Loads of fresh snow had fallen in the French Alps just prior to this holiday in La Tania near Courchevel. Knowing this encouraged us onto our early flights to Geneva!

We all met up with Matt from Family Friendly skiing at Geneva airport and were soon headed towards the mountains.

Our route took us past Lake Annecy in the most beautiful weather.

When we arrived at Chalet Nicole in La Tania there was tea and cake waiting for us.

We settled in, sorted out ski and boot hire where needed, met Sarah and Hugo our friendly chalet hosts, and sat chatting in the lounge until dinner.

Some women had been before; for others it was their first time skiing with WW and we all started to get to know each other.

After a delicious dinner we sat around chatting some more, then most of us headed to bed fairly early.

First skiing day, and unfortunately we woke to mist and cloud - a disappointment after yesterday's brilliant sunshine. Later more snow started to fall.

In the morning 4 women had ski school at Courchevel 1850m and were taken there by the chalet minibus to keep things simple.

After checking that everyone had found their instructors ok, I joined Raffa and the rest of the group skiing on the Biolley piste (WW's favourite 'meeting up' run!)

We had a great warm up ski in the morning, ranging over the pistes above Courchevel 1850, then met up with the others after ski school at the Jump Bar in the resort. All seemed to have gone well.

In the afternoon while some of the stronger skiers took a private lesson, the rest of us split up to ski either blue or red runs.

Later the snow stopped and the weather brightened a little.

Some caught the minibus back to the chalet, while others met up at La Soucoupe bar preparatory to skiing back down to La Tania. The lower slopes were unfortunately pretty slushy in the relatively warm air.

Back at the chalet more tea and home-made cake awaited us.

We stretched our tired and unaccustomed muscles and relaxed in hot baths before dinner.

Later as we sat around chatting I brought out the WalkingWomen Buffs. We tried wearing them in different ways...

Today we woke to beautiful weather and a thin layer of new snow on the pistes. Mmmm!

In the morning we ranged over the Courchevel pistes as far as the 1650 slopes, enjoying excellent snow conditions.

For lunch we all met up at the Arc en Ciel restaurant at Verdons which was accessible to all.

The weather was beautiful, though a little warm for the snow. In the afternoon 4 of the group again had a private lesson - on skiing bumps!

The rest of us skied some more mainly above Courchevel 1850m.

Again, a few of us met up at Chenus towards the end of the day to ski down to La Tania together.

Today we woke to the most stunning morning with blue sky and clouds in the valley below us.

4 centimetres of snow had fallen, giving us a wonderful start to our day as we skied down from Col de la Loze towards Verdons.

We made our way over to the slopes above Courchevel 1650m and had some superb skiing there - punctuated by coffee at La Casserole restaurant!

For lunch we skied back over to Chenus above Courchevel 1850m to meet up with the women who'd had ski school.

This gave me a chance to take photos of Laura who had started as a beginner but was improving rapidly.

In the afternoon the weather closed in again. We hoped more snow was on its way as we enjoyed a snug evening in the chalet.

International Women's Day should have been bright and sunny, but unfortuantely dawned misty with low cloud!

The mist was so thick to start with we followed a children's ski school group down!!

The ski schools had a long day today - 4 hours in total to allow them to venture further afield.

However, Carmela phoned us to say she'd become separated from her ski school group in the thick mist.

We quickly located her - mobiles coming into their own - then skied over to 1650m together to find the rest of her class.

Later we met up for lunch in La Casserole, including Laura who caught the bus and bubble over.

Raffa and I skied with the intermediate skiers in the afternoon while others went off to ski some bumpy reds and a fun gulley.

There was to be a minibus lift home from Courchevel 1650m for a change, so some of us skied down the Indiens run to get there, spotting wigwams on the way!

That evening it was the chalet staff's night off, so we all went out to eat at the Taiga Bar in the village.

The food was delicious and beautifully presented. Some women ordered local specialities.

Stunning morning to wake up to - blue skies and sunshine again!

The scenery was simply superb as we took La Tania bubble up, then the chair to Col de la Loze.

We could see the Meribel and Val Thorens slopes to the west of us, and many of the Courchevel slopes were visible closer to hand.

No one had ski school today so Raffa and I skied to 1650m with the gentler skiers.

Laura had learnt so much over her first week and was now impressing us by her confidence on blue runs!

A strong hoar frost the previous night had left the trees looking like in a fairy tale.

The scenery from the Pyramids drag lift was some of the most striking in the area, and the snow was in a wonderful condition...

Heading back later we met up with the stronger skiers at the Arc de Ciel restaurant for lunch - which had been invaded by large furry animals!

At some point that day, Karen took photos of other women playing in the gulley at 1650 - might have been the morning or the afternoon!

Last skiing day, and we woke to fresh snow - about 3cm in La Tania, and more like 8cm in places on the tops. Fabulous!

Coming up on the drag lift from the top of the bubble - to save time waiting for the chair lift to be cleared of snow - we broke out into sunshine at Col de la Loze.

The clouds came and went, but regardless, the new snow was a total delight to ski on. We made fresh tracks wherever we could, especially Ellie...

For lunch we took the cable car up to Saulire - the highest of the Courchevel peaks - hoping to get above the cloud.

Alas the fog was just as dense and we ate our lunch indoors. Some took the cable car down, others skied down Creux, and still more chose Combe de Saulire.

Later in the afternoon we skied down to La Tania with the sun coming through in patches. The views were breathtaking.

On the way we stopped at Bouc Blanc for a vin chaud - sadly, our last of the holiday.

Everyone had early starts on this last morning, heading back to Geneva for their flights home.

Last breakfast at the chalet, then goodbyes all round. The snow had been great and we'd had huge fun - even if it hadn't always been sunny!