Due to lack of snow, the pistes are becoming very icy which is not nice at all. At the top of mountain, some of them are more like ice skating rinks.

Today we met an American who was over here for a week's skiing with his ski club, who arrange several holidays a year. He had taken three planes to get to Milan airport and then had a four hour drive. He had left his hometown in Maine on Thursday and had arrived here yesterday. It was only his second time in Europe, the other time being a trip to London and Portsmouth. He was, as most Americans are, impressed with the history we have in Europe. He liked the Alps very much and was surprised at how few people were skiing. In America, he told us, the queues for the lifts could be up to 50 people long. But of cos, it can be like that here during certain weeks of the season.

Tonight we went to the Mexican. Michelle's daughter was there who is about 14. We have met her before but Michelle always brings her over to practice her English, which she hates. She thinks English is difficult. I told her I think French is difficult. Afterwards, we went for a pint in the Yeti and watched the extreme sports on the TV.

Unfortunately a group of 4 English blokes came in and stood near us, all trying to outdo each other in the swearing department and storylines. We think they were from South London and one of them had an especially annoying winey voice just like Boycey out of Only Fools and Horses. We came here to get away from these types - we don't want these kinds of people in 'our valley'. Luckily they eventually moved over to the pool table.