Apparently there is a saying in Norway (which Berghaus have picked up on in their advertising) that there is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes. Before we came to Kyrgyzstan we made sure to buy some good cold weather kit and it has certainly paid off. When we go outside, we are bundled up in base layers, fleeces and duvet jackets, snow boots and inner and outer gloves... and it is all very necessary, and we have not - yet - got really cold. We have even been for a few runs! (see our running blog (link on the right)).
At times the cold weather is fun. Felix had his birthday party last Saturday and part of the time was a snow fight whilst we walked to the nearby bowling alley. As it was so cold the snow did not make good snowballs... but people could be well and truly smothered if they walked under a tree that was shaken at the right moment!
But it is not always fun; over the last few days many homes in the city have been without gas, which has strained the electricity system causing some of the circuits in the city to breakdown. So far we are fine (it probably helps that our block of flats is near a number of government ministries and the police headquarters!), but several friends and the Oasis boys transitional home have been without gas and electricity for much of the last two days. Fortunately the boys home is quite close and were able to have their supper cooked at our house; but it will be a cold night for them and many others in the city tonight - and perhaps for a few more nights until the gas is sorted out.
