Going South

Now, I like to believe I am pretty relaxed when it comes to travel and all its associated delays and mishaps, BUT I have say a 34 day commute to work is something pretty special! Not even British Rail, during Jimmy Saville’s “This Is The Age Of The Train” campaign, circa 1975 could rival that! But that is another story… for another day… for another Blog.

I digress; to the present: There is nothing less interesting than a “This is my home…” and “This is my pet…” type Blog entry. Nothing. So my full and sincere apology as this is my: “This is my home” and “This is my pet…” type Blog entry. I feel it just needs to be said, be gotten out of the way, before things of greater interest can occur.

Without further ado, this is the British Antarctic Survey Research Station ‘Rothera’, which is located at Latitude 67°34' S, Longitude 68°08' W (see, this Blog name didn't just make itself up! clever eh?) on Adelaide Island, just off the Antarctic mainland. Approximately 125 people staff it during the summer and that figure drops down to about 22 during the austral winter. I won’t regurgitate all the facts and figures, but please visit the BAS website at http://www.antarctic.ac.uk/ for all the information you could possibly imagine. It actually is rather good.

The last view I had from my office was that of the Chrysler Building... which was OK, and made better by the fact that it had a Starbucks in it, please compare and contrast to my current view! Sometimes things need no discussion (although I do really really miss Starbucks!)

But without question the star of Antarctica is the wildlife, and in particular penguins. They are wonderful, and this is stated having not been remotely influenced by the recent wave of penguin mania to sweep the world. They are fascinating, in a small odd human'ish way. Two have decided to live right on base, and often right under my window, and have now been affectionately named Jude and Dude (within my mind anyway).

A typical day for them as far as I can deduce seems to be floating around on an ice sheet for a few hours then waddle up to you as fast as they possibly can, stop a few feet short stare at you and say “Quark” while continuing to stare. Then eventually waddle away. True class.

This is an Adelie penguin, named after the wife of Dumont d'Urville, the French Antarctic explorer... which is a shame. But they are true Antarctic penguins restricted to the coastal waters of Antarctica. They are also one of the smallest penguins around, weighing in at 5.3kg and have an approximate height of just over 70cm.


Our other common neighbour is the Weddell seal, and is the furthest south living mammal on the planet. Which I believe to be a pretty cool claim to fame. Go Weddell.

Well, I did say it'll be brief, and it was. My first impressions of the base were good, and reminded me a lot of a modern university halls type environment, even down to queuing up at the phones, which really is something I haven't done since my UEA university days! The food is plentyful and good. The library is good. Music and films all good. The wine: dodgy! Just find 'White Rabbit', served from something resembling a large Capri-Sun type foil contain that you stick a straw into, and all will become abundantly clear! But I will go into detail about the activities and work and social base life, and go into yarns about about the amazing wildlife I share this pennisula with, but for now just a taster of where I live... you would be amazed at the number of people who genuinely thought I was going to live in a tent for 15 months, cooking on a gas stove!