I got this job through the nanny agency Family Match based in Winchester, and I've been a private ski nanny for Scott Dunn here in Courchevel, France, since the beginning of last December. I'm working with six other ski nannies - five work in the company creche, the other works with me as a private nanny and we share a flat. It is my first time as a ski nanny.
Sunday is transfer day and the private nannies only day off. In the evening the creche nannies give a talk about the creche to the new parents while the private nannies have an information booklet about themselves for the parents to read.
Today, like every day - except Sunday - we start at 8.30am. The creche nannies pick up the children from where they are staying and take them to the creche, whereas we look after the children - aged between four months and 12 years - in the chalets or hotel rooms. Both of us will take them to ski school if they are old enough - they start at four. We have to be able to drive in snow and have a skid test before leaving England.
Tuesday
The families are usually only here for a week so you have to get the children used to you quickly. If the children are happy the parents are happy too. So far I've been looking after babies this week - it's a four-month-old and a seven-month-old for two families.
I'm trying to learn French while I'm here, but a lot of French people will answer you in English which is frustrating. We don't have much time to ski while we're working, but we get two weeks holiday in which we can do so. Scott Dunn gives us a free lift pass, skis and boots.
Wednesday
Picnic day if the weather's good. Meet the parents with their children at 12.30pm on the piste for a picnic lunch. Afterwards we have a big snowball fight and make snowmen. Not all the children adapt to the snow or take to skiing and there are sometimes tears. But, of course, others love it. Everything certainly gets wet! I take the babies out in the buggies - the roads are cleared efficiently. Little ones also take their buckets, spades and plastic starfish outside and play with the snow like sand!
Thursday
It's the creche nannies' day off, but the private nannies work 8.30 to 5pm as usual, although I normally stay and chat to the parents about what I've been doing with the children. It's very different working for individual families as you have much more to do with the parents. Also you sometimes have to make quick decisions by yourself.
Baby-sitting in the evening - we get paid extra for this.
Friday
After work a few of us drive down the mountain to the supermarket to do a big shop for the creche and ourselves. It's our responsibility to manage the creche food budget. We give the children snacks and a cooked lunch during the day.
Saturday
The guests' last day. There's not much time for the ski nannies to feel sad as new children will soon arrive. I'm meeting lots of different people from all over the world and making new friends as well as seeing a different country. It's great.
