How are you spending your Christmas? While many will be curled up on the sofa in front of a roaring fire (or at least with the heat on), think of the hundreds of people working in the Antarctic region, on surrounded by penguins.
Thousands of miles from home, those employed by the Cambridge-based British Antarctic Survey (BAS) are spending the holiday season at five research stations and on board the ship based there of Harwich, the RRS Sir David Attenborough.
Some of them have been sharing their Christmas plans – telling us how they spend the big day.
'Penguins – and a cheesy movie'
Derren Fox, 52, is a zoological field assistant at Signy Island Research Station, which is one of the remote South Orkney Islands, about 370 miles (600km) from the Antarctic Peninsula.
He is now from Cornwall, and he now “lives on a yacht almost anywhere”, he says.
“On Christmas Day I will go over to the Gowerleigh Peninsula on the south east coast of the island to do the almost daily inspections of the chinstrap and Adelie penguin colonies to monitor productivity,” he said.
“This may be followed by sledging or snowman building with some of the other members of the station before returning to the center for a traditional Christmas meal, cooked this year by our station director, and then perhaps a 'fall asleep in traditional Christmas style in front of her fun holiday movie.”
Adelie penguins play a huge role in life in Antarctica (Getty Images)
'Turkey and trimmings arranged'
Signy's station manager, Sarah Clark, is tasked with making a full Christmas dinner.
The 42-year-old says she has moved around “all my life… but for the past six years I have lived in North Wales, near Beddgelert “.
She said: “It's a Signy tradition that the station manager cooks Christmas dinner, so that's what I do – but we're just a small team of five at the moment,” she said.
“We will have a nice brunch while reading the e-mail greetings from the other Antarctic and sub-Antarctic stations.
“Then maybe the others will go out to check for penguins and do some sledging and I'll hold down the fort, make sure everything's okay in the station and get the turkey, roast nut and trimmings.
“After dinner we will spend the evening enjoying games together, including perhaps Christmas cards.”
'good break'
Captain Will Whatley, master of the RRS Sir David Attenborough says that most people are able to take the day off (BAS) most of the time.
Captain Will Whatley is master of the RRS Sir David Attenborough, which is spending the season at sea.
The 35-year-old is from Southampton.
“Christmas is in the middle of the operational season in Antarctica so it's a busy time in terms of work,” he said.
“Usually we are able to take the day off, although some people still have to work to keep the ship safe and going over.
“For most, Christmas on board provides a welcome break from the busy Antarctic season and time to reflect on the difference between life at home and time spent with family our work in Antarctica.
“With today's communication it is always possible to video chat with family and friends back home which is very different from years past. “
Dr Nisha Mistry, the medical officer on the Sir David Attenborough, spends her first Christmas at sea (BAS)
'Watching an iceberg'
Dr Nisha Mistry is the ship's medical officer.
The 32-year-old from Bradford said: “It's my first time at sea so I'm not too sure how the day will go – but I'll be doing my usual hospital checks in the morning.
“Then later I hope to do what I love most – which is to go out and see the icebergs.”
'A Little Bacon'
Nick Greenwood, the ship's chief steward helps prepare the big meal (BAS)
Aaron Harper is Sir David Attenborough's head chef.
“This Christmas I'll be working,” the chef, from Harwich, Essex, says.
“We feed 56 people and we make turkeys with all the trimmings.
“A good way to cook Brussels sprouts is with cured bacon, lots of salt and cracked black pepper,” he says.
Supporting him will be Nick Greenwood, the ship's chief steward.
The 53-year-old, from Grimsby, said: “On Christmas Day I work helping to prepare the Christmas dinner.
“When I finish work, I'll have a Christmas tipple and then back to my cabin to watch a Christmas movie.”
'Fossil Hunting'
Rowan Whittle spends her Christmas in a tent, and looks for fossils (Sam Hunt)
Rowan Whittle, 45, is a palaeontologist who usually lives in Cambridge.
However, this year, she is one of a small team that was released by the BAS ship and will spend Christmas in a tent.
“We are sent to King George Island a couple of days before Christmas,” she said.
“Our team of three, Saurav Dutta, a geochemist, Andy Moles, a field guide and myself, will be camping for four weeks hunting for fossils, to try to understand how the bottom ecosystems evolved sea in Antarctica.
“As our tour is limited in time we will have to work on Christmas Day weather permitting. We either complete the camp set up or do an initial survey of the study area.
“Hopefully we can finish a bit early on Christmas Day to cook something nice with our field rations.”
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