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Val needs new ski boots. We had a look around the shops in Wengen yesterday, but couldn’t find anything suitable, so today we’ve travelled down to the big sports shop in Interlaken.

Buying ski boots isn’t like buying normal footwear. You have to abandon any thoughts about your favourite colours, or preferred makes. You just want the boots that fit properly and have the right amount of forward flexibility. This means that you have to try a lot of boots on.

Fortunately, Kaspar works here, and he can help. He’s done all the training, and Val tries lots of boots and soon identifies the best ones for her. Kaspar heats them up in an oven and they are moulded to fit Val’s feet perfectly. We’ll try them out tomorrow.

Since we’re down here, we can enjoy a lovely lunch in the Cafe de Paris.

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It’s another nice day, a few clouds but still bright and mild.

Coffee time.

Val ‘queuing’ for the lift at Läger. It’s even quieter than it was yesterday, there’s barely a soul around.

It’s grim down in the valley – a layer of thick fog covers the lake and the villages down there.

Back in the village, we need some shopping. Dogs are not allowed in the Co-op, and we found this tiny one waiting patiently on top of the gardening shelves just outside the door.

More shopping this afternoon, Val needs new ski boots.

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The improvement in the weather that was forecast has arrived. It’s very mild, and there’s not a cloud in the sky. Männlichen opened at the weekend, so up we go. It’s pretty quiet.

Val, cruising down to the chairlift.

We stopped for coffee at the Edelweiss bar, to find it full of folk from Wengen out for a ski. It’s too nice to stop to chat though, so off we go again. Val heading for Hölenstein.

A nice day out, in spring-like weather.

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We’ve had some very snowy weather over the past few days, and for the most part we’ve stayed at home. Last night however, we decided we’d had enough of home cooking, so we headed up to the Eiger and enjoyed a splendid dinner. Rocks was doing a good trade later on, and we enjoyed Justin’s signature cocktails. We waded home though the snow. Thankfully, the snow was much lighter today, and it looks like the weather will improve after the weekend. Fingers crossed.

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It started snowing at breakfast time today, and it doesn’t show any signs of stopping. The council have a lot of work on their hands.

Fortunately, we went to Interlaken yesterday and bought lots of food, so we’ve no need to venture out. Val has a jigsaw to do, and I’m sorting out Christmas decorations.

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It’s a nice day, very cold but bright, and it’s time to give our ski gear a shakedown before the season gets properly started. Up at Scheidegg there are just 3 lifts running, but it’s plenty as there are so few people.

We had a potter about and caught the train home for lunch. Unfortunately the train coming up from Wengen had broken down, blocking the track, so we had to ski the last mile from Allmend.

The valley runs haven’t been prepared yet, so getting back was a bit of an adventure. Good exercise though. In all our years of coming here, this is the earliest we’ve ever skied (previous record 10th December, last year).

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Another good night in Rocks yesterday, and while we were enjoying ourselves it was snowing outside. We waded home, through the snow.

This morning it was dry and bright. We popped up for shopping, and the lady who sells us eggs from the farm was lamenting the lack of supply from the local chickens. She asked whether we’d mind if the eggs came from Lauterbrunnen. I’m sure that will be fine.

It’s cold enough for the outdoor ice rink.