It's FIXMAS!!!!!!

"So here it is, Merry FIXMAS, everybody's having fun!"
(After Slade)

10 minutes to splashdown

 Today is June 25th, six months from Christmas, but as we are in the southern hemisphere, and everything is upside-down, many people celebrate a form of Xmas around now.  Or maybe it's an old pagan ritual, taken over by the Church to keep interest during the long dark nights....?

The Falklands method of fire-starting.  No rubbing of twigs, here..

 The nights certainly are long and dark now in the Falklands, but after the recent snow, the days have been bright and crisp.  Temperatures hovering around freezing, but with wonderful cloudless skies.  (Needless to say, since I started writing this, it has changed to grey, low clouds.....)

Getting in the mood

 So, last Saturday, the annual Midwinter Dip took place.  Loosely based on the Loony Dook in Edinburgh, it entails a lot of well-wrapped people watch a lot of scantily-clad people run into the sea, getting wet and run much more quickly out again.
http://www.theloonydook.co.uk/

Aaaaargh - GET OUTTA THE WATER!!!

Local Air-Sea Rescue crew reckon that someone falling into the sea might have about 10 minutes before they succumb to the temperatures.   I can vouch for the speed at which your body shuts down to protect itself....within less than a minute, I could feel nothing below my knees....

The waves have lapped Antarctica

 The venue was Surf Bay, about 2 miles east of Stanley, and I have noticed that, no matter how little swell or wind, there are always big waves here.  Sure enough, we could only wade out about 30 yards (to about knee depth), when the rollers rolled over us, ensuring everyone got their hair wet.

The dentist. Last man standing.  Must be on Novocaine. 

 On trying to stand up again, it felt as if someone had unscrewed my feet - there didn't seem to be toes and ankles down there.  Very soon,  fingers and hands were also numb, so I listened to my body and tried to find my faithful photographer and towel holder, Annie.  Annie also held my glasses, (as to lose them would be more than inconvenient when the optician only visits once every six months), so finding her wasn't easy.

Look behind you!  Armed Forces Day.

 But, we'd agreed to meet beside a oil drum brazier where I could defrost as I waited....

Falklands car park

Very quickly, I dried off and put several layers of clothes, on except on my feet, which is not a mistake I'll be repeating.  The sand on the beach was frozen, and my crocs were all that were preventing frostbite.

Dolphins often surround boats.

Later in the day, we had a pre-FIXmas dinner walk, along the frozen sand dunes.  From here, we watched  dolphins cavort around a small boat. And we also saw some resident Gentoo penguins strolling along the beach. ....  

Local gentoo penguins soaking up the sun....

If anyone is interested for their own Christmas celebration, I followed this set of easy recipes from Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.  Lovely roast brussels sprouts to go with the beef, and roast potatoes!  Easy-peasy!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/dec/16/christmas-lunch-recipes

By the way, 25kg sacks of potatoes are now being sold for £5 here, which is the same price as the large Rib of Beef joint.  However, meat and potatoes are the only cheap food in the shops - Sprouts are about 50p each;  and an individual leek is over £2.

I'll just have to look out recipes for potato bread, potato scones, potato soup...... and I'll need to do more Nordic Walking to work off these tatties....!

Merry FIXmas!

Peter