Ok fact -lovers, here's a good one for you! Here in Mikolow we're having the warmest January in over 100 years. Usually the winter here sees the little streets covered in a cloak of white crispy snow, but no, not this year! No snow, no frost even. Which is funny because last year I arrived in Siberia to the coldest winter in over 100 years!

So, weather report over, let's talk about something more interesting......um, well, er. I don't have any news I'm afraid. The year of the pig has begun very slowly, and there is no scandal to report or exciting anecdote to tell. I may have to resort to my old pack of stinking lies to make this here blog a bit more exciting. I can't even rant about the disgraceful BBC World because now I have a dvd player so have not even turned on my television since I've been back.

I have been occupying my vast amount of free time with playing Spider Solitaire (I'm NOT addicted) and trying to reacquaint myself with the impossibilities of the Polish language. No matter how many new words I learn, the only thing I ever have to say in reality is 'I don't understand, I'm English! I speak Polish not good' to which people respond very well, usually by walking away or talking to someone else instead. Result!