Wednesday 18 January 2006 This morning there's a hard frost and bright sunshine, a pleasant change after some dismal grey days of snow and fog. The views of the surrounding snow-covered hills and mountains are wonderful. On Monday the power went out at half past ten in the morning, only coming back on at four next morning. I began cooking dinner around half past four in the afternoon when the gas supply came on. But the gas pressure was so low it was barely enough to cook, and we eventually dined by candlelight around eight pm when the gas went off. Then straight off to bed. The forecast for the next few days is for more sun and frost but with heavy snow on Sunday. We seem to be very focused on keeping warm, cooking warm food, keeping ourselves and our clothes clean these days.