Six months in a fleecy coat.

Fleecy tales.

2007-08-27T00:11:00.000-07:00

It's been fabulous...

Our flight from the ice was delayed 24 hours due to bad weather. Saturday was a perfect clear day and after a lot of my tears we were off the ice. Back in the C-17 as if we had only arrived yesterday....

Christchurch smelt lovely and tropical with the humidity and we enjoyed Hell's pizza, fresh coke, and Salad Nicoise - it is strange but good to be back.

I'm going to enjoy having a bubble bath, not having to put loads of cloths on just to go outside, not having to account for my where abouts, rolling on the grass, bare feet and buying exspensive shoes, cooking and lots of salt water and sailing...I'm also going to shop until I'm sick.

Wellington here I come...
....and I have decided that I can conquer the world as long as I have an unlimited supply of lattes.

Aroha.

Fin.

An awfully big adventure...in one day!

2007-08-23T21:04:00.000-07:00

We got up at 5.00am on Tuesday morning for a trip out to Cape Evans but had to turn back due to bad visibility and weather. But on Wednesday it was fabulous with a clear sky and no wind at all and we were all very happy and did not mind getting up early again - worth it - as the images show....

What a great trip to finish up my six months with. It was really amazing as we drove across the sea ice to Cape Evans for Roberta to take mould samples from the hut and for Mike to get good film footage. Emily and I surveyed the snow build up around and inside the hut. Blake made really good sandwiches wrapped in tin foil and placed them inside the heater so that by the time we arrived they were toasted and warm.

Scott's hut in the early dawn.

West side of the hut with Barn Glacier in the distance.

Just inside the door of the hut with light from the open door, surprisingly there was no snow inside the hut.

The Barn Glacier with Mt Erebus behind - Huge, Amazing!

The sun....looook - "it Burns"...

This was really special as we saw the actual sun for the first time in such an amazing place. ...

What a day - tired little bunnies when we got home...but very happy.

Presure ridges walk.

2007-08-19T21:46:00.000-07:00

Did you stand there.....

Today I enjoyed a cold walk out onto the ridges in front of the base. The ice is thick enough to walk on and the green flags mark the safe route. It was fantastic as the few images from the 100 I took illustrate. My cheek turned white which is the first sign of frost nip so we raced back inside as we were getting really cold even though it was a beautiful day. We also watched the first flight land from the ice as it was such a clear amazing day - you could see for ever.

Freshies...

2007-08-19T21:34:00.000-07:00

The arrival of the first flight since February means fresh fruit. I had a banana, and crunchy, crisp apple and an orange and it was the best orange I have ever had...

It was also amazing to watch the flight bank left on the horizon and land at the Pegasus air Field. I actually felt quiet emotional as that will be us on Friday.

Picture Gallery.

2007-08-18T21:42:00.000-07:00

It's just pointless...

2007-08-18T20:59:00.000-07:00

...trying to go to the gym as we are far too busy enjoying ourselves, over eating and celebrating. We enjoyed a Winter Crew meal on Friday night. The food was amazing with scollop's, turkey, salmon and chocolate cake and desert wines. A really great evening complete with Christmas crackers ?. This morning we had a Champagne breakfast, more celebrating since our numbers will increase to 41 tomorrow with the first of the flights, a great way to spend Sunday since the weather is again bad and we are confined, not that any of us need to go out.

We visited McMurdo yesterday for last minute shopping and everyone will get a T-shirt or a T-shirt and quiet possibly if they are very lucky a T-shirt....

I asked Fiona if the top I was holding was a nice colour or had I been here too long. She advised me that I had been here too long and move away from the nasty pink top...
It was dangerous as I armed myself with a basket and anounced I had my credit card.

Meanwhile back at base to amuse ourselves....

Clive with the help of base members made a movie for the McMurdo Film Festival called "When Spuds go Bad".
It had to include an action figure or soft toy, a fork and the line - "It is but a scratch" we all had fun partaking and it turned out really funny and won all the prizes.

The last two weeks...

2007-08-17T22:44:00.000-07:00

...can't believe it really. We have had some bad weather and last weekend was condition one, so we had to stay on base. This also meant the fire exits were all blocked with snow and had to be cleared. It took me an hour to clear just one entrance and find the porch and subsequent steps. The snow was covering the door handle. Needless to say I did not need to go to the gym that afternoon.

The week has mostly been sorting out the area we have been working in and preparing for the new conservators who arrive on Monday. I managed to visit Arrival Heights with Nathan since he needed help, well someone to be present in case he fell off the antenna he was fixing. I was hoping to see the sun since it was due to break the horizon but unfortunately it was a little cloudy.

This was the view while we were up at the Heights - about 2.00pm

This was the view at lunch time from the back door...

During the day...

2007-08-09T14:24:00.000-07:00

The day light stretching into days...

Those sticks are to mark an edge in the snow so that you do not drive or fall off it...

Yesterday Blake took a small band of us out onto an area called the Ice falls. Where the snow and ice flows off the mainland onto the ice shelf and then subsequently cracks both vertically and horizontally causing crevasses of varying size. I mastered the use of crampons for the first time and they are magic, no slipping and you can stand on the slopped ice with ease....as long as you don't make any sudden moves, because you are tied to the next person....It was a fantastic break away from base and just what we all needed as we were a little flat and had cabin fever. We returned after enjoying the physical exercise and cold covered in ice like white mascara and we were all happier for it.

Celebrating the New Bar.

2007-08-04T19:36:00.000-07:00

It was really exciting and we have all been working towards this one night and of course a very special party and celebration all winter. The refurbishment of the bar and lounge, which could be considered the centre of the base has been well worth the wait. Not only have the Quads finished ahead of schedule and then some.

This room has been extended and is a lovely space. - Yes, those are shoes, I think they are Dee's and were left there after the party.

The lounge is so comfy and relaxing, we enjoy having the fire on as does the cat. The large windows that flex in the wind (?) are starting to offer great ice shelf views.

The morning after.....

We well and truly opened the bar with a "wee party".

Saturday, thankfully was a day off - someone thought ahead as the base was extremely quiet which was OK since we had a condition one storm, so no one was going any where anyway. We had wind gusts of over 90 knots that shook the buildings all day and most of the night.

The days grow longer

2007-08-04T19:24:00.000-07:00

Monday morning began with an amazingly strong burnt orange, then gave way to pinks and purples as the light increased...

Friday morning with the light almost showing us the blue that is Antarctica.

You could almost forget it had been dark!!

It's not all parties...

2007-08-01T19:12:00.000-07:00

...Just a viscous rumour - honest...

Does this look like a party?

The Nimrod expedition of 1908 took a collection of Newspapers with them both from England as in the Illustrated London News and The Field, The Country Gentleman’s Newspaper and The Press from Christchurch. I have been enjoy reading / working on them. I even found the large yachting section...

The overall condition of the paper is good considering what is has been through in the last 100 years:

Handled and read, housed in an environment of soot, candle wax and dirt and then frozen. They become items of interest, as they were most likely prized and therefore not added to the fire.

The papers were carefully separated out and surface cleaned of dirt and accretions being careful to distinguish between historical dirt and surface dirt. For example pencil notations on a page become intrinsically part of the object and important as would a cup ring, which is evidence someone placed their hot drink down while reading the paper.

I used my usual Japanese repair techniques and the tears and losses were repaired and infilled for strength.

There are also some copied of magazines of that era called Fry's Magazine and the Scribner's Magazine full of short stories and lost of advertising. These look as if they were well used.

I also enjoy finding the rather exaggerated advertisements under wrappers of tins. Their claims are very boastful although at the same time are never 100%. The language they use is always amusing.

But we did have a great Mad Scientist Party at the Southern Bar on Saturday night. One of the most successful parties I have been to over there with cocktails in glass beakers, lab coats all round and good food. Only Americans can invent deep fried cheese sticks...

Gav's Tours.

2007-07-27T02:30:00.000-07:00

Gavin has been servicing the two Piston Bullys and had to take them for a test drive. He invited us along for the ride to enjoy the afternoon light. It was good to get off base as it seems ages since we have gone out for an adventure. The back cab of the articulated Piston Bully unfortunately has no heating and after a while we really felt the cold ( - 27) - Never mind....

We arrived at Castle Rock and climbed to the saddle which allows great views North beyond Mt Erebus. It was fantastic and looked like a golden red sun rise and to us who have not seen any natural light for over 10 weeks it was worth the climb. After a while my hands dropped off and I had to race back down to the shelter of the vehicle to glue them back on. Even with two pairs of gloves and hand warmers ( chemical sachets you stuff in your mittens) they still froze. I can not imagine what the explorers endured as the pain of my fingers warming up was really bad - crying it was so bad. You forget how dangerous the cold can be and if they only had leather boots with a stuffing of straw in the bottom for insulation - my god they must have been constantly freezing and in extreme pain - I'd be real grumpy!

Worth it!!

That ICE program.

2007-07-23T14:37:00.000-07:00

Have you all seen the Marcus Lush program on ICE being screened at home. We had it wired to us and viewed both episodes last night. It was great as he has capture Scott Base really well and it's just like that ...and more, and all those pea soup tins, all 147 of them, we've done those and they feature in our Conservation blog link. (Just the right, down there below my profile)

They turned out cool - if I do say so myself....

Our work is nearly all done and we are now concentrating on the A4 part of conservation - documentation and crossing eyes and T's

Match boxes that Fiona has worked on and my candle wrappers displayed in a Vanesta crate.

Slow start this morning as we could have voluntary blood tests for cholesterol. I declined the stab with a needle since I hate them but my blood pressure is perfect and low as usual even after three coffees, like I said it took a while to move this morning.

Followed by more coffee and ginger fruit cake for Emily's Birthday, but careful not to set off any sprinklers with 27 candles.

Team effort

2007-07-21T01:09:00.001-07:00

On Saturday afternoon we had a half day and we all enjoyed the "workshops" on bagel and sausage roll making with Helen. This is to produce morning tea supplies for the next month but it also adds the the fun community spirit that is this winter crew. It's not at all like a "Penguin sweatshop" as we have all volunteered, and I now know how to make bagels...

The raw meat being added too with some secret ingredients (Heineken) because of course it became a competition, the wine bottles were for rolling out the pastry and not for consumption - Nathan, Steve and Glen.

Steve and Glen shaping and cutting.

That's not round Lyal!!

We deviated from the traditional shape and make Figure of eights, Half hitches and Bowline knots.

The intermediate step of boiling for 30 seconds before dipping in seeds and cooking.

Quality control and tasting during the rugby.

Fridays.

2007-07-21T00:47:00.000-07:00

Our long standing tradition of having a Friday drink with the builder's in the construction site continues, although the bar and lounge are very close to being finished. We are extremely privileged as this is an invite only affair and Fiona and I were the first to enjoy the "actual" bar!!

After contemplating 100 and one uses for an empty crisp packet, a tiara if you tie them together and even a bouncing frog, Iain became a target for the left over cream from the eclairs.
So the bar was christened with Wine, Heineken, Tui, cream and hot water from the flood earlier that day. (Steve did it) Dodge, duck, dive, dip and dodge - Iain got an earful and Rodney did not miss out either.

It's official, this is the only way Fiona and I can improve the white wine supplied by Antarctica New Zealand.

Here comes the sun...

2007-07-16T21:03:00.000-07:00

There is a buzz around the base today as we have had our first glimpse of Mt Erebus with the promise of the returning sun. The cloud we have had for a few days has lifted and we have a beautiful day of hardly any wind and an outside temperature of only minus 16. Emily took this image for us all at lunch time.

It can only get better....

Weather on it's way...

2007-07-15T01:15:00.000-07:00

This is an image of bad weather on it's way towards Ross Island sent to us from McMurdo, which may limit our activities. It means high winds and lots of snow!!

The Light!

2007-07-09T00:40:00.000-07:00

What a cool date the 07/07/07 is...

This is memorable why...

We joined Nathan and visited Arrival Heights, not sure of the original reason but it was a fun trip for a Saturday afternoon. This is a collection of scientific buildings behind McMurdo. We think it is called Arrival Heights as Shackleton's men were reported to have waited there for the others to return. Observations undertaken there are various forms of ozone sampling, some surface ozone and other gases like methane and carbon dioxide levels. Over winter the moon is used as a light source for measuring UV and infrared absorption levels and measures the amount of gasses in the atmosphere. Also pulsations in the Earths magnetic field are recorded as are high atmosphere winds of up to 130 miles and so on....

Anyway...

The light, we have seen the light. There was light enough to make out the Royal Societies (Mountain Range) and a golden smudge on the horizon. The sun is returning and we can't believe it. May and June are over as they are reported to be the longest and darkest months and we have survived, thanks to salt and vinegar crisps and wine.

The other activity that will help me through the last six weeks is contributing to the wine bottle mountain started by Fiona and I at about week one. There will soon be Black Island, White Island and (Green) Wine Bottle Island out there on the ice shelf...you think I'm joking. We thought we'd enter it for an art prize. Although the Portage Awards stipulate that it has to be fired clay - back to plan B: Ceramics

The real activity that is absorbing me of late - ceramics. Lots of art and ceramics are being made at Mactown as I now have a deadline to work towards and some ideas, yes more skeletons and dead blubber.

Enthusiastic intentions for the next six weeks are:

The gym three times a week...Ha!

Ceramics studio twice a week...more than likely...

The Southern Bar at McMurdo despite the smoke...most likely...

I can't believe that Dick Frizzell enjoyed drinking the Antarctic Pinot Noir as it is truly vile, it's no longer red it's been down here so long.

Also we have moved into the newly refurbished kitchen and it's really nice. The portable kitchen that we used for five months has now been dismantled and the area next to our conservation room is back to housing machinery and trucks.

The good thing is I can now get an evening cup of tea easily as my room is now near the kitchen and I no longer have to walk the length of the base. The bad part is the diesel fumes from the dockway into our workspace, at the end of the day my clothes and hair smell of diesel which I guess is slightly better than 100 year old kippered herring and/or smoke from the Southern Bar.

A week on base...

2007-06-30T19:58:00.000-07:00

The weather has been extremely mild for this time of year, ranging between -15 to -20 and not much wind producing some lovely evenings. Going out for walks is great exercise as not only do you burn calories from the cold but lifting/dragging those boots is really hard work. I have had an extremely quiet week since I have been unwell, even visited the Medic at McMurdo and was encouraged to rest - so I have nothing to report - my room is boring.

The unfortunately thing was I missed out on the Blue Moon Fun Run. This was a moonlight run from McMurdo to the Discovery Hut and back and a lot of people enjoyed it.

This morning I was well enough to go over the hill to meet up with Emily for Brunch and my god what a feast - it was like Christmas morning; A mountain of bread and bagels, cream cheese, salmon and the usual eggs, bacon, burgers, flan, potato salad (?). Pancakes, grapefruit, Greek yogurt and as much juice as you want. Then a shop counter groaning with pastries to match the quality and quantity of Pandoro to have with your coffee. You then spend the rest of Sunday in a food induced comma watching movies.

I checked my ceramics and they were in the kiln waiting to be fired - neat!

Two of Emily's sculptures survived their first firing so she was very happy and is confident she will finish her winter project of a nativity set.

Emily, Ruth and Clive being productive in the ceramics room.

I have been trying to keep up to date with team NZ over in Valencia, this is proving slow even with someone in the know over there. My enthusiasm for the racing is contagious and we all race to the briefing room for the 6 o'clock news.

Mid Winter Celebrations.

2007-06-23T18:40:00.000-07:00

Saturday the 16th June we celebrated Mid Winter with the McMurdo Formal dinner. This was a great evening that started early with Emily, Fiona and I trying to put on our cold weather pants over our evening clothes and stuffing our dresses in. The guys were in hysterics at this and then we all piled into the transports over the hill. We danced the night away with Salsa, swing and of course YMCA.

We celebrated the winter solstice traditionally on the 21st with our dinner party. This was limited in numbers only because our kitchen and dinning room are still under refurbishment. We transformed what is a concrete floored caged storage area into a dinning room and Helen produced a four course meal from the portable container kitchen. It all turned out fabulous and was a real community effort.

Gavin, Fiona, Emily and Clive setting up fairy lights, crackers to emulate Shackleton's Christmas Dinner and setting the table.

The finished result which looked amazing when the main lights were

turned off.

One of the many deserts.

Trouble comes in threes....

The second, and some would say more important polar plunge took place on Saturday evening. At the last minute I decided I would do it and dragged Nathan with me so we were the last in. It was fun and invigorating but real cold. - "Yes we were nuts" (There is a photo but I'm in the nuddy so I'll keep that for myself)

63 days to go...

2007-06-20T01:52:00.000-07:00

Not that I'm counting...

In between yoga and having sauna's and the odd drink to be sociable, not to mention Mid-Winter Dinner parties - two of them I have been busy at work....

I'm worth my weight in Saffron!

Becuase Look!

This shows the state of the labels from small pea soup tins. Before and after I have treated one of them aqueously with 5% EDTA which worked amazingly to reduce / remove the staining.

Hartley's Plum Jam and one from the same batch that has had full treatment of wrapper, label and tin. They all have leaked and were soiled, stained with physical damage in the form of tears and losses. The jam and debris washed out in warm water and I used toned tissue to repair the wrapper.

We have also been sorting and treating leaking tins of Minced Steak and Lunch Tongue - really vile smell and we have labeled them as such - "Tins of Death" and we sang the durg that is the theme to Star Wars with Drath vadar in mind, through our masks as we tried in vain to seal them into bags.

Emptying the leaking jam tins - not very plum looking, we decide it must be Apricot as others look like Marmalade and yet they all have a plum labels - but some do look like plum.

Job Creation.

2007-06-11T00:31:00.000-07:00

The boys have undertaken a large task that began as a small idea of having an out door amphitheater. It has grown into a snow cave big enough to fit all 20 of us, the projector and screen and now they are talking about installing a telephone and some freezer doors. This is so we can watch "The Thing" outside in the dark....so looking forward to it.

The wooden structure was just to support the snow until it has hardened and we all had to help by stomping around on it. This was then moved further along and the second half was constructed over two Sundays. It's amazing what you can do with a bulldozer.

Work so far...Jam

2007-06-10T02:12:00.000-07:00

The presentation of Edwardian food is really amazing as most tins are individually wrapped. There is usually a boastful advertisements enclosed between a label on the tin, wrapper followed by another label. These items are surface cleaned and repaired with Japanese tissue. I think about the girls in the factories that would have worked hard wrapping these tins.

The Jam tins are in poor condition but at least smell better than Angus Marrow Fat when emptying.

Before Treatment.

Unwrapping the tin which then passes to Emily, and I conserve the paper components.

Pea soup tins - there's a few.
These are in very poor condition and the majority are leaking.

Before Treatment.

After treatment when the conserved labels are returned to the tin. Cleaned tins await wrappers and you can see their keys for opening.

Square tins of Flaked Tapioca with physical damaged and corrosion staining to the outer wrapping.

Before treatment.

After treatment with infill repairs of toned Japanese tissue.

This is what fills my days here...

Mystery Moonlight Trip.

2007-06-10T01:37:00.000-07:00

A mystery tour was arranged for after dinner on Friday. This involved driving to Castle Rock, then Turtle Rock and onto Room with a view. I opted to go in the Hagglund and others took the four skidoos. The weather was great with good visibility in the moonlight.

We climbed to the saddle of Castle Rock, the wind prevented us climbing to the top but the view was still amazing in the bright blue moonlight and we all just sat for a while enjoying it.

View from Castle Rock - just imagine it by moonlight, all blue.

Turtle rock rest stop to check that all the skidoo riders were warm and happy - I guess so!

At Room with a view all that is left of the large wall built around the kitchen the guys made back in February.

I have not laughed so much as the Synchronised Skidooing Team raced past the Hagglund balanced thus...

The Mystery Team...

Golf anyone...

2007-05-31T19:15:00.000-07:00

Scream - Under par!!

The Scott Base Golf Course.

Saturday was so much fun as we had the golf tournament around the base. Most areas and work teams made a golf hole with the usual toilet humour involved. In teams of four we went around the base and played golf all dressed up – now there’s a surprise. It was lucky Gavin protected the window in the workshop as he knew Emily was playing. She whacked it over the sand pits and water hazards for it to bounce off the roof, walls and onto the bench. No matter, she just played it off the bench. Nathan won best hole, the course involved an air pump under the floor, which sent the ball into another part of the room – the one with all the hazards. Those science techs have all the gadgets.

There followed a small party, which combined Fiona and Glen’s birthdays.

The encounter in the ablution block.

Emily on the workshop bench playing her ball...

The Quads.

"It went in!" - Fiona, unusually attired at the Heineken hole.

Trouble comes in threes....

2007-05-31T18:23:00.000-07:00

The weather on Thursday was beautiful and we are enjoy the full moon at the moment so there is some light outside. There was no wind and the temperature was about -11 .... Positively Tropical.

After morning tea the three of us went outside to one of the containers to collect fish crate lids. The snow was lightly falling and it was a light powder on the ground. It had yet to set into the crusty firm covering that sounds like polystyrene when you walk. It was fun to kick around and make snow angles. We wondered around like three little black figures the long way round to the containers as the snowy hill was too slippy to climb. Our tracks looked like three little drunk people....

We ended up at the top of the hill with fish crate lids - only one thing to do - slide down on them. We sent Fiona down first, a few times to firm up the run - it was great therapeutic fun to slide, crash, roll and laugh our way down this slop - numerous times...

We went back inside covered in snow.

Winter Arouras

2007-05-31T17:51:00.000-07:00

Scott Base HFC Building.

On Wednesday night we drove over the hill for Bingo as Emily was calling for Kiwi night. She is a natural and we had a real laugh although we did not win back any of the ice-cream. Our Ice-cream is coveted at McMurdo - another real commodity especially the choc chip mint ???. - Along with decent white wine and Nappysan....I'll explain later!!

On the way to Mack Town we stopped the van to view an aurora. It was amazing and almost made you cry it was so beautiful - you did not mind standing still with freezing hands and craned necks. It covered the sky from East to West and we were directly blow it, or at least that what it felt like. According to Anthony who takes the best pictures in Antarctica it is the best he has seen in seven winters on ice.

Images are Copy Right Antony Powell 2007

May!

2007-05-31T17:04:00.000-07:00

A castle cake suitable for Princess Fiona.

Hi Everyone…

This up date feels like it is covering a number of weeks, well all of May really. it seems to have gone all nuts here since the plunge. It may have something to do with the six birthdays we have celebrated in May – Yay! six birthday cakes and parties….

We have also received the photos of our plunge that we did on the 12th May– they were so private even we had to wait for them…

Look – proof that we did it…

I couldn't’t get to the ladder quick enough…

Well, this suck…..Guess what we have been watching

– Madagascar!
…and The Incredibles, Monster Inc, Cars and Sponge Bob…average viewing time 2.00am

A bit of a fun time as we not only celebrated my birthday but also our 50% day the night before on the 15th. Impromptu parties are the best and this one got way out of hand and we had allot of fun – Therefore a little tired and hung-over for my birthday - a shock to who?....

I had fruitcake with candles for morning tea and Helen made Dave's tagine for me as my birthday meal. We enjoyed a small gathering in the bar and played poker of all things – all these new skills I’m learning. Emily thrashed the guys as I’m sure she card counts.

Emily designed a treasure hunt that took me all over the base trying to work things out. The treasure was a bottle of bubbles. “We love Emily”

There was even a clue in the Sauna.

I’m sure that our time here at base will now race by since we are past half way. The days blur into weeks and we have a lot planned by the social committee, which has been taken over by Emily.

12th May Polar Plunge.

2007-05-14T00:50:00.000-07:00

I tried not to think about the plunge that I had agreed to quietly, so that I could deny it to myself. I also did not think too much about it so that I did not build up the horror of the extreme ice cream headache and not being able to breathe from the extreme cold that I had heard about.

We were all in high spirits during the day considering that a small band of us had watch movies until 4.00am. The weather was perfect, even though it was -32 as there was no wind to speak of. The platform was all dug out, ladder and harnesses in place and the near-by hut warmed up with a heater.

After base duties we changed into swimsuits under our out door gear and all gathered at the plunge hole. We had decided to take some photo's before the plunge. The transports of Americans had also started to arrive from McMurdo.

The plunge is a private experience and not for spectators and Blake, Lyal and Dee who look after us make sure that only the people you want present are there. Also a picture is taken only if you want it.

All the men were sent away including the threatened video camera and us girls stripped in the hut to our skin and put on the safety harnesses. Wrapped in blankets with shoes on, so that you don't stick to the ice when you get out, we ran down to the hole. I ended up in front so I was first up and basically just had to do it as everyone behind me was freezing and waiting. Once clipped on to the safety rope I sedately (? - can't think why) stepped in and sunk very deep. The blue ice and bubbles were beautiful and my first thought was "it's not cold!"....but on rising... Oh the profanities - as blue as me!

I climbed out and could not talk - they are really mean as they ask you questions to hear your unintelligent mumbles and I was reminded to breathe - something you forget to do. I was un-clipped as fast as Blake could, which felt like an age and I raced to the hut closely followed by Emily and Fiona. I have never heard her swear so much. The screaming excitement afterwards from all three of us was hilarious. The hot shower really stung your skin but once you thawed out you were OK. We were all very excitable and hyper followed by warm relaxed feelings which was great since all the girls were off to the A-Frame for the weekend - No Boys Allowed.

White Island Visit.

2007-05-14T00:22:00.000-07:00

It was a nice surprise on Wednesday as Blake hadarranged a day trip out to White Island, which would be the last all day event. From now on it will be limited to short trips like moon light walks around the ridges. Instead of waiting for the weekend it was planned for the first fine day. We were up and in two packed hagglunds by 8.00am.

The weather was light enough for us to see out of the Hagglund even though the windows iced up on the inside. A warm hand soon clears it. Bouncing around in the back was a real laugh. The back compartment had been lined with squabs to make it more comfortable for those having to be in the back with all the bags, food, thermoses and safety equipment. This meant you were bounced and thrown around and hit your head now and then - worse than a bad Cook Straight crossing.

We arrived at our destination and wrapped up warmly as it was -35 and climbed to the summit of White Island. This was a scree climb that became icy about half way up and took about 40 minutes. I found this really hard going because your boots are so heavy and clothing so cumbersome and padded. I was not confident on the ice and felt very uncoordinated in my boots and went for a few slides, digging in my ice axe - all really exciting.

Even though I could see the Hagglunds and their lights during our climb, and the view it was too dark for my camera and only managed a few images.

First stop for a walk around.

At the summit - that's me on the left. Midday.

Coming down the hill towards the light of the Hagglund

Nice and dark - all tired bunnies and time to go home...

Winter is still beautiful

2007-05-08T01:44:00.000-07:00

Polar plunge visitor.

2007-05-08T01:31:00.000-07:00

During the week we have been helping Lyal and Blake dig a big hole in the ice to then jump in. Why do we do this - because it is traditional, it may appear extremely silly but it is tradition. Unfortunately or fortunately depending on how you look at it, after all our digging on Friday night the weather turned to Condition 1' and filled up our plunge pool with 2 meters of snow - Dang!!!
So the plunge was postponed.

Although on Friday night I nearly did test the water when both Emily and I, while shoveling snow bent down together and she nearly bumped me into the hole.

The excitement of the week, this little guy popped up through the hole while we were digging and scooping out ice. So cute - so much easier than digging his own breath hole.

It's Dark!

2007-05-08T01:21:00.000-07:00

The bad weather appears to have arrived early as previous winter over staff, as in Lyal, Iain and Glenn have commented that this usually arrives in June and it started in April, so we could have an exciting stormy winter ahead. The Snow drifts that have started to pile up are fun to play in when you go out on Mouse Rounds - Military term for the duty roster for checking the base at night. Fiona accompanied me last week when I was on fire crew, as I'm scared of the dark- yes I'm scared of the dark and I've come to Antarctica.
I need not have worried though as the moon was full and it was a gorgeous bright night with blue light everywhere, we had snow ball fights around the Hagglunds and fell into the snow to make angles - the drifts are still powdery and soft. You can make snow balls but they lack the moisture and weight needed to reach target.

The real reason Fiona came out with me was to catch the auroras.

Non Polar Plunge Party.

2007-05-08T00:28:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the polar plunge we decided to have a party - any excuse. The theme was predictable "P" which was a laugh as we spent the week trying to think up costumes. Penelope Pitstop, Pippy Longstockings, Pencil. I was also wondered why we have so many dress-up parties and I guess it's because we can't change the venue so we change ourselves - and it's loads of fun. Here at the base with being isolated you also find yourself enjoying child like fun like painting eggs, dressing up and everyone watching the family movie with icecreams and popcorn on a Sunday night

100% participation again from the Kiwi's and some Americans...
Pencil, Pimp, Pink, Phillipa (?), Prefect, Pope, Policeman, Pippy, Pocahontas, Prisoners all chained together, Pussy cat, Paris Hilton and a Pirate.

Paris Hilton minus wig, Pink, Pocahontas and Pamela...

The party over at McMurdo the week before began with a spa with Clive's girlfriend Ruth which was so amazing - soaking in a tub of hot water instead of the usual 3 minute shower with such low pressure you have to run around to get wet .

The Sunset Party had a good turn out with live music and spit-roasted pork on offer. This was a fancy dress titled The Prince and Princess of Darkness. The kiwi's cleaned up with Helen and Blake winning the prize money with Clive in second place dressed as a Gimp? (there are photo's but I'm aware children view this site)

I was the sober driver which was hilarious at the end of the evening. It was like herding cats trying to round everybody up into the van and get back home, the only thing I forgot was the choc.

ANZAC Day.

2007-04-29T21:01:00.000-07:00

Clive took this better image of Helen's wreath made for Anzac Day out of old and riped route flags that were twisted into roses. Mostly red and green with black ones used to to mark 50. in the design.

Placed on the Memorials at the base of our flag pole.

Outside.

2007-04-29T01:00:00.000-07:00

last Saturday we warmed up a vehicle and drove to Arrival Heights which is the highest point behind McMurdo where our weather station is positioned. The weather for that day was good and was the last opportunity for us to see the sun, which was setting at 2.30pm.

We drove through Mac Town and Observation Hill was bathed in light from the sunset.

The sun dipping below the ice shelf...the last time I'll see it for a while.

Condition 1 - this is an indication of the poor visibility we experience caused by the wind.

The same view the next day.

Weekend Away.

2007-04-28T23:07:00.000-07:00

We booked the A-Frame which is the Kiwi Bach out on the ice, about 5km from Scott Base. It was a building that the Americans discarded in the 70's - I think and we salvaged it. It is one of our best assets and is very sort after.
After base duties were finished on Saturday afternoon we packed up food, wine, games and ourselves to have a weekend break. Lyal offered to drive us out in the Hagglund as he needed to re-stock the fuel tanks.
We then encouraged him to join us for dinner and games of Rummikub.

I decided that it was close enough to the 25th of April to open my surprise pink parcel. Hawkes Bay wine and Rum and Raisin Dark chocolate - great...also a card of Clyde Quay - my other home...

The heater had been fixed so we were nice and warm and cooked by lamp light on the camping stove. The porta-loo outside is always full to the roof with snow and it is one of the first tasks on arrival - dig out the loo.

We ventured outside in the dark as you could hear the ice cracking miles away and at the same time under your feet, it was a strange feeling. The isolation seemed immense to me as we stood outside this tiny wooden dwelling on an ice shelf the size of France - it definitely unnerved me and I can't explain why - maybe I have been in a city for too long - I raced back in side.

Emily, Lyal and myself relaxing after putting the fuel tanks away.

Discovering the contents of my parcel.

Fiona doing the dishes by lamplight and wishing we had not let the macaroni cheese go hard.

We enjoyed gossiping all night and past out with the heat after midnight. You can sleep on the second level but it was like a sauna. We imagined the small building melting into the ice or waking up to a lake.

Gavin picked us up on Sunday afternoon and I drove the Piston Bully home - "Drive it like you stole it" was Gav's encouragement...

"Condition 1"

2007-04-25T01:13:00.000-07:00

We have experienced our first storm / bad weather with the "conditions' changing through from 3 to 1. For condition 3 there are no restrictions and we can go off base and visit McMurdo. For condition 2, when the windchill drops below -50 with poor visibility we are restricted to essential travel only with the Base Managers permission. AS for condition 1, no body is allowed to play outside and it usually consists of no visibility and high winds. The buildings rattle and groan with the wind - just like home, and you can't even see the flags on the front steps for the swirling snow.

Mt Erebus through our window.
Although it was only about -20 the wind was 50 knots.

Today's view out the bar window at about 4.00pm today - I was only in there taking the photo!!. The snow has built up around all the vehicles and up against the large roller doors. That's our big artificial sun. This was considered just a little storm.

The 26th April 2007

2007-04-25T00:56:00.000-07:00

Before Treatment:

After Treatment:

- Hey.. "I'm a Paper Conservator"!!!

ANZAC Day

2007-04-25T00:30:00.000-07:00

Scott Base held a Dawn ceremony this morning which was very moving. Presented was a history of ANZAC day and people contributed with poems, thoughts and remembrance of loved ones. A number of Americans visited for the occasions follow by coffee and Anzac biscuits.

Helen made a wreath out of the discarded route flags of red, black and green in the shape of Antarctica, it was a beautiful and inspired piece of art and substituted for flowers very well.

Sorry, not the best photo as there was not much light.

Helen also explained the history of the Anzac biscuits which was an idea put forward by the women at home, as a solution to the problem of getting nutrition to the troops. They needed something that provided energy that would travel well in sealed tins for anything up to two months. They came up with rolled oats, butter, sugar, golden syrup biscuits which took on the name of Anzac.

Frozen Kiwi's

2007-04-21T20:39:00.000-07:00

Emily venturing onto the ice with Blake ahead testing our path.

Observation hill with fog abating.

The back of Scott Base from the ridges.

Blake and Helen.

Last Thursday Blake took us out onto the ice in front of the base to view the pressure ridges up close. It was great to get outside as although it was not windy it was -40. Very cold but beautiful. It was just before sunset at about 2.30pm. My camera did not cope with the extreme cold and froze sold but because this happens to us all at some point we share our images. I hope to get some better ones from Emily.

Twilight all day.

2007-04-18T01:15:00.000-07:00

This morning at about 9.00am

Mt Erebus - again...

OK, I have photographed Erebus again but this is the view from our window and it will soon be in total darkness. I took this today at about 11.00am as the clouds were reflecting such pink and golds it was so beautiful and only lasted about 10 minutes before thick cloud rolled in and the day became overcast. It is getting really cold outside with most days being below -30 and wind-chills that make you want to stay in side and hibernate.

Penguins

2007-04-18T00:54:00.000-07:00

Remember ages ago, we all went on a trip out to Cape Evans and Cape Royds to visit the huts. I took loads of images and will start adding them to the blog as I have started to sort them.

Real Cold Now.

2007-04-16T00:37:00.000-07:00

Mt Erebus on Wednesday - the clouds were amazing reflecting the light.

I took this shot while outside with Nathan taking the weather readings on Thursday morning.

Sunday Blake our Field Supervisor who looks after us outside had planed a skidoo trip to Pegasus pulling sledges which we were all looking forward to. But it was to close to a condition 2. Which is bad weather consisting of poor visibility and a wind chill of -50. I ended up fixing my jeans and then "Pimping" Rodney's shorts that had numerous holes in. They now have a fur trim, sequence and red hearts and stars all over them ... He was thrilled. I can't remember the last time I patched a man's jean - but there you have it - "It's a harsh continent" The rest of the afternoon I spent watching movies and eating the last of the chocolate with Fiona and Lyle, all three X-Men movies...

We also had the Premier of "Cops on Ice" Harsh County Police Department- what a laugh. This home movie made by Clive, Des and Don was to investigate the kidnapping of Helen's cat (Fake fur thing) a number of weeks ago.

The ransom note first began demanding a gazillion American dollars but as time dragged on became sausage rolls. The counter demand was no sausage rolls until the cat was returned....and so on.

I played the Forensic Dr...it actually was a laugh as Nathan got arrested, Don and Des ran through the base with tinfoil guns and badges, Emily and Fiona were dead bodies and I flicked my hair a lot in a lab coat...The things you do when there is no TV.

The photo of the cat blind folded at knife point under a Hagglund track.

Today's sunrise was beautiful and lasted all day. The sun just skims the horizon and does not quiet rise as we are familiar with over the landscape. We did venture outside to take photos but it was freezing - 33 with a wind chill of -48. I think it's time we dragged out the balaclavas and hand warmers just to go to Mack Town. Next week the sun disappears for good on the 24th and we then have 116 days of darkness.

Easter Weekend

2007-04-07T23:00:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed my relaxing two days off.

On Saturday I stayed in bed until I was reminded by Fiona that we had planned to go shopping over in Mac Town, this was at 11.30 and she had just woken up...

We were in the truck and off to McMurdo in no time - straight after a few coffees and I bought some new T-shirts for the holiday I'm planning for when I get back to New Zealand - subject to manager approval.

Sunday morning and we all found "Easter Bunny Bags" at our doors...filled with more chocolate than I normally eat in a year but I'm sure I can get through it.

McMurdo also delivered Easter bags to us all at Scott Base.

During breakfast everyone joined in and became creative - after pancakes, too much coffee and loads of chocolate we really embraced egg painting. It was all harmless fun until the word competition was used and then it became competitive...

Feel the concentration....

Gavin won first Prize with his Hagglund (Egglund)

The Tower By Fiona...

Kiakura by Dee...Gavin's other entry - The World with a space shuttle.

My personal favourite - Mt Eggebus by Fiona.

We declared it to be a Brad Pitt Sunday and spent the rest of the afternoon watching movies.

Sunsets...

2007-04-02T01:33:00.000-07:00

....are getting earlier and earlier

Has anyone seen Sam...

2007-04-02T01:12:00.000-07:00

...his Parole Officer called.

30% Completed.

2007-04-02T00:49:00.000-07:00

I actually managed to dragged my carcass out of bed and went to the gym on Sunday morning. Which was then completely made null and void by a full brunch with the girl's and Gavin - had to be done - it was there in front of me - hash brown, bacon, scrabbled egg, more hash brown and coffee with capital C.

Thanks to Dave e-mailing his recipe for Lamb Tagine I managed to cook for all that evening. The meat was still frozen at 6.00pm, not that I was stressed - nothing a glass of wine for the cook did not fix.

I had to quadruple the recipe and this may explain the amount of chilli - never mind that's what yogurt was invented for.

Emily's sponge dessert lacked a bit of air but she still made everyone have some. No one escaped the dumpling and custard - just too much laughing and not enough eating.

More laughing with "Black Books" - how have I missed this program.

Some more views of Mt Erebus which is my constant view - I'm sorry I don't get out much, and Jo likes them..

10 am this morning -28.

I raced outside and took these real quick as your eyes start to cry and the tears freeze on your face and you can't feel your hands....

....Worth it!

6:37pm Sunset Dinner.

2007-03-30T19:49:00.000-07:00

Friday 30th March.

The refurbishment of the Bar and Galley continues with the outside construction and installation of big huge windows and floor complete. To celebrate and to watch the sunset we had a slightly formal - or at least clean jeans dinner. It was fun to all sit around a large table.

Completed conservation.

2007-03-28T01:01:00.000-07:00

Price's Patent Candle Company's Belmont Stearine Candles.

"Expressly made for hot Climates".

Before treatment

After Treatment...

....Very satisfying.

Early this morning...

2007-03-28T00:50:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning with such a good feeling of well being that I raced outside and took some photo's real early - 7.15am

The containers give the pressure ridges some scale since they have increased.

Very Happy now!!!

2007-03-27T22:45:00.000-07:00

Emily and Ruth in the ceramic Studio.

Emily and I visited the ceramics studio in Mac Town last night and it was fantastic. We got a lift with the bowling team that was heading over to play/practice, since they tend to lose against the Americans - but that's OK as we always win the Rugby.

The studio is upstairs above the bowling alley and we could hear the strikes and cheers while Emily and I created.

The studio was fabulous and has everything - two wheels, new kiln, Abbots White Stoneware from Christchurch - Yay! and a rainbow of glaze colours....

I can't explain how happy this made me and I can also tell Jo - Yes, I've made some art!!
...Subject to firing of course - as we all know.

Well a maquette at least..."Big Plans"

Scott Base Styling

2007-03-26T23:04:00.000-07:00

Things we get up too....

It was either that or the clippers...

It's OK, we have 21 weeks for it to grow back...

All the best salons have a vacuum down assistant....

Vincent's Cross.

2007-03-22T22:34:00.000-07:00

After dinner we warmed up a vehicle, unplugged it from the hitching rail - this is a supply of electricity that prevents the trucks from freezing while not in use. Also you are not allowed to use the hand brake as this will freeze on - therefore all vehicles have "chocks".

We drove over the hill to McMurdo to have a good rummage in skua and to check out some of the activities on offer. They have opened the ceramic studio, the bowling alley and the Chapel has yoga and salsa classes. They even have a Yacht Club - "I kid you not", and guess where they have their weekly meetings - yes, in the bar adding fuel to the rumour that yachties just might be alcoholics with a slight sailing problem.

We got side tracked as the sunset from over there was amazing. We drove on through Mac-Town and up to the Discovery hut and Vincent's Cross to take some images. We ran up the hill as we only had jeans on - a wee bit cold for just that (don't tell Ian) and then laughed about who would explain losing the truck off the cliff since we had left it running - well, you have to or it will freeze.

Just one of those fun evenings when you find yourself laughing for no reason - must be the cold thin air!

Quick, lets get down from here - it's cold!

"Really!"

Not much was found in Skua Central this week...but the salsa class was fun - do that again!

Black Island

2007-03-20T22:15:00.000-07:00

The views from Black Island.

Mt Erebus.

The bone Shaker...

Which way? - who has the GPS ?...

Oops...

really uneven snow.

21st March 2007

2007-03-20T22:10:00.000-07:00

Not that they know him, not that they have met him, but because he has put some excellent sounds on my MP3 Player.....

And because.....

Dave has now gone into hiding and needs protection from the league of Mad Conservation Women and will release his new identify and contact details once settled in Argentina...

Vehicle training...

2007-03-19T22:33:00.000-07:00

This is a Piston Bully. This was like a game-boy to drive in the snow. The small half steering wheel sits in your lap and the throttle is a small ball you spin with your thumb. It is so responsive that you have to be careful not to spin it in a 360 in one spot, unless that's what you want.

The hagglunds are affectionately called haggas's and are noisy and unless you have some padding or a cushion you don't want to go far in one. I enjoy driving them as they are basically a simple automatic. They are completely sealed so that if your were to fall through the ice they float, and they have marine escape hatches in the roof - do not open doors if you fall through the ice. The steel tracks on the roof are for going over crevasses, something that will not happen I'm sure.

My tracks in the snow from my driving lessons..

This Caterpillar tractor is huge and is undergoing winter maintenance in the workshop, involving taking apart and spray painting parts.

Secretly, late one night the parts arranged themselves into this cute robot.

On going work...

2007-03-18T21:58:00.000-07:00

Under the wrapper of a small Lemco Meat Extract tin we found a leaflet of recipes. This had examples of how wonderful Beef Extract could be and recipes for the "Sick Room" (?) on the back.

After humidifying to enable opening without damage the actually size was A4 and was printed on both sides. It was then washed in deionised water a few times to remove discolouration and then it was lined with Japanese tissue and wheat starch paste. This gives it overall strength and prevents further losses.

I thought I might use some of the recipes to create an Historical meal next time I make Sunday dinner - "I wonder if I'd get away with that"??

After opening out.

Reading the back of the leaflet regarding what should be served to the sick.

This week we have also been emptying tins that leak and this must be the worst job I have ever had to do. I'm not sure which is worse, the rotten goop that used to be Kippered herring or the degraded mince and steak with congealed fat through it. Some has putrefied to a pink liquid with an acrid sweet smell - it's enough to put you off your lunch.

The top layer of herring has oxidised and turned black but you can still find scales, fins and the odd tail and in the middle it looks like tuna.

After emptying we clean off what is cemented to the sides of the tin - it's real bad!!

last night we got side tracked as it was Nathan's birthday and this involved cake, candles and drinks in the bar - rude not too. Also there is a special T-Shirt that must be worn on your birthday with very rude graffiti on it. I think I'll pretend not to have a birthday while here.

Evening view - 12th March

2007-03-12T00:46:00.000-07:00

The pressure ridges and Black Island in twilight.

This evening from the computer room - 8.46pm

The weekend that was....

2007-03-12T00:14:00.000-07:00

Refusing to behave for a group photo...

Skua Party.

After base duties, which was digging out the fire escapes from snow were finished on Saturday, we are like children let out of school. off to the "Dress up room" to dress each other for the our first party - this was to be a "Skua Party" which meant you had to wear only what you have found in the skua bins and it was a practice run for St Patrick's day next week.

Glen the winter manager was very pleased with the party as there was 100% participation and that was doubled with Americans. Therefore a success!!

Football with a cabbage and leeks rule (the cabbage was plastic but the leek wasn't
And that's all that should be said about the party....

I retired hurt at 1.00am after the table-less tennis tournament...

Sunday Dinner.

We volunteered to help out the chef so that she can have a day off and had a fun night cooking up a storm in the kitchen - Spaghetti Bol with Sangria and fruit as desert. Huge success and we had so many helpers to clean up, everyone is so friendly and helpful. Not that we needed much help as we were one-pot-wonders and made hardly any mess, and it was fun. We found table cloths and fake flowers to make the galley look like a cheesy Italian restaurant....

Yes, the Sangria tasted good, or at least the second bowl did...

Lunch time viewing

2007-03-11T21:57:00.000-07:00

I'm working outside today in the containers and it's -23 and add the 12 knots of wind and that makes it - 40....
Thank god for the amazing layers that keep me warm. I have three pairs of gloves on which manages to keep them working but what makes me laugh is the frosted up glasses.

And I thought I was cold sailing!!!

We have had some amazing days of bright sunshine and you can see for ever, the view is unbelievable because the air is thin which magnifies it. You need sunnies to look out the windows. I have started doing the weather observations and recordings with Nathan so that I can give him a day off now and then, all part of being the Scott Base Family.

While out at lunch time I took some photo's....

"Ian's girls"

The pressure ridges are like frozen waves produced by the currents and tide, seals make the most of the weakened areas to break through.

And...Phillipa's faux pas while inner tube riding was:

"Quick, lie down, and I'll jump on top"

Outside!

2007-03-07T00:16:00.000-08:00

Skidoo's heading up to room with a view...

Mt Erebus in sunset.

The view tonight - as in right now!

Coffee is my friend...

2007-03-05T15:20:00.000-08:00

...we have a very good relationship and the secret to a good morning is far too much coffee.

Girls left to their own devices and the entertainment for this week has been singing complete with aerobics to make the most of the new and improved larger space. Sing like no one can hear us - "I'm a lumberjack and I'm OK"

I'm ostracised as I did not recognise an Abba song and therefore do not deserve to listen to music ever again - allocated ear muffs.

Scott FM. have started taking requests - Yay, anything from the Mutton Birds, especially Anchor me or Wellington - I recognise those, I even know the words.
Every tin of herring is leaking and smells, Fiona has pulled her head inside and sipped up her turtle neck jumper and refuses to come out....

Fiona suggests a big hole - push it all in and pat down so that no one knows it's there and go skidooing.

Dealing with the Kippered Herring.

It's a mixed bag today of the very interesting that excite Emily like "Moir's Chicken & Veal Pate' - Curried Rabbit - Chicken and ham pie, in a tin and Bird's Egg Powder: A complete substitute for, although not made from eggs!. Through to what we have labelled the "crate of death"...

A quick laughable game of table tennis is light relief at lunch time, although "game" is a strong word. I will at least learn to hit it before I attempt to understand the rules. I will either be a pool shark or a table tennis pro by the end of six months....

This little cute is Lemco - Meat Extract

(Good Condition)

An example of the offending Kipper Tins

Images from the last week.

2007-03-04T20:37:00.000-08:00

One of the many window views.

While out skiing on Saturday.

Thursday, during my Hagglund driving lesson.

Mt Erebus smoking, hardly any wind.

View from Castle Rock.

The last flight passes over McMurdo.

Sunday March 4th - still sunny.

2007-03-04T20:09:00.000-08:00

I awoke to knocking on my door as I had intended to sleep in but Lyal had pulled out of the skidoo party going to "Room with a view". I jumped into my extreme weather clothing (EWCs) and was at the back door, stopping only to brush my teeth in 2.5 seconds...

It was a great day to race around on the skidoo's as we have gained in confidence and no longer ride them like Nana's...I was airborne a few times as it is hard to see the uneven snow along the track - really fun when you leave the seat but even better when the whole machine floats through the air. Fiona and Emily shared a skidoo and nearly killed themselves several times....it's those snow drifts, they take you by surprise. - Nothing to do with speed.

Even though it was -17 we did not feel the cold since we were so well wrapped up, we would check each others face to make sure no skin was showing to avoid any frost nip while riding.

Fiona and Emily.

The Skidoo party beyond Castle Rock.

I was really tired after all that play time....

All in one week.

2007-03-03T00:54:00.000-08:00

Work wise we have moved into the base and have allot more room and visitor's which is great. We are looking at and making decisions on tins of Minced Collops - bacon, Calavants - a type of white bean and Aberdeen Marrow Fat, all really smelly but the worst by far is the kippered herring...

The weather has been fantastic with clear sky's and not much wind with Mt Erebus lending itself to beautiful views with blue sky's or amazing sunsets. I can try and take photo's but it just does not seem to capture the distance and colour that I'm experiencing - so I'll just have to remember it.

The sun is setting 20 minutes earlier each evening so the sky is offering amazing colours. While out doing the "Mouse Rounds" - rostered checking of the base the view was amazing, making the task far more enjoyable.

On Tuesday evening we took a walk around the base loop track of Observation hill and it was a great 5k walk in bright sunshine and I took many photo's. We ended up in McMurdo lured by the skua bins and because of this were late back. Rodney radioed in that we were late because he could not get the girls out of the skua bins - what a cheek, his bag of goodies was as big as ours...if not bigger!

According to Clive I have graduated from amiture to semi professional skua diver since I came back with a disco alarm clock - everyone was envious.

- Yes Mum that's me!!!

Track around Observation Hill.

One of the many images I took - 10.00pm

Fiona, Rodney, Don and Ian with Scott base in the distance.

The one thing I took for granted in Wellington was a weekend. Since we have only one Saturday off a month as a treat, which makes me laugh as it really is a "treat". I looked forward to it so much and perhaps should do the same in Wellington - we all should.
Instead of lazing about in bed till lunch time as I had planned we took off early to the ski field which is at the base of Castle Rock - incidentally where I had my driving lessons on Thursday for the Hagglund and Piston Bully - tractioned snow vehicles. Fantastic is all I can say.

Since I have never skied before I was allocated my inner tube from the Mechanic's work shop with instructions to avoid the cravas - OK! - I can do that!

This was loads of fun as we used the hagglund to drive repeatedly up the slopes and then raced down, three on skis and three bods on inner tubes.

We reached hilarious speeds on the tubes and then had to either negotiate the ice bridge across the cravas clearly marked with black flags and/or try and stop.

I wiped out so many red and green track marker flags that Lyal was convinced I was aiming for them. (they hurt)

If / when I hit flags I'd totally crash off into a sprawling heap of snow and I lost my ride a few times and therefore had to double up on top of Rodney or Shaun - two go even faster...

Helen and me on the tube...

The boys race down with me following in the Hagglund.

Do it again!! - nearly better than A.F.Training....

Flags, planes and champagne

2007-02-25T20:10:00.000-08:00

Emily, Fiona and I wrestle on boots, coats and thrust our hands into fleecy lined pockets for the 3 Minuit walk to the container/lab. Inside we holt in our tracks and consider how to conserve corroded tins of Angus Marrow Fat that after thawing have started to leak. We listen to "Scott FM" which anyone can contribute to. We are planning a coup but decide improvisation is better and last weeks singing ensembles were "Show me the way to Amarillo" and the Back Street Boys. Today was a tribute to Kylie with "Can get you out of my head" complete with dance moves from "Little Miss Sunshine"...

This is all while we consider how to deal with the smell of the dremel drill heating up the fat if we decide to empty them.

There have been many things happen on Base this week. First we celebrated the manager hand-over from Mike to Glenn and this was a ceremony involving the flag. As is tradition the youngest person on Base hoists the new flag and Mike gets to keep the old one. Glenn can have what's left of the winter one in October. It was very exciting for Emily being the youngest at 26 and she brought the Summer flag down avoiding the ground, apparently very bad luck and hoisted the new one with a joke about putting it upside down.

This was followed by a small party.

On Saturday the last plane was due to fly out and I accompanied Nathan and Mike in a Hagglund out to the airstrip to witness a hot landing - one where they keep the motor running. The rest of Scott Base went over to McMurdo for the last plane "Toast".

We watch the plane land, load up with a 100 Americans and take off again. I hear an American accent over the VHF "Winter has begun" as the plane lifts off. The plane then banks right slowly in the poor visibility and flys over the base and waves it's wings to all enjoying the Champagne at McMurdo....

It was good to wave the plane good bye and to accept that this is it, we're here and stuck by choice. The next plane I see will be in six months.

We also enjoyed a Champagne Breakfast on Sunday to celebrate Winter in case anyone had missed that point. A population of 20, this is the largest group to winter over since Hilary in 1957 and the most women at six.

Wine, wine and some work...

2007-02-22T00:10:00.000-08:00

It's official, I have well and truly lost my marbles and my friends will attest to this. I'm not thinking straight at all and it must be either the latitude, dehydration and/or the caffeine - Yes, I have mastered the coffee machine...

I found out to my embarrassment that "Stoves" were something you cook on and not an abbreviation for some mystery activity on base - there are so many acronyms here it's hard to keep up.

And if someone is wearing their Carharts (outdoor clothing) in the dockway this does not automatically mean they are leaving and need a hug...I will never live that one down....

Also I used the words lump and custard in the same sentence in front of our new chef Helen...Sigh!....it just wasn't what I meant.

Just shot me now!!!

I'll have to break open the emergency chocolate or wine at this rate.

I'm now trying to drink the recommended four liters of water a day- hard work.

My sister thinks I have mention wine allot - "But there's just is not enough time to drink good Sauvingnon".
Please, I'm faced with cards, darts, pool, or scrabble here give me a break I need something. Not that I have anything against these activities but I just prefer to chat that's all. With a drink. Also, Steve's advice was to write more....
With that in mind and to cover all bases and dispel any impression that this trip is all about wine and snowmen I'll explore the reason I'm here in more detail.

Conservation of Objects.

I have contributed to the joint conservation of tin's with paper labels. Removing carefully when I can and cleaning, washing for strength and lining with Japanese tissue with good old wheat starch paste. After cooking up the paste, a bit like corn flour, I plop the beaker out in the snow to hasten the cooling. Since I can't find any photographic trays, there here somewhere I have improvised with and used a fish crate lid for washing. Also using a plastic bag I have made a small humidification chamber.

Before and after treatment.

I have also discovered and started work on some candle stick wrappers and they are gorgeous with a small engraved, block printed advertising label. 'Expressly made for hot Climates" it confidently boasts.

This is a difficult treatment ethically as I do not want to over treat these and make them too pristine as that would take away from their character - their authenticity of coming from the Cape Royds Hut. Also if Shackleton had used the candles then surely he would have burned the wrappers, giving the impression that in his time these would have been complete objects with candles inside. Therefore I feel these have been opened recently, which would explain the tidy pile of candles in the hut. When I have completed the conservation of these wrappers the candles will be reunited with the paper and they will go on display. I will strengthen them to hold candles and repair where possible without making them look too new.

Before treatment and in poor damaged condition.

I love a challenge.

This is the first of 12 that has been surface cleaned and then washed to improve paper strength and then lined onto Japanese tissue with Wheat starch paste. I have used a sheet of perspecs (poor man's Kari Bari board - Japanese board for lining art works) to paste it out on and then it will all dry nice a taut - flat so that I do not need to press again. One problem is that things dry too quickly and I have to try and slow them down or they will wrinkle up. It's fun dealing with these challenges...

Another great day at the office...

The first Sunset.

2007-02-20T20:02:00.000-08:00

Outside is the best place to be, I stayed up until after midnight to enjoy this all wrapped up nice and warm and fortified with some wine.

I even found some art.....Look!!!

We also visited the Discovery Hut to view some treatment trials of objects that were placed there and to have a look see. God it was cold and the wind just cut through you. We froze in the hut and all wrestled some hand warmers off Emily, she always has a secret stash. This hut has less items than Royds but is just as emotive. I felt a little sick after looking at the piles of blubber, I think because it had vertebrae stretched with skin visible on top and through it which looked like the dead cows you'd come across in New Zealand rivers when you were a child and fixedly stare at.

Hanging meat - Damion Hurst eat your heart out!.

McTown.

2007-02-18T19:43:00.000-08:00

We visited McMurdo and it was depressing as it comes across as a sprawl of dusty buildings and blasted out soil with trucks and containers littering the land scape, also the cafe and bar have decided to close for winter leaving only the bowling ally and smokers bar open, not our first choice. But it's not all lost as there is a craft room and a climbing wall in one of the three gym's so that will be a definite positive for me.

We then discovered a Kiwi’s favourite pass time at McMurdo, which is not partying as you might think, but "Dumpster Diving".

The American’s through out everything especially just before they leave and these bins and boxes around the base are call Skua bins as in ‘scavenge” (the Skua is the Seagull of Antarctica). After trying some dumpster diving as a warm up we were then taken to Scura central which is the equivalent of a second hand shop only free - a Freegains delight - personal joke. We thoroughly enjoyed rummaging and came away with some excellent items. Jo would have been proud of us. I laughed as Emily got serious and took off her huge jacket and said “ I’m going in” as she disappeared into a box of material samples for her quilting project.

Back to the Scott Base bar for some wines and a beer for the driver.

"Skua Central"

The weekend raced by, well once you have worked Saturday it races by. After dinner it was the scrabble challenge all over again and rather too much wine for such a dehydrating environment but I had a nice time. Unfortunately I unintentionally slept in on Sunday and I did it properly, my roomie even considered holding a mirror to my face I was so unconscious. I missed brunch and the seal trip but I managed to make Fire Training - Phew!!! - I guess I needed the sleep.

As is tradition here on base we all gather in the dock way when people are flying out, and we find ourselves joining in, we were saying good bye to some wonderful people that have taught or looked after us really well.

We have moved into our own rooms which is great. They are compact but user friendly as they have lots of storage, I have a view of Crater Hill behind the base. Room 12.

Also, since I forgot my e-mail list could you lot in Wellington e-mail me on the address I gave you as I'd love to here from you and be able to respond, I can only remember some of them.
I'd really appreciate it...

Aroha Phil

"Room with a view" - images

2007-02-17T22:32:00.000-08:00

Dinner time with my re-hydrated Honey soy chicken - Yuk!

Digging in one of the polar tents.

Phil and Fiona.

Room with a view.

2007-02-13T23:29:00.000-08:00

Fiona, Emily and I survived our Antarctic field training as we had fantastic weather with no wind, virtually unheard of. After rather sobering lectures about frostbite, hypothermia and getting lost in whiteout conditions we were rather pale and apprehensive about actually leaving the buildings - and I though falling in Cook Strait was a frightening thought.

We loaded up the hagglund and three skidoo’s with an enormous amount of essential stuff as the exercises is to try out all the equipment - polar tents, stoves, GPS’s, shovels, survival gear and way too much food.

I had a lesson on the skidoo – throttle, break, that’s all you need and we were off, I got to ride it to our destination “Room with a view”. I could not believe I was racing across snow-covered hills in Antarctica in a staggered formation trying to keep up with Glenn and in front of Ian. Bounce, bump bounce...they feel like a horse bucking you off at times as they hit uneven snow and your airborne off the seat - great fun. "Room with a view" at the base of Mt Erebus is amazing, 360-degree views that are beyond words and photographs.

We erected our polar tents, dug out shelters for our stoves and somewhere to sit and helped/ watched Ian and Don build an ice cave. Bed time according to our watches as it was still sunny and we wriggled into three layers of sleeping bags with mittens and thick socks on. No sleep but that’s OK. The tent glowed too brightly through my eyelids. In the morning we de-camped back to base via the A-Frame. A small building away from the base that is treated like a Bach and is great for weekends away. Sir Edmond Hillary visited a few weeks earlier.

Adding the finishing touches to our ice cave - I made the chimney. The ice is deceptively heavy as it carves and cuts like polystyrene but weighs a ton if you cut your blocks too big.

I resisted the temptation to write my name in the snow.

It was a amazing experience and again we were blessed with the weather as it just started snowing on our return to base, in time for dinner.

A day off.

2007-02-10T22:56:00.000-08:00

My first day of rest began amazingly, with a trip to the gym followed by brunch and I caught up on Wednesday's news, the papers are a little behind. Even so they are highly prized and sections get bartered for - "I'll make you a coffee for Tuesday's B- section". I'm still mastering the coffee machine so I had no takers.
If someone makes the coffee machine scream when frothing milk they get a standing ovation and apparently I came very close.

Care package: Please send Mojo coffee and 'iced mocha' lipstick as I'm gonna run out.

By the way, fat and happy!!

later - I joined Jo, John and Chris from the base and climbed the huge I might add "Crater Hill" behind us and it was a hard climb in boots that weigh a ton and many duvet like layers of clothing. I was very warm during the climb and needed my jacket open even though it was -10. The weather was beautiful for a day out.

At the top is a frozen lake that is fun to slide around on and a sledge. After "playing" for some time we walked down the other side to McMurdo for a rummage in the shop and a coffee.

Phillipa on ice - Chris behind getting ready to sledge down again.

Tomorrow we begin our Antarctic Field Training and get to play outside for 48hours, building an ice cave, a loo wall - essential and best of all we get our skadoo licences!

We have already had lessons on how to use and maintain our stoves. there was a fire blanket enclosed so that you can put yourself out if anything goes wrong.

Also - Poly prop plus flame equals a shrink wrapped arm - and a trip to McMurdo.

All these wonderful life skills will come in handy, especially the Hagglund licence?.

It just doesn't get any better!

2007-02-09T00:01:00.000-08:00

We visited the huts by helicopter on the most perfect of days. It was clear, bright and hardly any wind. For me it was a high-light - momentous really - one of the Seven Wonders!!!

Before arriving I had accepted we may not get the opportunity to visit Royds and Evans so it was a real surprise, and for something so amazing I was relatively calm. It was also my first ride in a Helicopter.

The hut's are humbling and inspiring, I feel privileged to have viewed and walked within them and this has increased my attachment, interest, excitement and passion to be involved in this project. The huts are very emotive and really evoke the heroic era and I don't have the words to express how I felt while there and perhaps shouldn't.

Wow!

2007-02-08T22:38:00.000-08:00

We have settled into the rooms, or bunks that have been allocated but it is only temporary as we will be given our own room once the base empties of all who are not wintering over on the 24th. We have had an eventful few days visiting all the containers that hold our artifacts and materials and also placing all the equipment back into the lab since it was moved over summer. The containers smell of rotten food but it's not as bad a macerated whale bones, so I'll cope. I was really excited to view items like a wooden boat transom, shovels and cast iron items from the oven. There are also textiles in the form of ration bags, some still tied up with food. The tin's of food will make up the majority of my work and at this stage are still exciting, Split Peas, Angus Marrow Fat, Stewed Lamb, Cod Roe and pure preserved Brussels Sprouts. The labels affected by rust and the environment give me goose bumps and I'm looking forward to treating them, I feel my "conservation mojo" has returned. These tins came from Nesta boxes made of ply that Shackleton stacked around the outer walls to aid insulation and to store them as there was over three years worth of food. They were carefully removed from the snow and scoria and transported to Scott Base for conservation by the summer team.

8.00am - heading off to work in our warm gears.

Ration bags.

Conservation ethics are a big part of why I love this profession. We do not want to "restore" to pristine and pretty the objects for the hut as they then would not be in keeping or historically accurate for the hut and it would change their character, something you don't want to do. For a conservator, if an object after treatment looks similar to it's counterparts back in the hut, then we have been successful, as it is stable and happy but is still in context.

Preserve, respect and accept the changes which time and re-use have brought through history.

We want the objects to look like they belong to Shackleton and not resemble a museum facsimile.

I feel I have been here a month and it has only been two and a half days, which is really amazing. My eye's are still adjusting to the very dry environment and it is best described as having jet-lag, but I feel great outside as the humidity is higher.

Oh My God...there's Black Doris plumbs for breakfast, my favourite, but for how long I wonder. There is also a sauna which you can use at your leisure, you just need to plan ahead and turn it on, fabulous as I LOVE saunas. And I can't possibly make it to the gym as I'm far to busy eating!! - Oh dear!!

It begins.

2007-02-06T23:31:00.000-08:00

I'm over whelmed and it's amazing, can't believe I'm here. The flight was quicker than expected at four and a half hours and I have never appreciated ear plugs so much. I did not see anything on the way as we had some American V.I.P military on board and they got to visit the cockpit for photo's, but I wasn't worried as I managed to sleep.

I stepped carefully off the plane as the boots are so big they take a bit of getting used too. But then I looked up and could not believe I was actually here, and then my ears felt it - quick get on the bus...

My head is spinning as there is so much to take in with the hand over from Robert and Al. Meetings fill the gaps between visits to the containers that hold the artifacts and materials and also the purpose-built labs that started life as containers. A bit like Rhy's Mo-Bars, only different.

We started preparatory work today and viewing selected items made it all real for me and surreal at the same time, as the view from the lab window is the Ross Sea ice shelf all crinkling up against the coast of volcanic rock because of the tide and currents, still too soft to venture out on. And what look like mouse droppings are actually Wardell seals lying about at the ice shelf edge.

I also have to accept that I'm not feeling the best which is very common. It takes about three days to adjust to the dry conditions and it is like having the flu, so I hope it passes quickly. Going outside helps, which is really great fun (it's about -5 today).

I am shattered and really tired, over whelmed and excited and I promise to write more once I have settled in.

Last day in Wellington

2007-02-03T16:56:00.000-08:00

The day before I leave and Wellington is at it's best with beautiful weather, it's been a long time coming.
I sailed the Rum Race on Friday and Dave let me/made me helm and I loved it - could not contain my excitement, just had to let it out. We practiced flying the kite and it was great as the boat is a joy to sail. - And then there was Saturday with the most amazing weather and sailing conditions that suited Airship and everything just "flowed" on the boat and we had a great sail, it was magic. I had a bit too much fun after racing as we celebrated with some rum.

I'm sorting out last minute things that I have had six months to do and then it's off down to the Yacht Club - "now there's a surprise" to enjoy the farewell BBQ.
I took my last walk into town complete with music as I love the i-pod, just got to remember not to sing or skip!

Last year was so fabulous with the amazing successes with art and fun with sailing and the realisation that change can sometimes be a good thing, but at the same time it was hard work. I was overwhelmed and still am at the support of friends I have found and the ones I had all along, that helped me through it with their love and support which has also given me the courage to take hold of this opportunity that is Antarctica.

Aroha Phil

p.s my dress survived!

Oh my God...

2007-01-31T17:12:00.000-08:00

Oh my God, Oh my God...if you lived with Catherine and I you'd know what that meant!!

Mean while - time has just raced by and I'm so pleased that I took this week off to get organise. Not that I am organised but it would have been far worse. I keep getting distracted with coffee and lunch - lucky me!.

I had coffee with Amy and caught up on information and all the important stuff like who, what and where from Scott Base and you'll never guess what.

There is a Ceramic's studio and kiln at McMurdo - I'm ecstatic or "aroused" as our French intern would say. I am so looking forward to creating - whether that is havoc or not I'm not sure!

Rose also enlightened me about her trip to the ice many years ago and she commented on how fabulous I looked and that I should make the most of it, as it will be all down hill from there - as mentioned my hair will frizz and skin will flake off. But don't worry as the "Speak Easies" at McMurdo are nice and dark, so it's OK.

Her drink of choice in the evenings was Port, which sounds really nice.

I also received a present today which I had to promise not to open until on the ice, which will be hard. Forgot to check that this does not contain sharp implements, explosive substances or anything that could get me into trouble on the plane.
Did I pack my bags myself. Yes, everything except this bright pink parcel!

In between coffee's I have been packing up the house for renting out and throwing boxes into the roof for storage. Plaster moulds, tools, buckets of slip, bags of clay have all been pushed up there and it will be interesting how long they end up living there. It's so therapeutic to have yet another major clear out of the house.

My time is condensing but I'm managing to visit friends and tonight Dave is sorting out my I-Pod with music, great as I can't wait to have some sounds....he's a good friend as he did not laugh at my selections.

I'm going to miss that Catherine, we have had a real laugh together.

Medical checks continue!

2007-01-14T20:11:00.000-08:00

I feel more thoroughly examined than if I was abducted by aliens. I truly have had everything looked at. Two last things, one of which was a gastroscopy- a camera is threaded down my throat to check on my stomach. Which was not unpleasant because I was sedated and therefore unaware of the procedure, but interesting all the same and the specialist even gave me some images. I wont post them though - a bit too medical. Because of the sedation I could not form sentences let alone drive so I had a nice afternoon recovering at my sisters, with a picnic and Pier Von Bear, her cat that has a shoe fetish.

Potenial realised.

2007-01-03T16:40:00.000-08:00

I was asked recently...

"Just how bad was your house when you bought it?"

Pretty bad!. It was interestingly decorated with yellow and blue paint apply with sponges, by the children I think. The kitchen no longer had floor boards, most likely rotted before it was re-piled and the covering of hard board was painted battleship grey. The positives where it had a new roof and I liked the wooden windows and the lay out.

Before images:

- note the lovely brick wall paper and the "bright sponge stipple effect" living room.

Renovations began late one night, I think I get that from my Mother!.

The cupboards were painted with blackboard paint for lots of chalk drawing or lists. The green MDF shelves that divided the rooms were removed immediately. The lounge and kitchen were both re-jibed in stages.

I installed the knew kitchen this year along with a new floor of mati boards. You don't realise it's so big until you have to pay for 20 square meters of wood. It was a shame to put anything on such a knew floor. I did not need to structurally change the room much but by removing only the old pantry I gained an area for a dinning table.

I left the power, gas and water where they were to keep costs down. The dog door has now been removed because a person could get through it, the door is now all restored.

An old iron gate became my pan rack.

I used marine ply stained black for the shelves . It was fun using bags of clay when I glued and screwed them together and a car- jack to get into place.

The lounge has knew furniture and persona with lost of red cushions - post images.

Phillipa's Chilli Chocolate Cheese Cake.

2006-11-21T14:37:00.000-08:00

Chocolate is good for you - it makes you smile.

Coffee, Chocolate and Chilli Cheese Cake.

100g Butter.
300g Chocolate digestives (1 and 1/2 packets)
200g Broken milk chocolate - I used 70% cocoa dark chocolate so I guess it does not matter.
200g Soft cheese.
200g Creme fraiche.
100g Caster sugar.
2 tbsp Coffee essence.
1 x 142ml Carton double cream - I used single as that's what I had.
1 -2 chopped deseeded red chillies. (@4.0cm in length)
Extra chocolate and chillies to decorate.

Melt butter in a pan.
Whizz the biscuits into fine crumbs in a processor, then toss in the butter. Whizz and then press over the base and sides of a 20cm loose-bottomed tin.
Melt chocolate while whizzing all the remaining ingredients in the processor. Pour in the chocolate and whizz again until blended.
Scrape into the biscuit base, then chill for about four hours until set. Decorate with grated or chopped chocolate and chillies.

* I initially thought I had put too much chilli in when I tasted the hot mixture before setting. But on cooling the chilli calmed down and became a nice after taste. Also Nirmala explained that over time the chilli will have mellowed and blended into the other ingredients so the older the desert the milder the chilli will become. Can be made the day before.
Anyway, it is so easy to make and looks like you've spent ages in the kitchen.

Aroha Phil

Another Highlight!!

2006-11-12T17:41:00.000-08:00

Just received a message from Louis Le Vaillant at the Auckland Museum who purchased one of my art works from the Lopdell Exhibition in July. This alone made my year and now this piece is being display in their decorative arts exhibition called Encounters.

Excuse me while I have a screaming fit of excitement and run around the room.

From the body of a Whale - Blanket Piece.

This work began life when I found some genuine meat hooks in a Woodville second hand shop, exactly what I was looking for to make a "hanging"sculpture. I made the piece as large as I could as the kiln was only 700mm in depth. I look forward to making larger works.

Paper clay has more mechanical strength for making sculptures due to the addition of a percentage of paper pulp that burns out. It was then fired three times for the clear crackle glaze, which results in an antique look with the white stoneware, my favourite and then to set the decal transfer. The skin on the verso is painted with Bakelite dissolved in ethanol which gives an interesting patina.

The whole then hangs from spliced natural rope.

Blurb:

Despite research, no one knows how long it takes for a whale to die when harpooned. When it is hacked, cut and stripped of blubber it may still be alive. The blubber was marked with a deep continuous cut winding around the whale. This was hooked and a "Blanket strip" was torn off with a winch, fibres ripping free as it was peeled like an orange. Then this oozing blubber was cut into chunks called "Horse Pisces". These were then sliced up to increase the surface area for boiling, but left connected on one edge so they resembled a book, which were nicknamed "Bible leaves" because of the spine of black skin.

Bible leaves - 2005

Maiden Flight

2006-11-05T11:46:00.000-08:00

The Island Bay race that wasn't - 4th November.

As usual Wellington lived up to it's reputation and was blowing 25 gusting 40 in the marina. We still wanted to take the boat out even if we did not sail to Island Bay. The race committee made a good call and made the day into a long harbour race as it was gale/storm warning in cook. With an unfamiliar new boat that's not something you want to try. I thoroughly enjoyed it and have lots of sailing badges ( bruises ) to prove it but there were some teething problems which is understandable as it was the first race on Airship. The wind just knocked us flat a number of times, but then everybody was rounding up and lying flat. The wind had built to gusts well over 40kts. We received a double gun solute on finishing.

The evening was celebrated with a BBQ at the shed to watch the public display of fire works with lots and lots of people. The shed community is special and everyone shares olive oil, sausages and tall sailing stories and many memorable evenings have been spent down by the water. - But I don't think I'll forget catching two sailors dancing to a xylophone solo in their own shed - I'll need a chocolate bar to expunge that from my memory, so that I don't name names - guys?

We were all knackered and I don't think I've seen Dave so tired, we ushered people off and closed up the shed in record time.

Tortimony - The best time ever!

2006-10-18T17:48:00.000-07:00

Line 7 Regatta - RPNYC February 06.

Little old Tortimony ( Davidson 28) came second in the open keel boat division. We had a fabulous weekend with great weather for once as Wellington is usually in excess of 40knots....
We had no expectations except to have a good time and we did.
I have had a great time sailing with Dave, Anna, Jo, Ken, Shaun and Tracey.

A girl can do a number of great things in her life:
Get her drivers licence, get a degree, buy a house and sail with Tortimony !!!.

Thanks guys I owe you so much.

It begins...

2006-10-16T19:27:00.000-07:00

What a year this has been. Change can sometimes be for the better and a great surprise.

Confirmation of my contract to work in Antarctica.
February - August 2007

This is a great opportunity both artistically and professionally to be posted to Scott Base to work on objects from Shackleton's hut. I'll be wintering over for 7 months which will be an experience. I'll call it that, as I have no expectations and no idea of what it will really be like. Not only enduring the coldest, most inhospitable continent on earth but being a part of history. Standing in the same places as the great polar explorers did, hands on hips of course.

Shackleton's Hut - I'll have to learn to ski!

Highlights so far this year....

Christmas dinner with friends at Jo Torr's house.

- No children allowed - pot luck "Jo style" is were you get given the recipe and encouraged to try it, but we all love that. I got the best present from the secret Santa which was one of Dave's photographs.
There are no visual record of this fabulous day, just good memories.

March - Exhibition at Thistle Hall.

Bronwyn, Nina and I had a joint show which was a great success and above all a great party.
Although I lost allot of works in the processes of getting ready I learnt allot and at install I did have some ketes and tiles to display which worked well with the other objects. I borrowed plinths from work and the show just fell into place - anyone would have thought we planned it!

Vicki provided a fabulous feast and everyone had a good time and they tell me, with much amusement that I couldn't quiet manage my three front steps -

"Moi, slightly intoxicated, surely not!"

Phil and Anna.

Dave, Tracey and Jo.

April - Huge Party.

Dave, Jo and I celebrated our birthdays at the yacht club and a good time had by all.
Breakfast at Tiffany's - Phil and Mark - Photographed by Anna Roberts.

July - Exhibition at Lopdell House Gallery.

I was invited to show my work after winning the Portage Emergent Artist Award in 2006. The stress involved in meeting this deadline was quiet something as friends will attest too. Ceramics makes you very philosophical as things break no matter how hard you have worked on them and for no rhyme or reason - you just have to let it go. Then it's a fantastic joy when something arrives at being finished above your expectations. A month out from the show eleven of the twelve sculptures cracked in the final firing - that's OK just make them all again ( you learn allot about yourself at these times)

The themed works were about Whaling and they were well received. It was an exciting experience setting up the gallery as the artist, a bit of a role reversal for me. Also loved my visit to Auckland as I meet lots of lovely people, arranged other exhibitions and visited galleries, something I have wanted to do for ages.

Bible Leaves - detail

August - Exhibition at Waiheke Island.
I was invited to join Penny Ericson in the Natural Selection ceramic exhibition on Waiheke Island. What a privilege to share a space with New Zealand ceramic artists.

Narrative - Ordinarily 60 foot long.

October - 2007 Portage Ceramic Awards.
For the third year running I have been selected which is a great compliment for me. Had fun in Auckland as well!!

Relationship Urns