We have had a fantastic Christmas onboard. We all miss our families at home, but have also created new amazing memories down here in Antarctica. Below is a Christmas poem from onboard
Twas the night before Christmas, on the ship with her crew
Not a creature was stirring – not even a gentoo.
The muckboots were hung around the ship with care
In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there
Those off watch were nestled all sung in their beds
While visions of icebergs, penguins, and whales danced in their heads;
With laura in her pjs and Fede in his cap,
They had just settled down for a long austral summer nap.
When out on the deck there arose such a clatter,
Fede sprang from his bunk to see what was the matter.
Away to the deck he flew like a flash
To check with the ice we did not have a crash
The southern evening summer sun on our vessel so fine,
Gave the luster of mid-day it looked just divine.
When, what to Fede’s wondering eyes should appear
But a miniature sleigh and 8 tiny reindeer
With a little old driver, so lively and quick
He knew in a moment it must be St. Nick
More rapid than snowflakes from the sky they came,
And he whistled, and shouted and called them by name;
“now Annie, Now Katherine, now Bertrand, and Wendy!
On, Miguel, On Meryl, on Heike, and Donna! And Adam!”
To the top of the mast! To the Bow of the vessel!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!
So up to the foredeck the reindeers they flew,
With a sleigh full of goodies and lifejackets too.
And then, in a twinkling, Fede heard on the deck
The prancing and pawing made him strain his neck.
As he went back to his cabin, and was turning around,
Down the main hatch St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in red, but with warm muck boots
A bundle of krill he had flung on his back.
And he looked like a whale scientist just opening his pack.
As he put down his bag to give out the stash,
He watched a chinstrap make a quick dash.
He looked in his bag for gifts for the whole crew
He remembered everyone – Captain, scientists, even guests too!
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, from eating miguel’s food all shift,
Fede grinned when he saw him, as santa put down the gift.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work.
And filled all the muck boots, then turned with a jerk
And laying a finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod up the main hatch he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a shout
And away to Port Lockroy they flew via the most direct route.
But Fede heard him radio in, ere he drove out of sight,
“Ocean Tramp, Ocean Tramp, This is sleigh, “sleigh go ahead”
Merry Christmas to Ocean Tramp and to Ocean Tramp a good night”
