I’ve been away for a couple of weeks. Had a small medical problem that needed checking in Hong Kong – more on Hong Kong later.

Winter has settled into Mongolia now – last night it was -25 and whilst the apartment is toasty warm (actually, I am lucky, I am in a new apartment so can control, somewhat, the heat coming from the central heating), outside it is, well, a little chilly.

I had experienced cold weather before, living for three years in Norway (“morn, morn, ikke sant?”) and the Norwegians have a very sage saying, “there is no such thing as bad weather, simply bad clothing”. They use this as justification for being out and about in any weather. Many of you can recall the pictures on television of the Winter Olympics in Lillehammer a few years ago and the image that flashed around the world of a number of Norwegians, sat together in the snow with a fire, drinking coffee and picnicing in the sunshine whilst the temperature was -20.

I have sat outside in -20 temperatures in the sunshine with Norwegians drinking beer. However, I can feel that winter here is going to be a little different. Today, something that has never happened to me before happened to me. I walked outside on my way to do the shopping and ….

My snot froze in my nose.

A most unusual experience. I’ve had my breath freeze in my beard before (that happens around -12) but never have I had the snot in my nose freeze. Sort of makes the nose feel rather funny.

Of course, walking back from the supermarket and the delicatessen my shopping also froze in my shopping bags.

And this is only early December. Last January the temperature range here for one day was -37 to -30 … hmm, wonder what freezes at -37 – everything else on you is well frozen by then.