I promise I will post something soon about the trip to Antarctica this northern winter southern summer. In the meantime read Zac’s take on the trip!

A funny and disturbing article all in one! http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jun/09/sex-depravity-penguins-scott-antarctic

Thanks to the women who changed the establishments view but it wasn’t till the 90’s! Check out this great article.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/9260864/Women-wont-like-working-in-Antarctica-as-there-are-no-shops-and-hairdressers.html

In the swing of things! on the crane after a landing. Luckily the guys didn’t have a pile of snowballs like when we pelted Jonathon!

The team was great fun to work with. I don’t think I have been that silly and laughed that hard for a number of years! Snotty nose (jelly fish parts) at Deception!

Chris, Jonathon, myself and Iggy waiting for the others to set up their cameras for a team shot. Sunny day at Deception Island.

Breakfast on the veranda at Port Lockroy we took the zodiacs around while the ship repositioned so had time for coffee before the tourists needed to be offloaded to the island.

I am just about to enter Drakes passage for our two day trip to Ushuaia the last trip of the season for Corinthian II. It has been a fun three week working with Danny once again and seeing what life is like on expedition ships. The team with Iggy as Expedition Leader has been such fun to work with with everyone laughing and smiling the whole time. I will write more when I get back online properly and of course post some pictures. For this summer season it is good bye to the great white continent which has basically been my home since 2009. I hope to be back next season maybe aboard a sailing vesel, expedition ship or working for the americans – we shall see what opportunities present themselves. It is now time to head north though to see my nieces and nephew and of course Draeger the dog. I am very much looking forward to 10 days with them in Bermuda.

I was given the below message for the boys and girls at Edinburgh Academy by an Emperor penguin called Rocky.

————

Dear P2M Boys and Girls,

Thank you so much for making my last few days before I headed home so enjoyable. Where should I begin, well the P1/2 nativity was spectacular, the ‘Penguin Party’ for Alex’s 6th Birthday was amazing…I’ve never known a penguin party could be so much fun and then you invited me to your own Christmas Party – I thought it was great fun and I could see on all your faces that you were enjoying it too! Well done for playing the pass the parcel game so well as I know you all wanted to hold on to that present until the music stops– I think I will introduce that game to all my friends and wrap a fish in baby penguin down feathers!

As you can see from the pictures attached, I have now arrived safely home in Antarctica and I have gone through a major change since you last saw me. I have lost my down feathers and have matured into an adult Emperor Penguin – it feels so good to not look like a big grey fluff ball!

I would like to thank you so much for everything you have done since I first stepped into your lives all those weeks ago. You cared for me so well and I learnt so much from watching you work so hard in the classroom. The adventures I had when I left your classroom for home will stay with me for the rest of my life and I can’t wait to tell all the other penguins about the truly amazing stories I have witnessed – I bet they won’t believe half of them.

You are all a fantastic bunch and I hope you all have a super Christmas holiday and work hard for the rest of P2!

Love you lots,

Rocky

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

P.S I will email you later in the year to hear how you are getting on!

Today is an important day in the Antarctic calendar. Exactly fifty years ago (23 June 1961) the Antarctic Treaty came into force dedicating Antarctica for ‘peace and science’. The treaty regulates international relations for Antarctica – Earth’s only continent without a native human population.

The Antarctic Treaty was born out of the International Geophysical Year in 1957-8 (an international effort to understand the Polar Regions better) with the 12 countries who were active on the continent at the time being Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Treaty was a diplomatic expression of the operational and scientific cooperation that were achieved ‘on the ice’.

The Treaty covers the area south of 60°S latitude. Its objectives are simple yet unique. They are:

* to demilitarise Antarctica, to establish it as a zone free of nuclear tests and the disposal of radioactive waste, and to ensure that it is used for peaceful purposes only;
* to promote international scientific cooperation in Antarctica;
* to set aside disputes over territorial sovereignty.

The Treaty remains in force indefinitely and its continued success has been the growth in membership. Forty six countries, comprising around 80% of the world’s population, have acceded to it. Consultative (voting) status is open to all countries who have demonstrated their commitment to the Antarctic by conducting significant research.

The Antarctic Treaty Consultative meeting, which is held yearly, is being held this week in Buenos Aires, home to the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat headquarters. BAS acts as an advisor to the FCO Polar Regions Unit at this meeting and John Shears, Robert Culshaw, Rachel Clarke and Kevin Hughes are attending.

Also today, the MOD’s new ice patrol ship HMS Protector is being unveiled in Portsmouth. A replacement to HMS Endurance, HMS Protector will continue hydrographic work and support to BAS in the Antarctic for the foreseeable future.

Last season I worked at Rothera in the Marine team with Terri Souster (BAS Marine Assistant at Rothera). She talked live on the Simon Mayo show yesterday, you can still listen to it on BBC iplayer:- http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00vmzc8/Simon_Mayo_Drivetime_08_11_2010/

Her bit starts about 20 minutes into the programme.

The winters at Rothera created a great movie for the 48 hour film festival. Check it out here.