LJ woes - what to do?

So, I went to my bank today in the hope that the lady clerk will have an idea how to deal with the "paying for LJ" problem. Well, she had not. The only credit cards our banks deal with are Visa and Mastercard, and those don't work with LJ, unless they have been issued by Russian banks, which my card has not. She was also not familiar with the YooMoney payment service, and the computers in the bank underlie serious restrictions, due to data protecting (with which I whole-heartedly agree), so we couldn't check out the link LJ Support had sent me.

So, just for the record: has anyone managed to renew their paid account? And if yes, how did you do it? I still have a month to figure out a way, but I have no idea what to do. :( Help, please?

In other news, the two rag dolls have gone to their new home. My friend and ex-colleague was over the moon, she loved them so much, and didn't mind that they are (more than a bit) oddly shaped. So, that's one tiny piece of success for the day. One has to count one's blessings.

I've also made Mum's birthday cake: a chestnut one, with chocolate icing and decorated with mini marshmallows. We haven't cut it yet, as the big day is tomorrow, but she approved of it.

More social life was had as I talked on the phone to two more former colleagues; all in all, it was a good day.