Category: Antarctica

For seven years, from the mid 1980’s until the early 90’s, I worked at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. This is the Antarctica I saw working in a kitchen feeding 1200 people in summer, and 200 in winter. Antarctica records the tics and quirks of a world of compulsion – military personnel were sent without choice – and abdication. For many civilians it was an exile of ready money and fled responsibilities. It’s not completely truthful. Some of what occurred is so bizarre as to be not credible and has been omitted. This is one person’s story. It’s not a film. It’s a series of still photographs. The first three posts are scene setting. Because we were all very young – names have been changed – youth provides both an excuse and explanation for what later may cause cringe. Anyone who was there will recognise these obvious contrivances.

Posted in Antarctica

Affidavit

Posted on by tq1695

Saturday, day nine
work six days per week
rest on the Sabbath
even here
in the most heathen of places.
Saturday night out on the town
four bars and at least two parties.

The Acey Deucey most popular
spoken of as “ The Doocee”
transplanted from any small town anywhere
most frequent habitat the Mid West or South.

Jukebox. Check.
Pool table. Check.
Foos ball. Check.
Smokey. Check.
Poorly lit. Check.
Rednecks. Check.

Long, thin, low ceilinged
elbows glued to counter
thrust back butts overhang stools
what the fuck are you looking at stares.
eyes front.
“Bud, Stroh’s, Miller.” No other conversation.

The first full week of the season
the first night all bars are open.
In ‘The Doocee’ on opening night. 12 fights
shore patrol is busy.

On Monday morning at Captain’s Mast
no one knows nothing
or heard
only saw distantly.

“ Some dude jumped the pool queue
some dude crashed the Jukebox
some dude squeezed some chick’s butt
some dude kicked a table over.’’
Witness after witness.

The captain said
“ boy when this guy Some Dude shows up
is he for it.”

For the back story click Backstage

Posted in Antarctica

Roads

Posted on by tq1695

It was called Rome
like the city.
Before the reconstruction
before the college dormitoryization of the base
McMurdo Station staff quarters
were uncontrived eclectic
subversive buildings
with wonderfully individualistic names.

A group of half a dozen
known predictably as the six-pack
then following addition, the nine pack.
A trio located on a rise between street and ocean
three by the Sea
two in the middle
one for the road.

And Rome, origin archaeological
rumour said construction was late. Very
not built in a day.
Lounged with large windows framing the sound
landscaping Mt Discovery.
Stunning.
It was ours
designated quiet and non-smoking
two rare species in Antarctica.

Day eight – Friday night
at home
the weekend is born – and drinks.
A C141 squat and green
crawls down the sea ice runway
improbably airborne
heading north
to civilization, fresh food, dark and rain
“wish you were on it,” a man walks by.
I did.

For the back story click Backstage

Posted in Antarctica

Vacant

Posted on by tq1695

Work finishes at 2 p.m.
back ache clocks off 30 minutes later.
The boss has a clipboard
holding up calming palms to furrowed brow
“we have a room for you.”
The fourth in six days
Permanent – until end of season in late February
or I break the rules.

Antarctica was full of practical jokes
new people easy prey
being encouraged to
sign up for a shower
avoid drinking too much libido suppressing water
walk to Hut Point to see turtles lay eggs
not to forget milk powder when mixing iced tea.

The door is reluctant – a waist sucked squeeze
the room frozen in time and space
filled with winter blown snow
admitted by duplicitous cracks
expanding like popcorn and freezing

Feigned amusement
insincere mea culpa owns up
chuckling at the boss for the real room
acknowledging the trick of a snow filled one.
He is talking with three burly forklift operators
his look says, ‘far out.’
the other three telegraph
‘Faggot.’
‘Fairy.’
‘Fuckwit.’

Tolerance speaks, “there’s probably a shovel in the lounge.”
Puzzlement.
He turns to the other three
eyebrows raised and complicit.
The biggest and hairiest
bends at the knees
grunting
grunts providing acoustic corroboration of Darwin
accompany shovelling motions.