I'm alive mum! admittedly it was a stupid idea, but about twenty other people seemed to think it was a good idea, and so, today, we went swimming in the fjord in the Polar night! Apparently the strong wind we've been having the last few days blew some of the ice from the fjord away, so the water was accessible. Its still relatively warm here, so I think it was a good day for it. We walked down to the ice edge, stripped down to our swimming shorts and costumes, or, for the more adventurous, less and all got in together!

I include, to the left, some proof that the stupidity of students, particularly those deprived of sunlight for three weeks, knows no bounds. I do, though, have to admit one thing, When I say 'swimming' I actually mean, wading in until the water is deeper than your waist, splashing each other a bit and then running back to the ice and getting out. We were in the water for a very short period of time, but it was sufficient for pretty much everyone to loose the feeling in their feet! once out it was important to get clothes on as quickly as possible, so it was off with wet swimmers and socks, on with a towel and as many clothes as possible as quickly as possible! next time, if there is a next time (!) logistics are hopefully going to let us use the suanas to warm up! well, I have to go, its friday, which means friday gathering down here in UNIS, a few 1 pound cans of Cider and an early night is just what I need, plenty more electromagnetic theory revision to be done this weekend

Thanks to Jørgen and Elisabeth for the photos!

Ash