Have you ever been so cold...

Have you ever been so cold that although you've only been outside for the sum total of 2 minutes your brain literally feels like it's frozen inside your head. Or when your cheeks turn bright red and the icy wind manages to take your breath away.

When you must tread carefully or risk slipping on a puddle of water that has turned to ice on the road. Or you would rather lose your belongings than take your hands out of your pockets to pick something up.

When the wind manages to slice through layers of thermal underwear and protective shoes and render them useless. When a scarf, hat, down jacket, vest, jerseys, ear muffs, gloves and long johns are not enough to keep you warm.

Have you ever been so cold that your ears felt like they would shatter at the slightest touch, and the pain on every exposed surface of your body makes you want to cry.

I have.

Beijing's high today is -8 and will drop to -15 at dusk again.

This is a land of extremes, and I'm trying to be tough, but I really do just hate this cold.