I’m back in Paris, only to find out that I’ve brought the Swiss alpine weather with me. There’s recently been quite a bit of hail, and I’ve just received word that it’s snowing out near Paris Orly airport. Needless to say, I have one eye on my computer screen and one eye out the window, but it doesn’t look like we’re going to get any of the white stuff in our ‘hood.

Not that there was any shortage of it in Switzerland. Even though the first few days were warm (and the melting wasn’t just confined to the plethora of fondue pots in Crans-Montana), there was a steady stream of heavy snow for the last few days of my Valais vacation.

So I’ll just have to remember fondly all the natural beauty of the slopes and the surgically enhanced “beauty” of the skiers…

It was also fun to people-watch at après-ski leisure activities, because Crans-Montana seemed to draw all sorts. From the adherents of mountain glam to the wild-eyed, ruddy cheeked alpine types, it was like an exhibition entitled ‘Mountain Mode: Over the Ages’, as there were still a lot of lurid 1970s jumpsuits being proudly modelled. I fell into the latter dishevelled category of course… through preference as much as necessity.

My main regret on returning to Paris is that I have to resume brushing my hair. I love ski (and surf) holidays for just being able to hand-sculpt your hair flat!