The fifth day of deep snow. The initial festive atmosphere has turned

distinctly grouchy. I tried to get to work, but there were many hundreds

of people on the Metro platform and the trains—which passed through

about four times an hour—were so packed that no one was getting on.

I stayed for 45 minutes and then gave up. At home for the fifth straight

day, I was reduced to inventing a Napoleonic naval wargame with blocks

and tiddly-winks.