To Update you (So that you will be updated)

Ladies and Gentlemans, it's time for Ze Update.

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Greetings and welcome to the Radio Krasnaya Semi-Often Major Novosti Update. Making news tonight, The First Moscow Light Festival on Chistye Prudy, My general state of health, reshuffles in my timetable, fantastic new opportunities, gifts from people, my progress studying Russian and the weather. We're glad to have you with us. We'll be right back after the break.

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Welcome back. FIrst in tonight's news, last Sunday, we were lucky enough to attend the first-ever Moscow Light Festival, located on Chistye Prudy (literally Clear Ponds). This is the first event of it's type in Moscow and boasted a good turnout of views. A small section of Chistoprudny Bulvar (Boulevard) was rigged with different lighting displays to create different atmospheres. It's reported that a few people expected a little more than what was presented and hope that next years display surpasses the quality of this one.

In other news, it would appear that my cold is waning and has just about taken off for the hills. It is a good feeling and considering my state of health this time last year, it is certainly an improvement.

Now to Lingua news where a few recent developments have resulted in changes in my timetable and doors being opened to new possibilities. As previously requested, I will recieve the early start timetable that I was chasing last year. Most days I will start between 8:30 and 9:00 and finish in the early afternoon. THis is fantastic as it brings my timetable pretty much in line with that of my girlfriend. (Although not looking forward to the early waking and crowded metro journeys that come with it)

As for the new opportunities, this is actually the reason for the timetable changes. I have a new in-company class with one student. 3 times a week, i will travel to the office of a well regarded Russian state-owned bank to help the Senior Vice President to improve his English skills. I'm not exactly sure of the opportunities that will spring from this, but i'm sure, somewhere along the lines, there will be.

After we return, we'll present gifts from friends, my progress learning Russian and the weather.

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New Years is a fantastic time in Moscow. Fireworks, Alcohol and most importantly, presents. YAY! Presents. I got presents. Nice presents indeed. Let me tell you what presents I got:

• A new pair of leather/cashmere/wool gloves (Thanks Princess)
• A rabbit-ear wine opener (Thanks Rob & Marina)
• A Lolly Tree (Yes lollies grow on trees) (Thanks Olga & Sergei)
• A special glove so i can hold hands with Sveta without our hands getting cold. (as above)
• A set of plates and bowls (Super nice ones) (Thanks Natalia)
• A picture frame with sea artifacts to decorate our flat (Thanks Dima)
• A bottle of "Riga Balzams" from Latvia (Thanks Lena)
• A new cordless phone for apartment (Thanks Irina)

& Many more...(Ok not that many more) Thank you all for the super presents. They are fulli roxxor!!!

Ahem. Now to my progress studying Russian. I have had several lessons with my lovely Russian teacher (who also happens to be my girlfriend) and so far I feel as though I have been progressing well. (Albeit several complicated words which take 20 attempts to pronounce them well enough to be understood.) eg. Разговаривать - To talk - Pronounced- Razgavarivat' We started learning the past tense last night which at this point, appears to be fairly simple. I know though that a lot of frustration is ahead. But I'm ready for it.

Now to the weather. People are still scratching their heads over the peculiar winter weather this year. Rain over the last two days, absolutely unheard of before in January, permanent cloud cover for the last two weeks and temperatures circa 0c to +4c. Compared to last years temperature of the time, circa -20c, the weather seems quite tame and there's not been many complaints. Will the winter come this year? We'll have to wait to find out.

Thats all from us here at the studio. Have a wonderful evening. Goodnight.

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