Don’t you just love vending machines?  I mean, what’s better than being able to put some coins or notes of whatever your currency is into a slot, and the product of your choice falls out in the vicinity of your feet? Magic. Apparently the first ‘modern’ vending machines were found

What do you think life is like, when you’re living in a foreign country?  Especially a country as enigmatic as the Russian Federation?  I want to give you a little peek into my life here in Moscow, because I’m sure if you don’t live here, you cannot imagine what life’s

I love my local supermarket.  Actually we have several local supermarkets in our neighbourhood.  They seemed to have multiplied in the last couple of years and now we have at least 6 small-ish supermarkets plus one huge shopping centre (mall, commercial centre, whatever you want to call it) all within

Definition of patriotism patriotism ˈpeɪtrɪətɪz(ə)m noun the quality of being patriotic; vigorous support for one’s country. “a highly decorated officer of unquestionable integrity and patriotism” synonyms: nationalism, patriotic sentiment, allegiance/loyalty to one’s country, loyalism The above definition is from Google dictionary.  There was more but I left out the negative synonyms.  Today I’m

In Moscow, and most other big Russian cities, heating in flats is a communal affair.  I mean, you don’t have control over the heating in your flats, it’s controlled by the city. How this is done I don’t exactly know.  But it works.  And it works well. In Moscow, most

Bicycles Think Amsterdam has a lot of bicycles?   Then come to Moscow! For the past couple of years, businesses in Moscow have been using bicycles for advertising. I don’t mean that they ride around the streets on their treadlies shouting out their product list or special offers. Because they

This is the question I get asked the most – why Moscow?  Why did I come here?  Why indeed!? It was never my intention to live in Moscow, or anywhere in Russia.  I didn’t know anything about the Russian Federation.  I only knew what Mr Austin-Crowe had taught us in