May 31: Catching snowflakes

Today it snowed.  Not just any old snow, and believe me I've seen my fair share of snowflakes on many continents.  Some of these flakes were the size of ping pong balls! Even our Meteorology observer agreed that they were pretty special.  So what to do but try and catch them in your mouth!

 
 

May 30: What a way to spend a birthday!

Today is my birthday!
I am spending it in a most isolated place geographically, but have received well wishes from all over the world.  Spending your birthday in a unique place, obviously comes with an interesting and unexpected set of activities.
My day went a little like this....
 
First I raised the Australian and Aboriginal flags, in challenging conditions I might add,  to celebrate National Reconciliation Week 2015.


Australian Flag. Photo: Jacque Comery

Aboriginal Flag. Photo: Jacque Comery

Then I went and took the Daily ARPANSA observations, to do my part for the International Nuclear Test Ban Treaty...as you do...


Getting ready for a filter change over. Photo: Jacque Comery

Then I headed out on a photo quest in the rain to Garden Cove and spotted these cute furry guys - two Antarctic Fur Seals....


Antarctic fur seals in Garden Cove. Photo: Jacque Comery

The rest of the afternoon was spent putting my feet up and having a read, snuggled up in my new scarf (thanks Mum and Dad), and opening birthday cards from home (thanks Mary, Tarn and Peanut).

Time to put my feet up. Photo: Jacque Comery

Enjoying a relaxing read in my new scarf. Photo: Jacque Comery

...and finally my day was topped off with a delicious meal with the crew of Spanish Tapas, kindly prepared by one of the expeditioners.


Tapas feast. Photo: Jacque Comery


A wonderful day spent in an amazing place....






May 29: Happy bithday to me, let's go under the sea....

Dressing up like a bunch of undersea creatures seemed like a most fitting way to spend my sub-Antarctic birthday. 
Everyone on station got well into the spirit, with a blue whale, a jellyfish, a scuba diver, King Neptune, a submariner, a blue-ringed octopus, a surfer, a couple of penguins, a mermaid undersea lady, and a cryptic "Under the sea" fellow, all celebrating in our undersea lair.  Volleyball and badminton nets became fishing nets laden with silver fishes, and plastic bottle jellyfish.  The big screen in the mess streamed videos of graceful manta rays and the blue disco lights transformed the room into a sub-surface scene.  A giant manta ray birthday cake (thanks Chef!), and well wishes from my fellow expeditioners topped off the evening.  Thanks to all who joined in the fun!

Whale vs shark. Photo: Lionel Whitehorn

 

Jacque the hammerhead! Photo: Lionel Whitehorn

 

Blowing out the candles on the Manta cake. Photo: Lionel Whitehorn

A most wonderful birthday card. Photo: Lionel Whitehorn

Undersea creatures. Photo: Lionel Whitehorn

 A BIG thanks to Lionel Whitehorn for taking pics on the night!

May 28: Welcome to Macca....

The welcome sign at Landing Beach. Photo: Jacque Comery

May 27: Sunset over the Southern Ocean

The beautiful Macquarie Island sunset... at 2:40 pm in the afternoon.  So frequent are the fronts of rain laden clouds that sweep across the Island here, that rarely do we see a sunset.  I was wandering around outside doing bits and pieces and  saw this scene unfolding.. The last photo I took was at 3:15pm and it was all dark by 3:30pm.

The locals basking in the sunset. Photo: Jacque Comery

Sunset. Photo: Jacque Comery



My first sunset at Macca. Photo: Jacque Comery

May 26: Early morning snoozin'



Sleeping Elephant Seal. Photo: Jacque Comery

This young elephant seal is enjoying an early morning sleep in on the isthmus.  The sun is just making its way over north head to light up the plateau in the background.  You can just make out the King Penguin colony  near the  green patch to the left of the big landslip on the hill side to the rear of the shot.  I wonder what Elephant seals dream about.  They twitch and wiggle their flippers all about when they sleep.. just like puppies...



Snoozin'. Photo: Jacque Comery





May 25: Vegies are coming along well

Hydroponics has been growing like crazy this past month.  We have flowers and fruit on our cucumbers, and a few flower buds on the chillies too now.  The basil is almost fully grown and it is just being harvested as needed by plucking the leaves from the plants.  The lettuces and kale are also close but we will give  them another week or so.  Our experiment with the rocket  so we are seeding up more of that.  On the hilarious side, the celery that we planted grew into radishes!  just
We are pretty chuffed about the results so far, as our hydroponics supplies didn't make it in on the resupply voyage, so we are being as inventive as we can  in how we use the remaining media and chemicals.  Actually...maybe that explains the radishes!


Daily pH and nutrient checks. Photo: Jacque Comery

The first cucumber. Photo: Jacque Comery

Cucumbers getting taller. Photo: Jacque Comery

Tomatoes and basil. Photo: Jacque Comery



Tomatoes and basil. Photo: Jacque Comery

May 24: Snowy Sunday photo quest



Elephant seal weaner. Photo: Jacque Comery

Seal at the hut. Photo: Jacque Comery

 

Station looking south over the Isthmus. Photo: Jacque Comery

Flag poles. Photo: Jacque Comery

Creeping up on the hut. Photo: Jacque Comery

May 23: Soaring in stormy skies

The sun casting rays through the clouds, looks magical, and shows no hint of the 50 knots that I am trying to stand upright in to take these shots.  The birds seemingly float above you in these winds.  A beautiful sight.

 

Soaring on the wind. Photo: Jacque Comery

 

Southern Giant Petrel. Photo: Jacque Comery

  

Crepuscular rays to the west. Photo: Jacque Comery

May 22: Go go gadget extendo seal

Just hanging out on the railing. Photo: Jacque Comery

 This seal was just hanging out leaning on the fence that is supposed to keep him out of our yard.  Upon seeing me approaching, this guy made a big effort to show me who was boss, which apparently is done by being taller than the other guy.
I am pretty tall myself, but I totally lost this battle. He stretched well over 2.5 metres for me.
......and this guy is just a youngster....
Whatever.  You win.



Oh hey there. Photo: Jacque Comery



Wanna see how tall I am. Photo: Jacque Comery





Impressed yet. Photo: Jacque Comery

There is at least another 400mm in my nose you know. Photo: Jacque Comery