On the roof again

On Friday, Yogi and I took advantage of the sunny conditions and minimal wind to get to a job I had been putting off for a while. A few weeks ago one of the exhaust cowls on the main power house roof froze up so we had to take it off to allow exhaust from the engines to escape. After a few modifications it was ready to go back up again. Conditions were excellent Friday at midday, so up we went. Looking out over the bay was pretty spectacular - all the icebergs were bathed in glorious sunshine. Not bad for just another day at work.

Yogi and I

Working on the exhaust cowl

Hydroponics

This week is my rostered week on in hydroponics. Because I'm known back at home for my very keen green thumb, I thought it would be a good idea for me to offer my expertise and help out in hydro. On a daily basis it's a pretty easy job - you just have to top up the water tanks and check the water for correct nutrients and also pH levels, and harvest anything that needs to be picked. We have to grow our own veggies cause there is such a lack of fresh stuff down here. We grow tomatoes, snow peas, beans, cucumber, zucchini, capsicum and lettuce (various varieties). We also grow various herbs including sage, coriander, mint and basil - that's what I am cutting in the picture below.

By Popular Demand

Because I'm such a nice bloke, and I care about what my readers want, here is a close up of my beard in all it's "glory". Good news for you guys, this pic was taken on Saturday, immediately after one of my two showers for the week so I'm all shiny and clean - that's why I look so happy. I also smelt pretty good too!


The theme for this weeks Saturday dinner was Chinese and it was bloody good too. I had some free time on Saturday so I got into the kitchen with Tony. I put the spring rolls together, made the chicken for the lemon chicken, got the ice cream ready for fried ice cream and cooked the prawn crackers. Apparently I made a few too many prawn crackers as we had heaps left over.

After dinner, Trev decided that he was going to put on "Young Einstein" on the 16mm projector. It's actually quite a funny movie, made all the more funny by Trev's attempts at seamlessly changing the rolls of film over. There were quite a few interesting phrases coming out of the projector room. After the movie some of us retired to the bar, some to bed and some others stayed on for another movie. During this time Tony found a novel way to get rid of the excess prawn crackers.



The door shown above is the entry to the cinema. Tony laid out the crackers and we turned the lights out in the bar as we went to bed to help hide them. As the movie finished, Didier opened the door to walk out and all he heard was crunch, crunch, crunch.

Well we thought it was pretty funny.

Stocktake

Well things at work have certainly been very exciting here over the past three weeks. I've been counting things. Lots of things. Lots and lots of things. And spending hours in front of a computer entering data. The kind of stuff they don't put in the brochures...

It is currently that time of year when stocktaking has to be completed, to allow enough time to order, and have delivered, all the gear that next year's crew will need. The cargo cut off date for our resupply voyage is less than 10 weeks away so we need to get all the ordering done as soon as possible. We finished in the Green store today, which only leaves a pipe rack out the back to go. I will be a very happy boy when I can finally say that our counting is over!

Stocktake in the Green store

Bastille Day

Bastille Day was celebrated here at Davis with a fantastic dinner of French cuisine. To start we had crayfish on potato rosti, and pate on toast, with the main course consisting of pork fillets, duck a l'orange, pepper steak and coq au vin and to follow for dessert was crepes Suzette (prepared by Tony at your seat) , creme caramel and chocolate mousse. And of course assorted cheese and biscuits to round out a fantastic meal. We even had a replica of the Eiffel Tower as the table centrepiece, and a few people dressed as artists (of the bullshit variety!) for a more authentic feel.

Sunrise

Well I had really hoped to have a good picture of the return of the sun, but unfortunately the skies haven't been particularly co-operative. Technically we were supposed to see the sun for the first time in approximately 40 days on the 11th of this month. Cloudy days prevented us actually seeing the sun till Friday, and even then it wasn't great viewing. Anyway here is my first picture of the first daybreak we have had for quite some time.

The Age

Sorry it's a bit late notice, but I just found out that an interview I did for The Age is in today's (Thursday) paper, in the Green Guide section if anyone is interested in having a look.

Coke!!!

The traverse team got back during the week after nearly two weeks away. Unfortunately they weren't able to get to Amanda Bay to do the emperor penguin census as the sea ice wasn't deemed safe enough for travel by hagg. But by all accounts they had a great time visiting the Chinese at Zhong Shan and the Russians at Progress. The highlight for me wasn't the fact the traverse team were back (it was quite nice here with just 10 of us), it was that they had brought back a slab of coke cans from Zhong Shan. I haven't had real coke since I got on the boat. We have post mix down here, but it just isn't the same. Unfortunately most of them froze on the journey back so there aren't that many to go around, but I got one and I'm going to really enjoy it - when I finally convince myself that the time is right to drink it!

Coca Cola, Chinese style (at least I think that's what it says)

On a completely different note, the new Australian Antarctic Magazine is out (it's online only I believe) http://www.aad.gov.au/information/magazine. Check it out, there are a few interesting articles, including one about plumbing on ice featuring Jason.

Some more photos from Midwinters Day

I still haven't managed to get any photos of me jumping into the water. I have plenty of before and after, and I do have it on video - I filmed it myself with my camera - but still no action shots. I am hoping that Jason has some shots, but the traverse team are still at Law base so I won't know until they get back. Anyway here are some more pics...

Matt on his way for a swim (with Annette and I in the background)The point of no return for Glen H

The table setting, with those bloody menus


Seafood galore


The dessert buffet


The bowl I got from Tony


The clock I made for Jason


Cookie is always in charge, even of a stacks on
I'm pretty sure we had a good night (from left: Yogi, Glen H, Trev, me and Matt)