Well, on the advice of Mike, Tobes an I nipped up to Ruinettes to see exactly what Mike, Televerbier and the massive double prop helicopter that’s been hovering over Verbier were up to.

Well, a lot. And very quickly. Because since 7.30 this morning they’ve put up absolutely loads of pylons, and all the running gear. The top station is looking like all it needs is a cable, some lifts and a bit of snow.

The pylons look ready to plonk that cable and some seats on and start rolling.

The bottom? Not so much…

Yeah, there’s some work to do down at the start, but it’s the big bit where they’ve been pouring concrete and building a pretty heavy duty installation. But that’s enough typing, because we have pictures of helicopters and that’s why you came here.

Plus a video. And if it sounds ‘a bit windy’ that’s because it is. Very. Try 100kph coming off those rotors…

Didn’t seem to bother the livestock though.

We thought you might like to see the first snow in town. Well, the first snow since August or something…

Anyway, it looks like this although the snow in resort has changed back to rain. Very, very heavy rain.

Yes,  the sun’s out and i am the proud owner of a new clever phone that will enable us to get lots more pictures up here on the site.

Er, lucky you…

Yes, the home of the slightly unwashed seasonaire is being reduced to a big concrete shell and a hole in the ground. Which means that the carpet is probably slightly less sticky than it used to be. Olly is probably weeping at this very moment at the loss.

Yes, I am aware that sometimes I use this blog to yap on about giant statues of roses (thanks to Tom at CK for pointing out they’re not tulips). But this is more important.

Much more important.

Because Rich and Gina are doing something that is simultaneously daft and commendable and for charity – they’re cycling from John O’Groats to Lands End for a young lad called Oli who has Cerebral Palsy and is supported by the brilliant charity Cumbria Cerebral Palsy.

Well, they set off next week (so it’s probably going to start raining) and they need your support – so please visit their Facebook page and like it, and you can sponsor them by clicking here. Go on.

And please tell everyone you know.

Things are happening up on the mountain and it seems to involve helicopters a lot. Brilliant.