Well, I managed to make it back from the ski trip with nothing more than a bruised ego. We had a couple of fantastic days skiing, perfect weather conditions and perfect snow conditions, coupled with the fact that there was virtually no one on the slopes so no waiting in line. You really couldn’t ask for a better long weekend.

Everyone agreed, however, that it was my outfit that stole the show. Thanks, Ebay!

Skiing in Les Arcs

Aude gets ready to tuck into her tartiflette after a morning on the slopes

Francois and Gratiane on the slopes

Francois and Gratiane on the slopes

Francois and Gratiane on the slopes

Francois, Aude and Matthew on the slopes. You can decide: is Matthew enjoying the view of Mont Blanc, or is Matthew having a little trouble turning around in this photo, which is why is he being photographed from behind?

Matthew and Aude on the slopes

Matthew and Aude on the slopes. Please note Matthew’s colourful ski outfit. You may doubt it now, but next year everyone will be wearing a catchy number like this. And everyone admitted — it was virtually impossible to lose me. No matter how hard they tried.

A beautiful sunset after a good day skiing

Francois hard at work preparing the fondue

Getting ready to warm the fondue. Or, because we had assembled it incorrectly, prepare for a trip to the emergency room. This is why I only order fondue in restaurants!

Vincent & Alex

Gratiane and Aude

Francois tucks into the fondue

Francois is a little over-excited about the fondue

Fondue

Matt’s trousers are the star of the show again. You can’t pay for publicity like this…

Lunch on the piste

Aude at the restaurant after a tartiflette

Quite a few moguls on this run. Wish I had discovered that before I reached the point of no return!

A view over the Alps

Finally, after a very hectic January and February, it’s time for a short break. I have been working hard with a new client, based in Paris, helping them manage the acquisition of another business. As always in this deals, we are working to impossible deadlines which means that we are working long hours.

So a few days skiing in the Alps is a welcome diversion. Despite reading of bitterly cold temperatures, we arrived yesterday to discover glorious, sunny weather and temperatures of 7C — not quite warm enough to ski in a T-shirt, but warm enough that we should be able to ski comfortably all day. Snow conditions are perfect, with more than 180cm (6ft) of snow on the slopes.

I am under strict instructions from the office not to break anything.

We hit the slopes for the first time this morning — then it’s a few days of raclette, tartiflette, and fondue. What a way to spend a long weekend!