Yesterday truffles and christmas cookies were made ready for christmas eve and christmas day.

This morning the Fram came in and tried to tie up at the Jetty however it was gusting 45 knots so instead they anchored in the cove and I took the post office workers and Pat the government officer out in the jet boat. It was a little stressful in that just as I went to come alongside they announced on the intercom that if the guests wanted to look out the starboard windows they would see the South Georgia Government Harbour Launch coming alongside!

They left mid morning just as the next ship the Bremen came around Hope Point.

Katie who is in charge of the cheese board wanted only a 1/4 of a round of Brie out of the freezer so Tommy, her and I used a hacksaw to cut off what we wanted!

The forest sprouted secret santa presents.

The church lit up with candles for the service.

Hanseatic in the cove at anchor.

We joined in on the Hanseatic (cruise ship) christmas eve service and as a base sang the twelve days of christmas KEP style written by the Lelec Family of the yacht TevaKenui. Pat had changed the night before christmas to KEP style which I shall put up at some point along with pictures of us singing.

On the first day of Christmas my true sent to me…a penguin calling for me.

On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me…two Antarctic terns and a penguin calling for me.

On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me…three yacht exploring, two Antarctic terns and a penguin calling for me.

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me ….four friendly furries, three yacht exploring, two Antarctic terns and a penguin calling for me.

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me…five Carse House gins…. four friendly furries, three yacht exploring, two Antarctic terns and a penguin calling for me.

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me… six bodgers bodging… five Carse House gins…. four friendly furries, three yacht exploring, two Antarctic terns and a penguin calling for me.

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me… seven saunas steaming, six bodgers bodging… five Carse House gins…. four friendly furries, three yacht exploring, two Antarctic terns and a penguin calling for me.

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love sent to me… eight FIDS a-wintering , seven saunas steaming, six bodgers bodging… five Carse House gins…. four friendly furries, three yacht exploring, two Antarctic terns and a penguin calling for me.

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love sent to me… nine boaties jetting, eight FIDS a-wintering , seven saunas steaming, six bodgers bodging… five Carse House gins…. four friendly furries, three yacht exploring, two Antarctic terns and a penguin calling for me.

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love sent to me… ten flippers flapping, nine boaties jetting, eight FIDS a-wintering , seven saunas steaming, six bodgers bodging… five Carse House gins…. four friendly furries, three yacht exploring, two Antarctic terns and a penguin calling for me.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me… eleven Sheathbills strutting, ten flippers flapping, nine boaties jetting, eight FIDS a-wintering , seven saunas steaming, six bodgers bodging… five Carse House gins…. four friendly furries, three yacht exploring, two Antarctic terns and a penguin calling for me.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me… twelve weaners scratching, eleven Sheathbills strutting, ten flippers flapping, nine boaties jetting, eight FIDS a-wintering , seven saunas steaming, six bodgers bodging… five Carse House gins…. four friendly furries, three yacht exploring, two Antarctic terns and a penguin calling for me.

Translation
Carse House – one of the government officers house currently occupied by Pat and Sarah who have lived here for 18 years. Their gin and tonics have a large percentage of gin and a splash of tonic!

Weaners – baby elephant seals

FIDS – Falkland Island Dependency Survey (what BAS use to be) so a FID is one of us.

Bodger – a broom stick handle to keep the furries at a distance when required (not for hitting them)

After the service the ship included us in mulled wine and german stollen on the wharf so Jon and Rob picked up their instruments for an in promptu music session.