Charity ski

Give kids a sporting chance by taking part in Downside Up's cross-country skiing fundraiser on Saturday.

Three different races, from 3km to 10km in length, will be held at the Bittsa recreation zone in the south of the city, with prizes on offer for star skiers and plenty of hot food and drink to ward off the chill.

Entrants are invited to register on the Downside Up website (www.downsideup.org) and make a donation of 1000 roubles to support the charity's early intervention programme for children with Down's Syndrome.

All are welcome, regardless of skiing ability or experience. 

Frozen out

The cold snap is to blame for problems getting in and out of apartment blocks as domofons give up in the big chill.

Winter revelers struggling to get into their own homes after a night on the town need not blame the demon drink - for as temperatures plunge service companies have been forced to admit that the cold has scuppered the locks.
Amazingly, Moskovsky Komsomolets reported that the electronic locks were not designed to cope with a "real Russian winter".

In most cases the cold has merely left doors standing unlocked - but some unlucky residents have found themselves unable to get out of the cold and into their flats in the frost.

The solution is to ask service companies to come and change the oil and loosen the hinges to ensure everything works smoothly.