This week at Mawson station, 13 November 2009
The weather: The lowest temperature this week was -16.4°, but it got as high as the very balmy -0.2°. It's been fairly windy most days, particularly in the mornings, with the peak at 83 km/h. We are now experiencing 19 hours of daylight, followed by 5 hours of twilight.
As the days get longer and warmer, there's no escaping the signs that our year at Mawson is drawing to a close. At press time the CASAs have arrived at Casey, and the Aurora is just off the coast of Davis. It won't be long now before the first aircraft arrive, bringing the summerers and 2010 winterers, and taking away the first wave of 2009 winterers, hopefully in time to make it home on V1. Tom, Jeremy and Doug will be staying on at Mawson until February.
There's been a major spring clean going on around station, with spare rooms vacated, carpets wet-vacced, work areas tidied up, and personal gear packed up ready for V3. Matt and Aaron have been particularly busy over in the Green Store making sure that everyone's boxes of stuff end up with the right stickers on them. A rush of people wanting to send mail home has seen Aaron donning his Postman Pat cap and busily franking his stamps.
Noodles wet-vaccing the cinema
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Doug and Lee pay a visit to Aaron's Post Office
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Mark, Jeremy and Dave travelled out to Macey Hut to do some maintenance work. Amongst other things, there were a number of holes that needed patching in the external walls.
Macey Hut exterior showing signs of wear and tear
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Mark's arty photo
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All patched up
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Doug, Jaz and Lee also made a trip out to Macey this week, spending several hours lying in the sun and checking out the emperors at Auster. The chicks are getting quite big now and are much more inclined to pose for the cameras.
Weddell seal pup
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Yum yum
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Jaz and friends
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Little porker
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Doug posing for the tourists
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As part of our ongoing fire training, Lee went through the use of different types of fire extinguishers. We all dressed up in our sexy fire fighter outfits and let off a few extinguishers that were due to be refilled.
Lee demonstrating different extinguishers
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Fireman Andrew gives it a blast
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Followed by Dave
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Later that day, Nathan organised Friday drinks. The weather was so pleasant that it was decided to hold it out of doors. Jaz fed the masses with some "KFC", using her own secret herbs and spices.
Jaz serves up KFC
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Gunny and Matt love it
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Out at Beche we've been monitoring the Adelies every second day. The number of penguins is now over 4,000. During the latest count, Lee and Tom spotted the first few birds sitting on eggs.
The first couple of Adelies to arrive
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A hive of activity two weeks later
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First eggs
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When not counting birds, Tom and Lee have been busy securing the matting that covers the helipad in expectation that we might get some visitors in the next week or so. Fingers crossed.
Tom hard at work
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Chippies know hammers
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The all round tradesperson
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On Saturday night we had a special celebratory "end of winter" dinner. The dress code was masquerade which inspired some particularly silly masks to be worn. Jaz served up a fantastic dinner and celebrations continued long into the night.
Noodles reprises his role as The Stig
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Tubby
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Jaz and Doug
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Gunny, Aaron, and Nathan (we think)
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Middle Aged Mutant Ninja Seuss
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Lee channels Dame Edna
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SOTA
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Matt plating up
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Steve is very impressed by his multiple desserts…
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…and knows the value of prevention when it comes to avoiding the local dentist
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Noodles commandeers the seafood platter
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Tubby waxing lyrical
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We finish this week with another recipe from Jaz. I would have included a photo but the "tasty treats" didn't last long enough.
MAWSON KITCHEN PRESENTS:
RECIPE OF THE WEEK
HIGH ENERGY MUESLI BARS
6 Tbsp Golden Syrup
300 gm Butter
2 Cups Self-Raising Flour
1.5 Cups Coconut
2 Cups Rolled Oats
2 Cups Sugar
1/2 Cup Chopped Dried Apricots
1/2 Cup Chopped Dates
1/4 Cup Pumpkin Seeds
1/4 Cup Sunflower Seeds
1/4 Cup Flaked Almonds
- Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper.
- Melt together butter and sugar
- Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl and add butter and golden syrup.
- Stir to combine and spoon onto baking tray. Pat out evenly and bake in oven for 15 mins.
- When cool, cut into squares and enjoy!
These tasty treats were thoroughly enjoyed by the last field party to visit Colbeck for this year. The food of our modern day Antarctic Heroes!
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