Parteeeeee Time

3 Storey Savoyard Farmhouse in Original Condition with Hayloft.

Our new friends have a 300 yr old house nestled on the steep side of a mountain in a tiny village near-by...staggering distance if there wasn't a foot of snow on the track tween here and there.

These old farmhouses used to keep animals in the basement, people lived in the middle levels and then they have these huge open-at-each-end attics where they stored hay. So heat from the bottom and insulation at the top. Very green , back in the day. Pictured above is a similar house in its original condition.

Anyhow they have spent all this summer converting the hay-loft to a kitchen/dining area. It is really breath-taking. A beautiful wood burning stove....great open space for a party. The open end of the loft has been glazed and and there is a big balcony with an aerial view of the Tarentaise valley as it snakes towards Albertville. Stunning.

I've been gasping for a night out. The half hearted search for a baby-sitter proving fruitless.
So we've been staying in....for 3 months!!!!!Imagine my delight when our new friend invites us to her 40th birthday party...kids and all. 6 o clock kick-off.

What an oppourtunity to have a long bath and get dressed up. My stylist was somewhat stumped by the footwear limitations...no matter what, cos of the weather, deep slushy snow....I had to wear my furry wellies. Building an outfit from wellies up, was a challenge. By the time I was dressed and polished and donned my wellies and waterproof trousers (risk of car not making it all the way up steep hill to the house, so possibility of walking 1/2mile or so in slushy rain)....I did actually feel quite nice.

The hostess's hubby is swedish and some of his family were over, there were french friends, scottish, english and australians. Lots of little kids our kids age.
So three languages being blathered about. Princess's little friend, daughter of our hosts can speak all three at 3 years old!

The crowd were lovely and it was great to chat to people and the kids had a ball too. Most of the crowd had to leave around 8 pm as the kids were starting to get snarly.

The car made it up the hill to the house but we parked on thick ice and snow...only have 2 wheel drive. But as princess pointed out..."mommy we have snow tires now!" The host said we might have to push...thank god...I brought waterproof trousers. Anyway car managed to reverse out of the snow/ice and gravity took care of the rest. Home by 8.45pm....GREAT PARTY.