Making plans
Weekends with bad weather always feel the same—whether you’re at home or down here on station. The weather has a way of setting the mood, lifting spirits one day and dampening them the next. As the endless summer daylight creeps in, everything seems brighter, yet plans still shift with little warning. The BoM ensemble might be off, someone might forget their slushy duty, or a call comes in at the last minute. It’s part of the rhythm here. The trick is to keep planning anyway. Looking forward to the next adventure, the next task, or the next party, keeps both the mind and body moving.
Heading out to Auster has been a highlight whenever the weather window opens. Out there on the sea ice, it’s just a handful of us in the middle of nowhere, watching penguins grow up in their quiet, icy world. So still. So simple. So amazing. The cold bites when the camera lingers too long in bare hands, but the gear holds up, and hand warmers always come through. With patience, the photos are worth it—penguins against icebergs, their calls carrying through the silence.
Then there are the nights we make for ourselves. Parties and events sound simple but usually take a lot of planning: checking who’s on field trips, finding helpers, letting the chef know, moving gear, making decorations. It’s all part of breaking up the weeks and keeping things fresh.
We’ve already had Medieval Night, Disco Night, a Rave, Midwinter, Christmas in July, Quiz Night, Paint & Sip, Star Wars Night, Anzac Day, St Patrick’s Day, the Wiffa Film Festival, the Interstation Darts Tournament, and Australia Day. Each one gave us a reason to laugh, dress up, and just enjoy being here together. Each birthday is celebrated unless the person chooses not to, but each time there is a cake that somehow keeps getting bigger and bigger, made by our chef, always delicious and works a treat for cheeky leftovers.
Now it’s on to the next event—whatever that may be.
Station Supply Officer:- NC
