This week on station we celebrated the birthday of our plumber Tim A. Chef Jimmy prepared a model of the incinerator that we use here on Macca, locally known as Warren. As the lights dimmed, and expeditioners found their finest singing voices, Chef Jimmy emerged from the kitchen carrying a fully serviceable ‘smoking’ incinerator cake. When Tim cut it open it spilled out a load of lollies — a nice change for Tim as usually Warren only spills out ash for him!
Rich and Jane headed out to the south of the island, with Rich (communications tech) assisting Jane in her research into the weed Stellaria media. Jane’s project assistant Karen continued collecting and retrieving soil samples all over the island, in some wet and windy Macca weather.
Doc Mal and Jimmy headed out to Bauer Bay and Brothers Point to work on rotating the hut stores ready for the new food stocks to arrive on the resupply voyage. On the way they joined Rangers Paul and Rowena in completing the monthly marine debris collection on the beach at Bauer Bay.
The week was rounded out by a games night last week. ‘Cook your own BBQ’ was set up on the front deck, and was novelty to many of us who haven’t barbecued up our own meal for close to 12 months! Inside, the mess was reconfigured into an indoor sports games room complete with table tennis, foosball, and the highlight of the night: Giant Jenga which provided hours of entertainment with some spectacular feats of structural engineering being achieved. Particularly impressive was Dan who managed to pull out the bottom block without the stack tipping over, and Jimmy and Tim whose battle resulted in a tower close to 180 cm tall. An open mic was set up in the corner, and a host of musicians who’d been keeping their talents under wraps all season — Dan, Kim, Lou and Mal — emerged to entertain the crew.
On the wildlife front, some large beach masters are now returning to the island, looking much larger and fatter than when we last saw them after defending their harems throughout the breeding season.
An eerie fog rolled in last in the week, draping itself over the station. Those fortunate enough to be working on the plateau that day were bathed in beautiful sunshine and spectacular views of North Head appearing like an island in the mist.
Jacque Comery