As I write, I hope that each and everyone of you is surviving the Siberian conditions that are gripping much of Europe and the Eastern Seaboard of North America. Friends in southern Portugal have reported unprecedented levels of snow, and my team in Central Siberia are experiencing temperatures averaging -58 degrees centigrade. Now that's definitely cold. For those of you in the UK who have struggled to cope with the onslaught of driving snow, take comfort from the fact that the temperature by and large hasn't dropped below -18! Small comfort I know, but something nevertheless.
Today marks my sister Sveta's birthday, so I'd like to wish here many Happy Returns for today, and look forward to her buying lunch in the not too distant future... For everyone else who may be celebrating a birthday today, I hope that you have a most enjoyable day.
