With only 15 people on station you can expect 15 days of yummy birthday cakes. Unfortunately conspiring between the AAD and our doctor (wouldn’t want the expeditioners to get too tubby) has resulted in two less birthday cake days at Mawson.
The first of our dual birthdays was last Thursday with Darren (Hendo) and Vicki being recipients of a magnificent meal and chocolate cake. After a few knock down, drawn out fights, a menu of filet mignon, chips, carrots and some other vegetable (not parsnips or turnips) was agreed on by Hendo and Vicki and put to chef Bron. Bubbles for the night were also selected with the option of white or red sparkling wines to accompany the meal. Luckily they didn’t have to agree on footy teams, both being a part of the large South Australian contingent on station (the best state to live in).
Bron out did herself with an amazing chocolate mud cake, which was the uncompromising direction. (Hendo might not have had much input into that choice). Each half of the cake was decorated with the birthday people in mind. There were balls of wool, a crochet stick, and some crocheted squares to commemorate the granny blanket Vicki is making while Hendo’s side of the cake was a more of a memorial. As everyone on station knows, Hendo has a slight problem with misplacing items, but as he says ‘he’s found them all again, well except for his (first) beanie’ which departed during its first blizzard excursion. Hendo plans to search the penguins on Bechervaise Island when they return as he’s sure his beanie landed there. Bron’s figurines highlighted the tough and valiant equipment that returned to Hendo after their little adventures: his pager, pedometer, radio and goggles.
Thanks to everyone for a great night and Bron for the fabulous meal and cake.
Vicki