Siberian Seasons

Yesterday I was discussing with a Russian the seasons in Siberia. I said that there are only two seasons in Siberia...winter, and winter's coming.

He stronly refuted my statement and explained once and for all the Siberian seasons

June ...........Spring

July............Summer

August .......Fall

September to May ....Winter

I stand corrected!

The Frozen Toilet Revisited

Well spring is upon us here in Novy Urengoy and things have started defrosting... including the brown stalagmite (see The Frozen Toilet - a scary but true story). I just had to go and have a look to see what happened to that frozen pile and yes I can report with confidense that it has completely defrosted. Now instead of a brown stalagmite we have a brown puddle. However the stench remains the same.

Back in the cold seat again

I have returned to the freezer! After 2 months off waiting for a visa I am finally back in the Siberian wastelands; quite a shock after enjoying the warm springtime weather of Atlanta.

I arrived this morning at around 8am after my second all night flight in a row. To welcome my arrival it was snowing...at the end of May? When will summer come to this frozen land? It must be said, however, that most of the winters snow has melted and the town of Novi Urengoy has been transformed from a cute winter wonderland to a garbage dump!!! Under the snow was, as I suspected, a very ugly industrial city with no concern for beauty only basic funtionality, yuk!! My wife would wither in a place like this.

Lack of sleep is making me morose, I shall return after I have had a good nights sleep.