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.