Mahuru 23 September 22

Welcome to "Mainbody"

With the new light , brings the busy season . The new energy is notable and time has disappeared .A lot has happened in the past 4 weeks and I will do my very best to give each topic listed the attention it deserves . The Finale has begun .

We say good bye to a Queen
Welcome the new King ,
Remember those that lost their lives in 9/11 ,
I succumb to frostbite ,
Enjoy a severe allergic reaction to a banana
Farewell windfly
Double our population
Haere rā our ICE friends
Embrace the ever lasting daylight
My seat aboard a C-17 is set

• "Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost, a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11."
—President Obama in a 2011 radio address

Of the 2,977 victims killed in the September 11 attacks in New York City 343 of those fallen were firefighters.

It was a bluebird day , not a breath of wind ."Ob Hill" was looking down at us , 10 bright eye-d and bushy tailed fire fighters. Donned in all our turn out gear , Boots , bunker pants and jacket , helmet , self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA or BA) and for Antarctic temps we had the additions of traction devices strapped to our boots , flash hoods were used as protection from the sub zero winds , gloves and goggles were a must.

0900 on September 11 we slowly walk towards Observation Hill adjacent to McMurdo Station . Some having never made the climb were attempting their first ascent on this steep 754-foot/ 230m hill . Not a lot was said as we climb , slowly making our way up . Foot work and concentration was needed as the terrain was extremely Icey under foot. The snow and loose rock is unforgiving and one wrong move could result in a very impressive fall.
As the effort came on , my thoughts went to the fire fighters that climbed the Twin Towers , carrying tools and hose , what was running through their minds ?. I think to myself. A shiver runs up my spine ... it is not from the cold. Carrying an extra 45 pounds (20 kg) this morning wasn't easy , the silence from the team is a sign of they too were feeling the effort . Whilst our short climb presented its own challenge be it personal or environmental . 21 years ago the fallen firefighters were carrying up to 85 pounds of extra weight up 110 flights of stairs and so we 10 climb our hill , in our gear, to pay our respects . Helping each other onto the top. WE snap our finish photo with Scotts Cross . Take stock of the frozen faces , iced up moustaches .
We are elated . A moment to reflect . A moment to remember.
This was one of the more memorable days for me and I will never forget it . I am so privileged to have taken part with this awesome group of guys at the bottom of the world .

Windfly has presented some impressive extreme temperatures . It was not uncommon to have weeks where temps did not go above -30 degree Celsius and Windchill of -40's .

While it has been cold , there has been incredible bluebird skies . The sun showing off its brilliance from dawn to dusk . 5 of us make the most of these clear and crisp days by ticking off one of the more exposed hikes to Castle Rock (a bold rock crag, 415 m /1,360 ft high ). You want the perfect day if one is to enjoy this trek . WE cover up , wearing almost everything we own to fight off the intense cold. We are giddy with the views as we walk towards the sun over the familiar Mt Erebus volcano . 3 hours or so later , the cold starts to win . It seeps into any small area of exposed skin . Cheeks burn and fingers tingle . It is not long before we decide we have soaked up enough of this white dessert and its magnificent views . We turn around and make the long journey back . A total of 16km town return has us coming back in time for dinner.
Warming up with hot food and a hot drink in the galley ,still in all our gear . I am all to aware I need to warm up and hunt a shower . I take my boots off casually ,still feeling the buzz from such a neat hike with great company.. I look down .I pause ... mmm my toes blue .. my big toe on my left foot , black .... quite black . welll SHIT.

A little intrigued , and not really too concerned I show it off to my neighbors in the hallway of my dorm . " hey guys check this out"! Their concern and worry has me questioning the seriousness of my now very numb and black toe . They alert our off duty medic , who lives next door , he looks at me , looks at my toe and then back to me . "Your coming with me to the medical centre right now" . "Nar nar its ok doc , I'm just a little cold , ill warm up after a shower " I reply . He said "Helen . you have frost bite and shortly it is going to be unbearably painful" he says in a serious tone .
"Frostbite ?!" never would I ever ,have guessed that would be something id experience. A beach bum born and breed from the sunny Hawkes Bay , now a winterless-North local , and here I was wondering if I was going to loose a toe or worse yet be sent on the next flight out . Doing as I am told , still some what unsure of the concern, I start to feel uncomfortable and limp over to medical with doc . The on duty doc joins and proceeds to pull my boot off and now my blacken toe has turned a pasty and chalk like white . The pain comes on . OKKKK OUCH .

Agreeing to full strength painkillers , dulls the throbbing for the time being . The process of what's to come is explained to me . The idea of blistering and shaving the dead part of the toe off is unnerving and a couple of weeks later I am please to say it hasn't come to that . Fortunately for me , it healed better than expected and only half the toe has died off . The prognoses ,maybe I will regain feeling in a years time . Sweeet I think . I've come to Antarctica and ticked that box . The towns people think its is very humorous, and not a day goes by that some one in passing wont ask how my toe is . At one point there was talk of having a "funeral for my toe party" ... Only in McMurdo , does that make sense .

Id like to say that's where my medical dramas end ... but no . After the last flight of windfly touched down . It brought in a large quantity of freshies (fresh fruit and vegetables) . We had been with out anything fresh and perishable foods for months .
The yearning for fruit , salad ...anything green was real. The winter over people rush to breakfast to claim what's on offer . I actually set an alarm to get to the galley on shift and run out the door with excitement . I see the bowl of bananas and apples and collect a bunch for my greedy self and the crew .
Coming back to the fire house , we dive into the fruit with laughs , how sweet the bananas are . Really is something to appreciate once you have lived with out it for so long .
30 minutes later I treat myself to another , because why the hell not haha. after the second banana ... I'm sitting having a conversation in the lounge ,feeling quite content and pleased with myself . My ears are warmer than usual , so much so , that I am aware of it , my face starts to burn , my arms , my neck .. thinking it will pass.
I had known that we may have a slight adjustment period to eating different foods again , but this feeling didn't pass and only got stronger . Ill just look in the mirror, I'm sure its nothing ..... O my goodness . I look at the hives all over my body. "Lieutenanttttttttt!..."
"O mate you need to go to medical right now " he reply's instantly after seeing me . " ahh bloody hell" I sigh . By the time I get there , I am short of breath , handed an epi pen and a large amount of Benadryl . Drama all done and dusted after falling asleep post event . I was not alone in reactions to the fresh produce . I guess it may take some time to adjust to what was normal back home and now it dawns on me how harsh this continent really is and the effect it will have on me transitioning back .

This month will be one to remember , with all the personal experiences of being here one to note is the passing of the Queen.

Queen Elizabeth II, whose reign of almost seven decades made her Britain’s longest-serving monarch, died on Sept. 8, 2022, at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. She was 96.

While I am not English , as a Kiwi , she had always been a constant . My grandmothers generation very fond of the monarchy and the traditions. I remember vividly the moment Princess Diana's death was broadcasted on my grandmothers little am radio in the garden .At age 10 , It was the first and only time I had seen her cry. My parents generation also being brought up on the monarchs history and the devotion to the crown , not entirely lost on my generation but not always seen in a good light . These days it is about a 50% divided devotion .Where ever it may sit with you , we could agree it is momentous that she , Queen Elizabeth II is no longer and thousands paid tribute .More than 100 world leaders attended the funeral for Queen Elizabeth II, and massive crowds of Britons lined the streets for a procession that took her to her final resting place at Windsor Castle.

We welcome a new era and the new King

Charles III is King of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms. He acceded to the throne upon the death of his mother. He was the longest-serving heir apparent in British history and, at the age of 73, is the oldest person to assume the British throne.

Hard to believe all this has happened in the past few weeks . Change is a constant and time does not stop for anyone . AS I write this my days here are numbered . I have a date . One that is dictated too by weather conditions , runway/airfield conditions, aircraft and personal selection. However I have a date and a seat aboard an American C-17 . It was once months , is now weeks and soon will be days .

I have started to pack up , give no -longer wanted items away ,and try to appreciate the last of everything . I try to spend quality time with friends that I may never get to see again . One last 3km hikoi along the road to Scotts Base for a dinner and America night was a blast and bitter sweet . Excitement of going home and then this all coming to an end .It is time for reflection . In a blink of an eye it will be over and my time on Ice will become a memory .
Although , becoming fond of the new folk that have joined us in the past weeks , life on station has been fun but too busy for my tired mind . A little of 300 in population now, and 40 extra souls at Scotts Base, it can more difficult to find alone time and the nicety's of winter are disappearing very fast. Tranquility is the new luxury. I am ready .

The next time you will hear from me I will back on the 'Main Land '.

The finale has begun