we are writing from the legendary chelyabinsk.
daddy thinks it's very exciting and thinks everyone will want to hear about it.

we have not yet seen any tanks but we are still holding out.
we have, however, taken discreet photographs of some officials.

there are some lovely bronze statues in teh pedestrianised zone of the city. we have taken photographs of all of them. i am upset with lewis as he ruined one of my photos by scowling and would not stay out of the next one. he cried, but it's ok because im not in trouble.

this area is surrounded by lakes and we will stay by one tonight. lewis has been told that he is not to drink the unclean water: he did the first time and got the 'runs' (for one day only).

tomorrow, although at the eastern edge of the urals today, will be our last stop in the urals. we have to go north so as to skip out kazakhstan.

last night was an evening of contrasts. the flies appear to be growing in size the closer we get to singapore. daddy in particular looks like a blotchy pin cushion. the locals appeared friendly at first but we were later to find out that they were buttering up to tourists in the hope that we would supply alcohol euros. but there was a nice honey man washing his car in the river.

the roads during our drive this morning (170 miles) were the hilliest we have yet to encounter ('they walk the tighrope between diabolocial and perfect'- daddy). this means we have been using more fuel, but we still manage c 450 miles to a tank. it has also created somewhat of a sport out of overtaking: today tessie had her foot to the floor and was really pushing 30mph.

we have passed many police checkpoints this week and we always ensure that lewis gives the illusion of being strapped in for them. today he was rewarded for knowing his 4 times table: i was similarly rewarded.