“Return to the Chalet”

Podcast: Nothing Much Happens: Bedtime Stories to Help You Sleep
Host/Narrator: Kathryn Nicolai
Episode Date: December 29, 2025
Theme: A cozy, gentle winter journey—returning to a beloved mountain chalet after the holidays, with meditation on rest, gentle traditions, and seasonal rituals that nourish body and soul.

Episode Overview

In this peaceful bedtime episode, Kathryn Nicolai welcomes listeners back to the restful world of her fan-favorite “Winter Getaway” series with a new chapter, “Return to the Chalet.” The story unfolds with the familiar and soothing routines of closing up a bookshop after the holiday rush and retreating to a mountain hideaway with Alphabet the pup. Through evocative details and gentle storytelling, Kathryn guides listeners to a place of calm, encouraging rest and restoration.

Key Discussion Points & Story Elements

1. The Power of Restorative Rituals and Storytelling

• Kathryn opens by explaining how stories with compassion and calm can help regulate listeners’ minds and bodies.
  • “Following along with a calm story centered around compassion and ease allows you to experience something called restorative witnessing. You regulate by listening to someone else regulate.” [05:02]

2. Transition From Busyness to Rest

• The narrator wraps up the year at her bookshop, highlighting post-holiday fatigue and the anticipation of time away.
• She comments on how preparing for rest is in itself restorative:
  • “Knowing that this getaway was coming up had me moving through the busy days before the holiday with a spring in my step, an excitement in my heart.” [06:50]
• Elfie (short for Alphabet), the narrator’s dog, is included in this year’s retreat, symbolizing growth and new comfort with self-care.

3. Tender Humor & Canine Companionship

• Pre-trip routines include dressing Elfie for the cold—a relatable, loving scene:
  • “He had short white fur with black spots. I always teased him that one of his grandfathers must have been a Dalmatian or possibly a cow, and he would get cold on a day like today without a sweater.” [09:32]
  • “He sighed like he just worked a double down at the café.” [08:25]

4. Departure and Reflections on Community

• As the narrator closes the shop:
  • She notes the solidarity of small businesses taking winter breaks—windows aglow, “SEE YOU IN JANUARY” signs—a gentle image of communal self-care. [11:15]

5. The Journey: Sights, Sounds, and Savoring Quiet

• The narrator relishes the drive, choosing silence over radio, hand resting on Elfie, noting comfort in familiar landmarks:
  • “His steady, sleepy breaths slowed my own. I recognized a few landmarks along the way… I was calmer this year, unwinding like the tail of a kite floating up and away into the clouds.” [13:00]

6. Arrival and the Gift of Being Remembered

• Welcomed warmly by hotel staff:
  • Porter: "Welcome back."
    Narrator (reflecting): "I was a bit surprised by how good it felt to be remembered... Your chef's friend. I remember." [15:10]
• The friendship with the chef—who leaves behind homemade cookies and quiet care—highlights the power of gentle, sustaining relationships.

7. Ascending to the Chalet—Light as Nourishment

• The funicular ride to the chalet is timed for sunset:
  • “It had felt like the light had gone inside me on the way up the mountain and that I'd been able to carry it with me into the rest of the winter. This year the glow was softer, more like being close to a fire than being struck by lightning.” [18:50]
• The present year's trip is less about healing from depletion, more about gentle replenishment.

8. Arrival in Rest and Homecoming Details

• The crackling fire, fresh snow, and warmly familiar room become symbols of safety.
  • The homemade cookies for the narrator and fresh biscuits for Elfie are expressions of personal care and hospitality.
• The story ends with a deep sense of grounding:
  • “My mind settled deep into my body and I felt safe and calm and ready for sleep.” [22:15]

9. Repetition of the Story for Deepening Rest

• As a signature of the podcast, Kathryn retells the story in gentle, slightly slower detail to further ease listeners toward sleep, repeating the imagery and emotions to reinforce their calming effect.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On finding your ritual for rest:
  “Whatever happened today is what happened today and now we are here. Take a deep breath in through your nose and sigh from your mouth.” [06:06]

• On the feeling of being welcomed back:
  “Welcome back, he said, and I was a bit surprised by how good it felt to be remembered.” [15:10]
  “Your chef’s friend, I remember.” [15:35]

• On the lessons of gentle self-care:
  “I wasn’t in the same place I’d been that first time. I didn’t need to be rebuilt, just topped up.” [19:30]

• On arrival and comfort:
  “There they were, their famous black and whites under a pretty glass dome, and beside them some freshly made biscuits for Alf and a note with a simple xo.” [21:55]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [04:50] — Explanation of the story’s purpose and the concept of “restorative witnessing”
• [06:50] — Closing the bookshop and the ritual of year-end rest
• [09:32] — Dressing Elfie, humor, and caring for your pet
• [11:15] — Observing the quiet of a small-town winter
• [13:00] — Reflecting during the drive; power of familiar silence
• [15:10-15:35] — Welcome by name, being remembered, chef's friendship
• [18:50] — Funicular ride; sensory detail of the landscape at sunset
• [21:55] — Arrival at the chalet, comforting tokens of hospitality
• [22:15] — The story’s gentle closing, readiness for deep sleep

Tone and Language

• The episode is suffused with Kathryn’s trademark gentle, warm, and reassuring narration.
• Language is vivid but simple, prioritizing sensory comfort and emotional calm.
• Humorous touches (Elfie’s sighing) and gratitude for small kindnesses abound.

Suggested Listening Context

This episode is ideal for winding down after a hectic season, for anyone craving cozy, restorative imagery and a gentle invitation to carve out compassionate rest. The tender, slow repetition of “Return to the Chalet” is crafted to quiet the mind and nurture peaceful sleep.

Sweet dreams.