SHARON NICHOLAS REPORTS ON THE ROYAL VISIT AND MUCH MORE

View from the church spire

It seems quite amazing that another month has flown by and events that only happened a few weeks ago seem like years ago. Since the last blog was posted things at the museum have swung from completely manic and run off our feet with expedition ship visits, yachts, and a Royal visit, to exploring the surrounds with a small group, majestic scenery and the ever present wildlife.

The Princess Royal talking to Sharon in the museum entrance

The Royal visit seems like the best starting point and with some reasonably iconic South Georgia wind and snow the Princess Royal arrived to a well planned and executed visit and tour where Matthew and Sarah guided the official party and other important visitors through and around the station and museum before breaking for lunch where, as a museum team, we found ourselves nervous about how well our cleaning efforts would be rated as lunch was served for the official party in our accommodation! Since the Royal visit, which was on January 16th, we have had 20 or so expedition ships visiting including the residents on MV The World, and the Tijuca jetty has become a regular marina with up to eight yachts moored alongside. Sadly our Volunteer Fundraiser Lucy, who was here for three months, finished her role on the island and has left the team. Her sense of humour is sorely missed by everyone around the office as we see the team getting smaller as the season progresses. Other news in and around the office include Sarah working tirelessly on the HR again as well as keeping up with all the other aspects of Directing. We have been doing lots of maintenance both inside and outside the museum to clean, preserve or just tidy up a few items and rooms. The builders have been busy too, giving the outside a shiny new coat of paint and mounting a harpoon gun in the front of the museum for display. And Matthew our curator has completed a new exhibition in the Carr Maritime Gallery on Shackleton’s Endurance expedition which highlights the South Georgia elements of the rescue of the shipwrecked crew on Elephant Island. We were thrilled when the relatives of Endurance expedition member James Wordie passed through and presented the museum with a beautifully bound limited edition copy of his diary. Alongside the work we have also been out and about making the best of the remaining time to explore this extraordinary island. Danielle is currently out camping whilst Matthew and I managed to explore and stay overnight in a beautiful sea cave with only one or two fur seals paying us a visit.

The view from Curlew Cave

So a month of activities can be condensed into a page it seems. In a few more weeks it will be departure time for myself and Danielle; it already seems like the end has come too quickly. I think it would be fair to say a little piece of each person that visits South Georgia gets left here when they go; at least I know that will be the case for me.