Christmas is fast approaching. People usually work very hard here, but the Christmas spirit is rising. People are busy making decorations and becoming very friendly. It is hard on everyone spending these special days away from his or her family. For many here, the pole is their second family. There is a very generous and warm spirit, which helps those who are separated from their home.

The workers at the pole have a very special spirit. When deliveries are made, there are often parcels that must be stored immediately so they do not freeze. While the Dome protects against the wind, you can see from the picture that the entrance of the Dome is filled with snow. If you look carefully in the picture, you can see a small artificial Christmas Tree. The Dome is the same temperature as the outside without the wind.

Today, a truck drove several large boxes down this ramp. Immediately, a call came over the site loudspeaker, that packages had arrived and they needed to be stored. In an instant, at least twenty people came to help. They eagerly formed a human chain and moved the parcels to the second floor. Quickly the parcels were in a warm location.

Since tomorrow is Christmas Eve and Sunday, a day off, social activities started after dinner. We had a choice of seeing an Australian film about a fugitive couple, Christmas and winter cartoons, and even tapes of some recent football games. As there is no TV or radio, we cannot see any events live. To make entertainment, there are several people playing musical instruments.

Today, I spent a little time investigating the electrical noise in the DOMs (Digital Optical Modules). I measured some results but I am not convinced that my numbers are correct. Tomorrow, I will spend a little time reviewing the measurements.

If you look at the picture outside MAYPO, you will see flags. These flags mark the spots where the Amanda strings of phototubes are buried. The strings go down to 2 km. The surface cables to MAYPO have been buried by drifting snow. The flags are all that are visible. They mark the spot where string 18 (the DOM string) and string 19 are buried.

The drifting snow is unnatural in this Antarctic plateau. Normally, snow just blows through the plateau. This picture is taken next to MAYPO. Event though MAYPO is built on stilts, the wind sees an obstruction and drops the snow. Any structure built here will eventually be buried. Amundsen's tent is still here but buried under the ice. The Dome is gradually being buried - that is why we need a ramp to go down there.