A pick-me-up lunch at Les Chevrelles.

A pick-me-up lunch at Les Chevrelles.

After spending the morning sitting in front of our computers while the sun blazed outside, Nina and I decided to nip out for a cheeky lunch at Les Chevrelles before the kids break up tomorrow for their 2 month (!) summer holiday.

There’s a little restaurant high up on the flank of Mont Chery in a little hamlet called Mont Caly that we’ve had our eye on for ages. It is idyllically peaceful, in a quaint chalet building with breathtaking unbroken views over the Les Gets ski area on the other side of the valley and on to the Grand Massif. The jagged ridgeline of the Mont Blanc Massif and the White Mountain itself rises majestically above.

Les Chevrelles, Mont Caly, Les Gets.
Les Chevrelles, Mont Caly, Les Gets.

We’d already clocked Les Chevrelles whilst exploring in winter. Since we discovered it, we’ve had recommendations galore and have been looking forward to getting a chance to try it for ourselves.

Today was a perfect day for it and it was just what the doctor ordered.

View of Mont Blanc from Les Chevrelles, Mont Caly.
View of Mont Blanc from Les Chevrelles, Mont Caly.

It’s been a weird week or so, what with one thing and another. Thunder storms, blazing sunshine, torrential rain, friends visiting, BBQs, swimming, biking, England vs Iceland (Tsk!), school end-of-term ‘spectactulars’, socialising and a constant and relentless march of events and activities for locals, visitors and tourists alike.

We’ve met locals who have had to move away from the mountains for a while in the past to take a break from the unrelenting cycle of seasons, visitors and entertainment just to maintain their sanity. We’ve also met expats who’ve been sucked in to the playtime vortex and struggled to get out of holiday mode after arriving. Since Crankworx ended two weeks ago there have been fell races, road bike races, mountain bike races, the Passports Du Soleil and the Spartan (obstacle) races this weekend and there’s eating, drinking and entertainment to accompany all of them. The contrast with inter-season could not be bigger. The Etape passes through on Sunday and the Tour De France at the end of the month. Don’t get us wrong though, we’re loving it and we’re doing our best to strike a balance but it gets tiring!

Spartan Race 2016 in Morzine.
Spartan Race 2016 in Morzine.

Amongst all the other stuff, there was also Brexit… We’ve not really posted since Brexit and haven’t wanted to get into it too much. Enough has been said and whilst we did our research, we’re no experts. The turnout was high and the people spoke. There’s a lot wrong with the way the EU currently operates and there’s obviously a majority of people who are desperately unhappy with the status quo in the UK, who want change and rightly or wrongly lay the blame on our membership of the EU. I’m just disappointed that the result of such a monumental ‘opinion poll’ was based on so many lies, inaccuracies and false promises, many of which didn’t even make it past the first morning!

Personally, the effects hit us instantaneously, with our business based in the UK and earnings in sterling, the exchange rate has a direct impact on our finances. We’re just pleased we struck while the iron was hot and moved out here because we might be having second thoughts if we’d left it longer.

Whilst we watch from afar as the UK reels from the outcome, there’s a considerable shadow cast over here. As you’d expect, in an area dense with British expats, the majority of people we’ve spoken to wanted to remain. Many people have lived here for a long time and have laid considerable roots. Many have businesses and are worried about the implications. Many of the French owned businesses rely heavily on keen seasonal migrant workers from the UK who take advantage of free movement of labor. In an economy reliant on tourism, (largely British) there is a lot of anxiety and uncertainty over here.

It always seemed a shame to me to contemplate cutting and running and it does feels like a step backwards. Having said that, there is undoubtedly a lot wrong with the European Union, maybe it is doomed to fail in it’s current format but maybe this considerable jolt is just what was needed for everyone to take a good hard look and to rebuild, reform and work together in a better way.

In my personal opinion, division is bad and unity is the way forward. Never mind Brexit, Europe and the short term turbulence, I’m hopeful and confident that some day in the future we’ll find a way, as a species of humans beings, to live together on this magnificent rock (and off it!) in a sensible, cooperative way, in harmony with the rest of life on the planet. A planet where everybody thrives and our collective focus is on common good and shared progress rather than division, money, power and competition. It may take some time and it may be an unrealistic ideal but we’ve come a long way from picking and eating bugs out of each other’s back-hair so surely we’ll keep improving! It would be nice if we could get a bloody wriggle on before some idiot really screws everything up!

Not a bad spot for a Monday lunch break.
Not a bad spot for a Monday lunch break.

Anyway, lunch was lovely and an awe inspiring view never fails to lift the spirits. Sitting in the sun together, in an idyllic setting, enjoying a plate of tartiflette and salad whilst you take it in is a real supercharged feel good factor! Idyllic!

Les Chevrelles Bar Restaurant, Mont Caly.
Les Chevrelles Bar Restaurant, Mont Caly.

I’m back at the computer now though, obviously. Maybe we’ll go back up there for tea, for a little booster. I’d better have a look at the exchange rate first 😉

Onwards and upwards eh?!

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