Forgotten Fridtjof

 “For scientific discovery give me Scott; for speed and efficiency of travel give me Amundsen; but when disaster strikes and all hope is gone, get down on your knees and pray for Shackleton”

Sir Raymond Priestley

Okay, I know this is a Nansen blog, but being Irish, it’s only natural that I would be a big fan of ‘The Boss’ too. Shackleton’s ability to lead in the worst possible conditions, his calm determination and the way he looked after every member of his crew – even when the odds were stacked against him – is nothing short of legendary. I have the greatest admiration for him.

So, when I was in the Lego store recently and spotted their Lego Icons Endurance model, I just had to take the plunge and get it.

I only ever dabbled with Lego as a kid, and I’m not exactly handy, so starting my Lego adventures with such a huge set was a bit of a gamble. But the moment I saw it, I knew I had to give it a try.

With some time over the Easter weekend to focus, I’m amazed that after about 16 hours of work, it’s done! And look how beautiful she is:

I can’t believe I actually managed it. A few things went wrong along the way, and the masts almost made me want to cry at the end, but all in all, I’m really pleased with how it turned out.

Now comes my next big challenge. My partner bought me the OcCre Fram ship model kit, and that is going to be a lot harder. This is a full wooden model, with nearly 2,000 pieces and detailed construction that involves woodworking, fitting, sanding and rigging!

Meanwhile, here are some more pictures of the Endurance. Now to figure out a space in the house to display it!