Many, many congratulations! You have the stamina of the penguins without their toiletry habits! Shows that you were well reared! It is remarkable that you were able to blog anything whilst rolling drunkenly (both senses of the word) on the Arctic Ocean! See you soon. Love Mum & Ken.

Well done Dad - It was a marathon, not a sprint, probably something you can't say for the post-race drinking.... W x

Huge Congratulations on becoming a member of the 4 Deserts Club, we are full of admiration for your courage and endurance. Dad sends his love and says: " Scott of the Antarctic was a hero of mine, I read his books compulsively as a child, his saga was always meaningful. I look forward to seeing you wearing your medal" Rest well, see you soon x

It’s all been worthwhile and left those that know you in total awe. See you Thurssay xx

What an epic, David....as you say, 2,000miles....and what a finish to it. So if you're feeling rough still, after a few too many beers, it was all well earned, and we really thank you for all the fundraising and support you've done for CSC... sit on your laurels for a while... cheers, jim

We can do ought but admire your sense of humour but at least you've no-one to blame but yourself for putting yourself halfway round the world in such awful conditions just to get away from us all! Interesting blogs however shows that you are still up to it! Exeter Chiefs failed in their last desperate effort to save losing their away match at 'Quins yesterday but they did manage a losing bonus with a last minute try. Good on the final cruise. Love Mum & Ken.

DG, "Keep on keeping on " is what springs to mind! And it sounds like you are doing just that. Huge congratulations! Not only do you have the energy and determination to walk/ run/plod along in cold, wet snow ( you know how I hate the cold), but you still manage to write clever and entertaining reports! Not sure if I believe that this will be the last race, though. :) Enjoy Ushuaia! I was there 18 years ago, went to bed when it was light and woke up when it was light! 23 hours of light, weird. (Transfer done! sorry about the delay)

Well done Dad... I expect you're looking forward to the first cold (or perhaps warm would be more appropriate) beer back in Ushuaia. Swansea at home for the Rams today, Sevenoaks away for the K.S.C. U16 Bs. Im also now officially allowed to crack out the xmas jumper today. W x

Well done on so many levels. Done and dusted......or is it! I think the only thing missing was a ration of pemmican. Enjoy a beer. X

Are your ears burning? Just been at Mum and Ken's....we're all thinking of you and love your blogs, lots "Neet nit nit nute nit neet nit noot" xx

Did you meet the old man in the Desert of Druze or Herbie Hart or Harry Hadlow. X

I keep trying to think of something witty or inspiring to comment, but all i can think is P P P Pick up a penguin.... sorry !!

Your description of the never -ending staircase of snow you experience is replicated we are afraid by our politicians in this endless Brexit fiasco! You are amazing and will find your level eventually which is more than we can hope for on the political front. Sorry about the Rams being devoured by the Potters, but you can't win them all Good luck for the long haul today, Love Mum & Ken

The Rams were absolutely wank vs Stoke. 75% of the ball, with a man advantage for 60 mins, and 3,000 away fans backing them, they never looked as if they would win the match, lazy and careless. Good free kick from Wilson, but two Stoke goals, both lacklustre defending and soft hands from a shaky Carson. Them Stoke fans are, to quote on fan on Twitter, "absolute scrotes", booing Keezy after he nearly broke his leg, and cheering when Davies had to be stretchered off (worrying). Apart from that they were silent. A few inflatable snakes were thrown at Rowett. There was a 22 man fight half an hour in which was a relief from all the backwards abysmal football. Elsewhere, Villa and the scum drew 5-5, with a couple of sendings off and disallowed goals. School is all going well, we had our psychometric tests the other day, no doubt which will tell us all we're going to be plumbers or bus drivers or the sort. Run well in the next stage W x

This sounds so amazing David! Hope you're enjoying yourself!! James shared a photo of who we think/hope is you with some impressive penguin photo-bombing! Looks like you're having a great time! :)

Foul here weather wise....grey with total greyness. Pleased it was enjoyable out there on Stage 2. Rams playing Stoke tonight. One of us will keep you posted. X

Great to read your blogs and live Antarctica vicariously from the warmth of the flat! In awe as ever on your endurance. Here's hoping shaggy penguins and blue skies are winning over freezing squelchy feet!

We hope that you are not left dizzy with all that looping! Seemed a nice short day in glorious environment: we wish we were there?! Poem from Mum: "I eat my peas with honey I've done it al my life. It might seem kinda funny But it keeps them on the knife!" Totally irrelevant! Love Mum & Ken

Today is grey. The fog yesterday was stopping planes from landing, which really inconvenienced some people. And cold - at times today, it's set to get as chilly as 12 degrees. Amongst the daily kit-list I pack into my pockets (keys/wallet/oyster card, HSBC pass) I now include a light set of brown leather gloves, a scarf, and a lip-salve; this, of course, has taken the average weight I carry from 428g to nearly 900g; it's tough, but there's just no surviving the 7 minutes between home and Raynes Park Station without the essentials, through the damp leaves and puddles left over from the weekend's short showers. The blinding greyness is taking its toll; seasonal affectiveness disorder is blinding us mercilessly to the fact that we all live in a modern, developed country with excellent schooling, healthcare and opportunity to live full lives. Amazon is selling special lamps that pump out artificial daylight, even cheaper ever since Black, Black Friday. The lifts were so full today I got out on L15 and walked the long, long trek to L21. My reception was too poor in the stairwell to keep The Today Programme playing on my iPhone, so all I had was the monotonous tap-tap-tap of my leather soles slapping the grey concrete steps. I've already done two laps of that - once to get in, once to go back and get coffee - and I'm going to have to complete another few laps before lunchtime as I'm meeting some people downstairs. I did see a tiger, some pelicans and an otter on the posters at each landing which was good for the scrapbook. Added to the lions, hyenas, hippos and wildebeest we saw on David Attenborough's 'Dynasties' last night and it's been a pretty hectic week, animal-spotting-wise. All I can do, as the grey of night rolls away to reveal the grey of day - all any of us can do - is to keep plodding along, wishing we were somewhere - anywhere - more interesting.

i'm sure body surfing like the penguins won't be counted as cheating, David....so when in Antartica, do as..... cheers, jim

I did tell you the rams result.... (2-1 away at Wednesday, Marriott and Wilson scoring). Stoke away tomorrow. Oh Rowett is a w.... Trudge though the snow well! W x

Jolly good so far - keep up the good work! Cricket result form Sri Lanka very pleasing - a clean sweep! Good luck for the next stage, we are looking forward to news of the penguins! Love from Mum & Ken

Great to see you you completed Stage 1. blog entry could be a question posed by Victoria Cohen Mitchell and as more often than not I’m stumped! I know July 1994 ! Well done and keep those snow shoes moving. Xx

Well done David! Loving your blog as ever and impressed by your fortitude. Keep going, you always said slow and steady wins the day...no showing off in front of the girls. Best, Dan PS. What's an ipod?

10 hrs of slogging round the course, David....you should get a medal! I can imagine how heavy the snow got, and how attractive it must have seemed to join any of the group's camps....but like Shakelton i'm sure you think "difficulties are just things to overcome, after all"

Great start to Stage 1 David! Am really happy to see you there - I still remember that I forgot to mention you and Andy Reynolds as qualifiers after Sahara Race (Jordan) in 2012. It took you six years to forgive me but glad I didn't put you off completely. Hahaha. Am intrigued by all your milestone dates. Some good facts for you: * Antarctica had it's first attempted murder in 2018 - at the Russian Station that you ran past. The reason given was that the victim "kept telling me the end to the books we were reading". Sounds like a good reason to me ..... * You will be the 14th Brit to join the 4 Deserts Club!

You’ll be glad to stretch your sea legs and get started. Enjoyable Moroccan lunch at King’s......amazing Geography! Hope the vacuuming went well, a skill you can put into practice at home! Here’s to a good stage 1. Sx

Best of luck DG, I believe you are totally mad but I also envy the experience. Best of luck on landfall, will keep following. Just have to break off for my pret "Christmas Lunch" sandwich but will continue to monitor your progress. ET

Dear David we are all grateful to David Attenborough for his perfect timing and for furnishing us with vivid visuals of some of the wonders you might experience on your adventures across the snow and ice....although I suspect this is contributing to wakeful sessions in the night for Mum! I am in awe. Good luck...and have a blast, love Sarah and Rob xx

David, one last race: we're sure you can do it, and then you can rest....so best wishes for when you hit land and start racing, and i'm sure you'll be glad to get off the boat! We'll be following you and cheering you on! cheers, jim

Sheffield Wednesday 1 (Reach) - Derby County 2 (Wilson, Marriott) King’s School Canterbury u16 Bs (8 players) -5, King’s School Canterbury u18 Cs (13 players) 15 (Match abandoned after 30 mins due to lack of interest) England, 37 - Australia, 18 W x

Cruise sounds delightful, we wish we were with you! Good sporting news: England well on the way to a whitewash victory over Sri Lanka today. We are thinking of you day & night (your mother that is!) . Ros & Ken

Always looking for new festive ideas and now I got one! A win for the Rams yesterday 2-1 away to Sheffield Wed. England beat Australia ....always good. Hope you’re paying full attention in class. Xx

Good luck xd

Haha! I'm expectingd more Lady Gaga references in the Symphony chat room when you're back! ;)

Never mind the ginger - you’ll need big nuts for this challenge!

Hope you packed your ginger nuts! X

Amazing! Love this - can just picture his shocked face in response!

Yep.....you’re almost there. X