Now the new year can begin

January is the most hateful month of the year but this one hasn't been too bad because I was lucky enough to be invited by Chris McGrath to join his ski trip to Champoluc, and then John and I finished the month with two days in Normandy touring stallions studs on 'La route des etalons'.

It has to be said that my skiing gets worse every time I go. I may well have hung up my skis for good after the latest pathetic effort but the 18 people I went with to Italy made it such good fun that I'll no doubt be revising that decision come next January. Racenews did without one of its directors for the week as Ed Prosser (seen here in action) took to the slopes, along with his younger brother Jeremy. Alarmingly Ed and I had matching ski outfits and managed a few runs of synchronised snow-plough just to maximise the effect.

In France we managed to see John's mare Minnie's Mystery and her very strong yearling filly by Gold Away (pictured). They both board at Sylvain and Elisabeth Vidal's Haras de la Cauviniere, which stands Le Havre and Air Chief Marshall. Minnie is due to foal to Le Havre in April.

We also visited Haras d'Etreham to see Saint Des Saints, Poliglote, Wootton Bassett, Falco, Silver Frost and American Post; Haras de Colleville, the home of France's leading first-season sire for 2011, Kendargent; and Haras du Quesnay, where Gold Aways stands alongside Fuisse, Dunkerque, Mister Sidney, Kentucky Dynamite, and Minnie's mate for this year, the lovely Youmzain.

The second day of the tour took us to Haras de la Reboursiere et de Montaigu, home to Martaline, Literato, Archange d'Or, Astronomer Royal and Turtle Bowl, who has to be to the best looking stallion in France. From there we went to the nearby Haras du Pin (one of the French National Studs) to see Croco Rouge, Montmartre and the elderly Sleeping Car. Also on Sunday's list was Haras du Mézéray, which stands Naaqoos, Whipper, Myboycharlie and Muhtathir.

The last week has provided plenty of opportunities for stallion-viewing as the TBA held its annual parade ahead of the Tattersalls February Sale on Thursday. Of most interest to this stable was Lanwades Stud resident Archipenko, who kicked off the parade and looked tremendous.

Desiree, who should produce a Schiaparelli foal mid-March, is booked to Archipenko this year. Her first foal Oscar Bernadotte (Sulamani) is now in serious work and his trainer has promised me he will win this year. Music to my ears, of course, but I'm still bracing myself for disappointment, as it is always wise to do where horses are involved.

Hugh rides Oscar most days but he allowed Gina Bryce to ride him in a gallop on Wednesday and the following day Gina was back with an At The Races film crew, which was recording her training for the St Patrick's Day Derby at the Cheltenham Festival. Hugh was glad to be back on Oscar for a piece of work on Saturday morning, which was cold and frosty but beautiful. Here's Hugh and Oscar leading Hannah on Sail Past and Jamie on Ruby In The Dust past the lonely-looking Rowley Mile grandstand.

We have a new addition to the team following the February Sale: Simayill, a four-year-old filly by Oasis Dream, who was bred by Gina's parents Melba and Colin at their Laundry Cottage Stud. She's a filly with plenty of presence, who has already won for Clive Brittain, so let's hope she can build on the promise she has shown. We also bought Gift Of Silence, who was in training here as a two-year-old but was offered for sale by her breeder. She's a lovely daughter of Cadeaux Genereux who has been encouraging enough in her early work for John to consider taking a chance on keeping her in training.

We have a really nice team of horses for 2012. Karma Chameleon has started the year well for the stable and we hope that plenty of his fellow residents will be adding their names to the score sheet in the months to come. With Newmarket presently covered in snow, it's hard to imagine that the Flat season is not far away but it's only just over two months to the Craven meeting and though there's plenty of fun to be had before then I can't wait until HQ swings back into action.