Day 18, Wednesday 28th November

Good day today. I was coming off two night shifts so was meant to be sleeping it off. One of the forecasters had booked a landrover for the day to go to a museum at San Carlos, so I decided to go along with him for the morning, and I could sleep in the afternoon.

San Carlos was again, like the other places I have been, about 4 houses. There was a small cemetery and The museum was a small porta-cabin, filled with photos and news clippings from the Falklands conflict. Def worth while coming down and having a look. The views were really nice too, as you can see from the photos.

I slept for a couple of hours in the afternoon, so I definitely felt better for that.

News that the bars were reopening got round quickly, and the Sergeants Mess do a quiz on a Wednesday night. A group of guys I had met on my sea lion trip invited me along with them and it was a really good night. The quiz wasn't on which was a shame but I will try and go again next week perhaps. I met a really nice girl called siobhan who works for naafi, so I was really pleased that I wasn't the only girl.

The mess situation is back to normal as of tomorrow, so we shall be back in the officers mess. Shame really, I had met and got to know some really nice people in the sergeants mess. But the food is nicer in the officers...

Day 16, Monday 26th November

Well. I've not written in a while. Unfortunately this is not because I have been on far too many day trips to find the time, or enjoying the beautiful weather. I simply haven't written because there has been nothing to write. Hmm...

The beautiful weather that I thought would set the scene for the summer has well and truely passed. We have had snow showers, hail storms and gail force winds for a week now. I've not been out anywhere interesting, as really waiting for James to get here now and explore places together.

I can't remember if I have mentioned the fires in a previous email or not... Last monday, so a full week ago now, when it was really hot and sunny, some farmers fires got a little out of hand. They have been burning ever since. Every spare helicopter, and spare person has been called to lend a hand in trying to extinguish the fires, with little success. As a result the sale of alcohol has been completely banned to ensure everyone is fit and fresh if they get the call. "Centralised Messing" is in force now too, basically they have closed the officer's mess and we all eat together with the sergeants and the junior ranks. Only trouble is the food isn't as nice and the opening times have been restricted. I was on a day shift yesterday and as well as the mess being shut, all the little cafes are also closed. This meant I couldn't get any lunch. By the time my shift had finished the joint mess had stopped serving dinner. And I slept in this morning as I am now on nights, so missed breakfast too. In the officers mess there is fresh fruit which you can help your self to, but not in the joint mess. The junior rank's mess is so scummy, there's even a note on the door to ~remind people to shower~ prior to entering if they have been to the gym. Honestly...

The update today was that the majority of the surface fires have been extinguished, but they are still burning 4 feet under ground. So the situation here will remain as it is for two weeks. UghhhhH!!!!! Apparently last time this happened some more fires cropped up 4 weeks later a mile down the road. Stuid peat fields.

I was warned that a three month detachment down here would see me getting "fat or fit". People had said you either spend your time in the bar or down the gym, I had intended to excell in all aspects of MPA life... However, with 3 weeks of missing meals and having not a single drop of wine, I shall be spending a lot of time in the gym.

It's really lovely getting emails from you all, and I had my first bit of post this week which is lovely. It's always nice to get handwritten post, so please keep writing!! It is free to send a bluey, a letter will get here with a regular stamp on it, and it is still free to post anything up to 2kg (including just letters!!) until Friday. It makes Airbridge day all the more exciting if I think there may be a letter for me!!

Miss Emma Compton
Met Office MPC
British Forces South Atlantic Islands
BFPO 655

I am hopefully going out for the day on Wednesday to San Carlos to see some museum, so will post about that soon!!

Cheers everyone!! Much love xxx (Can't believe I've been here two weeks already....)

Pics from day 10, Darwin, Goose Green and Bodie Creek Bridge

Pics from day 8, Berthers Beach

Day 11: dull dull dull

Day 11, Wednesday 21st November

Between two night shifts today. Went to bed at 9, had my emergancy alarm set for 5pm, expecting to wake around 3 and go to the gym or at least do something, but instead I woke up at 10 to 5. Only enough time to ring my mum, then straight back to work!!!

Oh well!!

First night shift not doubled up, balloon went off ok.

Day 10. Bodie, ghost town?

Day 10. Tuesday 20th November

According to the forecast today was set to be the last nice day in the outlook period. With strong winds, rain and possible snow showers forecast from tomorrow onwards, I decided I would make the most of the last bit of sun shine rather than spend the day in bed in preparation for my night shift.

David, one of the forecaasters here, had hired a landrover and so I clubbed in and went towards Darwin and Goose Green with him. Although technically not off road, I am not surprised that hire cars are limited to only 40 mph!

I don't know what I was expecting, a small town or village perhaps, maybe even a tiny hamlet, but there are literally 4 or 5 houses in Darwin! It's where I'll be coming next week for my wool spinning workshop, and Darwin House is famous amoungst the WAGs here, and the tourist information desk along the Long Corridor. "You must visit Darwin House for afternoon tea, It's superb." I had heard talk of eating your own body weight in cake. But as we approached the door it just seemed as though we were knowing on someone's front door rather than a cafe or hotel. Fiona was as lovely as everyone had said, and although she was technically closed (open by appointment only on week days) we had better come in and have some tea. Poor David doesn't even drink tea, but obliged. We sat in what felt like her front room and she brought a cake stand with four cakes to eat each!

This to me sums up The Falklands and how few things there are to do here other than look at wildlife and go on walks. The fact that a lady serving tea and cakes in her living room, along with another small "cafe" in Goose Green are classed as actual tourist hotposts and people will drive 45 minutes to get here from MPA. That being said, it was lovely, and I will be back. The views around Darwin were stunning and my photos don't do it justice.

We walked from Goose Green towards Bodie Creek Bridge, which I belive is the world's most southern suspension bridge. Though you may have to look that up.

My night shift was interesting. My ad hoc last doubled up night due to being off sick on Friday. It was blowing an actual gale but I needed to do the balloon launch in order to write down the three hours worth of admin proceedures that go along with it. I got the balloon in the air with no problems, so all was well.

I'll put my photos up on Thursday.

Day 8 and 9, Sun / Monday 18th and 19th November

 Day 8 Sunday 18th November

Went to Berther's Beach today. Really couldn't be bothered to, I was still a little under the weather, sun burnt from yesterday and had no one to go with. But I had the van for the day, and the sun was shining so I wanted to make the most of it.

I got lost on the short 6 mile drive there so had to go back to MPC to get more thorough directions. Annoying. The last couple of miles are off road and there is a gate for which you need to get a key from MPC. As I was in the van I was not allowed to drive off road, so parked up and walked. Some nice person driving past offered me a lift the rest of the way, which was nice.

The beach was beautiful, a good few miles of lovely sandy which beach and crystal blue water. I will put some photos up later.... Apparently if you walked a mile or so in either direction you will find penguins. I walked left a bit, gave up, walked right a bit, gave up. If I had committed to either direction I would surely have found some but I just couldn't be bothered really! So I sat on the lovely beach, all alone, had my sandwhich and went back home.

Doing things like that is all very nice, but it is a bit dull by yourself. At least I know the way for when James gets here. (No, I didn't see any waves James).

Day 9 Monday 19th November

My final day shift doubled up. Can't believe I've been here a week now. It's flown! The roster has been updated to give me and James a few days off together, so that's good.

Pics from day 7: Gentoo penguins

There was a random king penguin hanging around too...! A little out of place on Sea Lion Island!

Pics from day 7: Magellanic penguins