das Wetter ist schön (und kalt)

The weather is nice and cold (sunny and a balmy -14C or about 7F). My German colleagues have been telling me that I picked one of the coldest winters to come for my sabbatical. It is not so bad. I kept telling Glenda that Sudbury, Canada, where I spent a lot of time working on my experiment is much colder.

Russia shut off its natural gas line to much of Europe on Tuesday. Russian gas amounts to over 40% of Germany's annual demand. There is enough reserve here, so rationing is not likely in the near future. But Austria is already drawing on its reserve and rationing may begin soon. Serbia is in a worse situation, and the Germans are providing them daily supply. Bosnia is also asking the Germans for help.