It's winter here, but it's warming up...hopefully. The past two days have been nice and warm, and the nights less bitterly cold.

When I arrived at Jo'burg on Sunday morning it was cold, and after checking into my hotel I turned on the heating as high as it would go to warm the room up to take a post-flight nap.

I ventured out of my room that afternoon to find the biting wind had dropped, and sun was warming things nicely. As soon as the sun set that all changed. I made my way across for dinner, and sat as close to the little heater as I could. In the dining room that evening was a man on business from Malawi, someone from Swaziland, someone from France, and myself - the weather proved to be a good "ice-breaker" topic, and as it got colder and colder we were convinced we were in for some snow. The huge fire that had been lit in the lounge area was most welcome and inviting.

I moved back to camp a few nights back after the water flow was restored, and the room I'm sleeping in is cold. There is no heating, and no insulation at the camp, and the roof is made of corrugated metal, so not idea for winter. Opening the doors and windows during the day has meant that last night it had warmed enough for me not to be able to see my breath when I went to bed.

I've found that I can get a good nights sleep if I use 4 blankets and 2 sheets, and by wearing pyjamas, dressing gown, fleece, fleece neck warmer than I can pull tight up to my eyelids, thick walking socks, and my Thinsulate gloves. It takes me longer to get dressed for bed than it does to get dressed for the day! It's also like being in an extended version of the Mars Bar game - the party game where everyone throws the dice in turn, and if you get a six you put on the hat, scarf, gloves and try to slice a mars bar with a knife and fork until someone else throws a six. The only difference is that I don't have a Mars Bar!