And as long as you're properly equipped for going outside (thermal undies, hat scarf, gloves, lined leather boots, and as many layers of clothes as you can get on), you'll have few problems.? WINTER SPORTS AND CHRISTMAS Aside from the cities, which maintain their usual roster of activities and attractions, though sometimes with reduced opening hours, the big incentive for coming at this time of year is the range of participant winter sports available from icefishing to dogsledging. Although you're not likely to come on a skiing package to Scandinavia (it's nearly always cheaper to go to other European resorts), it's easy to arrange a few days crosscountry skiing wherever yoy end up: even in Oslo and Stockholm there are ski runs within the city boundaries, and plenty of places to rent equipment. Even if you're not sporty but can't face one more Christmas TV rerun of The Wizard of Oz~ remember that Finland (and Norway, and Sweden, if they're to be believed! is the home of Santa Glaus. His hut is just outside Rovaniemi on the edge of Finnish Lappland, and, if you have a spare ?500 or so, you can whip out and visit him from London on one of the many Christmas package trips laid on by British Airways and Finnair. For this, and all other winter activities, see the list of specialist operators below. UK WINTER OPERATORS Mountain S Wildlife Ventures, Compston Road, Ambleside, Cumbria LA22 9DJ {i»0539433285|. Vastly experienced company dealing in Nordic ski touring, mountain skiing, ski courses and expeditions. Agents for Norway's DNl too. NSH (Norwegian State Railways) Travel, 21 24 Cockspur Street, London SW1 («071930 6668). Ski packages In Lillehammer, Voss, Geilo; winter coastal voyages; Finnmark visits to Same towns. Norwegian Travel Service, Church Gate, Church Street West, Woking, Surrey 6U21 IDJ («0483756876), Nonwegian ski packages. Scaatours, 8 Spring Gardens, London SWl («071839 2927). Finnish Santa Claus trips, husky expeditions, reindeer farm visits, snowmobile safaris and icebreaker voyages. Travellers, Waterside, Kendal, Cumbria 1(9 4HE («0539620196). Skiing in Telemark, Norway, dog sledging holidays in Arctic Sweden, accommodation in mountain cabins in the national parks. WORK IMost Scandinavian countries, but particularly Norway, Sweden and Finland, are extremely suspicious of potential foreign workers, and you may have to prove on entry that you are not there to seek work (by showing return tickets and, sufficient cash, for instance). The chances of finding casual work are, anyhow, slim to say the least. THE PAPERWORK If you're serious about working, though, and an EC citizen, Denmark is the best option, thougn for other than relatively lowpaid bar hotel work you really need to speak Danish. Уо" can stay for up to three months while you look to? WORK AND BOOKS23 wnrk and if you find it, a residence permit will te granted automatically.