There's No Holding Back The Seasons

Hi everyone, and welcome back to another new blog post, the final one from Leamington Spa before I head back to Méribel. I'm sure it's the same where you are, but it feels as though Leamington Town is buried under a thick layer of fallen autumnal leaves, they're everywhere. There's no holding back the seasons, with winter on its way. Oh, and I must admit to regularly checking out the webcams in Méribel, Courchevel and Val Thorens. It's been looking nice and white high in the mountains (almost to resort level) in the last week or so, with further flurries due over the next few days. [All photos below are mine, from previous winters].

My plan is to leave the UK this coming weekend. I'll be going via Wivenhoe (near Colchester in Essex) and staying there overnight on Saturday to celebrate Harriet's Dad's 84th birthday. Then Sunday morning I'll leave everyone behind, whizz down to Folkestone to cross the channel, and aim for my overnight stop at Beaune in Burgundy.

Over the last couple of weeks I've been trying to prepare for this coming season. The winter tyres went on the car yesterday, and the windscreen window squirty thing was topped up with -20C protection. And I've been collecting various foodstuffs that are so much easier to access in the UK than France. For company in the car, I'll have mince pies, Percy Pig and Colin the Caterpillar candy, quality crunchy peanut butter, Christmas pudding, an industrial sized box full of PG Tips and a couple of packets of 'Pigs in Blankets' flavoured crisps!?! Me, set in my ways?

Needless to say I am looking forward to putting this summer behind me after having lost my Dad in June. And what better a way to start yet another European ski season in a few days time. I'm guessing the freezing temperatures will be a bit of a shock at first, especially after this mild autumn.

But before that, I'll be going up to Cheshire to visit my Mum for the last time before the winter. Oh, and I'll pop into a famous deli shop here in Leamington on Saturday morning called Aubrey Allen. I need to buy a massive load of their highest quality pork sausages and bacon. Essential food to help keep a finely-tuned ski instructor fuelled up on those cold winter mornings!

Right, I'd better crack on with my packing, Christmas card writing and present wrapping (which has never been one of my skills). I'll be back in touch direct from Méribel around this time next week. In the meantime don't forget to continue to Live With Passion. Martin.