Greetings from sunny Efremov!

[Doseone]

Now to add insult to injury ... the local steam-plant has gone kaputski and the hotel has no heating! It's bloody -25C outside and my only true friends in the world are an oil filled electric radiator and a woolly hat!

Is that a hang over from the old Soviet days where I believe heating was provided to the community from a central plant?

It looks like a fascinating (and surprisingly nice) place.

Stay warm!

 

[Fab Foodie]

Is that a hang over from the old Soviet days where I believe heating was provided to the community from a central plant?

It looks like a fascinating (and surprisingly nice) place.

Stay warm!

The central steam system is quite common in Russia and Scandinavia too. The factory is also supplied from this system too. Normally it's good but the local circulation seems to be suffering a problem. The oil heater did its job and I had a good night. It's snowing this morning.

It's certainly a more interesting place than I had imagined. Just hope we have no more production issues so we can get our work done. Home tomorrow!

 

[perplexed]

Efremov. That's quite a commute from Abingdon.

 

[Globalti]

Sounds just like one of my own letters from Africa except that it's usually 35 degrees plus and I'm complaining about the AC.

I feel sorry for the German and two Hungarians who have arrived to install a mile of stainless steel pipework for our new automated factory. They look miserable; not surprising since they are staying at the awful Village Hotel on the M66 and working in Radcliffe for 12 weeks.

 

[Aperitif]

Never been to Russia and I'd jump at the chance. I suppose the closest I've been is Hamina in Finland near the border - lots of elk and more elk involved. And lashings of expensive mediocre lager..

Rich P is already there, три велосипедыmcginty...found himself a nice park bench too!

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Efremov. That's quite a commute from Abingdon.

It's worth it though, if you've ever been to Abingdon you'd appreciate the distance.

 

[Fnaar]

Now to add insult to injury ... the local steam-plant has gone kaputski and the hotel has no heating! It's bloody -25C outside and my only true friends in the world are an oil filled electric radiator and a woolly hat!

I had a work trip to Russia some years ago, and likewise, the heating went kaput. So the hotel gave us some money off the bill in cash (we hadn't asked, they just gave it us as we checked out). So we spent it on a vodka binge, as you do. Then our employer asked us to repay discount (they'd forked out in advance for the hotel bill). Boo.

 

[Chromatic]

I had a work trip to Russia some years ago, and likewise, the heating went kaput. So the hotel gave us some money off the bill in cash (we hadn't asked, they just gave it us as we checked out). So we spent it on a vodka binge, as you do. Then our employer asked us to repay discount (they'd forked out in advance for the hotel bill). Boo.

You should have then stuck in an expenses claim form for items purchased to keep yourself warm whilst the heating was off.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

I had a work trip to Russia some years ago, and likewise, the heating went kaput. So the hotel gave us some money off the bill in cash (we hadn't asked, they just gave it us as we checked out). So we spent it on a vodka binge, as you do. Then our employer asked us to repay discount (they'd forked out in advance for the hotel bill). Boo.

Couldn't you have explained that you'd reinvested it in the local economy?

 

[perplexed]

It's worth it though, if you've ever been to Abingdon you'd appreciate the distance.

I had to deliver something there once around 25 years ago. I'm still in therapy...