last post - er because im home

just thought id throw up some photos that i didnt manage to blog.
its strange to be back. good to see friends obviously. all being well with visa, ill be back over for may.

these are all from st petersburg..

nevski st

and again

 the winter palace

 tallest structure of free standing granite - nearly fell over when the were putting it up apparently

 now used as a gallery- apparently there are so many works of art here they have never been able to count them all..hence some go walkies

 went to the top of this to get subsequent views

hope youve enjoyed the blog

stay tuned for next installment

spring has sprunged

ok - so this might be my penultimate or even last post - two weeks remain.
although there are no real signs of spring, the big melt has started. snow is shoveled off roofs, pathways being cleared, and the river makes huge noises at night as the ice cracks..
although my russian is still practically zero, i kind of blend in and regularly do things alone that would have seemed difficult at  the beginning (shopping, bus rides, going to a badminton club where i dont know anyone..)
how do i feel? how do i feel about leaving?mmm. there are pro's and con's here as there are at home, or anywhere for that matter, and i regularly switch between feeling homesick and feeling i could live here. i guess it depends on your priorities.
i have met some lovely people here and they have treated me wonderfully and i seem to meet more as time passes, but in the rest of the people, there seems to be a sadness, even anger and this can get me down. theres something similar at home but its not as manifest as it is here.
if anything, my time here has shown me that i can quite easily live somewhere else. even somewhere i would have never dreamed of living..
ok so some more random pics and videos (if they work)
will see you lot soon..

went for jog. following photos taken around village on railway line

a night out in nalyvyka

probably moments before a brawl..

stumbled across a military parade on way to work in main square, all under the watchful eye of mr lenin

ok this may not be my last post - but in case, see you soon for a beer and a curry

end of winter

ok so today is officially the end of winter, and start of spring..it certainly feels warmer (hovering around  -10)
went to a metal concert at the weekend..quite enjoyed. resisted the temptation to mosh.
drinking live beer - so its cloudy and not ready basically - but they like it here...

ok so some random pics

'but i only left my car for ten minutes!'

Ginny looks rather nice heading to the metal concert..

outside my flat in the bright sunshine

my street again

this dog/huskie/wolf knows me and will bark at me when i return home late, so he can get let in the flat basement

here he is again about to disembowel a babooshka

went to a nearby village called Vilgrort today, to the above building. an amazing place of art workshops and exhibitions

the main hall inside

some old craftwork

and some new

this is what blew me away- these are done by kids- none of whom are older than 6..

and more

and more..

there was also some crafts made by the kids - absolutly amazing - bought some too

mainly cathedral

quite warm today, and sunny as usual, so thought id see if i could get better pics of the cathedral..

the ice sculptures are still here..

the old fire station

various views of cathedral

kids playing near cathedral

every now and then we go to a state school to promote our english school. here they had a couple of songs prepared. great kids.