Last few weeks

From South Georgia Museum

The end of the season seems to have come by in a rush, and life on a small island seems to get busier and busier. Saying farewell to the last cruise ship of the season hasn’t meant that life has gone quiet. In the last couple of weeks there has been a RFA and Navy visit which included a football game, a repeat of the marathon, a church service and long opening hours for the shop. With all the museum assistants now back in the UK, it was just me in the shop with Hugh being chief packer, cup of tea maker and general gofer. The Grytviken Marina has also been busy with 4 yachts tied up. Two of these yachts have children on board, so their shouts and laughter has been echoing through the station as they play hide and seek, chasing and hunting for easter eggs. The BAS supply ship Ernest Shackleton returned to SG after a 3 year absence to deliver and take on cargo and once all the work and dentist visits were completed, there was a lot of socialising to be done.

The Habitat Restoration project is one step closer again this week with Tony Martin, project leader and Peter Garden, New Zealand helicopter pilot, visiting the island to make plans for the first trial next season. Hugh meanwhile has not been able to wait for the professionals to get rid of the rats and is on a campaign himself to rid Grytviken of the pesky pests.

Hugh launches his own attack!

Bridget, Tony and Jane left the island early March, all on cruise ships; Jane to enjoy the wonders of the Peninsula on Ocean Nova, Tony to the Falklands on Polar Star and Bridget to Ushuaia, in the 5 star owners suite on Prince Albert ll. Before Bridget left, in order to ensure there were enough ‘Made in SG’ souvenirs left in the shop for the last of the cruise ships, she enlisted the help of everyone to get the last of the sanding and polishing completed.

Bridget's 'Made in South Georgia' production line

‘Buy a hat, kill a rat’ became a catch phrase recently during one of my SGHT presentations on a cruise ship. The outdoor bbq was quite chilly and Linda McRae’s woolly hats were quite a hit. Thanks to Rolf Stange, Expedition Leader, for buying the first hat and setting a new fashion trend.

Buy a Hat - Kill a Rat!

My last month on the island will see me office bound, getting the last of the season’s admin completed, stocktaking, ordering for next season and helping Elsa with curatorial administration. I am hoping that the boiler which is due to take its last breath will manage to hold on long enough to keep me warm while I do so!