In actual fact we left the ice a couple of days ago, but since I've not had access to the internet for that time (the surgery computer was deemed too old and rubbish and therefore had to be replaced), I have only just regained the ability to put pictures up. We are now floating around somewhere vaguely near South Georgia doing science work. I'll write a bit more about this at a later date, once I've actually clarified what it is we're up to. I have, however, been taught how to put out a fishing net and pull it back in again, which involves wearing a harness and leaning out over the back end of the ship (for nautical people that would be the stern) - all very exciting if we were fishing for big fish, seals or penguins, but I have yet to be convinced of the cuteness of krill. Maybe if I spend more time with the scientists I will see the light. Or maybe I will just have to accept that they're not cute at all, but merely useful from a food-chain point of view. Other things I have learnt this week are that you should never put your finger on the sensor of your expensive(ish) camera to remove the annoying spot that keeps appearing in the top left corner of all pictures. Probably best not to dwell on that learning point to much though, as I suspect that is the kind of thing I should probably have known without having to be told and without actually putting a greasy fingerprint right in the middle of the sensor. Also, and far more excitingly, it turns out and that the ship does actually lift up and smash down onto the ice to break it up (something to do with having a specially shaped hull apparently). Admittedly I did kind of see it being raised high out of the water by downward pointing thrusters before dropping down and cracking the ice in a most dramatic fashion, but it's good to know I wasn't totally making stuff up in my head.
In penguin-based news, one of the best things I've seen recently (and possibly ever) was an Adelie (not this one) skidding over a small piece of ice before falling off the other side of it feet first into the sea in an extremely slapstick comedy fashion. I guess having a massive red ship closing down on you is a little unnerving if you happen to be a small penguin chilling out on floating ice.
The departure from Signy was followed by one of the most fantastic evenings we have had all trip, with the sun turning the ice a stunning range of colours as it set. Unfortunately, since I had a greasy fingerprint on my nice camera at the time, I had to rely on an old compact for pictures. It is testament to just how beautiful it was that they still look rather nice. Luckily, having now been on the ship for quite some time, I have discovered vents on the Monkey Island that pump out hot air from the engine room. This made it possible to hang out for a couple of hours to watch the complete spectacle, including the moon coming up, despite wearing fairly inappropriate clothing for the conditions. I have since learnt to embrace the padded orange boiler suit I was issued by BAS, but will most certainly not be sharing any pictures of me wearing it with anyone! To say it is unflattering is a gross understatement, and I have not been trapped on a ship away from civilisation for sufficiently long enough to have stopped caring about that type of thing entirely! The fact that there are sausages and mustard mash on the lunch menu and baked ham followed by nougat glace with caramelised apricots on the evening menu will doubtless not be helpful when it comes to the future flatteringness of the suit. Unsurprisingly I am still struggling with self restraint, both with respect to the daily menu and jaffa cakes.
