Comrades!

The Firebird hopes you enjoyed the Russian Orthodox Christmas
yesterday! I'd add this cautionary note from RFE/RL
(http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/01/FE2D5BF1-782A-4D06-9881-
C5977A7B3D04.html)

"For most Russians, though, the real cause for celebration is not
Christmas itself but the fact that official recognition of the
Orthodox Christmas extends the holiday break to 10 days – which, for
many, means 10 days of heavy drinking. Last year, Moscow's ambulance
service received 7500 calls every day during the January break, most
of them alcohol related."

On an entirely separate note (honest!), the Milton Keynes RPG Club
(http://www.mk-rpg.org.uk) is holding its first games day on 25
Febuary 2006. Mythic Russia playester Neil Smith will be running his
excellent 'Blood, Wood & Snow' game there, as previously run at
Tentacles in Germany (see http://www.firebird-
productions.com/playtest_notes.htm), so if you are in range and fancy
a great game, do go along to CONcrete Cow '06.

More details of the event and updates @ http://wiki.mk-
rpg.org.uk/index.php/CONcreteCow06

All the best

Mark