Downhill from Here

-20˚C (-4˚F) when we set out on our ski this afternoon! After such a bitter December we are well and truly cold-adapted - we dress up warm and we can take it in our stride.

I love the concept of this picture, but the dull lighting doesn't do it any favours. Will have to try again on a sunny day. Just about froze my digits off taking it too, it's a bit of a problem operating a camera in weather like this.

Last night was our first New Year's Eve out in the country. We stayed in - attitudes towards drunk driving in this part of the world are way too relaxed for my comfort, and the road conditions are currently treacherous. So we broke open a bottle of really good French wine (Christmas gift, many thanks!) and celebrated quietly on our own. Well, not so quietly actually, the silence at midnight was deafening so we launched half a dozen bottle rockets just to break it up a little!