2 PLY TOLIET PAPER - Wednesday 31 october

I’m feeling the effects of lack of sleep.

My average bedtime down here has moved from midnight 2 weeks ago to around 1 to 3am. 24 hours daylight really plays with your mind. It’s not that I can’t sleep, it’s just that I walk outside from playing sport or partying and it’s super bright outside. The brain and body think, “sweet, what’s next”?

So today has been an R and R day. Super chilled out. I watched a surfing dvd, had a power nap then hung out in the galley catching up with friends.

This afternoon I’ve planned to run the ridge track, which will take around 45 minutes. After dinner Keri my roomy and I are going trick or treating around our dorm.

Tonight at 8pm it’s bingo night at the pub. I’m going to try really hard to win. I hear 2 ply toilet paper is the top prize. If that’s true, every man and his dog will be there.

Fingers crossed. For my bottoms sake.

INFLIGHT EMERGENCY - Tuesday 30 october

Station two beckons today. Wicked.

The weather is clear and a lot warmer today. We start the day with truck checks making sure everything is in running order. We get word that the US today news crew are arriving this afternoon. They’re going to do a simultanious broadcast from both the north pole and the south pole on november 5.

Check http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/10/30/438745.aspx for more info

We are outside when a call comes in. A c-130, which had just left 10 minutes ago for the South Pole, is on its return to McMurdo. We have an inbound emergency; there is an electrical smell onboard. We jump into action. The plane lands safely and after a visual inspection enters the apron. No drama, but excitement for us fireys.

OB HILL - monday 29 october

Just a cruisey day off today.

A friend and I climbed Ob hill again. I made him model for some photography shots.

I played volleyball again at the gym this evening. That’s one of the things I love down here; I play soccer, dodge ball, volleyball, basketball, climbing. Everything is on your doorstep. Brilliant.

I get an email togay from Jeremy today saying "you're famous agian" A man from the christchurch press contacted me a few days back saying he wanted to run a story on the rugby game we are practising for. He wanted a "happy" article to make up for all the negative news lately. He emailed to let me know that it ran in both The Press and The Dom.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4253658a6009.html

MEDIVAC - sunday 28 october

At noon I was back at work. I’m the ambulance driver today.
Just before shift change a lady had fallen from her bunk bed and was discovered unconscious. Our paramedics assisted the doctors during the day and at 6pm I was responsible for driving her down onto the c-17 plane for a medivac back to Christchurch.

Kiakaha.

HALLOWEEN - saturday 27 october

Saturday was filled with scenario training before heading back to McMurdo for dinner. I have to say, my shower, that’s the best one I’ve had in my life.

Halloween is tonight. I learnt from my training in Salt Lake City that this is the favourite party down here. I also learnt that they have 240,000 cans of CD (New Zealand’s worst beer) to get rid of. At $1 per beer I’m sure they’ll get rid of a few.

I dressed as an All black. I wore my black NZ tee, taped my head with electrical tape, wore my all black boxer shorts, had an NZ stubby holder and carried around a rugby ball. What a great night, some people had some absolutely incredible costumes. I’m sure halve of the weight on the plane down must’ve been taken up by these.

I returned from the party at 3am to find my all my bedding covered in Pepsi. I had taken a can out to happy camper; from my experience I know it’s nice to have a sweet drink after a day outside. Unfortunately I forgotten to drink it and in my rush to the party had just thrown everything on my bed. Now the can had come from the “freezer” so to speak to the nice comforting beach-like temperature of my room. Needless to say, a mess had formed.

HAPPY CAMPER - friday 25 october

I packed all my extreme cold weather gear into a bag and excitedly headed over to FSTOP (FIELD safety outdoors……..) to begin my happy camper expedition. This was to be an action packed two days of outdoor survival training. 20 of us pilled into what they call a Delta. It’s an orange beast of a truck. The wheels alone are double overhead. It took the best part of 30 minutes to get to our destination, travelling at the lightning speed of, 1 mile per hour.

The sun was shining bright in the blue sky. Perfect. It strikes me how close you feel to the mountain ranges on the horizon. You almost need one of those stickers often found on the side mirror of a motor vehicles “objects may appear closer than they are” This mass of mountains lay 25 MILES away yet they seem only a stone’s throw away.

Kevin and Susan are to be our instructors. Great characters, great fun.

After a classroom session we get stuck right in. We learn the importance of survival in Antarctic conditions. Now I’m happy to say I’m pretty well educated in outdoor survival but when it comes to Antarctica; it’s a whole different ball game. You have to be thinking one step ahead. All the time. People have had their number drawn here by just simply walking to the outhouse (long drop) the whiteout condition worsens and they can’t find their way back to camp. 10 metres away.

As I listened I thought back to last week when I took my gloves off once to get that perfect photography shot, within seconds I had frostnip, that’s the white waxy first stages of frostbite. I noticed my hands were getting cold and made the mistake of thinking “she’ll be right, just a couple more shots” I’ll tell you what, the pain of your hands “thawing out” once inside isn’t worth that shot. Lesson learnt.

So we made T anchors to secure tents, learnt how to build a snow/wind wall, and use MSR fuel stoves to melt snow. We practised radio procedures, and erected antennas for VF radios. Made snow caves and survival trenches, and most importantly learnt the four key points of staying warm; HEAT, INSULATE, EAT AND EXCERISE.

It becomes clear that what we taught in the classroom is our key to survival in this ever-changing environment.

Dinner rolls around fast. Tonight’s menu; dehydrated beef and pasta. It’s not bad but I struggle through my packet. I know I have to eat it all. It’s negative 28.c out and it’s likely to drop further throughout the night. I need this food to keep me warm.

We entertained ourselves through the evening by using the ice saw to write block words out of ice. My “kiwi” quickly becomes a favourite with the PAPERATIZEE.

Scott, Matt and I become the leaders for the rest of the camp. The instructors sleep in a hut 10 minutes away from us. We are responsible for the general safety and wellbeing of camp. Others must let us know where they are at all times. At 7.45pm and 7.45am we radio in with an update that everyone is accounted for, any arising issues, and weather updates.

At midnight I finish my hot chocolate and prepared for bed. This is an important ritual and can mean the difference between a great night’s sleep and no sleep at all.
I visit the outhouse, then run around for 10 minutes, being careful though to not sweat; as sweat freezes instantly thus defeating the point of getting warm. I eat as many snacks as I can and fill my nalgene water bottle with boiling water. I change my socks; if you’re ever grumpy/tired/cold – “changing your socks changes your attitude” put on my fleece layers and snuggle into my sleeping bag with my freshly filled “hot water bottle” Bliss.

I slept pretty well. I awoke in the middle of the night to see this thick scarf-like layer of ice around the top of my sleeping bag. I worked out that it was the moisture I created from breathing out that instantly froze to my bag.

WINTER-OVERS - thurday 25 october

Hopefully this works. It's a video I shot the other day of a c-17 taking off, taking the winter-over crew back to warmer climates! Fingers crossed. I found out I have happy camper over the next two days. Yeah. This is snow craft training where you get to learn all about the elements of Antarctica and sleep in a snow cave for the night. Double Yeah. I'm so stoked.

RED ONE - wednesday 24 october

Out at the runway station today. 24hrs on the ice.

Station 2 is set out on the runway. It has a little lounge, a little bunk room, a little office, and a little kitchen. 6 of us are squeezed into what looks like a container, like the ones carried on ships. It's little but it has mighty big character, and i love it. It's my favourite shift whenever i'm out there. You feel like you're really in the elements, and over 24 hours i can capture some great shots with the ever changing conditions.

We drove the big rig today, she took about half an hour to start up, but we were cruising once underway. Red 1 is what she's called. It's massive and carries 1200 gallons of agent. We also pulled the lines (hose) from the back of R5. It's a 100 foot line of hose which we'd take interior to an airforce c-17.

Over in the cargo depo we helped assist in moving some fire extinguisers. This is Antarctic style (photo above). Only on the ice can you move extinguishers the cool way!

Evening struck and the 6 of us watched an american series called Firefly. It's all the rage down here. Crashed early, time to catch up on some sleep.

KITE SKIING- tuesday 23rd october

It snowed again.

yeah.

Another day off, I’m loving this.

I hit the gym this morning then helped out the D.A's with the dishes again in the galley. The weather is chilly, windy and cloudy today, so it's a good chance to catch up on the likes of laundry. Wonderful laundry days, 5 machines 1200 people, and the biggest box of detergent I’ve seen in my life. Apparently our Antarctic fire service tees are in great demand down here, and seem to amazingly vanish from your laundry pile. A great souvenir from the ice I bet. You have to watch them like a hawk.

I sorted out my photos today and backed them up onto cd's. I've only taken a few during the two weeks I’ve been here.

I've taken 800.

Time to get outdoors. During the afternoon I hiked out to discovery hut for some photography. This is where I met Nick.
Nick works with the helicopters, and this is his 6th summer out here. He's an avid kite boarder back in the states and once he's on the ice the skies come out. Kite skiing. Wicked. "yeah, you can travel some pretty awesome landscapes and cover some miles fast here with a 4m kite" Nick says as I listen attentively. I'm hooked.

I snapped away taking photos of Nick during his "practise fly" of his kite. I really wish I had brought my fisheye and wide-angle lens out on this hike. I could have got some unreal shots. Lesson learnt. Take everything.

I run back to mactown for dinner thinking, "now, how can I get jeremy to send me one of these kites”?

I laughed out loud as I thought of a conversation with my Dad just before I came down here. I remember I was super excited telling him about an awesome surfing day I’d had and that I really wanted to buy longboard now, he chuckled and replied "now Liz, when are you going to sit still, and maybe learn to knit"

I love it. For those that don't know, my Dad is one of my biggest supporters, a real fan. He's always encouraging me and forever proud. He's a true legend.

Evening came around fast and I was off to the gym to get certified to use the climbing wall. Straight from climbing I was into a few games of volleyball, from volleyball it was onto the basketball court, then rounded it all off with a quick beer in the pub.

Phew.

monday 22nd october

Weather: -20.c, wind chill -34.c

Great day at work today. More training. We braved the chill and ran the hydraulic tools used for extrication. My hair froze.
Next out came the airbags, we lifted engine one (16 tonne) off the ground.

The weather really turned today. A lot of snow had fallen overnight and the wind is having a field day blowing it over everything and everyone. It's really beautiful though. When the weather's like this you feel rather like a chicken nugget walking the green mile. The second you step outside you get snapped frozen.

The American world series baseball is currently in play. It's seems all the rage. I guess it's like the rugby world cup to new zealanders.

ALL BLACK IN RED - sunday 21 october

Weather: -14.c, wind chill -19.c

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NIGEL!

Fortunately last night the fire service played the air force crew in a match of volleyball. Unfortunately one of the air force guys dislocated his finger and is on the next flight home. Fortunately he's been here 6 times before. Unfortunately this time he'd only be here for ONE day. Fortunately he was still smiling. Unfortunately the air force crew had to play short. Fortunately we won.

Today I got up bright and early. My average bedtime down here is midnight. It's pretty tricky the old' sun staying up for 24hrs. Your brain really doesn't get any sign that it's time to jump into those p.j's.

Come 3pm I was outside all geared up for rugby training. Eager little beaver. Keith, an American rugby nut is team leader/coach. He huddled the group over "right those that have played before throw the ball around over there, the newbies over here", I followed the newbie’s. "right" Keith said "now this is what you call a rugby ball, it's egg shaped. You use two hands to pass it" "arrrr" I piped up, "umm I’m a kiwi, so can I go play over there" looking at the guys who new how to play. A roar of laughter erupted.

I felt like an all black, running around cones passing left right and centre. This is going to rock.

Tonight I’m going to hike up observation hill (230m), as it is my last chance to take photos of the sun setting behind the mountains. Come the 23rd of october the sun will always be above the horizon 24hrs. 24/7.

RUGBY - saturday 20 october

Weather: -12.c, wind chill -24.c

On duty today.

At 8am we have shift change over in the firehouse. Both crews gather together in the engine bay to share news about what happened during shift. This morning one of the boys pulled out a rugby ball that he'd bought from Scott base. Cracker! We started passing and kicking the ball around......hang on.......this is weird......Now i'm standing here with a bunch of super fit sporty men, yet none of them have any idea how to pass the thing! and hang on, now they're all asking me to teach them how to drop kick a rugby ball?

Now that's a first!

Speaking of rugby, I’ve got training on Sunday afternoon for "the big game". McMurdo versus Scott base. The stubby shorts are replaced with winter long johns and mittens, and the rugby field is marked out on ice.

They breed them tough in Antarctica.

This year the game is going into the Guinness Book of Records, as the most southern game of rugby played. They are flying in a GBR official and a professional referee. In the fifty years of this traditional meet the Americans have yet to win. Many say though that this is the year......."we have two ring ins" "chippy and lizzie".

Work was great. I learnt a lot today. We had medical training and saved victims using backboards and duck tape.

We even had snow today. Little iddy biddy flakes. But it was still snow.
The first of the season.

Food. I’m missing the kiwi favourites. I’ve pulled out the vegemite at breakfast many times. The American aren’t convinced.
The other day I was sitting through an aircraft training lecture, tummy rumbling, absolutely starving for lunch when I get this page.....
"I’m eating a pineapple lump for you now......opps and another......and another......okay just one more"
I hope you’re sending down as many as you’re eating Elayne.

ONE FOR THE LADIES - friday 19 october

Weather: -14, wind chill -24.c

The sun is shining and the birds are singing.

Well actually the latter part isn't happening, but the sun is definitely shining.

Time to pull out those tramping boots.

Heath, Dave Mc, and I hit the firehouse up with our itinerary, grabbed a radio and headed out into this vast desert they call Antarctica. One of the marked routes you can hike here is called "castle rock loop" and that's where we're headed. It's a 12 mile round trip and passes some unreal scenery.

Off we ponder with camera in hand. I laugh as the boys continue to try and speak kiwi, to which i reply, "you'll come back now ya hear"
Posted along the way are emergency bubbles, these stations are escape shelters from the ever changing weather and they house sleeping bags, a stove, a radio, and food. We reach castle rock about an hour and a half into our hike. This massive stand-alone piece of rock sits a proud 415 metres high. Now, it's neg 25.c outside, and much to my laughter the boys decide it's time for a gun show. This one's for all you single girls out there. So off come the layers and they strip down to just their wind pants, and pull off moves that even Arnie would be proud of.

We continue on and pass an absolutely amazing ice shelve. Everyday I’m stunned by the enormity and beauty of Antarctica. It's a truly incredible environment, unlike anything I have ever experienced. I feel truly blessed.

FROZEN EYELASHES - thursday 18 october

Weather: -10.c, wind chill -34.c

It's meant to snow tomorrow! yeah that's what im talking about. Apparently a big storm is heading our way. I haven't seen it snow here yet so i'm pretty excited. So all you southerly facing Wellington folk - carry a woolly hat with you over the next couple of days.
Work was a blast today, speaking of blasts.... they had one here today. They placed explosives all around one of the fuel tanks covered in snow to clear it. Sounded pretty intelligent to me.
But all was "sweet as". I'm teaching my american buddies to talk kiwi.

We did a lot of training today and i got to learn the ropes of dispatch. I even answered an incoming off continent phone call to which the caller sounded extremely confused... "now did i just call mcmurdo or scott base"
Vanessa (my ambo sister) you would be proud. I spiked an I.V bag today, hooked up some EKG leads to the monitor and took the blood pressure and vitals of just about all the boys at station. I even measured my own blood/oxygen level on the pulse oximeter.

Top gun was the movie of choice tonight in our down time (Goldie i did think of you).

The shots are of the hike I did yesterday. The monster mountain is Erebus. It's the mother of mcmurdo. She’s the southern most active volcano, and is constantly puffing. She sits a massive 3,800 metres.

A real beauty.

The frozen eyelash shot is a must down here. It's incredible how quick they can freeze up. It's a rather surreal feeling. This is keish, he works for the recreational department.

Wicked.

SCRUB THOSE POTS - wednesday 17 october

Weather: -12.c, wind chill -34.c

Yet another pearler day in paradise.

I woke up to a funky tune playing over the p.a at the firehouse this morning. Last week we had a cracker of a song which lyrics were "i wish i could be in antarctica'

Off duty today so off to the gym i headed to play Lance Armstrong, and ride the bike for an hour. They have a bunch of super flash stationary bikes here called spinners, they look just like road bikes. I felt like i was in zee "tour de antarctica"

I grabbed an early lunch today, then Chris (firefighter) and i jumped into the kitchen and volunteered to lend a hand. The D.A's (dinning assistants) work SUPER hard here in such an unrespected job. We were on dish washing duty, 1200 mouths creates a lot of dishes! that's the best work out ever.....Lance if you're listening.....

Scott, heath, zach and i are heading out hiking at 3pm, doing a loop track which passes one of scott's huts. Then after dinner a bunch of us are hitting the bowling alley. yes you did hear right! Antarctica has it's own bowling alley. It's full of character and there's even a dude at the end of the alley who's job it is to re-stack the pins. He's called a pinsetter. Retro style. I like it.

CHEESEBURGER -tuesday 16 october

Weather: -11.c, wind chill -24.c

Volleyball in neg -28.c anyone?

They breed them tough down here.

So a bunch of us gathered together to knock a ball around for a couple of hours last night, actually i can't kid no more, we were in a heated gymnasium! but it was a blast.

Back on shift again this morning at 7.45am. I'm on engine one today, the big burly yellow machine. I love riding on these american beasts.

The day has flown by with all the training, building inspections, hydrant testing, and most importantly eating a real american cheeseburger for lunch.

Now for some housekeeping. Our shift system here runs 24hrs on 24 off, with shift change at 7.45am each day. I have what they call a kelly day once every fortnight giving me 3 consecutive days off (that's on fridays). At station one, situated in Mctown are two engines (yellow fire trucks), two abulances, and what they call a tanker which holds an unbelievable 3700 gallons of water, a rescue vehicle and a "scat" passenger people mover. Down on station 2 which is located on the sea ice runway, we have 3 rescue 550 vehicles on mat tracks, and one mighty big beast called R1 which has an agent capacity of 1000 gallons. She has personality.

Sweet as.

CHIEF TRANSLATER- monday 15 october

Weather: -20, wind chill -38.c

A very confused american buddy of mine looks my way and whispers....."Now what did he just say you'll" as we sat around listening to a debrief from a New Zealand firefighter at Scott base.

Now us kiwi folk and the americans may speak the same language but boy are the variances in vocabulary hilarious!

Today we had a training exercise over at Scott Base. The kiwi folk had set up a mass casualty drill, and McMurdo fire department was one of the response crews. There was an explosion causing fire and 10 people were unaccounted for. So in goes the brave kiwi "volunteer" crew and mcmurdo's fire crew to save the day.
Great job done by all. The medal is in the mail.

Whilst in amongst the pitch darkness accidentally knocking off tins of baked beans whilst searching for victims, i yell to my New Yorker Lieutenant,
" Yo Mike can you get your torch out" to which i received the reply "come again?" "your torch" "you want a what?" "your torch so we can see" it fell silent, then came a polite but loud "what the hell is a torch"

Note to brain, if you're in a dark environment with an american firefighter ask for a flashlight!

It was a great exercise. The kiwi firefighters did incredibly well. They are made up from domestic staff, carpenters, scientists etc.. and are only given an intensive weeks training in Christchurch before heading out here.

"Kaipai" fellow kiwis, and "great job" fellow americans!

ROOKIE - sunday 14 october

Weather: -10.c, -30 wind chill

Sunday morning sleep in, then off to a church service at 11am. The chapel here is called "chapel of the snows" and it sits super cute in a prime viewing spot out to the ice field.

At noon my shift started. We spent the day training, and ran an exercise drill out of 155 (the dorm i'm staying in). It was a great day and i learnt some new things. The terminology is VERY different here for all the firefighting equipment and even more confusing (this is for the kiwi firefighters) is that in america the male connection of the hose or "attack line" fights the fire whereas back home it's the female - meaning that the connections are all different at the hydrant etc... have to be one step ahead of the game for that one!
Here's a couple more;
(kiwi) dividing breeching (usa) gated Y
(kiwi) collective (usa) simease
(kiwi) hose (usa) attack line
(kiwi) tools (usa) irons
(kiwi) outlets (usa) discharge
(kiwi) truck (usa) engine
and then of course we work on the metric system! phew my brains getting a hammering! i feel like a rookie again! I heard a few laughs the first time i jumped out the truck to be a guide for a guy reversing, i did wonder why he wasn't looking at me out the side mirror. I thought "man this guy's good" then realised i was on the officers/passengers side of the truck! i forgot the driver is on the left here!

Actually i had driver training the other day out on the ice runway, there were 3 vehicles in action, two coming towards me, i noticed they had stopped as seemed to be laughing inside the vehicle. Then i realised i was driving down the left hand side of the road. "crazy kiwi"

DINNER AT SCOTT BASE - 13 saturday october

Weather: -13.c, wind chill -30.c

Two of my american firey mates Dave and Heath, and I ran over to Scott Base today. It was -23.c out today and i tell you what, it's only 3km from McMurdo to Scott but it felt like i was running a marathon! The cold air absolutely whips your lungs, but i loved it! I'll definietely get into that more, especially as the weather will be warming up soon.

I met up with a bunch of folk at Scott base that i'd met the other day. They invited us in for a cup of tea to warm up, what a blast sitting down enjoying a milo (i really miss milo!) in their fire lite lounge which over-looks the pressure ridges of the ice field.

We had a couple of speights in the bar, and were invited to stay for dinner. Yum Yum and more YUM, i'd been told that if you ever get an invite to dinner at Scott base, you NEVER EVER turn it down - and now i see why. Don't get me wrong, dinner at Mctown is awesome - but they are feeding 1100 mouths so the food can be a little bland, plus it has been in storage here for awhile. Whilst at Scott, only having 40ish people at the moment, it's all super fresh! fresh tomatoes, lettuce, avagardo (and i'm not even a great fan of avagardo at home but man did it taste good).

Fantastic!

That night we hit gallagers, which many of the kiwi's came over for. Four bands were playing - made up of d.a's, scientist, ganitors, firey's - all sorts of McTown residents. It was packed! it was like walking into a busy bar on courtney place back home. AWESOME!

TOUCHING A C-17 - friday 12 october

Well fortunately i've been given a kelly day today. Every two weeks you have a day off where the rest of your shift mates go to work, thus giving you 3 consecutive days off.

Except i got called back in because we were short staffed. No worries, i get every second day off anyway! I had a blast. I was stationed out at the ice runway and managed to get a video of a c-17 taking off right from the hold short line (right up on the runway) it felt like i could touch it! i was that close - hopefully i can get it up on this blog!

After dinner i was cleared off duty and a bunch of guys from A shift grabbed me and took me to gallagers, which is one of the pubs here. It was nice to catch up with A shift as working 24hrs on 24 off we don't get to hang out too often.

INDOOR SOCCER - thursday 11th oct

Weather: -18.c, wind chill -40.c

Another day off in paradise!

Today i caught up on a bunch of emailing and computer stuff. I took a walk around Mctown and did a famil of all the buildings - man there are millions of them!

Evening came around quickly, time-wise not light-wise! and i was off to the indoor gym to play soccer. It was a lot of fun, i was the only girl playing but that didn't matter - and hey i even scored a goal!

CONDITION 2

Weather: -17.c, wind chill -38.c

I woke up this morning out at station two to condition 2 weather. The weather here is messured on three different scales, condition 3 is a fine day, condition 2 is low visibility, and wind and condition 1 is very bad visibility and wind exceeding 55 knots. If the weather is condition 2 and more bad weather is forecasted, you have 20 minutes to move yourself back to mcmurdo base otherwise if it turns into condition 1 it's hammer down the hatches and stay where you are. No one is allowed to be outside in condition 1.

I had a lot of fun staying out at station 2, i took a bunch of photos and midnight looking back into mcmurdo. The light is very dim here in the evening. The last sunset is October 23, which will mean the sun from then will continue to stay above the horizon.

This evening a bunch of us were preparing to go to Scott Base, as thursday night is american night (an invitation to visit scott base bar) but unfortunately due to the weather (being condition 2) no recreational travel was allowed......but no worries i was just eexcited to play indoor soccer instead. We had about 8 players and it was a huge lot of fun, i even scored a goal!

Kareoke (or however you spell that word!) was calling at the bar, and my roomy keri dedicated a song to me! brilliant. Tonight i had my first speight, well actually first beer! since arriving last friday.

Chris and i headed out around midnight to take some photos of the sunset and the narcuis clouds.

SLEEPING ON THE ICE RUNWAY

The good ol' kiwi c-130 airforce plane broke their number one engine yesterday, so 3 of us keen firefighters slept out at station two last night to man the runway/plane. What a blast! Actually i witnessed the engine blow, as i was filming there take off, fortunately i was when they were reving up full power before takeoff.

So our fate had fallen and LT Brag, heiff and I were there for the night. Anytime there is a plane on the apron there must be a crew out on the runway. The camera came out, and i shot some nice pictures around midnight - the ice runway looks back on McMurdo.

Tonight is American night at Scott Base, actually I was just this second talking to Harley (who's the kiwi barman) he's here at mctown to get supplies. I told him t gear up!

OUT TO EXPLORE

Weather: -22.c, wind chill -36.c

I woke up this morning at the firehouse to a pearler of a day. Blue Sky, bright white snow, no clouds and no wind. Time to head out for a play!

Chippy, my kiwi partner in crime (dave palmer - the other kiwi nz firefighter) and i hit the tracks over to Scott Base, the New Zealand station down here on the ice. It's only about 3km away from McMurdo base. What a blast! It was awesome meeting up with some other kiwi folk, and they gave us a cool tour of the base. It was funny hearing the kiwi accent after being surrounded by all americans, i pondered in my head "wow do i really sound that bad!"

Actually here's something funny..... I was in the gift shop at Scott Base talking to someone i'd just met when someone else in there heard me talking and came over; "oh hi, are you the kiwi working at McMurdo?" "yeah i am" i cheerfully replied, "oh you're Vanessa's sister"

How small a world is that! He worked with my sis Vanessa as an ambulance officer for Wellington Free, and he's over here working at Scott base as the medic.

We left Scott Base and walked back to McMurdo, with my newly purchased cadbury creame egg from carefully resting in my jacket pocket. We took photos of our eyelashes which had snow/ice droplet stuck to them.

Around 5.30pm this evening, a friend Heiff and I, a firefighter from Colorado, hiked up Observation hill. It had the most amazing view i have ever seen, and the summit bears a cross in rememberance to Scott, which was errected in 1913. Can you believe that was 94 years ago and it's still standing strong and proud.

I'm making tons of new friends here, they're calling me crazy kiwi, cause i'm always laughing and joking around.

I attended an outdoor lecture tonight to enable me to use some of the skiing/hiking routes available. I learnt that if you're wet, cold and tired.... "changing your socks, changes your attitude"

I like it.

I'M HERE!

Weather: -15.c, wind chill -26.c

WOW WOW and more WOW's! I'll never EVER forget stepping off the USA airforce c-17 plane onto the ice. I felt like i had died and gone to heaven, I had this massive over-whelming rush of just, well, WOW.

The scenery is just out of this planet. Pure and Pristine.

This is going to be an absolute experience of a lifetime!