Live from Antarctica: Brilliant Sunlight

We are able to take one of our many layers of clothes off when working outside. During the day, the temperature reaches -6°C, which is a pricelessly comfortable temperature for here.

The base camp is almost finished. Tomorrow, we will set up a dozen of tents in order to move out of the station. We will soon be sleeping in our individual tents, and eat and meet in the mess tent, so that we can start working on the inside of the station.

Alain left three days ago in reconnaissance of Mount Belgica, which is about 250 km away from here. Every day, at 9 am and 9 pm sharp, we establish an Iridium satellite telephone connection with him and his team. They report on their progression and we let them know how the work here is coming along. Despite the good weather, the temperature there is about 10 degrees Celsius lower than at Utsteinen because of the high altitude.

Our two mechanics continue to service the various vehicles on site. Bernard and René are installing a new "bathroom" in one of the containers. François, the cook, sets out to move the kitchen into the big tent. More serious things are about to begin for him. Next week, there will be more than 30 of us during a few days.

In two days, the expedition's second group will join us. Fourteen new people will come and carry out various jobs with, amongst them, five scientists who will conduct the first scientific research expedition linked to the station. We will tell you more about this soon.

We are also awaiting the visit of six Japanese scientists who will use the Belgian station as a starting point on their mission. They will stay here for a short week while they prepare their expedition.

Being so tired, our evenings are quite short. After a delicious meal, we sit down and relax, tell each other our stories from the day, send a few emails such as this one, and go to bed.

Good night.

Nathalie Pattyn