I'm becoming Russian...

Ice Skating on Patriarchy Pond

I have been approaching this blog thing all wrong - I wait for a few weeks and then try to make up for lost time by writing 15 pages of drivel that I can only half remember and so I will start writing more frequently but with less content so as not to over whelm myself or anyone who wishes to read it!

I am definitely finding myself becoming slowly Russian in certain areas of my life. I have started to wear fur...before anyone starts to think of ways to pelt me with eggs, I was the most anti - fur person you would ever have met and yet you are surrounded by it here and I  have even started to play a game on the Metro or as I walk behind people in the street of trying to guess which animal adorns my fellow Muscovite.  There is such a variety of fur and the game gets much more difficult when people dye it pink, orange and even red....I saw a lady out the other day who had a bright red fur hat, red fur gloves and just to add a little more - red fur boots - she was quite a spectacle and sadly not in a drop dead gorgeous way. I find myself watching mink coats swish and sway and gleam like satin and have become quite entranced with the things. I have now acquired an Arctic fox fur hat from my mother as she is not able to wear such things in Britain for fear of being skinned alive herself - I must admit it is rather splendid and I feel at one with my fellow Russians in a way that my red bobble hat never quite mastered. The problem is that it doesn't quite cover my ears and so I am waiting for my leopard skin (fake - I don't mind a fox dying but a leopard...now that's just taking it too far....; )...) ear muffs to arrive from England and then I shall sashay around Moscow quite the queen bee.  I have instructed my mother to bring out her mink coat next time she comes or I shall find my way into her attic when I am next home hunting out fur treasure. WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME?
The weather really does make fur a necessity here - when the temperature dropped to -29, fur rules in the warmth department. Yes, people do wear fur here as a status symbol but it also does a job that very few man made fibres can replicate. We have been very lucky here for our first 'winter experience' in Moscow. The temperatures have really stuck to around -10 and it was even 2 degrees in January which stunned the Russians as they love to tell you how cold it will be 'next week' to strike fear into the expats hearts! The weather is already warming up and there is a feeling of Moscow defrosting ready for spring. Today the sun is out, the sky is blue and the polluted air even seems a little fresher. Moscow is a city that glistens in the snow and really does suit the white blanket that descends over it and so i'm not sure I shall enjoy looking at the city so much when it returns to grey pavements and patchy grass parks. Talking of the parks - snow definitely opens your eyes to how much dog wee there is all over the place. The yellow snow has nearly taken over the white in our local park and I may never allow Arthur to run on the grass again. It's everywhere! Yuk.

Arthur is doing well at the moment - here are some videos for those who wish an update!

Arthur seems to get very excited about his colouring book...

Arthur is most interested in things with wheels - 

Enjoying a little football although prefers to hold the ball as it's safe from Alice's jaws...

So all we have left to say is -