2009 - what a beginning!

Really. Czech Republic, together with many other countries, is still cut off the gas piping from Russia. All this due to a dispute beween Russia and the Ukraine about the debts for gas. Consequences: our gas reserves 20 days, then we will feel a regulation, mostly for the factories, plus a domino effect in economy following. If they do not resolve the problem. Our neighbours in Slovakia have already experienced serious problems, as well as some countries in Balcan  - Bulgaria and Romania freezing.
Our government took over a chairmanship of EU yesterday. Ha. Allow me no comment...but a ceremony was pompous enough, that is was.
Plus a mission of our minister of foreign affairs in Gaza: blah, blah, blah.
Plus problems with weather - extremely low temperatures, problems with water piping and electricity wiring.
Oh yes. Sorry for that. And I  tried to be...sober. all the "proper" expressions keeping for myself...Grrrr

I am warm, thank you!!!

Thank you all for your concern and support! Believe me, I feel really great, all those kind words and warm thoughts are precious for me!
Do not be concerned too much, my family and I are quite safe. We do not use gas at all, only propan-butan for cooking in a combined gas/electricity stove. We use a furnace (ecology-friendly one), mostly burn wood from my husband´s small forest, and sometimes coal. Today for example, it gives more heat than wood. The temperature now is minus 13°C and dropping, inside 18,6°C exactly. As the night is clear, it will be even colder. The lowest temperatures are at dawn - we´ll see in the morning. So nothing so horrible, I only think of all those who are not so lucky as we are, and I send them my sympathy.
Um...we do fear of the possibility that the water piping in the sheds might freeze. I have experienced this twice. The cattle are thirsty and they cry/moo very much and you have to fetch a gaden hose, fix it in a water source nearby , and you spend at least two hours, pouring the water in the long, long troughs, with your legs freezing and your hands literally sticked to a wet hose ... and you see the animals drinking like mad.
They are soo grateful!
Alas, it is not so easy with people...:-)
A frequency of my runs to the cellar is higher now. I have to feed the fire and the men are both out. So I am a Guardian of FIre:-)
Hugs to you all!!!!