Salad Recipe: Mushroom Meadow/ грибная поляна

It was a typical, Russian New Year for us and there were with plenty of salads, including Mushroom Meadow (Gribnaya Polyana).

photo of the month

On a day in the UK when wintery weather is rearing its ugly head and the daytime has been rapidly changing between bright and night-like overcast, bringing hail, snow and sleet. Here in Britain, I feel the weather creates a sense of drudgery... oh god, it's miserable, let's stay in all wrapped up and warm.

With the view of Russia as a place of temporary stay, the drudgery disappeared and was replaced by an appreciation of the absurdity and the eternal battle of man versus weather. Another day coping with the Siberian winter was viewed as a personal victory.

stalagmite or stalactite?

Russia bans transgender drivers

It has been widely reported that the Russian government has decided to ban transgender people from driving (BBC, Guardian). They have added many conditions which they deem to be "mental disorders", including transgenderism, fetishism, exhibitionism and voyeurism, as well as kleptomaniacs and those with a gambling addiction.

Of course, Russia's absurdly high road accident (mortality) rate (30,000 deaths and 250,000 injuries annually) has nothing to do with alcohol, macho driving stupidity or poorly-maintained vehicles. If you want a laugh, watch (some of) this collection of videos from Russian dashcams.

With homosexuality sometimes viewed as an 'illness' in Russia, you can't help but wonder which direction such a law change might go next.

Now, cue the piss-take...

A return to Russia?

With not being certain about whether Lily and I will stay in the UK long-term.. or even short-term, it got me thinking about whether I'd ever return to Russia to live...

Russia-bound?

keeping abreast of the information

As a native speaker English teacher, you're prepared for all kinds of questions about the language and sometimes really having to get into the nitty-gritty, nit-picking nuances of language use but nothing prepared me for a most surreal debate involving senior staff.

Aaaarggghhhhh!!!

Finally finished off the New Year food...

New Year's Eve - Russian-style in the UK

New Year in Russia is a bit like Christmas in the UK. It's the day when you tidy ready for a clean New Year, exchange for presents and consume a belt-breaking quantity of food.


This year, Lily had to do a mad rush on her business on the 31st so while she busied herself with that, I busied myself with the food and the tidy up.

Before we could get to...

Champagne and the Kremlin

We had...