Sunday January 12th

Andrew allowed me to do the met. this morning for the first time since I hurt my knee. It has really been alright for some days, strengthened by a bandage, but Andrew says it must be rested; he certainly has taken a great deal of care and trouble over it.

Made best bread up to date today, and also some mince-pies which were "marvellous" - they were so hot that no one can have tasted them, but the pastry certainly did come out well.

Monday January 13th

The Nansen sledges which were brought in yesterday had their runners painted with linseed oil and tar.

Tuesday January 14th

Euphemia returned to her family yesterday, fit and well. Now the "oarks" have been brought in to be tamed and fattened, but they are incredibly shy and though you can pat their heads, if you make any noise they rush into a corner and cower. Upik was brought in to be fed up too - poor affectionate little thing she is frightfully thin. We had a heated discussion about the merits of the bitches today. David, almost alone, like s Hansigne (shy, aristocratic) best. She is a beautiful bitch and mother of the "oarks", but you can't get anywhere near her. Most of us like Upik (middle-class) best, a pretty little black with an enormous tail, always active and rushes up to you affectionately and is mother of the nine "little blacks." Then there is Merratark (woman of the streets) who is very good natured when she gets to know you and is mother of the late Annadark.

It is very warm and the ice has nearly all cleared out of the bay. The black team have always been fighting the Dupeliks, and a day or two ago Dupelik went away taking with him Hansigne, Dreng and Wolle, and now that the ice has gone Andrew is even more anxious about them. The only member of the team left is Amalortok, a cowardly beast and very out of condition, so now he has all the attacks of the black murderers concentrated on him, and he spends most of his time on the engine room roof.

Wednesday January 15th

The "oarks" after being filled up with reindeer till they could no longer stand, were turned outside, so now the asylum is empty. Brownie and John went up the glacier to-day, and John has made more moves in the fixing of Northeastland. Bay almost free of ice. Exquisite aurorae at night.

Did the evening met. to Bear Island and got through all right; his morse in reply was so slow and irregular that I could hardly read it. The bicycle broke down when we were sending to Robert - the pedal came off.