Monday 1 July 1974
The electric field mill has developed a fault. It seems to have acquired an increased sensitivity and gives only full deflection readings. The sponsor has been advised. The shower pump failed again. Despite half a day’s work we are still not sure how much, if any, DFA (fuel) we are saving compared to our predecessors.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 20 knots Temperature -29.2°C
Tuesday 2 July 1974
Bob Grant has now welded up the incinerator burner fuel tower. He had finished work on two toboggans and he and Bill Johnson decided to go to the Ski Chalet as a test run. When almost there the transmission failed on one toboggan.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-North-East 20 knots Temperature -27.8°C
Wednesday 3 July 1974
Some of the Base staff are concerned about the privacy of their phone calls. I have pointed out that Titch must monitor phone calls in order to maintain a good signal. All that can be asked is that he repeats nothing he hears. It was alleged that he had permitted an outgoing phone call to be broadcast in the Post Office for all to hear, but he denies this. Perhaps things will settle down.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind Calm Temperature -32.0°C
Sketch of the area
Thursday 4 July 1974
Most of the Base staff raided the McMurdo Mess in the early morning and removed all chairs. The idea was eventually to broadcast a request inviting all those who wished to display loyalty to King George III to stand for lunch. Unfortunately the chairs were found by 0800 hours. This sought of foolery occurs each year and seems to be expected (almost requested) by the Americans. I took no part in this, although I knew what was going on and did not intervene. The annual stock check is now almost finished.
Tony has succeeded in boosting the ionosonde power to 9.2 kw instantaneous peak, by swapping VFO feeds TX for RX and so getting more signal drive into TX.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-North-East 8 knots Temperature -29.0°C
Friday 5 July 1974
The earth current east-west line was repaired yet again. Tony Atkinson noticed that he was getting no reflection from the ionosphere and, with yesterday’s work in mind, thought a fault might have developed. However by midday he was able to satisfy himself that the ionosphere was in fact absorbing all the ionosonde’s output. In other words we are experiencing a polar blackout.
Bob Grant is repairing the transmission on our one mobile SnoTrac. In the evening we had about eight US Navy people to dinner.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 20 knots Temperature -30.9°C
Saturday 6 July 1974
Today was our coldest day so far. Those members of staff who normally ring home on Saturday’s were disappointed because the polar blackout continues. We cannot even raise Vanda. In the morning Garth Cowan and I drove to McMurdo and tramped out to the biologists fish hole to try out the current meter. We had no idea what was the state of the tide and in the event found there was barely any current at all. The mounting device needs a few more modifications and we will try again. It was a beautiful moonlight morning. I got back to Scott Base to find Mike Wing having morning tea in his pyjamas. After last nights dinner he had continued to look on the wine when it was red and had either overslept or did not feel like facing the day. I told him that in accordance with my rule he would now take over Sunday mouse duties. To my surprise he voiced objections. He does quite a bit of extra work after normal hours and felt this should be taken into consideration. I explained that whilst I was aware that he was a good worker I couldn’t apply rules to some of the staff and not others. He said he knew he would have to accept my decision but did so under protest.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind North-East 8 knots Temperature -41.7°C
Sunday 7 July 1974
I was mouse today with Mike Wing. He is obviously still labouring under a sense of grievance because he made a minimal contribution to the joint task.
Conditions at 0900 hours Wind Calm Temperature -35.5°C
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