Keep cool

Its been absolutely baking here in Moscow. Our flat has been 29 c inside and outside almost 40 c. It faces the direct sun from midday till sunset. After a few days of slowly roasting like a chicken in the oven, I snapped and met with the landlord. We asked her (no demanded is a better choice of words) to install air con or we would leave. In Russia and perhaps, its the same in many places now, you have to speak tough and act tough when you want something. You cant be soft and polite as it gets you know where. She begrudgingly agreed, and the next week she put one unit in the living room. The living room is now very pleasant to sit in. All the windows of our Moscow flat face the sun so there is no air flow through the flat.

As a double protection, I came up with a cunning, if not slightly eccentric plan. I would add double protection from the suns rays, by covering them all in sun shields. I went to a home improvement shop here called OBI and I got many packs of those silver carshields and small kids car sun shades that go on the windows with suckers. Just to explain, many flats here have balconies covered with glass and our bedrooms back onto it, its hot, very hot. I put these car sun shields on the windows and inside the flat I put those kids car shades and got rolls of that silver sheeting that reflects the sun and put that up with sellotape on the bedroom windows that back onto the balcony. I can now say the temp has dropped by at oh.... at least 1 c! Only joking, by at least 2 c. So its better.

Russians say its not usually this hot and is normally 26 c in Moscow but I have to say I have big concerns that global warming is now biting us all on the tail and saying I told you so. This weekend we are off to a another part outside Moscow for a tourist trip. I will report back later dear reader.