Scousers are from Liverpool, Geordies from Newcastle upon Tyne.
And they both think that the rest of Britain is populated by a bunch of poncy wimps.
As it happens I worked with both & found them refreshingly blunt. If they don't like you it shows.
My sort of people
On a much more serious note, I think that they honestly did not appreciate that "Arctic conditions" meant exactly that. When the British press use that term, they usually mean about freezing, warming up by lunch time.
Oh and +1 re Arrrgh. If they knew, prosecute them to the limit's of the law for endangering life.
Just to give the rest pause.