Thursday January 16th

Last night was hot, but I couldn't throw off any bedclothes as they are all frozen to the wall! This evening I managed to tear the eiderdown from the wall and now it has large pieces of ice attached to it. If only the bedroom remains cold it will remain ice and all will be well. There will be a mess if it thaws.

I caught Ayo this morning; all efforts at catching him have hitherto failed, and in the end he fell to the wastepaper basket. I put it on the ground and he joined in the general rush to investigate, and the wily old man got wedged and I managed to grab his harness and avoid his teeth till Andrew came. They are mighty strong, though, these dogs.

Euphemia is frightfully affectionate now and rushes up when she sees you. Andrew and Brownie went for a walk to look for Dupelik and the others; in this they were unsuccessful, but they found a slope for learning skiing on.

Frightfully hot to-day; maximum temperature at the absurd figure +30℉. Shirtsleeves or less; no ice visible in Bay.

Finished to-day making a pair of trousers out of a blanket for Andrew. He seems very pleased with them and they look most athletic. It's a grand sport making clothes with the Singer.

Again did Bear Island at night. David as usual bicycled - I wish my knee would get better soon as one feels a beast merely tapping while others sweat, and to-day it was worse than usual for David felt the pedal coming off in the middle, and he and John carried on turning the thing by hand - a most strenuous job, in a stooping position. The met. report went off in patches as David and John took it in turns to turn. I added "Generator breaking" at the end in case he hadn't got it and we couldn't send better next time, but he sent "R. OK OM. GN." (received ok old man, good night.)

At night we settled the thorny question of the morning met. The others think they should take their turn as - they say - it involves all the dirty work of getting breakfast etc., but they can't see my point of view, viz that it is only reasonable that I should do it entirely and also help the others by doing more than my share of the work about the house, for it is my own work and through my own carelessness in breaking things I have practically no other scientific work to do. For the sake of peace I had to give in. I now do it 4 mornings a week, the other three once a week, and Brownie not at all as he always must be up at 7.30 for sending off the report.

Friday January 17th

The hot weather continues; some of the others have taken to wearing boots again. Komagers do not seem to be generally popular, but I find that if you take trouble over them (and no more than is necessary to shoes in England) they are really admirable; their warmth can be varied by putting in more or less saennegras, they are comfortable and light so that you can move quickly and neatly in them, and they are so easy to slip on and off. Their only drawback is the infernal turn up toe that catches on literally everything and is entirely pointless.

I was up late this morning, but was entranced on going out soon after 9am. to find a perfectly clear sky with signs of the coming spring in the South. Here above the ice-cap was a band of rose-coloured pink, a beautifully clean and clear colour such as I have never seen before, and above it a pale green strip, bright low down and becoming fainter up towards zenith. Quite high in the sky Daneb and Vega seemed to remind us that we are still in the Arctic winter, but half way down to the horizon Altair shining apparently more brightly and more steadily than usual reminded you of Venus suggesting the advent of dawn. High to the E. and W. were a few rays of aurora, whose green colour far excelled in beauty the beauty of the sunrise green. An hour later, nearly at local noon the rose tint had disappeared, above it shone brighter with a silver green, shining on the lapping waters of the bay, with one white streak of ice far away, but a few clouds settled on the ice-cap made the picture more startling; the worst months are still to come, and though the sun will be up soon it will be months before spring weather begins.

Saturday January 18th

Old Ayo is wonderful. For months we have been trying to get near him, but he never came within reach. Now that he has got a harness and trace on, he knows he can be caught easily and is affection itself, and comes up to you to be petted.

Helped Andrew with dog harnesses this afternoon. While he wrestled with the big machine joining the various bits together, I sewed up the canvas forming the long strips - an easy job with a machine as easy to handle as the little Singer. She really is a little beauty, and simplicity itself to work; such a well finished off piece of work too, and we find it great fun watching it wind the bobbins. I've now made two pairs of trousers, 14 harness strips and mended Brownie's sleeping bag and enjoy it so much that I'm looking out for more employment.

Andrew Croft sewing dog harnesses