While I wouldn’t want to temp sod’s law and speak too soon, it seems that the dreary Kiev winter might be coming to an end. In the hazy sunshine where a walk in the park (amidst canoodling couples and doddery old blokes playing chess) brings a little joy into one’s heart, it’s easy to forget the tortures one was put through in the more snowy months.

I am reminded of a conversation I had in the first few weeks when sampling Kiev’s expat ’society’; the world of coffee mornings and status enquiries:

princess: so, what do you think of Kiev?
me: oh well it’s not bad I suppose, a bit cold and grey but tolerable (my sunny spin on the misery that is Kiev in winter).
princess: aahh, yes, well, you see I just love winter. I love sitting on my immense window seat….., gazing out onto the snow. Watching it fall down and gather outside is just…… so….. well, romantic… (drone drone drone).
me: gobsmacked silence.

Winter is an entirely different matter when you have a full time chauffeur (one suspects there is more to his role than simply giving m’lady a ride) and don’t have to worry about lugging shopping up the hill. In fact lugging one bag per miserable outing so your other hand is free to hold onto anything solid to stop you slipping on the endless ice rink that is Kiev pavements in winter.

Indeed life is sweet when you are chauffered around in your kitten heels because you don’t have to worry about falling on your arse or head when simply trying to get from A to B.  Incapacitating yourself for weeks (despite porting your most solid flat winter boots) with a dodgy back or trying to hold your head together when you crack it open after another icey incident is mildly inconvenient.