THINGS FOR FUN WHEN IT'S MINUS 20 C OUTSIDE.

Had a great weekend celebrating Steve's birthday, we sorted a babysitter and went out for dinner on Saturday which was awesome. Got kicked out at 9pm though as the H1N1 curfew is still in operation. Sunday was french toast and birthday cake and balloons then a little CD shopping for Steve. We then had another 3year old birthday to go to in the afternoon - where Steve also managed to score another cake!!

Belinda's understanding and grasp of Mongolian is slowly improving although still often frustrating. There is a lovely older man who is one of the local 'recyclers' - these guys get paid a pittance at local collection points for collected glass and plastic bottles which they spend most of the day sifting though rubbish collecting. As he is a regular in our neighbourhood we have struck up a bit of a friendship which mostly consists of hello's and the offering of an occasional meal or some money. Unfortunately Hello is about as far as we have got at this point. Belinda often find's it more difficult to understand the older Mongolians dialogue. However, we will keep trying.

Steve has just booked in for 6 days holiday at Christmas time (not a public holiday here) and we are looking forward to b's sister arriving in only 9 more days. Hopefully we will manage to get in a bit of tobogganing/skiing, outside the city to a Ger camp and some Mongolian-ness while she is here.

Mongolia is cold, beautiful and for the most part we are loving it.

Hugs to you all

b xxx