Siberian Diary March 07

Arrived in Kras 10 below and 5 o'clock dark sans luggage. somewhere in Amsterdam. no veggie, Sim air even the pot salad had chicken in but the wild mushrooms were good..and the beer.
Monday...after sleep in the morn met by Irina and went to the Italian for lunch, lots of salad etc. brief meeting with Victoria. Then to shop for shirt underpants etc. toothpaste and vodka purchased. Up to see ski resort - closed because it was Monday and then to the Irish bar for lent menu - no meat. strange jazz trio with accordion.
Tuesday
Russia does not have BlueTack!
Sasha from Omsk joined us (Marsha on Thus) the Siberian BC gang. Went to Turkish restaurant and told of the conditions in 1989 when Irina's boyfriend left her for Israel and she was paid in boots with nothing for the baby. Sash told her experience of the Russians invading Azerbaijan with shooting outside her house. Husband’s family is from there.
Wed more of the same but the document is getting done. Vladimir took us to the museum. Went behind the scenes to his office missed Sergey but although I have been before it was interesting as always. An early night after the Irish bar and the Lent menu.
Thursday
Irina's birthday couldn't find card but bought chocs. Everyone made a fuss of the 'boss' André brought cake and flowers - but the cake never appeared although we had wine at lunch with our pizza (veggie) had pineapple ugh! Marsha arrived From Irkutsk the Siberian triumbirate was complete. After dinner with the ladies at 'Tet a tet' Vladimir showed Sasha and me around the museum centre - Sasha had never seen it on her many previous trips to Kras. I had a ride on the 'bicycle'. A very friendly good bye from tall Sasha (she met her solider husband when she was selling ice cream as a teenager) - I managed to escape for drinks with Marina didn't get drunk or fall over in the snow. At least I got out even though it was to the Irish bar again.
Friday
The big day - chicken on the salad! for breakfast but the omelet was good. and fresh orange juice.
Visited Virkov house - turn of century artist. Old wooden house v interesting. Full of small smelly school kids - one with shaven head, nits maybe, some looked v poor. Little old ladies in all the museums. The ones here smelt of old ladies! Virkov house an oasis in the middle of the city. Early snow soon disappeared into mud and slush seems to be no street drains to take the water away.
Following a meeting she had Irina tells of underlying feeling of soviet times in the relationship between UK and Russia - something is up and about to break, spy case or something.
Sign missing from the front of the BC building! First to the city hall in the corporate lecture room. Went ok but still nervous. Krill’s face looking anxiously up to change the slides. Only a few mistakes Marina lost confidence with Irina’s critical looks. Met and had tea with Vassily. Off to museum centre. Met André and he took us to see the Henry Moore show going up.
Then our act again all went ok with tiredness - well that’s my excuse- I made one or two silly mistakes. (Marina corrects my English) Then confusion over the dinner venue + Irina had invited all. Couldn’t escape. Ended up in 'Tet a tet' again but was with Elna? Olga and Kril so ok. To the Irish bar to see band and eat - 10:30 by this time. More beer and long chats . Band played 60s 'Pretty Woman', ‘back in the USSR’ and Beatles. Late back.
Sat
Woken with a start and it was 5 time to leave! Never dressed and packed so quick. Only 7 mins late for Helen and taxi downstairs. Set alarm for the wrong time but how did I know when to wake?