New kid on the block.

Carol arrived from Australia, (you know the place where it is now summer time with a lot of heat), a couple of weeks ago to spend a month doing things for the Lotus Children’s Centre. We had just been out for lunch and visited a book fair at the Buddhist Centre. Hence Carol looking a little rotund. Coat stuffed with paper backs!!!

We passed the place where Gek worked for a short time, a Singaporean outfit delivering business courses. Very smart inside.

The Mongolian New Year is getting closer and this weekend has been ever busy with people getting in supplies for the holiday period. Including mutton. This day is well below -20 C so about freezer temperatures outside, in the middle of the day. Could drop to – 37 C in the night. Well tucked up in bed when it is that cold.

Gangs of 20 or so men and women clear the streets of ice by chopping at it with spades and then dumping it out of the way of cars and people. It hasn’t really snowed a lot at all this year but the temperatures have been the lowest since 2001. Any water in the atmosphere crystallises and you get a sparkly effect in the air as the tiny crystals catch the sunlight. Quite magical.

Tourist street. A couple of minutes later poor old Gek was flat on her back. But no damage done. Well padded as you can see!!!!!.