The Antarctic Chef's Blog: My Birthday

I have to thank Ali Massey, my daughters, my sisters and my mum, for the time and effort that went into what was an amazing birthday bash. How they managed to keep it from me i will never know? I did keep getting turned away from rooms i wanted to go into and was guided to other areas.

A lot of preparation was going on that day, with musical equipment and decorations set up in the big tv room. The dining room was laid for a saturday night dinner with a twist, photographs and videos were edited and put into a slideshow, lots of balloons were blown up and finishing touches were put to a card and cake.

So once i had finished work and had been kicked out of the kitchen, the bar, and the dining room, I decided to go to my room to shower and get ready for the evening. It was eventually 6:30pm so i made my way to the bar, where the final of the pool competition was taking place between Dave Williams (the saint) and Tim Jackson (Head of Tech Services). It was a good game with Dave Williams winning the trophy.

After Dave had been presented with his trophy and drinks all round we were called for dinner, I followed the crowd down to the dining room but felt somewhat guided to a specific seat at a certain table. I realised as soon as i sat down that i was facing the information screen which was now showing a slideshow of photographs sent by family and friends and collated by Ali, some of which i can't remember ever having seen? Some good ones, some bad ones and some very embarrassing ones, I had to sit and watch my life in pictures as the meal was served which was a great meal produced by Lewis and Rob.

We started with Avocado and prawn salad accompanied by a lovely dressing, every table had it's own loaf of Soda bread topped with oats, which matched the starter perfectly. (No one makes bread like Lewis)

The main course was a whole side of lightly spiced Salmon cooked to perfection presented with a medley of light roasted mediterranean vegetables including peppers, cherry tomatoes, asparagus, courgettes and onions and the carbohydrate was Sweet potato puree. It was a great delicious healthy meal which we nearly had to have cold as the main oven decided to break down at the crucial moment. But as with all emergencies on base, the right people were there when it mattered and a problem was avoided. Thanks to the skills of the chefs, the plumbers and electricians. I knew nothing about it until the next day!

I sat on a table with Vicky, Andy and Steve King our pilots, Simon, Shoba, Gemma and Alison, our Marine scientists and Tom Doc. We had good wine and good conversation pausing only to look at the info screen every time the room fell into fits of laughter (How embarrassing)

Mike Brian our station leader made an announcement and presented me with a card that Ali had made and everyone had signed, including emails from far and wide that had been printed of and stuck into the card. It was lovely!

Once tables had been cleared we made our way to the bar where we had a cheese board and the presentation of a really big carrot cake, which was made by Matt Bell, our genny mech who was not with us that night as he is double wintering and was away on a break. The cake was very good and enjoyed by everyone!

Acoustic night soon followed and i walked into the big tv room to be greeted by Ali who was acting as compare with my slide show showing on the big screen behind her. It was like an episode of this is your life and i sat through stories, videos and messages from home, poems about me were read out and songs about me were sung.

Here are some of the pictures from what was a memorable night. But please bear in mind my camera was never in my hands and these images where taken by random people and who knows what state they were in.

Balloons in the chef's office

Sign on the dining room door

Balloon on my pit room door

Dave Williams, practicing for the tournament

Match between Dave and Tim in full flow, complete

With referee (Rob in white Elvis suit)

Jen Doc and Dan Duran (Rio) our winter sparky

Waiting for the call for dinner

Our table during the meal, starters down and bread

being cut

The main course of Salmon

My Birthday card, Made by Ali Massey

Meal finished, clearing down ready to go upstairs

Lewis, Rob, Jesus, Arthur and Hazel

They need that many hands to light

all the candles

The cake with candles lit, the heat

was immense

Happy Birthday sung, time to cut the cake

Zac, our winter boatman hiding cake in his beard

Dave, enjoying the cake after his pool win with Kate

Our Dive Officer

Nice greeting in the big tv room. That's me age 17

Compare Ali reading messages

The audience being amused

As i sing my song accompanied by Ali on the Sax

Tom on the Trumpet, Rosey on the Flute and Kate

on the Beat box, i am still embarrassed by pictures

Even my daughter Jessica is laughing at me

Now both my daughters, Jess and Gem

My sister Lulu, sadly no longer with us. I miss her!

Thanks chefs for this one

What is coming now?

Where did that one come from?

Rob, Jim and Eddie give a great performance.

While I perform at myAunt's

50 years ago

Fun with Lulu, emotional!

The girls take to the mic, this was worth listening too.

Vicky and Maz, amazing voices with Adam on bass guitar

Zac leads everyone in a sea shanty, that was fun!

Benjy and Joe happy singing, that's not a mic you

are holding Benjy?

Jim and Eddie fantastic musicians.

Kate sang a lovely song which coupled with the

picture of me and my sister with my dad

gave me goose bumps. Thanks kate, i loved it!

An audience with Trev..

The night would not have been complete without

The band getting together to do Mustang Sally.

I enjoy doing that one, it sounds great with the

dulcet tones of Rob on the mic.

Time for a bit of harmonica playing and people are

still in the room.. Amazing!

A present sent from my mum and sisters. Thanks guys!

When i was presented with my card, i said, the reason i came to Antarctica each year, was to guarantee people at my birthday party. The real reason for coming back each year, is because i get to work as part of a team in an environment of outstanding beauty with breathtaking scenery, stunning views and an outstanding group of people that i can genuinely call my friends. I have never been to a place that has touched me as much as Antarctica. Usually it is the people that make a place for me and Antarctica is no different, there is something special about this cold frozen untouched part of the world. I enjoy it because of the support of my family back home and the comradery of my friends.