Long time no post…!
January 3rd, 2010 Posted in UncategorizedSorry folks, yes, I know it’s been a long time since my last post on here and probably many of you are wondering if I’ve fallen down some mega-crevasse or been eaten by a raging leopard seal… I’m glad to say neither is the case, I’ve just been rather busy with what has turned out to be an excellent first half of the field season down here.
The keen-eyed amongst you may have noticed that I did in fact sneak a new image gallery onto the blog here a few weeks back but other than that I’ve only just had enough time to send a few e-mails and make the odd phone call home. However, as well as many long shifts in the ops tower there has been the odd break from ‘the office’ including a two week stint out in the field spent mostly at our forward depot at Sky Blu and a rather splendid jaunt down to 84°S to help move one of our field parties in the Pensacola mountains just about within striking range of the South Pole itself.
Weather down in the deep south was rather pleasant as you can see from the pic on the right and it was a good break from the craziness of being on base in the height of the summer season. Work at Sky Blu is a mix of digging snow and grooming the blue ice strip we use as a runway and there seem to be only two opinions of the place – it’s either likened to a white paradise or a penal colony. Personally I’d go with the first one but it all depends on your point of view!
I made it back from the field just in time for New Year and it was celebrated in excellent style with two bands plus DJs playing in the garage which is our main party venue when the need arises. With plenty or practice behind us the winter band put on an excellent set of Rothera favourites and all was good.
Um, yes, lots more has happened, obviously, but just too much to scratch at here so I’ll call it quits for now. I shall try and be more diligent in my record keeping for the second half of the season! Hope you all had a merry xmas and all that and perhaps even a bit of snow too by the sounds of it!
10 Responses to “Long time no post…!”
By Tony on Jan 3, 2010
Welcome back to the virtual world been wondered what had happened. given the expense of moving gear about down there i am impressed that you shipped some deck chairs down there ;p
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By Emma & Dan on Jan 3, 2010
We were just saying over Christmas we hadn’t heard anything for a while from you! Good to hear all is well… Sounds like you managed to get some celebrations in too. Excellent! Is there a name for your band?
Loving your image gallery, wow! Which one will I chose for my background
Happy New Year, keep warm and safe out there.
Love Emma & Daniel
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By Emma & Dan on Jan 3, 2010
Your pictures are amazing Andy!! I particularly like the night and weather ones… some look very sci-fi!
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By Mum on Jan 3, 2010
I like the deck chair photo.
Very atmospheric.
What clever person made them for you?
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By Sal on Jan 5, 2010
very pleased to finally read an update!
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By Paul Clarke on Jan 7, 2010
Glad to hear all is well Andy! See you in June if not before
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By stu on Jan 8, 2010
Hi Andy. Good read this blog thing.
Just want to know, where our picture of you in our t shirt in the snow is???? come on i wnat to win that competition….
Stu
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By Peter H on Jan 8, 2010
Hi Andy,
Good to hear you’re well and happy!
I’ll concede now that you’ve been further South than I’ve been North. 84S certainly beats 72+N (Nordkapp). Well done lad! pity we didn’t make a radio sked during the winter months but at least I have a card with some penguins on it from Stonington Is (VP8JG) from the mid 1960s! What is the state of that station now? I gather it was re-furbished in the 1990s.
If you can fix the webcam we can see what you’re really getting up to there - or is letting it rot part of the plan?
When you finally get back to UK you’ll find several of us ex QQ guys happily esconced in a doughnut shaped building not too far S from Worcester. If you’re thinking of something interesting it would be worth a look. Good luck and enjoy the rest of your tour.
Peter H
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By christine on Jan 26, 2010
Hi
I love the picture of the blue ice runway. What are the dimensions of it? Must seem like float plane landing on water.
Keep the photo’s coming
See you soon
Chris
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By stu on Feb 2, 2010
This improved diligence in blogging isn’t working yet….
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