Two Years On

As some of you will recall today is a significant day in my life. Two years ago today my heart finally rebelled at the lifetime of abuse I'd been throwing at it.

It cetainly got my attention, it was nearly the end of me!

But thank God for His mercy, a great doctor, and my devoted wife and family for hauling me back to wellness; in Catherine's case literally!!

The road has been difficult.....for them!! I am without a doubt an extremely hard headed individual and it was only their constant vigilance and tough stand that got me through. And of course loads and loads of blueberries, more blueberries than you can ever imagine, thanks to my wife.!!
Everytime I tried to eat something 'unhealthy' I was bombarded from every side...blimey talk about persistance!! Even sneaking goodies was virtually impossible, they actually counted sweets and chocolates and chips and things!!!!

But it paid off in the end because the other day I came across a picture of me about two weeks after the event, I looked half dead, pale, sunken eyes, ugh !!!

So now two years on I can say with sincerity thank you Lord... and thanks y'all!!!

The Retro Apartment

Well I just got a first look at the apartment I will be moving into in Novy Urengoy.

On entering one is reminded of a grotty London flat common in the 70s. However it is cozy and will, I'm sure, eventually be a refuge from the Siberian cold, a real cheery place!!

The kitchen is also from the 70s, old fridge, old gas cooker, tiny kitchen table with two small stools, kitchen cabinet doors askew; it's like a blast from the past; I remember living in a place like this when I was a student! Retro is cool...right?!!
On the positive side there is a great new microwave/convection oven and all new kitchen equipment.

My bedroom has a bed and a wardrobe and a bedside table, and that's all, but then who needs more? But the room is about six hundred degrees!! The heating is on and is of course controlled by the state.... can't turn it off. Apparently they turn it off in July for a while...along with the hot water!! Needless to say I opened a window...after a major struggle with the triple glazing!

The bathroom has a new bath(great!), a new washer-dryer(great!...umm for clothes!) but the shower is one of those things common in Europe... a shower head on the end of a hose; that should be fun!

My shopping list for the new apartment;

Rubber gloves
Very large bottle of bleach!!

I think some of my wife has finally rubbed off on me!!