Category Archives: Rhian in Antarctica

It seems to me that a day lasts a week down here, and a week lasts a month. But time doesn’t drag, it’s chock to the brim, and there’s barely time to breathe. But when you do breathe, it’s stunning, … Continue reading →

(A quick note of explanation from Felix: sea ice has blown back towards Halley, and where it meets the sea ice which never detached itself in the first place, there’s a five-foot crack which precludes moving heavy equipment off the … Continue reading →

Note from Felix: Due to email cock-ups, I received both these blogs at the same time. So here they are, Before and After. Before, Part 1: Arbritrary day, arbritrary time. I feel as though we are floating through a mirage. … Continue reading →

This is fairy-tale romance country. Well, my kind of fairy-tale anyway. A long, long time away, in a land far, far ago, is an island. This island, Coronation Island, has mountans like you have never dreamed, snow covered, rearing out … Continue reading →

It was hailing when we got to the Falklands. Really hard. Then snow, sun, rain, sleet, you name it, all within the hour. “A cross between Dartmoor and the Scillies”, “like Scotland but with penguins”, “Bryher with more rust”, “Landrover … Continue reading →

Dear friends, strangers, kind people out there in the ether…. We have had over SEVEN AND A HALF THOUSAND POUNDS in pledges for my hair to be shaved off! Thankyou so much,- I had no idea you felt so strongly! … Continue reading →

It’s been quite a week. Quite a surreal week. But great too. There are all sorts of things I want to write about and they don’t have much coherence except that they all occurred this week and were experienced by … Continue reading →

We have crossed the equator! I still have my hair (the ceremony is sometime this week but we won’t know when until it’s too late to run) and the fish are still flying. Birds have now joined us as well, … Continue reading →

I am more and more convinced of the necessity of ignorance in appreciating the world. One and a half days into a two or three day bus journey to Ayers Rock, I was dismayed when photos and postcards of our … Continue reading →

Dear friends and friendly strangers, It’s true! The dreads are being pledged. What am I doing?!!! This week, the RRS Ernest Shackleton is CROSSING THE LINE and the eight uninitiated BAS employees on board are scared. Very scared. Especially me. … Continue reading →

This week, the RRS Ernest Shackleton is CROSSING THE LINE and the eight uninitiated BAS employees on board are scared. Very scared. Especially Rhian. In what started out as an innocent joke in the bar, Rhian has found herself committed … Continue reading →

It has been a most beautiful night imaginable. And day, for that matter. A perfect day. A perfect, beautiful day. I don’t know where to begin. The air, for starters, is gentle and the sea, calm. This means much more … Continue reading →

It’s blogtime again! I’m sailing on the RRS Ernest Shackleton from the UK to Antarctica via Uruguay, Falklands, Signy and South Georgia. We left yesterday and are due to arrive at Halley around Christmas. And that’s just the journey to … Continue reading →

I wake up in my bed. It’s a beautiful spring day. The cat greets me. I have a shower. The phone rings. I eat something and drink something. There is a computer upstairs with internet access. I can leave the … Continue reading →

It’s the rockiest day on the ship so far. Between this and last night’s revelries, I don’t suppose there will be many faces appearing before lunch. Or for most of the day for that matter. Best to lie low, stay … Continue reading →

It’s the end of the season at Halley. You can feel it in the air. The 14 people who are staying for the winter want us to leave. They want their home back and the job to begin in earnest. … Continue reading →

I haven’t written for a while; the Halley summer season is nearing an end and I’ve finally been able to start work in the CASLab. Plus, a huge storm is spiralling above us and the weather has turned truly antarctic. … Continue reading →

So you’re all asking about science, I get the hint! Not my favourite topic (especially amongst friends), as you know, but, just this once, I’ll try and tell you what I’m doing here. Or meant to be. For those of … Continue reading →

My goodness! Has a week gone by already?! Where did it go?! How can it be that the days are so long, so very long that this morning feels at least two months ago, but the weeks are so short? … Continue reading →

Okay, Okay! I hear you all! Thankyou for the wonderful emails that have been coming in..and sorry for my laziness in replying. I shall try to do better next time! And the questions, I’ll try to answer. It’s difficult though. … Continue reading →

My mum sent a few gifts with me to open as and when. One of these was my childhood copy of The Little Prince.This morning, having celebrated throughout the midnight sunlight, I greeted the new year in with this treasure. … Continue reading →

We made it! And here I am! Currently working night shifts, 8pm-8am, hauling cargo. Boxes and barrels and containers and food and drums and drums and drums of fuel. Hard hats and big machines. Cranes, skidoos, snowcats. The cleanest construction … Continue reading →

Dear All… Thank you for the wonderful, wonderful christmas emails that have been coming in..and sorry for not replying individually: I am busy stuffing stuff into bags that are stuffed. Rhian style. It’s mayhem. We arrive this afternoon, christmas eve. … Continue reading →

Okay, I’m bundled up to the nines (?!*$!), feel like the Michelin man, look like the Michelin Man, look like everyone else on this ship. Identikit. Purple reversible fleecy jacket thing, huge overalls and coat with reflecty strips, beige steel … Continue reading →

We have been in South Georgia for the last few days. I had no idea. No-one ever told me. Did you know? This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Possibly the most,- but then, how … Continue reading →