When the last ship of the season sails away the winter team remaining on station know full well they won’t see another person, ship or aircraft for at least nine months — or so we thought.
Last Friday night the winter team were enjoying a few drinks in the bar and eating dinner when they noticed unfamiliar faces peering through the mess window. It took a few seconds to register we had visitors and we weren’t alone. A party from Bharati Station (Indian) decided to drop in unannounced, no-one heard their helicopter and for our visitors they thought the station had been abandoned. After hearing the hum of the power house they decided to walk towards station and look for signs of life. Our 12 visitors were soon invited in for a coffee and a chat before departing station two hours later. The team returned on Sunday with another helicopter load of expeditioners (20 in total) for a tour of station, more coffee and a few Tim Tams. Tour guides Paul, Dave, Josh, Narelle, and Nick showed our new friends around station; by far the most popular building was our Band Hut where they were keen to test out the musical instruments… surely a few may consider following a career as a rock star when they return home.