The Last week

Today is Saturday, and I have enjoyed a much needed day off. This was because the last week has been very busy with the Module moves to the new site, the Shackleton Ship mooring at creek 3 with relief for the wintering team and the first flight leaving with 12 of the Morrisons crew.

My usual day off, Thursday was spent working with the chef at Halley VI, this is Stewart, otherwise known as Shaggy. My help was needed because with the modules being moved, there were more mouths to feed at the new site. So with an early morning start and an off base form completed I jumped into a challenger with Pete and off we went, towing a large container with Morrison construction workers packed in the back like refugees.

It was a busy day but enjoyable as i not only got to see the modules positioned in their new home, but also managed to get inside for a sneak preview. This was all between cooking and cleaning.

The day went very quickly and I was soon back on base at Halley V, only to find that I would be going back to Halley VI the next day again to assist Shaggy.

The chefs back at Halley V were still busy but had less numbers to cater for due to most of the work force being at Halley VI. The biggest job for the team back at base was to get all the waste from camp and onto the Shackleton, most of that is now completed and with Folk night out of the way ( and a great night was had by all) the main focus is on getting the last 2 modules moved over to Halley VI and connected. which if the last move is anything to go by, will be smooth and efficient and will be done by Wednesday.

With the first flight now gone and the second away on wednesday I have been told that I will be boarding next Saturday, although if everything goes well we could be boarding early. My bags are packed and i am ready to go at a moments notice.

With everything now happening so fast I am trying to take in the sheer magnitude and beauty that this hostile environment is still showing me

And as we come to the end of the summer season and are just boardering the winter, the changes that we are experiencing are indeed breathtaking. The setting of the sun each night, the moon has started to appear, the temperatures are dropping fast the colours of the sky are incredible.

Enjoy the following Pictures..

The new Halley VI site with the 6th module being positioned for linking

An amazing sky over Halley VI with the sun breaking through the cloud

 This is Shaggy with the containers behind him that house the accommodation for the workers, and the tents for the dining area and kitchen that we have to work out of. Shaggy is digging to reveal the door to the freezer. Which is dug into the Ice.

 The freezer door opened showing the steps down.

Shaggy in the freezer, the temperature is approx -15 degrees in there at the moment

John and Miami working on the joints to the link bridge


The view from the kitchen container of the crane lifting the link bridge into position

The link bridge being dropped into place between the two blue energy modules.

Adelie Penguins out and about by the Modules

Folk Night at Halley. this was a great night and enjoyed by all, we have a lot of very talented people on base, the whole evening was compared by Andy Dixon, who did a fantastic job by keeping order, telling gags and singing (amazing voice). the picture shows Nige and crew, doing a rendition of  "Right said Fred" but with his own lyrics. It was very funny. Nige then went on to appear in a couple of spoof videos. He is a real Antarctic Hero and good fun to be around.

The sun setting on a blue module that is ready to be towed to Halley VI.

This was the sun setting as we walked to Folk night at 8.15 pm. it was spectacular with the cherry pickers silhouetted

 The new moon over the communications dome

The same moon from the Drewry

Another coloured sky over the drewry, awesome.

The sun setting behind the new modules

And again behind the Red Module.

 A red sunset over Halley VI

 The new moon resting on top of a steel tower

And Hanging from the chains of a mantis crane.

 And finally the big red taxi is here and waiting for me to board. Just one more week to enjoy the solitude, the clean air, the vast expanse, the silence, the cold and the beauty of this frozen continent.