CONNECTIONS AND DISCONNECTIONS - MOVING PLANS

Sorry I have not been here for a while, we have had some connection issues in the village with the internet. The sole provider of a village wide kind of home network system decided to return to his homeland in the Ural mountains, leaving us with no internet in the village, so, back to standing on one leg in the corner of the bedroom using the phone as a modem. You guys take all this stuff for granted, water-electricity-post-street lighting and other stuff. Sometimes we have some of it, sometimes none but never all.

News from Ukraine is grim for Vostok Motorcycles as the only carrier to keep crossing the border has suspended operations, with 12 parcels in transit to me and no way of knowing where they currently are I can feel a financial crisis coming on.

On a happier note the 2 rescued pups are doing well and have been named Belka and Strelka although I do not think they will be travelling as far as their names suggest. Two sisters with completely different temperaments, one is a greedy chubby stay at home, the other gets into all kinds of trouble and explores everywhere.

Belka (left) & Strelka

Have been looking at news with interest as the latest round of sanctions will hit me personally if the Russians decide to close their airspace, was hoping to be back in the U.K. soon, and helping at the amazing Missing Sock restaurant in Cambridge, well fingers crossed on that one.

Sales have been going well so thanks to you guys for that one, Nadya has been kept busy and we were approached by a woman who wanted to learn how to use a computer and sell online, She is now with us and getting trained by Nadya in how to keep records of everything, not my forte that one, have also been looking at moving nearer to Moscow, well 300-400kms away which is closer than we are now. I have been looking at the traditional wooden and log houses, lots of land surrounded by greenery appeals more than being near a beach we hardly ever see. Plus the price difference makes it a tempting move. Both of the houses below are for sale today, both have enough land to be self sufficient and both cost less than £15,000. There are drawbacks, unmade roads and a village without gas, large Russian stove for heating and cooking. None of which is a major hardship. So if anybody wants a  2 storey modernised house with outbuildings in a Crimean resort let me know.

Chris