The team who stay over winter get a weeks holiday each, to explore away from base with a field guide. Whilst teams were out in the field, every night at 8pm radio contact was made, aka Scheds. It was the closest I’ve ever felt to being a radio presenter, giving them a weather forecast for them to determine a plan for the next day. 

Sledge alpha, sledge alpha, Rothera

Rothera, sledge alpha

How are you? How’s your day? Where are you camping? What’s for dinner? 

Tell us the weather forecast

Looking up tomorrow, wind is dropping, no precipitation. What are your plans?

Summit a mountain! 

I fulfilled my Antarctica dream of Capture the flag. Worth bringing tag rugby kit all the way to the bottom of the earth. Two teams ran, hid, ducked and dived around the snow covered playing field. All I’ve dreamed of and more! 

St Patrick’s day turned the station festive and green! 

Easter weekend was a chocolatey filled affair. Easter eggs crafted from paper in an en mass crafting event, followed by an Easter egg hunt of one of the buildings! 

Suspicions hit an all time high when a game of Assassins was introduced. Each player was given a murder mission – a person, place and object – which if achieved resulted in the death of the victim and a transfer of the victims murder objective. My kills included murder with a cup of tea in the kitchen, and a screwdriver in the lounge, however some were much more abstract! 

Fuchs night transferred an old tradition to the new Discovery building. The Fuchs building was demolished this season, along with 5 other buildings, all made redundant by the new Discovery building. Fuchs House once hosted a night of music in the field department, so in an attempt to continue the tradition we decked out the industrial feeling field prep area into a cosy den, with sheepskins, an ice axe embellished bar and a pyramid stage – Rothera style. (I made the sign!!)

Finally, in an attempt to show Rothera has talent, Matt pulled together a talent show, where acts included magic, juggling, fortune telling with cable ties, smashing watches and speed crochet. 

Work has been pretty fun too!