I've been looking forward to today, more than Christmas!
Luckilly I was scheduled a day off today, so my only plans were to meet the inbound airbridge to collect James and Jo. The daughter of one of the forecasters was coming down for a week or so, Rachel, so I was collecting her too. I had told her dad to tell her to look out for the only guy with a surf board!
The airbridge works like a shuttle service, back and forth to Brize, via Ascension. However the plane that left here the day before got caught up in all the freezing fog and had to divert to Newcastle. Hmm. Everyone was expecting the passengers on James' flight would all be coached up north, and because of the bad weather further delays were expected. Argh!!! But randomly, thankfully, there happened to be a spare plane at Brize (I don't actually know what was going on... but it must have been a different plane to the one that landed up north!) and a new crew as well. So the plane left Brize, only two hours later than scheduled - which is actually pretty normal.
There was quite a welcome party waiting with big smiley faces and signs at Mount Pleasant Airport. Most of the service personnel had come to meet their replacements, meaning that after a two day handover they would be out of here and back home to their families for Christmas day. It was funny seeing their anxious faces, desperately hoping that the next person would walk over to them. Some people were meeting fellow team mates and taking the mick, mocking them for being down here for Christmas - wearing Santa hats which were met with geers and cheers. Some people were meeting Children or husbands or wives who had managed to get a lucky seat as an indulgence passenger to visit loved ones for a week or two over the festive period.
Then there was me. Grinning Cheshire Cat waiting to meet James, Jo and Rachel. I'd only met Jo the once, on a course in Exeter, but knew that we would get on great, so was very much looking forward to having another girl down here. And obviously I'm used to seeing James every day so one month apart was beginning to wear a little thin.
The baggage carosel is currently broken, so passengers were having to come out via a different exit. This meant that me and the rest of the welcome party were stood the other side of a hanger door which was lifted intermittantly for each passenger in turn, teasing us as we tried to peer underneath in anticipation of catching a glimpse of our loved ones and replacements.
I spotted the surf board first and was surprised at how awake and bubbly they both were. When I arrived I was like a zombie and didn't want to see or speak to anyone - just shower and go to bed.
I sat with Jo while she got ready, and she was just as excited and giddy as I was when I arrived. Despite tiredness the rest of the met office (who weren't at work) and I took the new arrivals to dinner and to the officer's mess bar for a couple of drinks then a much needed sleep. They both had to be up and ready by 6.50 in the morning to go to work...
Everyone has been really kind and as flexible as they can be in regards to the roster, to give James and me as much time off together as possible. For the length of our tour we have 3 days off together in total, and only two evenings a week when we will see each other, except for handovers at work. Tomorrow is Friday, and the next time I will be able to spend an evening with James is Wednesday, and that is because he is doubled up with me on a training shift!
I am on a night shift tomorrow, and the rest of the team are off for a night out in Stanley. So that's a shame. I am having a great time in the falklands, and I am sure James will have a great time here too - it is just a little odd that sadly we are not getting to have much of a great time here together. Still, it is great to be able to share and talk about our experiences here, and it is nice to see him every day again, even if it is only for a few minutes.
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