We Do Adventure

Back when we used to do youth work in the UK I was often the first in and the last out. For a number of years we ran different events in a converted warehouse building that had slightly temperamental heating. It was controlled by a computer system; all regular events were programmed in so, in theory, the venue would be warm when you arrived. Invariably it wasn't. At these times it was a case of reaching for the big orange over-ride button, which would kick the heating in on full for an hour. These days such memories serve as a reminder of how easy life is in a town where central heating is normal.  There are plenty of places in Bosnia and Herzegovina where central heating is widespread; some have city-wide central heating, harnessing the heat from local factories. But Jajce is not one of those places. Heating here is almost always by wood-burning stove. In its favour, this is a far more effective and enjoyable heat than attempting to use an air conditioner, as is common in...

It’s cold. We’ve have snow and wind this week. Plenty of both. And in a city predominantly without central heating you really notice it. I certainly do. Our house in the UK was an 80s era Wimpy ‘Superwarm’ home. It was mid-terrace and lived up to its name. Here we have three external walls and no insulation, at least none I’m aware of. Without central heating you notice how the whole building just stays cold. We do have new windows, so it could be worse. The air-conditioner doubles as a hot air blower – nice for drying the eyes out but does little to change the underlying chill in the air. The comfort in all this is knowing that in a few short months we’ll doubtless be posting about how hot it is and how the air-conditioner does little to alter that!