As winter draws in our esteemed Iceland Product Manager, Nikki Rickett, will be heading South once more for her second season working in the world's most remote museum and post office at Port Lockroy, Antarctica.
Port Lockroy is situated on Goudier Island on the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula, and is operated by the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust (UKAHT). The UKAHT are dedicated to the preservation of Britain's history of exploration and scientific research in Antarctica, by restoring and maintaining various historic sites, monuments and huts - including Goudier Island's Bransfield House which was built in 1944 and lovingly restored by the UKAHT in 1996. The gift shop at Port Lockroy plays an essential part in the work of the UKAHT as the proceeds make the running of this 'living museum' possible, as well as helping to fund restoration work of other historic sites in Antarctica.
Following her first memorable experience as gift shop manager 2 years ago, Nikki will be returning this season as Base Leader, overseeing the team of 3 new volunteers. Among their main daily tasks the team will be welcoming visitors, selling souvenirs, and operating the post office - around 70,000 cards are posted here each year! In addition they will work on maintaining and restoring the buildings of this historic site, and will be monitoring the resident the colony of gentoo penguins.
This year the team will be moving their living quarters out of Bransfield House and into the restored Nissen hut, with no central heating, running water or mains electricity - although visiting ships will usually let them on board for the occasional shower! Nikki will be travelling South at the beginning of November, and returning in March - cleverly swapping the grey English winter for long, long days of summer in Antarctica, where temperatures could reach up to a balmy 5 degrees above zero!
If you want to hear more about life at Port Lockroy then tune into BBC Surrey radio (104 / 104.6 FM) tomorrow morning, at 07:25, when Nikki will be speaking about her forthcoming adventure. You can also follow the team's progress via their fascinating online diaries, which will be regular ly updated during their 5-month stay in Antarctica.
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