One of our local secondary schools has an exchange with Novgorod every year. The term starts next week, Tuesday I think, you could try phoning them for information. It's Brayton High School, Selby, N.Yorks. My next door neighbour's kid went one February and survived. It could be quite possibly a matter of learning to walk on hard-packed snow. If you are a native of the Pennines you should cope! I believe Novgorod means "Newtown" in case you are interested (new something or other, anyway).

Michael Palin called in at Novgorod on his Pole-to-Pole trip too. Day 31 of the trip. It is during his visit he says he experiences the "Night of a Thousand Toasts" at the Correspondents Club. "After each toast the glass must be drained". I did warn you! It will happen to you to some extent at some point. Will you be celebrating a birthday or anything? Dare you admit it? Reading down the chapter it seems that Novgorod has history, handsome buildings and around 200 small churches. It is twinned with Watford! There appears also to be a traditional "kissing dance" in the area. Have fun!

One thing you could do is to go to Waterstones or some other big book store (Borders too, if you can get to Leeds or York) and have a look at the travellers' guides. They are bound to have some info on climate etc. The only one I have here is on Central Asia, so it won't be any good.

I have not 45 minutes ago waved my other half off to Russia. He says he's definitely off skiing this weekend. I will be seeing him again in mid-March when the Russia job ends.

Andrea