MAWSON ACCOMMODATION 27/02/2020

Sorry its taken me so long to pass on photos of the facilities but at least I eventuallty geotags around to it. 😁 So following resupply we had the Friday, most of Saturday off and Sunday is a usual day off anyway so that tied it off quite well with a decent rest and a chance to settle in properly. I’ve finally started to get into a routine as we start our first proper week of work. We officially start at 7.30am so at about that time I will head out to the fuel farm to do the daily inspections on the tanks and then make my way to the power house to the first set of observations on the generators. Each day we have to log information on how the power house is performing at 8am, 12pm,5pm and 9pm. My boss and I take turns on doing the observations and we run it as whatever week you are on the rostered fire team is the week you are doing observations as well. Once we get the electricians trained up they will do it too so at least we will only have to do it once a month. We’re still sorting out a lot of parts and consumables like oils and other fuels so that’s been keeping us busy as well as taking people in small groups and inducting them as to how to operate the Haggs and pre start checks on the utes. Its a bit of a work out just walking around the station especially with no snow cover at this time of year because the station is on a steep rocky section of land. The wind is constantly blowing from the south as it comes down off the plateau behind the station out to sea so walking back to the red shed from the workshop is up a steep hill and always into a head wind. Fun fact: Earths gravity is actually stronger at the poles. The living facilities are pretty amazing! There are two gyms, one inside the red shed where the living quarters are which is pretty much just set up for cardio. About 100m away in the Green Store there is a weights gym. Next to that gym is also a sauna and spa as well as a rock climbing wall and basketball hoop. Back at the red shed there is a bar (with a brewery underneath the kitchen) and a living area with a dart board, pool table and football table as well as a Library and Cinema. There’s a small room next to the living area named the ‘dog room’ which is just a bit of a museum with artefacts and history about the dog sled days which ended in 1991 with the signing of a new Antarctic treaty saying countries can not bring foreign animals into Antarctica. This room also doubles as a music room. Basically it ain’t too shabby!!! Each month we have to go and see the doctor who just takes our weight, blood pressure and waist measurements and has a chat about how we’re handling it all. My appointment was today so I went through that no worries. Hopefully soon we will be able to get into doing our field training after which we will be able to get out and travel around the place and get a better look at more inland areas. Winter is on its way as it’s gradually getting dark earlier (That being when I got here the sun set at about 11.30 and now its setting at 9.30 but still light for a while after) and I’ve been keeping my eye on a few spots on the shore and they are icing up little bit by little bit so the sea ice is on its way.
That’s it from me for now. Hope you’re all well. 😉