more stuff

well its st valentines. here they celebrate it differently -in that, everyone who someone loves gets a gift. so its more of a family thing.
its still fairly cold, hovering around -25. although today was a belter as there was some wind. face scraping stuff.
tried to sample some more night life, although it can depend on closing times, drink prices, paying for tables and teenagers being dickheads.
i asked my friend if we could go see some countryside and we ended up going to an abandoned warehouse which is about 20 floors high. going up crumbling staircases and walking across holey floors was slightly unnerving but the view from the top was impressive.
lots of kids around the other day, zooming down hillsides on all manner of devices. they seem to start at a very early age and are pretty fearless. sometimes use each other as sleds! not got my snow legs yet..
job still good but tiring. students are great and often inspiring.
played badminton against the best player in the whole komi republic and won. so i am now champion of an area the size of france..
ok so heres some random pix..

the wiring outside my flat

looking down to the river

a twee

the top of the abandoned building

and views from it - the railway line to moscow

the roof floor, with visible holes and hidden ones..

slighly queezy

a long way back to sowerby bridge

a wee church

the view from my friends flat

Igor and myself reflect on the differences in local faces (he being nordic)

swift vodka drinking

my colleague and her relation

ezgenya (who can only swear in english)

irina (speaks fluent german)

olga and the sportcentre mutt

bobsleigh of a kind..

well its still hovering around -30 and today we decided to go to 'the alps' - a place about 20 miles away that is hilly and actually looks very austrian..the drive there was interesting, as we often hit 80 miles an hour on a severely ice covered road. went thru a heavily industrialised zone where mondi paper mill resides. the smoke and emissions are an unbelievable sight. a sunny day suddenly turns grey as a mile wide blanket of fumes block out the sky and drift northwards for god knows how long. thankfully the alps were basking in sunshine. hardly anyone there because it was deemed too cold apparently.
the bobsleigh turned out to be being thrown down a hillside on a tyre innertube. it was quite fast - but a good laugh.

on a tangent - found some sausages at the top of my stairs. still trying to figure out the significance. should i be scared, pleased, angry, concerned, amused, thankful..? only time will tell

oh, played badminton the other day..the sports centre is better than anything we have..one of our group managed to break a collarbone - so i spent a good few hours in a hospital. not a pleasant experience if you like your hospitals clean and running under normal conditions..ie ' we can give u anasthetic if u wait 5 hours - otherwise u will be sick. or you can pay 50 dollars and not be sick and have it done now...
there was also a procession of incoming patients who had slipped on the ice and broken something or other.. plus drunks who do it on purpose in order to spend some time in a warm hospital.

a pleasant street scene

a half hour walk home will result in a jack frost snog

outdoor ice rink at the alps

i will kill the person with the p.a.

-32

well, thought id best update..
went skating for the first time..went on my arse once but otherwise was ok. had to endure old russian childrens music in the process tho.
have already partaken of the cherished custom of visiting a friends house for tea and cake..the first of many no doubt.
went to a gig on saturday in an old cinema. it was a multi band night with bands from as far away as st petersburg..all fairly heavy.lots of covers. my favourite being personal jesus by depeche mode - with a rather unusual version of english..good night tho..first real taste of beer.

also had a night at my friends parents for blini and borscht. with plenty of political debate.
coldest day yet today - so quite unlogically , decided to cross the frozen river..was slightly parky. stunning colours and clarity tho..
today at work i made a ten year old girl cry..i gave her a lower mark than usual for her reading and she was absolutely gutted and cried..i felt awful! - i still do!

anyway heres some random pics

everyone needs a stuffed chicken in your cafe

the main church..will get more pics soon

the view from my works window

road through the park

wouldnt want one of these babies dropping on me..

another sunrise

after the frozen river trek - a nice warm cuppa of  green tea in cafe chocolat - perhaps my new cafe 5?

oh and while i remember - ive been having regular lunches withmy friend in a nearby canteen. really nice food. average price for a meal, couple of slices of bread and a tea - £1.50

before sunrise..at 8.30!

yes, getting stunning sunrises and sunsets at moment. this is the view from my balcony..

and the same view at midday.

this is my street again (soviet street). they dont use grit here. they have studded tyres..pedestrians take their chances.

this is my flat, right at the top! i resist the temptation to go on the swings.

went for a walk in the park which is just behind my flat - heading for the river..

this is the river, all frozeny. saw someone walk across. will try this when i get the courage up..

ice sculptures in the main square

and more of them. good to see no evidence of vandalism

my place of work

a snow leopard? more nice ice art

maybe we need this stuff in sowerby bridge?..ah but first we need a council that gives a shit

like this best but it looks like the penguin has been on the vodka. if hes still under the weather tomorrow, i will set him on his feet..

had my first full day at work. tiring but very enjoyable. the tutors are great and so are the kids.i find myself smiling way to often. its good old fashioned teaching but it works. and i like being called mr offen. get used to it. oh and for your amusement here is my first attempt at skiing (this is uphill by the way)

stuff

the main square with ice sculptures and new year tree.
well , was put in a different flat than was expecting (soviet street) which is just above a sex shop. the flat is basic and sparse but very very warm. so much so its in the niff kippin with no sheets.
it is cold here. moisture in your nose starts to freeze ( a strange sensation)..lots of snow everywhere - but people just get on with it. went outside in the morning to explore - right outside, maybe a thousand waxwings were constantly cirlcling around the buildings and occasionally diving into two small rowan trees for berries.
then i went to work. nice rooms, nice tutors , nice students. joy..
tomorrow i go skiing. also swimming, snowboarding, bobsleigh and yoga are on the cards..also badminton is big here! so lots to do..
will post pictures of flat and also any skiing escapades..hope all is well in blighty

here and cold!

well, ive made it. despite a hair-raising landing at moscow - plane was just about to land when there was huge scream of engines and the plane lurched upwards.later the captain informed that there was a plane on the runway..have to go out now for meal so will update properly when i have time..

last full day

well i tink all of the band recording is done - perhaps we are recording some of my songs today?..
last night had to do some acting- video of wedding preparations by groom and best man..mainly  because i wasnt there - had to go straight to wedding from plane

this is the brides parents cat. apparently it is called a british cat? anyhow it was huge, and had a liking for being stepped on and used as a mop

waiting to get into the studio- the building reminds me a lot of the those shithole rehearsal rooms near the tip in SB - but inside the rooms are a lot cleaner..

the groom twiddles on guitar for purposes of the video - all artistic like..

yesyterday we went for a walk down to the river which involved walking along the train track and thru a village on the outskirts of syktyvkar..these are not dachas but actual homes - i am looking into renting one for a while..

every house must have a knackered soviet times car outside..

down to the river

view of syktyvkar from the outskirts

last night was bit of a laugh - jammed with a local band while all were under the influence of whiskey..should have recorded it - but it was probably frog dirt..

well off to get out in the sun..