DAVID ADAMS provides a round-up of some stories on the odder side of life…
Fish vendors Marina Krivolutskaya and Marianna Ugai pose for a picture at an open-air market on a frosty day in Yakutsk, Russia, on 15th January, 2023. PICTURE: Reuters/Roman Kutukov
• Temperatures have plunged to minus 50 degrees Celsius this week in Yakutsk during an abnormally long cold snap in the Siberian city known as the coldest on Earth. Located 5,000 kilometres east of Moscow on the permafrost of the Russian Far East, residents of the mining city often see the thermometer regularly drop well below minus 40. “You can’t fight it. You either adjust and dress accordingly or you suffer,” said Anastasia Gruzdeva, outside in two scarves, two pairs of gloves and multiple hats and hoods. “You don’t really feel the cold in the city. Or maybe it’s just the brain prepares you for it, and tells you everything is normal,” she added in the city shrouded by icy mist. Another resident, Nurgusun Starostina, who sells frozen fish at a market without the need for a fridge or freezer, said there were no special secrets to deal with the cold. “Just dress warmly,” she said. “In layers, like a cabbage!” – Yakutsk, Russia/Reuters
A swan (not the one on the roof). PICTURE: Nikola Bačanek/Unsplash
• Church wardens preparing for a service at St Margaret’s Church in the UK city of Leicester on 11th January when they were interrupted by the sound of loud footsteps on the roof. Investigations revealed a swan was on the roof but all efforts to then encourage the swan to step off were reportedly rebuffed. The RSPCA attended and called firefighters for help and the swan, who didn’t suffer any injuries, was eventually rescued. Warden Chris Newman told the BBC it was “one very lucky swan” as there were people inside the church who could help.
Outhouse racing in Conconully. PICTURE: Screenshot/Reuters
• Toilets took to the streets in an annual outhouse race in Conconully, Washington, last Saturday. Participants built, decorated and raced in their own portable potties in a contest which has been held annually in the town for more than 40 years. “This is our 42nd year doing outhouse races here,” said Jacob Byl, a board member of the Conconully Chamber of Commerce and outhouse racing official. “It’s just something my grandma and a few other of chamber members (did) 42 years ago. They saw a race over in Idaho and decided that would be kind of a cool thing to do here.” Each outhouse must be attached to skis and have a toilet seat and a roll of toilet paper. There’s a sitter on the seat and two pushers who help propel the outhouse down the track. “Well, you have to build your house with wood, (have it have) certain dimensions,” says competitor Jim Walsborn. “You have to have a toilet, you have to have a helmet, you have to have a toilet, you have to have up on skis because there’s been some people come through that have made it out of PVC pipe and all sorts of different materials that have been no go. But it’s a good time. It’s good redneck fun.” – Reuters TV
