Going South - Antarctica - The Beginning

I get ahead of myself!

So how did l come by this opportunity? It all started in the Royal Oak, a pub in Heavitree, Exeter whilst celebrating the end of my certificate to become a teacher. l was drawn to an advert with the headline -

'do you want excitement and adventure'?!.......

I don't remember much of that night but awoke the next morning with a hangover and rolling over l could feel the crush of a piece of newspaper in my pocket - it was that advert which l had torn from the newspaper and stuffed in my pocket the night before. With the weight of a heavy head, l rolled over and read the advert again - they wanted a meteorologist - no training required! Suddenly the reality of teaching became less of an attraction

...and before I knew it, I had applied for the position of meteorologist at the British Antarctic Survey. I never expected to hear back from them, but to my surprise, I received a letter inviting me for an interview. I turned up at a now-demolished Stag Place in Victoria to be interviewed by a team of scientists and Sir Vivian Fuchs! I managed to impress them enough to be offered the position.

Great pay don't you think!!

And so, with a mix of excitement and apprehension, I set off to Killin in Perthshire to the Firbush Field Centre for initial training.