Good Friday
22nd March, 2008Time passes slowly here in Antarctica, each day brings with it new experiences that heighten our awareness. Mountains shooting up from the sea, their black faces blasted by wind and encrusted with ice. Glaciers fall into the sea, disintegrating into icebergs. The impact of the landscape humbles you, clearly we don’t belong here, yet the continent wants to suck you in and make you her own. There are so many experiences to tell you all about, an iceberg about the size of two rugby pitches that imploded in on itself and almost vanished right in front of us, leaving us stunned into silence. The pod of killer whales gently circling our ship before heading off to open water. Penguins welcoming us ashore then standing confused about why we are so much bigger than them. As I was typing this I was interrupted by an announcement that we have Humpback whales breaching out of water to the aft of the ship. Naturally I headed out with my camera to try for the iconic photograph of them, failing I am afraid to say. Last night a team of us spent ashore in tents at Dorian Bay near an old BAS base which was last manned over ten years ago. We emerged into the rising Antarctic sun in the morning feeling like veterans of some heroic expedition.
Love to Sally, Josie, Lola and Keir.
Hey Luke,
Happy Easter, mate! Thought of you today at Total Fatness - burning up my energy to no purpose… Off to Paris on a bus on Tuesday, with 40+Year 7s, so no more comments from me for a week or so. Just tucking in to a glass of red, and maybe give Blonde on Blonde a listen later. Take care Big Boy!
Deano
Posted by David Dean on 03/23/08, 2:03 pm
Hey Luke
great reading your blog. We have been having a lovely easter weekend with your family. Rolling eggs, eating vast amounts of choc, spin painting, walking and watchin Kier grow bigger.
see you soon
b & K & E & z & S & J & L & K xxxxx
Posted by Bertie on 03/24/08, 3:48 pm
Happy Easter.
Posted by THE HEADMASTER on 03/24/08, 6:05 pm
hi dad, happy easter!! me and Lola have had lots of easter eggs to eat this easter and we have had lots of fun at Eloise and Zhana`s! love Josie xxxxxxx
Posted by josie francis on 03/25/08, 9:40 am
well it all looks very beautiful, but when are you coming home???
missing you xxx
Posted by sally on 03/25/08, 9:41 am
Hello Mr Francis
While building a snowman in the garden, over the Easter weekend for my 2.5 year old great neice, I thought about you all in your masses of snow. Looking forward to hearing your stories and seeing pics of snow, whales and penguins. I know one question the Pre Prep children will ask…..did the Easter bunny appear for you all? Have a great stay and trip back! D Cawthorne (WGHS JS Headmistress)
Posted by Mrs Cawthorne on 03/26/08, 5:49 am
hi i think that what you have done is AMAZING!!!!!
Amberxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Posted by amber balmforth on 04/15/08, 4:53 am