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Lively evening at the Sunstar last night. Colin’s mate Matt is here for a few days, so the Duo became a trio.

Snow was forecast for today, so we were a bit disappointed to wake up to find the temperature at +5C. We needn’t have worried. By coffee time the storm had arrived, the temperature plummeted and it got very windy. No trains to Scheidegg, and one solitary ski lift at Bumps open.

It’s gloomy, but we needed the snow.

The path up to our house will hopefully be ploughed before long. The snow is forecast to continue tomorrow.

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The weather wasn’t supposed to be very nice today, but it looked ok at breakfast time, so up to Männlichen we went.

It’s one of those days when whatever you do with your goggles or sunglasses, you still can’t see. We picked our way round to Scheidegg, and the sun came out.

There’s lots of noise on the Lauberhorn. 150 kids are taking part in the British Schoolboys Ski Races.

It clouded over at lunchtime and it looks like we’ll get some snow before long.

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The day started quite brightly, but it grew increasingly gloomy and there’s not much scenery to see.

Everyone agrees that the weather’s going to change in the next few days, but what it changes to is anyone’s guess. The kids are still here. This afternoon they had a treasure hunt around the village.

Uptown Lights at the Sunstar later.

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It’s a nice day, with warm sunshine managing to penetrate the veil of high cloud that’s been hanging around for the past few days. Curlers enjoying being able to play outdoors.

It’s a quiet time of year for the ski schools, and they’ll offer good deals to anyone who’ll bring a load of kids for lessons. Several international schools are here, and there are children everywhere.

The sun sets quite early at this time of year, but the kids will keep going until the nursery lift is switched off.

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The weather looks good so it must be time for a ski. A bit gloomy on the way down to Brandegg – the Eiger does a good job of blocking out the sun along here.

We stopped for a coffee and bumped into Robert and Roger who had skied the same route. Better visibility on the way to Wixi.

And finally we found sunshine at the top of the Lauberhorn.

Cruising back to Scheidegg.

A nice ski, on a nice morning.

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The cold snap seems to be behind us – it’s mild and sunny again. After lunch we walk to a viewpoint called Staubachbankli. Wengen road sign.

Curious goats. They must be well used to having their photographs taken.

Duck, and duck pond.

Behind the farm is Mary’s Cafe. The ski run that leads to it is the lowest point in our part of the ski area – slightly below Wengen itself.

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Today we’re off to Grindelwald to see some art. Back in the early 1980s, a group of visiting Japanese artists carved a large sculpture of Heidi from the snow in the village square. This gave birth to the Snow Festival, which is now in its 38th year. Artists from around the world create sculptures. Here are a few of the works in progress. First, the Brits.

Next, the French, who are having great fun with their creation.

The Swiss are very organised. They have a scale model of their sculpture to work from, and a scaffold tower to help them reach the top.

As you can see from the photos, Grindelwald gets almost no sun during January. We were absolutely freezing, but I guess that’s exacly what you need for a snow festival.