The Sami have been doing it for millennia

Cate makes friends with a Husky named Archie

A final word on the popping ‘bulbs’. Parts of our lounge room are about four metres high and at the very top of the ceiling there is a row of down lights.

Well so far since we have been here only two of these have popped. There is no way I can possibly get to them to change them.

Well there is – theoretically. I could move the dining room table under them - put four dining room chairs on top of the table – gaffer taping these together so that they do not move around – and then stand my tallest ladder on top of the chairs.

I would then have to stand on the very top of the ladder. I might consider doing this if I was insane.

The chances of that happening are less than zero – and when all the lights pop I am going to ring  a man and ask him to bring a big ladder and do the job.

This will be expensive because the elevator is only two meters high and anything over this height has to be carried up the stairs.

Any workman who discovers this always arrives at the door out of breath and unhappy and automatically increases the price.

And here is the link to the Snow Hotel in Kirkenes.

Well the snow hotel was an interesting experience and is something you would do if you have more money than sense. Which we did before the experience – but no longer.

For the three of us together it cost €1,000 which is such an unspeakably large amount of money to spend the night in a refrigerator I am embarrassed to tell you about it.

I mean if you really want to know what the Snow Hotel is like just go and ask your local butcher if you can spend the night in his cool room.

Sure it will not have the same ambience and you will have to ignore the hanging dead animals but it will cost you a shitload less than €1,000. Just imagine that your are at a Republican Primary.

I don’t remember much about it anyway because I was plastered because I knew I would not be able to sleep unless I was. It is fecking cold in there.

And for those of you who are worried about the snow hotel crashing in around you – forget about it. The Sami have been doing this for many thousands of years and have never lost a guest.

The worst that can happen is that you will you will need to go to the toilet and will stumble out into the snow and die. I am told that it is not a bad way to go.

For those Viennese who read the blog – we have discovered a marvellous new vegetarian restaurant in 1010. It is called Tian and the food is sensational – and very reasonably priced. It is non-smoking of course – otherwise we would not go there. It has been open about a month and is very popular. Do yourself a favour.