Opps.. I didnt answer all of your questions:
The weather here is very mild actually.. we did have a few scorchers of 45C but last few days have been around 28C and its raining as I type!
I have no idead how you can survive in weather that wil freeze a cup of water left on the doorstep!
Dont your plumbing pipes all freeze up?
As for skype.. I have it installed.. I hate it running automatically so next time your online (and its not too late at night for a conversation) Ill fire it up.
I forget my logging name and password thos.. Ill go find it now.