At a time of year when most people back in the UK are obsessing about X Factor winners and Xmas party outfits, over here in the mountains there has only been one subject of conversation. When will it come? And how much will it bring? And what happens if it doesn’t come in time for [...]

The sun may well have shone relentlessly over the past few weeks but there’s no denying that summer is long gone here in the Alps. The sky is still brilliantly blue but the ever-present scent of burning of leaves, the early morning frost on cars and total lack of people anywhere are constant reminders that it’s definitely November.