293: Almost Happy Birthday

In Russia it's considered bad luck, or perhaps it's just bad form, to celebrate a birthday before the event. Here in UK if a person is going to be away on his/her birthday we celebrate either before or after (or sometimes before and after).
So, it was perfectly in order for a cake to be baked in honour of my 21st birthday next week. And here it is. Or rather was, because it's half eaten now. I had enough puff to blow out the candle as I did it before I went for my run.

This evening a small, select, group of people is going to the Pike and Eel at Needingworth for a birthday meal.

Here, apropos of nothing, is a picture for my Russian readers. As far as I know the concept of cleaning up after ones dog hasn't reached Russia. Yet ?

I went to see a musical in Peterborough last night (life is just one long Bacchanalia!). It was called Sweet Charity and was performed by a local amateur dramatics (AmDram) group (Westwood Musical Society). Here is a short video clip of the musical (although not from last night).

292: A contrast - old and new

Scraping the bottom of the barrel for things to talk about and show you. Here are two recent pictures, taken through the window of the transport I was travelling in at the time. They show nicely old Moscow and new Moscow.

The ice on the lakes and rivers has mostly melted but winter is not necessarily over yet. We are expecting minus temperatures again this week.  "Ne'er cast a clout till May is out"

I'm not going to make a political comment here other than to say that the situation in Ukraine is at a critical point. Yesterday's referendum, criticized overwhelmingly by "the West", went the way everybody knew it would. What will happen next? Only the major players know. We all hope and pray that they don't get it wrong and that a peaceful solution can be found. The annexing of the Sudetenland in 1938 was a stepping stone towards World War II.  My God, nobody, but nobody, wants World War III but it only takes a wrong move at the wrong time in this still escalating conflict and .........
My video clip is the song "Russians" by Sting. "I hope the Russians love their children too". (Actually, I know they do and sometimes hear the phrase "our children are our future".)

291: International Women's Day and van Gogh

Yesterday was International Women's Day. In theory that means it is celebrated internationally but in practice it's not widely known about in many countries - the UK included.
Here in Russia on Friday there were tens of thousands of little ceremonies in the workplace where the men laid a table with food and drink and invited the women to join them. Eloquent speeches were made congratulating the women on their special day and those women and men who weren't driving had the opportunity to partake of a little alcohol. I was lucky enough to be invited to attend such a ceremony and witness how women are, for one day in the year at least, revered.
I offer to you, to compare and contrast, the other side of the coin where feminists have hijacked the day to publicize and push their movement. I know it was Luise Zietz and Clara Zetkin who started International Women's Day in 1910 as a strategy to promote equal rights for women. However, some may feel that present day feminists have gone a little further down that road than was imagined at that time.

To change the subject, in case I end up in hot water, I visited, and enjoyed, the "van Gogh live" exhibition last Thursday. The exhibition has been on tour in quite a few cities and is being hosted in Moscow until 26th March. Here is a link to their website which includes a video clip giving an insight into what the exhibition has to offer. It is being held at the Artplay design centre near Kurskiy station.

To finish off here is a video of the Don Maclean song "Vincent". It shows many of van Gogh's works.

290: Russia hasn't changed much then...

Sometimes, when I'm out and about, I see some really impressive new buildings. They make me think that Russia has changed enormously since I was here in the late 70s. I had my first lesson in this building yesterday with a group of energetic young students. The first of many, I hope, even though it's a good 10-15 minute walk to the metro.

On the other hand, reading the front page of Monday's Moscow Times - which is about an "invasion" and two "political" arrests - I sometimes wonder if it has changed at all.

Still, whether it has changed or not, the birds still need to be fed.

For today's video clip I have chosen Boney M singing Rasputin. I have vague memories of dancing on a table to this music in the early 80s.

289: BOGOFFs

Quite a few people returning from Sochi passing through Domodedovo airport this afternoon. The overall impression seems to be that the games passed off very well and Russia is to be congratulated, not only on winning more medals than any other nation but also on her organisational skills. Молодцы!

Having been refused entry to the S7 business class lounge here at Domodedovo (apparently Priority Pass card holders aren't allowed in between 10.00 and 14.00!!), I decided to take advantage of a flyer that had been handed to me earlier with a BOGOFF (buy one get one free) offer.
Order a cppucino or a ginger cider or a hot chocolate and ice cream and you get the second one free. OK, so I made a pig of myself but I've never been one to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Here is the before and after. Both very nice.
Who killed Cock Robin? I said the sparrow, with  my bow and arrow!

Who killed Cock Robin?" "I," said the Sparrow,
"With my bow and arrow, I killed Cock Robin."
"Who saw him die?" "I," said the Fly,
"With my little eye, I saw him die."
"Who caught his blood?" "I," said the Fish,
"With my little dish, I caught his blood."
"Who'll make the shroud?" "I," said the Beetle,
"With my thread and needle, I'll make the shroud."
"Who'll dig his grave?" "I," said the Owl,
"With my pick and shovel, I'll dig his grave."
"Who'll be the parson?" "I," said the Rook,
"With my little book, I'll be the parson."
"Who'll be the clerk?" "I," said the Lark,
"If it's not in the dark, I'll be the clerk."
"Who'll carry the link?" "I," said the Linnet,
"I'll fetch it in a minute, I'll carry the link."
"Who'll be chief mourner?" "I," said the Dove,
"I mourn for my love, I'll be chief mourner."
"Who'll carry the coffin?" "I," said the Kite,
"If it's not through the night, I'll carry the coffin."
"Who'll bear the pall? "We," said the Wren,
"Both the cock and the hen, we'll bear the pall."
"Who'll sing a psalm?" "I," said the Thrush,
"As she sat on a bush, I'll sing a psalm."
"Who'll toll the bell?" "I," said the bull,
"Because I can pull, I'll toll the bell."
All the birds of the air fell a-sighing and a-sobbing,
When they heard the bell toll for poor Cock Robin.

288: What do you think - I saw a pet mink!

After writing in the last blog that nothing surprises me here in Moscow what happened yesterday but a woman got on the bus I was travelling on and she had a pet mink on a lead!
I had to take a photograph because I'd been out for a few beers with my friend Adam and knew that otherwise I would wake up in the morning and imagine I had dreamt it. Sorry it's a poor quality photo - I'd had a few beers by then. In the photo it doesn't look real but I assure you it was wriggling and squirming and was very much alive.

Two events worthy of note from yesterday's entry on the BBC History on this day site. Firstly, on 15th February 1971 decimal currency was introduced into UK. Our much loved pounds, shillings and pence currency where 12 pennies = 1 shilling and 20 shillings = £1 was scrapped for 100p = £1. No more half-crowns, sixpences, threepenny bits, ha'pennies and farthings. Guineas (21 shillings) are still quoted in the pricing and sale of livestock at auction although the actual transaction is in pounds. I remember the conversion well because just as I was getting used to the new currency I was sent to Cyprus for a 6-month deployment with the United Nations and had to quickly get used to the Cyprus pound.
The other noteworthy event was that on 15th February 1989 the last Soviet soldier left Afghanistan. Won't be long now before the last American soldiers (and the other troops of the multi-national force) leave. I wonder how long before the Taliban are completely back in power.

For my video this morning I include the 1983 film Gorky Park with John Hurt and Lee Marvin. A great film, and there is a link to the mink which you will discover if you watch it.

287: Houses

Very little surprises me here in Moscow. So when I read about an upside-down house that had been built in VDNKh (The All-Russia Exhibition Centre) I thought I had better go and check it out. Quite amusing, although I thought £6 admission was a bit OTT. Click here for more details (in Russian) and more pictures.
Here is another plug for my late mum's house. I have just reduced the asking price to £120,000. It is being marketed by Thomas Morris in Ramsey.

Click here for more details

Today's video clip then is of The Animals singing "House of the rising sun". They recorded it in 1964.