Tip for the day: While it is usually a good idea to use your windowsill as an overflow freezer when the temperature is below zero, beware placing kamikaze pizzas on the windowsill, they would rather take their chances with a three storey fall rather than be baked. Had to retrieve a thin-based mushroom variety from the snow drift under our kitchen window.

Off to Saratov for the weekend to take a walk on the frozen Volga, talk more tuesday.