You'll be happy to know (but not as happy as me) that my radiator has been fixed so gone are the fingerless gloves and scarf from my round-the-house attire. So even more reason for a celebration. As a tradition we here at the school have a Christmas Carol service in which people sing carols in all different languages. Consequently we have to teach our students some of the most traditional and well-known carols including Santa Clause is coming to Town and Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer.... Well, by this I mean, I stand in front of the class singing along to a CD while the kids look embarrassed and laugh at me. It's great, no really, it is.

Sombre thoughts have crossed my mind recently regarding my progress in grasping the Polish language. I wonder, will I ever advance past being able to ask someone their name? Will I ever really need to say 'I want to post this letter to Slovakia' again? Will I ever really understand the grammar? The answer to all these questions, friends, is no. But yet I persevere. It's an uphill struggle. Am I a glutton for punishment? Well, only time will tell.

Entertainment update. I am now a devoted listener of Anti Radio, the region's alternative music provider. Get this for a playlist, we've just had The Rolling Stones followed by Hard-Fi and then Marilyn Manson! No more need for the TV, see ya BBC World!