So, here we are in Russia for our next stop in the World Dolls Series.

Illustrations are by D.White from the Birmingham School of Design. We’re not sure that they listened to the brief properly as our guides are all supposed to be dolls – the clue’s in the title – World DOLLS Series. We seem to have been given a couple of rustic farmers. Ironically, Russia probably has the most famous dolls in the world.

Anyway, we’re sure Boris & Anna are a lovely couple.

There you go – Boris is throwing us a wave – and is that a glimmer of a smile?

Perhaps there’s not much to smile about on the collective farm! Hard graft and huddling round the stove for the long winter apparently.

There’s no doubting that the other books in the series have been a tad lighter, more carefree & fun.

Life certainly seems quite tough in 1960s Russia.

Perhaps a few days sightseeing in Moscow will be fun. Look at the party atmosphere.

There are a games at ‘the club’ – and a bit of sunbathing at the Black Sea. Is that President Khrushchev sitting on the right monitoring the deck chair situation?

We’re off to Norway next – we’ve invested a lot of money in warm clothing which might come in useful. We’ve always wanted to tour around Scandinavia, so we can’t wait to get there.