Eclipsed
McMurdo Station, 06.02.2022

Eclipsed 01:20 03 June 2022

For scientific leadership give me Scott , for swift and efficient travel give me me Amundsen ,
but when you are in a hopeless situation ,when there seems no way out; get down on your knees and pray for Shackleton
-Alfred Lansing
Author of Endurance

There it was , right in front of me .. only inches away .
I wanted so badly to reach out and feel the material , almost to see if it would some how connect me to the legend himself . If I would flash back to a time where they all were ,
I could see the cross weave of the glove , thick and heavy duty and well worn .

Sir Earnest Shackleton's glove lay there like there was unfinished business , although over a century old it looked like it was still in great Knick .
Being in the science lab at Scotts Base , where the Antarctic Heritage Trust were well underway with their restoration project , artifacts pulled from the historic huts to be re treated , to keep them from perishing and to keep the history of our early explorers and their efforts alive . The very few of us lucky folk from McMurdo appreciate in awe , while the kiwis treat us to the stories and facts of the tools , canned food ,medicine , horse shoes and more . one could quite easily get lost in the fascination for the explorers of that era .

"Finally" he thundered
"if we run out of food and anyone has to be eaten , you will be the first, do you understand"
Shackleton yells at stowaway Blackboros

If there is ever a time to read about the pioneers of this harsh continent and their tales , what better time than the dead of winter whilst in Antarctica. I change out watching shows or movies and swap it for reading the book Endurance , getting lost in just one of the many incredible and almost unbelievable survival and adventure stories you will ever read . Making all efforts to ward off any T3 symptoms , seems these days as we near mid winter , we winter-over people are at war with the T3 and it has become our real enemy .
T3 syndrome is a condition found in polar explorers, caused by a decrease in levels of the thyroid hormone T3. Its effects include forgetfulness, cognitive impairment and mood disturbances. It can exhibit itself in a fugue state known as the Antarctic stare also known as the winter-over syndrome .It is a condition that occurs in individuals who "winter-over" throughout the Antarctic (or Arctic) winter, which can last seven to eight months. It has been observed in inhabitants of research stations in Antarctica, as well as in polar bases such as Thule, Alert and Eureka. It consists of a variety of behavioral and medical disturbances-Wikipedia

With the constant darkness , every meal feels like dinner . Bedtime feels just around the corner .Meal times are quieter with more and more people opting to take food back to the comfort of their rooms . Weird sleep patterns has us walking around at all hours of the night . I am currently writing this from my bed at the Fire House at 0143 wide awake with a rear moment of clarity and the creative mind visiting me in the early hours of this Friday morning .
I know I will pay for this later in the day and hope that it does not interrupt my dwindling sleep routine . 24 hour darkness and mid way through the 'winter-over' experience and what do I have to report since you last visited. May was mild , with reasonable temperatures and calm skies . The town enjoyed the Lunar Eclipse and that was truly something to witness on the ICE , the 'blood moon' stood up to its name and put on a spectacular show . A photographers delight and the hopeless wanderers dream . Many auroras were spotted , including my first sighting from the drivers seat of the big red truck , My Lieutenant casually telling me from the front right hand seat of the Pierce Engine at 10am and complete darkness " o hey , there's an aurora up there bro" . Lucky we were at a stop sign , because I would have been a hazard on these American snowy roads. lets just say my excitement was obvious . It was like a faint vertical cloud , and at first my eyes struggle to lock on or accept what I was seeing . I liken it to what you'd imagine a UFO beam being like ,again my imagination getting the better of me , it really is times like that , bring the reality of the present moment and I'm there thinking .. I cant believe I'm here , in Antarctica and I just saw an aurora (and I didn't even have to leave the comfort of the big rig).

As we getting further into the thick of winter , it seemed the weather turned in the last week of May . The season changed . It was gradual and has even become slightly predicable . When its mild out , when you can manage outside time with no gloves or hat for a minimal time but bearable for the short walks between buildings its often followed by a strong wind and condition change early afternoon that lasts into the evening . 'Condition one' had come with all its force Monday been, Memorial day here for the US and to add a dramatic effect to the flag being lowered to half mast . The storm whips around picking up snow , ice and volcanic dirt . Its not long before , it is announced across all radio channels .You are to stay where you are . No travel allowed . If this didn't excite you , you were in the wrong place .
The noise of these storms is something I wont forget . They are truly magnificent when witnessed . The footage of people trying to open doors and show the outside world what a CON 1 Antarctic storm is like is often the common goal . Winds at times exceeded and had been clocked at 110mph . The snow pack was impressive the following day, and walking outside afterwards it was neat to see the after effects of natures best.

What's being enjoyed and what's to come . There is something on most evenings around town . People have their go -to's weather it is crosswords on a Monday in Dorm 208s lounge , Kick boxing on a Wednesday or karaoke Fridays to trivia and or open mic night . There is plenty to do and if your feeling social there's something for everyone . I have chosen to enjoy lunch time antics , with banter in the galley followed by coffee in Southern Exposure (the empty bar) and now shuffleboard . The game I've come to love and the tournament I was only to keen to sign up for .
7pm rolls around . I know where I am to be . I walk into an empty 'Southern' and I am the first there . Coming off nightshifts' in dispatch at the fire house early this morning , my energy levels waver . Still in uniform and excited all the same , in the good spirit of sport I'm ready to play . In walks Ann my team mate , the legend , a natural at anything remotely competitive .Both of us having never played the game but I feel we make a great team all the same . The beauty of this game ,anyone can jump on for the first time and pick it up very quickly and learn how to play well . Close behind her , walk in our competitors Paul a keen player and this it is obvious this is not his first rodeo , then Nat and she's up for fun and the banter starts start away , The music is played and the rules stated , one person from each team goes to their places at the opposite ends of the laminated slick table covered in a light dusting of sand to make it easy for the pucks to slide .
It is the best of three games and each match the first to 21 points . The first game , we warm into it , having fun , taking our time , talking kaka (sh*t). Its point for point and the game is close . Down to the wire , voices start to rise in volume and the energy level picks up . They win the first match . Well played . There is a lot of laughter and we settle in for a long game . Then the door opens and in floods all the other tournament competitors coming back from America night at Scotts Base .Now the pressure is on we have spectators . There is a shift in the seriousness of the match but the atmosphere becomes so much more enjoyable .
We take our turns , concentrating as we try to spin the puck straight , trying to keep it on the board , wishing for it to stop where we may accumulate points but not so far that it falls of the end entirely . I take to yelling at my puck , even pacing in-between turns . Nat is cheeky and winds me up . "going to take you down fire girl' she says giggling away as she pushes her puck down the board. The crowd are loving it and who knew shuffleboard could be so exciting . We win . I jump up and down in a modest and yet humble manner haha. 1 game each . Almost 2 hours and the heat is on . The final game being the evening decider . Now everyone is invested , our names are being yelled out , we take our turns , there is complete concentration , I feel the pressure build . They are good & Paul's previous experience carry's them through he collects more points each turn and we become to far behind to catch them up . The last match is theirs , we high five , laugh and embrace . I grab my radio , & jacket on am walking out the door still laughing , wishing I could stay to watch my fellow shuffle boarders take their turn at their matches , but duty calls and I make the short distance back to the Fire House . Upstairs to bed , I glance at the time 2130 , not to bad I think to myself . I put my steel capped boots next to my bed , my level one pants , set an alarm and I am ready for the night shift on the fire station what ever that may bring . Falling into a deep sleep until 11pm and here I am, 3am just ticked over . The creative mind spent . Sleep is now chasing me
Mid way through this crazy journey , my dreams now turn to home .
Po Marie