Penguin Bravo's progress continues to be very solidly consistent. In the last two days they have covered 12 miles northwards. Tonight they are at 84degs37minsN 73degs58degsW.

The radio report yesterday told of continuing large pressure ridges in the ice making life very hard going. Hopefully the ice will smoothen out soon. Much of the radio communication was taken up with discussing the equipment and supplies requirements needed for the next changeover scheduled for Thursday 10 April (subject to weather). Everything from a larger screw driver for adjusting ski bindings, to recommended adjustments to the clothing cycle.

Penguin Charlie currently right in the middle of their training period are out on the ice tonight and sounded to be in good spirits tonight on the radio inspite of the temperatures which have taken a dive back below -35C for the time being.

Some of you will have read reports in the press of members of Penguin Alpha taking a dip into the Arctic ice. We have been asked why these seemingly dramatic events did not feature in our update reports. The answer is many fold. When Sue Fullilove got wet on the 25th April there was a reference to it in the update. As for Ann Daniel's dip into the Arctic a day or so later, we at Resolute did not learn of this until the team returned to Resolute some days later. What seems like big news at home especially when pumped for all its worth by the media is often seen as part of the daily challenge to the team on the ice. Radio comms with the team is kept as short as possible and is normally concentrated on what needs to be done in the future rather than what has happened in the past. The other aspect to consider is that everyone involved in the operational side of an expedition (from the those on the ice to those back at base camp) is tuned into being objective and conservative about all sorts of issues. Newspapers like to pump things up, everyone up here is into trying to keep things in perspective so that the right decisions can be made.

For those not used to experiencing the media in action first hand the last week has thrown up a few lessons. Just prior to flying out of Resolute Ann Daniels agreed to do a live telephone radio interview with a local radio station in the UK. The conversation started with Ann being asked to talk about her experience of falling through the ice. She proceeded to give a full and fair account - not exciting enough for the interviewer - Ann is phased out and then hears down the phone her increasingly upset mother being asked in a previously recorded interview what she thinks about her daughter's dire experience. Result: one upset mother and now an upset and angry daughter.

Ninety one miles eaten up - three hundred and twenty six to go.

Until next time.