day I’ll never forget.  It was a beautiful sunny day in the valley but by the afternoon a little snow had started to fall, not quite like normal in Oz! Cooking a British Christmas dinner was a bit daunting but as I sat down with our guests and Holly they reassured me I had got it all right!

Being in a ski resort for a season enables you to meet some great people and form great friendships.  My partner in crime in Chalet Le Christophe, Abi, was great - to spend as much time together as you do in a role like this and not get on each others nerve is a credit to us both.  We got along great and helped each other out when we needed it.  .I can get a bit moody on a changeover Saturday, a little tired from a big week of work, boarding and beers and trying to make a bed to Abi’s high standards, but she kept me in line!

The whole Fish and Pips experience was great, we had a brilliant team who not only worked well together but managed to ski together too and even fit in a spot of après at the end of the day.  

I think doing ski seasons are very addictive - a beautiful location, great guests, amazing snow and meeting friends that will last a life time.  Bring on December when the Le Christophe dream team of Nick and Abi is reunited for another winter of fun!

A little flutter of excitement hit the Fish and Pips office this morning as an email popped into our inbox.  Photos of the first snow fall of the winter – and it is only 6^th October!  Not only were the peaks glittering with white snowflakes, but there was a covering all the way to 1000m.  The valley may have been green again this morning, but the peaks are still covered and the cold weather is set to continue.

Although temperatures are set to rise this week, there is another cold front coming in next week bringing with it the chance of more autumn snow.   Long distance forecasting is not giving anything away for the winter’s predicted snowfall, but we remain hopeful at Fish and Pips that this snow on the peaks will form the base of a good snow depth for the season ahead.