Author Archives: Rhian

Rhian in America

Much to my surprise, I love America. We spend a lot of time in Britain bitching about America, Americans, Americanisms and of course the American administration. It’s very easy. But whenever I come here, I find some things very comfortable … Continue reading

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Earth-girl in New York

I’m in New York and loving it. Quite a contrast from last time I visited, a fortnight after having returned from Antarctia the first time, constantly getting rushed at by honking cars while staring at the rooftops and fire escapes … Continue reading

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Opting In

Grey mizzle across the country, a hanging mist, traffic fluidly moving through the capital’s centre, commuters buying coffee, picking up the free paper, listening to their ipods. Schoolchildren on a train, the first day of term after the summer, a … Continue reading

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Beloved Hydroxyl

I dedicated my Ph.D. thesis ‘to the hydroxyl radical, omnipresent but ever elusive, you have a wicked sense of humour’. In retrospect, this may seem a little theatrical. But at the time I truly felt that I had been chasing … Continue reading

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Hot (a science blog)

It’s a hot, smoggy day in London and I’m sitting on an overcrowded train. It’s too hot for this many people to be in one space. In fact, it’s too hot for this many people to be in one place: … Continue reading

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Science (or, should Rhian write a book?)

I want to write about science. Well, I don’t really, I’m dragging my heavy arms to the keyboard, I have surfed every website I can think of, I have even done the washing up. It’s not that I don’t like … Continue reading

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The World Is Too Much With Us

The continual changing scenery can be slightly overwhelming at times. Mostly, as I say to everyone, it’s like I’ve been gone for 10 minutes. Not even ten days to the Med with holiday snaps to prove. Ten minutes or a … Continue reading

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Rhian’s bath tour of the world

The airport hotel in Santiago had all mod cons, including an en-suite bathroom, with bath. I was very excited about this bath, but as I went to close the curtains at the window so I could waltz around naked between … Continue reading

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Jolly

I have just been on a most spectacular jolly down a fjord on (in? at?) South Georgia. Drygalski Fjord. Spectacular. Even those who had seen rock in the last year were staring with gaping jaws. And grinning like pigs, if … Continue reading

Posted in Rhian in Antarctica | 3 Comments

The Birth of Icebergs

I’m not sure why I’m destined to love one of the most remote and inaccessible places in the world. Perhaps it is just one of those quirks of character that define who you are and which, try as you might, … Continue reading

Posted in Rhian in Antarctica | 7 Comments

Departure

Watching eight sno-cats leave the base in convoy this morning was very impressive. Eight fully loaded sno-cats, each towing a sledge piled high and a few passengers inside, off to meet the ship 50 km away. The trip will probably … Continue reading

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Penguin Soup and Dozer Wars

Well, the title says it all really. The cute fluffy penguins are all dead now and Halley has been transformed back into a construction site full of boys and their tonker toys. And it’s still a great place to be. … Continue reading

Posted in Rhian in Antarctica | 13 Comments

Normality

I’m writing to you on a Sunday afternoon, the rugby on, fairly loud, in the background. South Africa v Ireland: surprisingly up-to-date by Halley standards as the game was only played about 2 months ago. It must be summer. This … Continue reading

Posted in Rhian in Antarctica | 5 Comments

Christmas Eve

It’s 6am on christmas eve and I’m struggling to stay awake for the last two hours of this 12 hour shift. These are always the hardest. When it’s quiet and warm inside and sleepiness creeps back in again. Outside, I … Continue reading

Posted in Rhian in Antarctica | 8 Comments

Tourists!

I’ve had in mind to write this piece all week but every day something new arises that makes the week even more extraordinary. So much so that the initial inspiration now almost smacks of the ordinary. So I’ll just list … Continue reading

Posted in Rhian in Antarctica | 3 Comments

Getting chilly

It is all too easy for gnarly Antarticans emerging from a dark and cold winter to become dissmissive and patronising about the soft summer with all its light and relative warmth. "You think this is cold?", I was regularly asked … Continue reading

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Contact!

Yes, its true, it’s true, it really is. And you had to hear about it from someone elses web diary! Apologies. The winter is officially over; we’ve had our first visitors. It’s true. Bizarre, odd, quite nice to see friendly … Continue reading

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Sunburn

I got fried today. Toasted, roasted and turned on a spit. Or at least my face did. For a team of caucasians who haven’t seen the sun for six months, and, when they have, have had every inch of flesh … Continue reading

Posted in Rhian in Antarctica | 7 Comments

Post-winter trip

Post-winter trip I: Ropes and Rumples So, I’m back! Fully rested and relaxed, we had a great time away: a lot of playing, a bit of learning, lots of new sights and a refreshing time off base. A break for … Continue reading

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Windy Bay

I’m lying on the snow, emperor penguins all around. Once you get used to the sight, the sound and then smell are probably the most noticeable things. The constant cooing, deep throttle cooing: da da da daa di da da … Continue reading

Posted in Rhian in Antarctica | 40 Comments

Back at Halley, briefly (we hope!)

Dear Granny, Thankyou so much for your last two letters that I haven’t yet responded to – one of October 15/16th and the next, which I just received today, from the 23rd. I hope you received the flowers in place … Continue reading

Posted in Rhian in Antarctica | 2 Comments

Midnight light

When I first came here, I was mesmerised by continual light, the midnight sun, the beauty of the ice at all times of day and day. I couldn’t understand why both blinds and curtains were firmly closed in evenings at … Continue reading

Posted in Rhian in Antarctica | 12 Comments

Equinox

I am becoming a little bored of being electrocuted every time I open the fridge door. Or, for that matter, touch a handrail before climbing steps into a building. And then I get a shock, once indoors, when I hang … Continue reading

Posted in Rhian in Antarctica | 16 Comments

Waking Up

It has felt like waking up out of a dream, that slightly hazy feeling after a crazy night out, a little disorienting, stretching, opening eyes, rolling over again and returning to the comfort of covers. Dizzy and perplexed, happy memories, … Continue reading

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Blowy Snowy Day

I really can’t believe it’s September tomorrow. But I have no frame of reference either. I guess at home you’ll be watching the leaves become less green or recently-born animals becoming be less cute. You can feel it in the … Continue reading

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