BON Samedi, mes amis

Here's hoping that you're all whizzing gleefully downhill rather than pratting about reading emails. But for the cyber-detainees among you, oh yea, oh yea, hear ye this (sorry. Encountered Dorchester's European champion town crier, ghost story teller and balls-out lunatic Alistair Chisholm yesterday. Feeling strangely affected. If you're wondering where this digression came from, check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP9EoU0ndOA). As advertised previously (this is just a reminder for those late shoppers among you - and frankly, late shoppers are legion), the PWF early Feb service will quit fair Dorchester town on 04 Feb, heading towards the Alps. In these fair mountains 'twill trundle on 06 and 07 Feb, before returning to Merrie England.

While the usual mix of the mundane and mental is already booked aboard, there be always room for a little 'un. As ever, the PWF warehouse here in Dorchester is at your disposal for the reception of items from suppliers too unaccommodating to deliver to France, or we can work door-door.

Bon ski, chers Alpiniards

Phil White
Philip White Freight

It'll be coming round the mountain… the Philip White Freight van, that is. New dates, mes amis.

WELL, I've only just given up bellowing Happy New Year! at everyone I meet or greet, like a dementedly cheery extra from a Will Ferrel movie… and already February looms on the calendar. The year's second month means two things in this office – one, that I'd best start thinking about Mrs PWF's birthday present; two, that I'd better let you lovely lot know the dates of the next Philip White Freight service. It leaves the UK on 04 Feb, and should get to the Alps the next day. We'll be in Chamonix, St Gervais, Morzine and that sort of place over two days, then we'll turn North again.

The PWF warehouse in Dorchester is at your disposal should you inadvertently buy some furniture, crockery, a bathroom suite or a pair of six-foot cuddly Polar bears (I kid you not…) in the January sales.

And so I leave you, chers Alpiniards, and wander into the distance wondering what on earth Mrs PWF might like for her birthday (she's not really into Polar bears, unfortunately). Until we meet again, mes amis…

2015: the road ahead

THANK you for 2014, Alpiniards. We did a lot of work last year. January 2015's first Philip White Freight service is just around the corner, and a whole new year begins. A quick audit of 2014 reveals a dizzying variety of cargo, transported both to and fro. It also highlights the wonder and variety of you marvellous people, those with enough poetry in their soul to live, work or play in the French Alps. I would be the first to admit that driving around in a van is right up there with painting ceilings for fist-eating dreariness. But the people I deal with at either end of every journey are a boundless source of entertainment and pleasure. Some of you are inspired, others inspiring. The odd one is clearly downright mental, which can only be a good thing. In a former life I was a journalist, writing pretty lies about people and their cars in magazines. I remain a professional gossip, which makes you brilliant lot my bread and butter in much more than just a balance sheet kinda way. So merci, mes amis. Have a wonderful 2015 – I'll catch you along the way…