Sun Rise & Flag Up

Eight weeks ago, I being the eldest on base lowered the flag, as we said goodbye to the setting sun, I wondered how the dark days would affect us. After several weeks of continual darkness, I for one felt the effects of no sunlight, I had trouble sleeping and felt tired with a lack of energy and i was not alone, there were one or two of us with the same complaint. 

Jen Doc did have vitamin D tablets for anyone who wanted them, as vitamin D contributes to balancing mood and fatigue and while it is found in a small number of foods the majority of a person's vitamin D comes from the bodies ability to produce it from sunlight.

A lack of vitamin D contributes to fatigue by It's interaction with melatonin, which is a mood regulator that decreases your energy at the sign of darkness to help you sleep. In other words, Increased vitamin D means lower levels of melatonin. The reverse is also true, less vitamin D means Increased melatonin and increased fatigue.

So when it was time for the sun to return, it brought a lot of excitement onto base and also began the countdown to summer when it will be light for 24 hours a day.

Zoe Wareing, our Marine Assistant the youngest member on station, had the honour of raising the flag and gave a short speech with a sun dance to celebrate the first glimpse of the sun.

It is still technically winter in Antarctica and we won't see our first visitors until October when the BAS Aircraft arrive. 

That morning was still dark on my way to work, but there was 

a red glow just above the mountains

As the light increased the red started to turn gold

The view from the kitchen window was very pretty

I went out on to the balcony to get a better picture

The sky was getting deeper gold and the colours were starting to 

reflect on the clouds

Beautiful sky with the crescent moon still in view

As the day continued to get brighter it started to highlight the 

mountains behind Admirals

A nice snowy scene

As i was preparing lunch i had to keep stopping and looking 

out of the window as the sun was getting closer to showing itself.

Even the clouds were spectacular today

Once lunch was finished, i quickly went to my room to put on a couple of warm layers and started to make my way up to the flag along with everyone else. It was a beautiful day and the sun was gradually creeping above the peaks.

The sun just peeping through a gap between the two mountains

It was a lovely sight and felt pretty good too.

With everyone dressed warmly and ready they headed up to the flagpole

We were all in good spirits with Julie Jen and Maz definitely with 

a spring in there step.

For the first time in a few weeks we have shadows

Theresa following the pack with the sun shining behind her

A thumbs up from Will

Rio enjoying the moment

It was like being a child again, when your mother said that you

can go out and play in the snow!

All gathered around the flagpole which has been flagless for 2 months

The golden glow over Rothera station

Paul Samways starts the proceedings and then hands over to Zoe

Zoe welcomes us and reminds us why we are there.

She then gives a short speech

Then places her mobile speakers at the base of the flagpole 

turns her music on and proceeds do a sun dance that we all had to join in with, it was great fun

The flag was then hoisted and everyone cheered

Zoe's dance to the sun

Appreciated by all

The flag was then tied off, where it will stay flying over Rothera for the next 10 months

The views were beautiful that day, with lots of natural light and sunlight hitting the mountain tops

We then moved a little further from the flag in order to have the official

photograph taken by Blair, this was because the light and the scenery was better 

Lovely view 

Once the photo's were taken it was back to NBH to carry on with the rest of the day

As we walked back the sun was starting to go down leaving the sky yellow

Seeing the sun had been a great pick me up and a real energy boost 

It was beautiful to see the colours as it set on Rothera again. Only this time we will see it again tomorrow.

The official Flag raising group photo taken by Blair

A Rothera Wedding

The week leading up to the 15th July 20017 was not a normal week, as most of us on base had a big to do list. This of course was down to the fact that our two polar field guides, Tom Sylvester and Julie Baum were to be married and nobody was exempt from helping with the preparations.

With natural daylight increasing daily and once or twice the sun very nearly peeking over the mountains, the mood on base certainly seemed more energised. There was plenty to do and having sat down with Tom and Julie previously to discuss the menu, the wedding cake, timings  and a format for the day, it was clear from the start that this was not going to be an ordinary wedding.

  Spectacular view from my window with the daylight starting to appear but still with the moon shining over the mountains.

The Preparation 

Preparations started in the dining hall, with Blair, Steve and Bradders, our field guides putting their knot skills to good use by tying string to the ceiling panels to create a framework of webbing.

String being strategically placed

Then Rio and Joe come in to hang lights along the table

It was amazing to watch as drapes and sheets, that had been ironed and pressed by Julie where hung from the string to form what was to be the wedding Marquee in our dining room.

The tables had been turned lengthwise with the one at the end 

going across to create a top table

So for the next couple of days we would eat our meals under the 

sheets with the sides rolled up

This way you still have access to the servery and all other functions

A big problem being in Antarctica, is that you just can't nip out and get what you want or order things in  that you need, so when it comes to the flowers you have to make them. Jen Doc along with Julie, very cleverly over two weeks made 66 flowers to decorate the Marquee and the ceremonial chapel, as well as the brides bouquet and flowers for the bridesmaids. The flowers for the Marquee, were white and pink, while the brides bouquet and bridesmaids flowers were blue and made out of photographs of things that Julie has done here at Rothera, for example boating, penguins, whales, climbing etc.

Here Jen and Julie are busy making their blooms

Looking very effective in the bucket

These flowers are incredible and were made out of old Antarctic maps

You can just see the maps in the petals

The biggest challenge for me was the making of the wedding cake. Julie wanted three different cakes, a fruit cake which was to be the bottom tier, a carrot cake for the second tier and a chocolate cake for the top tier. This was fine but we had no cake stand, so I approached Paul Samways our Station Leader and explained my dilemma, Paul went away and came back with a solution. If I were to give him the dimensions of the cakes he would make a stand, being skilled with wood he did just that and  it was fantastic. It was made from an old sledge, maple and oak and each base spun as a turntable.

It was now up to me to make the cakes to fill it.

Awesome cake stand

The next challenge I faced was the cakes themselves, I did not have a big enough round cake tin for the bottom tier, so i used a square one and cut it round. The next stage was to marzipan the cakes, but i had to leave one free of marzipan, due to one of the guests having a nut allergy, they are also Lactose intolerant so I left marzipan off the carrot cake, as that one is made with sunflower oil and no butter.

Fruit cake about to be covered

Trimming off the overhang

Three cakes all covered, Fruit cake and chocolate cake covered 

with marzipan and the carrot cake covered with crusting Icing

We have no fondant icing down here, so i had to make my own if i wanted a nice finish to the cakes. The problem being, In order to make fondant icing as well as icing sugar and gelatin, you need liquid glucose and glycerin, neither of which i had. The plumbers came to my rescue as far as the glycerine was concerned as they use that as an ingredient in the STP (sewage treatment plant) I didn't ask! The liquid glucose i had to make by boiling 2 parts sugar with 1 part water and adding a small amount of cream of tartar, this helps to stop the sugar crystallizing. Once i had made the liquid glucose i could make the fondant icing, which would be used to cover the cakes and make some flowers for the decoration.

Fondant icing on the go

Fondant icing made and ready to be kneaded into a smooth rollable paste

All cakes covered, I decided to leave the carrot cake a chocolate colour 

as it matched the cake stand and gave a better contrast

Now the tricky bit, making the roses that will decorate the cake. In order to get the petals thin enough on the edges you need a confectioner's sponge pad and a balling tool, again these are things i do not have. So i asked Theresa our dive officer if she had any spare neoprene in the dive store, she said she would get me some. Once armed with my neoprene pad and a spoon, i started to make the flowers and quickly discovered that because the air is so dry in Antarctica, i had to work quite quickly as the paste started to dry and harden before i had time to mold, this caused a lot of cracking and frustration.

But perseverance paid off and i had some flowers that could be used, bearing in mind that i still had to feed everyone lunch and dinner so all this had to be done in the evening, once i had finished work and i had the kitchen to myself to concentrate. These flowers took me 5 hours to make finishing at 12:45pm. I think they were worth the effort.

Drying out the roses, didn't take long

The roses on the cake, with the cake on the stand

I was pleased with the outcome. Cake done!

The next day was Friday, the day before the wedding and i would have had lunch and dinner to do as well as prep for the wedding plus evening buffet. I was thrown a lifeline when Mabell stepped in and offered to do lunch and dinner that day, he also offered to do breakfast the following day, as it was originally my day off. This was great as it left me all day to do my prep and have a bit of a lie in the next morning. 

Zoe our Marine assistant offered to help with the evening buffet prep, this was good as i could now concentrate on the main event. The first course of the wedding breakfast was Salmon Gravlax, cured in sea salt, lemon juice, beetroot, juniper berries and gin and this had to be done a couple of days before as it needed two days to marinade

Here the salmon has been filleted and pin boned and awaits the marinade

The marinade is pasted on the fish and already the protiens are

breaking down creating juice

With the salmon covered in the beetroot mix it is wrapped in

parchment paper and cling film and placed in the fridge for two

days, turning it every 12 hours

While we were in full preparation mode, others on base were busy

getting their own bits and pieces ready

Looking out of the kitchen window, i saw Tom and Julie with 

Blair our other field guide and official photographer, looking

like they were discussing where to have the photographs

Here Zoe is just finishing the last bit of prep for the evening buffet

The Wedding Day

So on the morning of the wedding, it was arranged for the girls to have their breakfast from 9:00am to 9:45am and the boys from 9:45 onwards. That way the two parties do not meet until the ceremony

When i arrived in the kitchen Mabell (Matt Bell) was all prepared for the girls to arrive, he had done an amazing job. He was in the kitchen nice and early and had already made fresh croissants, and fresh Bagels, laid the table and had bacon, sausage and scrambled egg on the go. Not at all bad for a Generator Mechanic.

Mabell making scrambled egg as the girls arrive

Another bonus for me was Steve, one of the other field guides just happened to be an ex chef who owned his own restaurant in France, he gave it up to pursue his passion for climbing and became a mountain guide. Steve offered to do sushi as canapes on arrival with the champagne and was more or less done by the time i got into the kitchen.

The table set and ready for the girls to arrive

The five girls on base are left to right: Julie, Polar field guide and Bride, Jen, Doctor and Maid of Honour, Zoe, Marine Assistant and Bridesmaid and Maz, Meteorologist and Bridesmaid. The last girl is Theresa our dive officer who was not at breakfast as she had just finished a week of nights and was allowed to be asleep.

Scrambled eggs and fresh bagels

Mabells croissants, they were delicious

everyone enjoyed them

With the girls having finished breakfast, they left to get ready leaving the marquee free for the boys to eat. With seventeen of us, their breakfast was a come to the counter and help yourself, Zac with the beard and white tee shirt is our Boatman and the best man. 

Tom our Polar field guide and Groom, looks happy to be starting the day with a good breakfast.

Steve, rolling the sushi

With everyone having finished breakfast and the Marquee cleared, it was time to lay the tables, set the flowers, arrange the cake and for me to make the bread rolls and hope that i have enough time to get them in and out of the oven with everything ready, in order for me to get to my room, shower, change and arrive at the chapel before the bride. 

The flowers that Jen and Julie made out of Antarctic maps, were presented in primus stoves. Ingenious! They looked great.

Cake in position on the stand and table laid ready

A few finishing touches, with the sides of the marquee being rolled down to hide the kitchen, service and wash areas. It was a rush for me but i managed to get to the makeshift chapel in Fuchs just in time, I was the last one to arrive but made it before the bride. I got myself a glass of champagne and took my seat. I had not seen the room prior to the ceremony and i was amazed how well it had been made up, It was hard to believe we were sitting in the sewing loft of Fuchs House, (which is where Tom and Julie work as field guides) surrounded by strategically placed and ironed bed sheets.

The Ceremony

It was an amazing service, given by Paul Samways our Station Leader and sworn in Magistrate. There were some lovely words spoken and poems read, Tom and Julie's vows were quite emotional and it was a privilege to witness the exchanging of the rings, both of which were made by Tom, made out of brass turned on a lathe in the garage. The following pictures are courtesy of Blair

The rings, on a wedding invitation,

Paul Samways officially marrying Tom and Julie

Man and wife

It's official 

The Photo's

Once the ceremony was over we all got into our boots and headed outside for the official photographs. I hoped it wasn't going to take too long because i had things that needed attention in the kitchen, plus the temperature outside was around minus 9 degrees C, but everyone was in good spirits and a little bit of cold didn't seem to bother them.

Jen Doc walking over to NBH transferring the flowers she had made

The flower lady! The blue bouquets were made out of 

photographs of Rothera activities

Blair setting up the camera, facing the icebergs

The guests start to congregate for the pictures

Zoe holding her Bridesmaid flower

All 5 girls, Theresa, Jen, Julie, Maz, Zoe

Always time for a sexy shot, no matter how cold!

Ben, our Marine Biologist, alias Baby Banana, runs to the front and falls down the slope

We all had to run towards the camera, pretending there was a killer penguin chasing us, this was Julies idea as she wants to photoshop in a killer penguin chasing us!

Paul Samways, Station Leader, Julie and Tom, Bride and Groom, Jen, Maid of Honour, Zac, Best Man

A Beautiful Couple

The wedding dress was made by julie, incorporating and old pyramid tent, she did a fantastic job and looked gorgeous.

The official wedding photo, with all 22 of us.

 From left to right: Matt Bell (Genny Mech) Zac Priestly (Boatman) Ben Keitch (Electronics Engineer) Steve Windross (Field Guide) Alan Messenger ( IT & Communications) Jen Douglas (Doctor) Joe Burton (Electrician) Ben Robinson (Marine Biologist) Matt Washington (Vehicle Mech) Julie Sylvester (Field Guide) Tom Sylvester (Field Guide) Will Van de Wouw (Vehicle Mech) Trevor Hancock (Chef) Theresa Murphy (Dive Officer) Paul Samways (Station Leader) Michael Bell (PLumber) Mairi Simms ( Meteorologist) Bradley Morrell (Field Guide) Zoe Wareing (Marine Assistant) Dan Doran (Electrician) Neil Brown (Plumber) The one kneeling is Blair (Field Guide)

With all Photo's done the wedding guests make their way upstairs to the bar for champagne and sushi, while i make my way to the kitchen and the bride and groom drive off in a snow cat along the runway, for a few more pictures for the media. This picture was taken from the kitchen   

The Wedding Meal

The Menu

On Arrival

Sushi and champagne

Starter

Salmon Gravlax cured with Beetroot and Gin

Intermediate

Mango Sorbet

Main Course

Chargrilled Rump of Lamb

Redcurrant & Port wine Jus

Dauphinoise Potatoes

Buttered Spinach

chargrilled Carrots

Dessert

Bitter Chocolate Tart 

&

Parsnip Ice Cream

The Salmon Gravlax ready to be served

Starters on the table with everyone having a place setting with their names in a champagne cork

The cake didn't look out of place

Zac helping to serve the main course

Dauphinoise potatoes and lamb ready to be plated

Main course served

The dessert went down very well, Chocolate tart and Parsnip Ice cream

Time to cut the cake

The first cut is the deepest

We then had the speeches, which was quite a laugh as the best man had only known the groom for as long as we have wintered together, but he did a great job and there were no awkward silences. Paul Samways started stood up to speak and told a story about an Australian (Will) who approached him in the bar one night with an idea that was pure genius and the two or three of them started to work on it. He went on to talk about the Flag ceremony that we had a few weeks ago, when the sun went down and the flag was lowered and how it was to be put aside to be raffled for one lucky person on base to win.

It was then that he presented Tom and Julie with their wedding gift, which was a frame made from an old sledge and mounted in it was their official wedding photo, plus a piece of the flag, with a picture of all the winterers holding that flag. It was a an incredible gift with a lot of time and effort going into it. But that was not the end of the story, Paul, then presented everyone with a present and after he had finished talking, we were told to open them. 

We were all amazed and speechless at what we found on unwrapping our gifts. We were all presented with a framed and mounted picture of the flag ceremony and a piece of the flag. Emotional! 

That has to be the first time in BAS history that every winterer goes home with a piece of the flag as a reminder of their time at Rothera. Maybe this will set a precedence for future winters. Who knows? 

The perfect hand made wedding gift.

And the perfect gift to remember my winter, especially as i was the one who lowered the flag

MEMORABLE!

The Evening

With the buffet nicely set out in the Big TV Room and the projector on, we all made our way to the bar for the next stage of the wedding. Once we were all in attendance the slide started in the background, showing Tom and Julie's life adventures around the world. It was lovely to learn a bit more about them and to have a little glimpse into the adventures of this awesome couple. 

It wasn't long before the music started and people were starting to let their hair down.

The big screen showing the couples adventures

The cake went down a storm

I still have a couple of roses left

There was a couple of live acts performing one or two numbers for the couple, although most of it was off the cuff as not many of us had time to practice. I have to say it all went rather well with no mistakes and a good night was had by all.

Alan on the guitar and Zac on the beat box accompanying me on the Clarinet

Maz and Samways did a great number

Tom and Julie did a duet which was really good, Tom on the guitar and Julie on the Mandolin.

They are both very good

When everyone retired, Tom and Julie were told they could not go to their room, as a Honeymoon Suite had been specially made for them in the sewing room of Fuchs House. This was the chapel that had now been converted to the bridal suite

All laid out nicely with all the trimmings

Champagne on Ice, Chocolates and a message

What an absolutely amazing day, with amazing people in an amazing place doing amazing things.

There are not many weddings that take place, where all the guests have an input into making the day special by making everything from scratch. We have a very talented team of people here at Rothera and i for one am very proud to be a part of it.

I am extremely lucky to have been part of Tom and Julie's Wedding 

and  feel very privileged to call them my friends.

Congratulations to you both, I wish you lots of happiness for your future together!

With this being the first official wedding in British Antarctic Territories, there was so much media attention from around the globe, here are a couple of links to video footage from the BAS Media press release.

https://www.bas.ac.uk/media-post/wedding-bells-in-antarctica/

Plus ITV's The Lorraine Show, where Tom and Julie give a live Interview, which meant they had to be up at 4:30am our time to fit in with UK time. It is worth watching!

http://www.itv.com/lorraine/hot-topics/couple-make-history-as-they-tie-the-knot-in-antarctica

The Next Day

Was a Sunday and i was up nice and early in order to get Brunch ready and start prep for the Sunday dinner. It was an easy day and went very smoothly, the daylight is staying with us a bit longer and the sun is teasing us by not quite rising over the mountains. It won't be long, a couple more days and we will be having the flag raising ceremony to mark the sunrise, weather permitting. Below are a few pictures taken these last couple of days. Time is going so quickly.