Pat has lived and worked in South Georgia at Grytviken for 18 years with his wife Sarah. They live in Carse House the new schedule is 8 months on station 4 months away. When they first moved here they lived with the military in the barracks and ate in the mess. As the government officer Pat greets all the visitors to South Georgia – private and charter yachts, cruise ships and fishing vessels. His duties include those of Harbour Master, Customs and Immigration Officer, Fisheries Officer and Tourism manager. He is guaranteed to always have a smile on his face and is a great person to have around. If you have a question about South Georgia he can answer it or will know someone with the answer.

His christmas poem that he read on christmas eve is below!

T’was the night before Christmas in Everson House
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse
and certainly not an earwig or rat:
biosecurity makes sure of that.
The stockings weren’t hung by the mantel with care,
they were still in a heap in the laundry, where
their owner was grinning in anticipation
not of plum pudding, but washing machine vibration.

From the bar came the sounds of glasses a-clinking
and laughter and chatter while all were a-drinking.
When out from the kitchen came the clatter of plates
and ‘Time Gentlemen Please’ from the person on lates.
Timely prevention of next day’s sore heads
as everyone left and went off to their beds.
Except one, who decided to stay at her post
fortified maybe by whisky and toast
so she cut a bread slice and in the toaster popped it
went off for a refill and promptly forgot it.
Luckily nobody came to much harm
for the dining room has an efficient alarm.
While we stood by the comms tower, cursing black bread,
A mysterious aircraft passed low overhead
with jingling bells and antlers and hooves
that splattered and clattered on the Grytviken roofs
T’was the morning of Christmas on Wanderer III
And the deck was as wet as it was in the sea
for incontinent reindeer had stood there all night
when the chimney flue exit had got rather tight
for Saint Nicholas making his evening delivery
who had sat by the woodstove, all wet, cold and shivery
He had slipped down the chimney after not many tries
but, oh dear, found a tray of Ashley’s mince pies
which he polished off quickly, washed down with spiced rum
which expanded his already rather large tum.
So his only exit was by the front door,
delayed by the captain – “Go on, just one more!”

On the day after Christmas, the Museum shop
needs a jolly good sweep, and the loos need a mop.
The shopkeeper’s busy re-stocking the shelves
for the next round of cruise ships, with no help from the elves,
who, next door in the villa, are baking more biscuits
(the tin’s looking empty so better not risk it)
and drinking some tea, and then a few beers.

What a good idea.
Merry Christmas
Cheers

Some translations
Everson House – Our accomodation building
Earwig – biggest biosecurity concern should they come in from the Falklands
Washing machine vibration – when someone puts their laundry on the whole building shakes like we are having an earthquake!
Lates – evening shift you do once a week from 7pm to 1am basically making sure the base is all secure for the night and people are capable of looking after themselves or are back from Grytviken
Wanderer III – the ‘resident’ yacht – Thies and Kikki have been here for two winters and three summers so far based over at Grytviken