My flight was scheduled to leave at 11pm so james and I arrived in plenty of time and had dinner first. The whole ordeal wasn't as scary as I'd been expecting. When james left I fought back a few small tears, blaming it on the wind even though it was flat calm. The experience of saying goodbye had left me more than a little flustered and my mind was elsewhere. Thankfully Brize was much smaller than even Doncaster airport. With only one flight leaving that evening, and only one departure gate I thankfully didn't need to do any thinking for myself at all. Even if I just copied the person next to me and blindly followed, I was surely going to make it on to the plane just fine.
Once through security and a minor faff with my injections I slumped myself down in the departure lounge, and a man put the tv on and switched it over to X factor. You have no idea how comforting this was, during what I hope will be the lowest part of my entire trip. One last call to my mum, my brother and then finally james and I was on the plane.
I was sat next to a very kind lady, called Jane, who happened to be a Falklands islands national and a civilian helicopter pilot who takes military personnel around the islands on R&R trips - a very useful person to know. Hopefully I will be bumping into her again during the next three and a half months.
The first of my two nine hour flights was bumpy, especially through the ITCZ on approach to ascension, but it passed by quite pleasantly with little fuss or intrusion from the cabin crew. As well as two hot meals we were each presented with an iPad loaded with films, music and games, so that was nice. I passed on this leg in favour of sleep, though I didn't manage to sleep for much more than a few minutes at a time.
***Picture 1*** (in flight entertainment)
Day 2. Monday 12th November : Far From Lost
We arrived in ascension at 7am on Monday morning. What a strange place. On approach through the aircraft window it looked like nothing more than a small lump of charcoal in the middle of the vast ocean, with only a runway and a few hills. I was expecting it to look more exotic, lush and green, however it was barren and rocky with few signs of life. The pictures I had seen were of nice beaches, wildlife and rows of palm trees, however I could count only a handful, huddled together all in one place.
***Pic 2 (Asi arrivals)
We were herded into what is referred to as "the cage" - a fenced off area to stop us wandering off, as you need a visa to enter ascension. God knows where you would wander off to though. I can't imagine what on earth there is to do here. In the run up to my detachment I had began to have doubts about my choice to go to the Falklands instead of ascension. Asi on the surface sounds more favourable - less hours, easier weather and a guaranteed tan. Though frankly on arrival I was glad to be going elsewhere in just a couple of hours time.
The weather was actually pretty bad for Asi - Lots of low cloud and drizzly showers. It was strange, extremely humid, more than i felt ven in the rain forest in Africa, but it was by no stretch hot. And it was really windy. the weather possibly contributed to my un-impressed, instant dislike of the place. Who knows. My hair turned to frizz instantly and I wondered even more how I would cope here for 3 months in the wretched humidity, with frizzy hair and not a single thing to do (other than walking and water sports - my two least favourite of the "activities"). Especially as the roster here gives you a sleep-and-three-off each week.
***Pic 3* (plane and cloud)
I had hoped there would be an Internet terminal, to let people know that I was not a blubbering mess of loneliness and regret. But Asi airport was just like a little hut really. Only one loo and no soap even.
I wouldn't have been surprised if a detachment here as an observer was J.J. Abrams' inspiration for Lost. I can only imagine a 3 month tour here to be much like what Jack and Kate went through on the TV series - Having to put a coded message into an extremely old and fragile computer, and making sure you Hit The Button by 59 minutes past each and every single hour to ensure the continuity of... Oh, The Met Office...
I sent a postcard to James and then got back on the plane. This time I took up the iPad and spent the journey watching trashy films, eagerly wondering what on earth the next couple of days would have in store.
We made our approach to MPA along the south east corner of the islands, over Stanley. And I must say it was not what I was expecting at all. We could have been flying over a (very flat) cluster of Greek islands. Each twist and turn of the coast line revealed more and more beautiful un-spoilt white sandy beaches. There was not a single cloud in the sky either, which is bound to help with first impressions. 23C the pilot had said (not too far off their record highest temp), but coming in to land I could see the wind socks were all horizontal - standard. There are few trees on the islands, and the ones that around are contorted over hinting at the strength of the wind and its prevailing direction.
**Pic4**
We landed about an hour early, just after 5pm which is 2pm Uk time. Typically mine was the last bag off the plane and i was literally the last person out of the terminal. I was met at the airport by Duncan, the admin guy, holding a sign with The Met Office logo on it. He took me over to the office and I met the rest of the team. A few I had met before, and some new faces. The seem like a nice bunch and there is a really nice set up, office wise, too.
Accommodation is about 3 miles away from work, so you have to be collected and dropped off each morning and evening by the admin guy (!!) My accommodation is pretty much what you would expect, basic, but clean and perfectly adequate. I have my own shower room and loo which is a bonus. I am just worried it will be noisy, but the wing I am on is for shift workers only, so hopefully my neighbour will be considerate.
I had a few hours on my own before dinner, when the rest of the team would collect me. Although I was tired I was too excited so unpacked everything and went for a walk to the naffi. (I had lost my toothbrush in Asi some how...) The wind was just unbelievable!!! But it was so warm and sunny!! Everyone I have bumped into has been really friendly. One guy, mark, pulled up and have me lift. I figured that Stranger Danger surely doesn't really apply when you are living in a place like this so I hopped in his car. Well, landrover, as they all are here. He is responsible for sourcing all the food into the island, so again another very important person to know! He has the key to the chocolate cupboard is how he phrased it!!
The met office staff collected me from my room at 7.15 and we walked together to the dinner place. It is a 1 mile walk from our rooms. Gunna get fit and burn my dinner off just getting there! The dinner hall is as expected, buffet style with plates already laid out for you to choose from. Choice of hot or cold starter, 4 or 5 different mains, loads of sides, then hot or cold desert or fruit. And loads of cheese... Could be dangerous!!
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