Ref: Job in Antarctica

To whom it may concern...

The opportunity

I wrote a month or so ago about something that had found its way into my inbox…an opportunity to spend six months working for the British Antarctic Survey at the Rothera Research Station in…yes…you guessed it: Antarctica.

Photo by henrique setim on Unsplash

Bear with me reader…

Here is an excerpt from that piece to give the context:

Can I go and live in Antarctica?

Fast forward to this year, 2024, and our little unit of 4 is bobbing along very nicely, when I get sent a link to a job as a radio operator at the Rothera Research Station, Antarctica. It has my name written all over it. Based in the ‘operations tower’ in one of the most ‘exhilarating and spectacular workplaces you could imagine’.

Job criteria:

• rapidly prioritise tasks and remain calm under pressure - yep - been an air traffic controller

• aptitude for learning - yep - have a masters with Distinction

• ability to pass a radio operators certificate of competence - er…hello…

At dinner, I mention it to Himself, Taz and Fiver. Initial dismissal of the idea forces me to emphasise why I am so well qualified. Slight raised eyebrows around the table. ‘But guys it’s PERFECT for me - I am literally qualified for the role, and I could get to swim in the Antarctic Ocean - I mean how cool is that?!?! I’d only have to be away from October to March - you’ll barely notice I’m gone.’

It makes absolute sense to me.

When they realise I’m not going to go quiet about it, Taz wearily raises her head - ‘you do know I’m doing my GCSEs next summer, and possibly European Gym Championships this October in Azerbaijan’. Hmm, yes I do know that.

[I consider that I could help remotely with revision and request a week off in October.]

Meanwhile, Fiver’s eyes have expanded beyond the realms of her face as she contemplates that I might actually be serious about going away for a length of time.

Himself still isn’t taking me seriously, although I actually am quite serious - whilst simultaneously knowing that it is impossible for me to go. The level to which I am considering it and have already half-written the application form reminds me to chase my own ADHD referral.

I submit that they are right and that I can’t go this year, but note to self that the year after might work…

I mean it’s Antarctica, right???!!!

So here I am six weeks later, and the thought simply won’t go away. The application deadline is in ten days time.

The collision of worlds

I have often pondered the absolute dichotomy between my former (air traffic controller) and current (writer) existence, and wondered if there might be a way in which they would ever meet. Most former careers lend something to our future paths, and although I have written a short article about air traffic control meeting my hobby of open water swimming, for me, there isn’t a whole book in air traffic control, and I have thought this through a lot. There is, however, a book in air traffic control and living in Antarctica…

My first book, Breaking Waves, is being published in a year’s time. My second book centring on ‘Tea’ is in progress, my third book is firmly established in my head (subject matter equally firmly under wraps), and something about my fourth book was drawing me to the ice…and then this happened.

I brought it up with Himself again over dinner last week…

After a glass of wine I casually show him the job criteria (which I just happen to have printed off and in my bag - how on earth did that get there??).

‘Look!! It was made for me!! I have the essentials and all the desirables except for ‘experience in a polar environment’, but I’m an ice swimmer and acclimatised to the cold…’ [‘ATCO’ = Air Traffic Control Officer]

He takes a closer look, and then knowing how persistent I am once something gets into my brain, he decides on a different tactic.

‘Maybe I’ll apply’, he says.

‘…after all, I also have the polar experience.’ (he has literally just returned from polar rescue training in the Arctic, sleeping in fox holes dug out of snow and ‘falling’ into icy waters, and he also used to be an air traffic controller, the bastard). AND he is an international rescue worker and has been dealing with emergencies in the Fire Brigade for twenty years. But seriously?

Fuck. Off.

Actual fuckety fuck off. This is MY job!!!!

He finds this highly amusing for the rest of the meal, and indeed the week. Oh, he is hilarious. I remember why I married him.

The reality

Ok, so there are some not insignificant and very real obstacles between me and this opportunity of a lifetime, primarily these:

1. Having teenage children still at home

2. Having chronic health problems

With my ‘hazard analysis’ head on, I propose to myself the following mitigating steps:

1. Apply for the job anyway, and if successful, see if I can negotiate to do it in three years time; alternatively put my kids in a cupboard.

2. Yes, this really is the woolly mammoth in the room, but things have been stable for a while now…only time will tell how that develops, and who knows…there may be a way.

So…this morning, I’ve decided to apply. I mean, what’s the worst that can happen?

Instead of telling my family, I thought I’d first tell my favourite writing group -

Suzy Walker

Heart Leap Club - and then put it here on Substack. I can’t think of a better way to test whether my family actually read my Substack 🤣.

At our writing hour this morning, the Heart Leap Club are ALL over it - ‘do it!!’, ‘this is amazing!!’, ‘leave your daughters behind!’, ‘see your family on Zoom'!!’. I LOVE the energy I get from this gathering of brilliant people - and not just because they’re telling me exactly what I want to hear…ahem no, not at all. I question whether I can apply for something that I know I can’t take up straight away - they say: ‘you’ll be so perfect for it, they’ll wait for you…’

I talk about how it gives me goose bumps from my head to my toes thinking about it, how I have dreamt about going to Antarctica for so long, how I could write something so truly unique, and the fact that this job randomly came to my attention and I’m actually qualified for it?!!? It’s like it was meant to be. As the wonderful

Juliet Thomas

said just this morning: ‘How on earth could those worlds collide, it is a huge sign from the Universe!’. Another member of the writing group even knows someone in Antarctica they can link me up with. WTF?

Photo by Deborah Diem on Unsplash

What if I don’t…

I have no idea where this burst of randomness might take me - I very much suspect it won’t actually take me to this job at all, but it’s like the old lottery ticket analogy: you certainly ain’t gonna win if you don’t buy a ticket in the first place. It may take me somewhere that I’ve never even imagined just by putting this first step in place, but if I don’t even do that, then it will remain an unrequited dream.

So many of us experience such difficulties in life, that when a spark of magic like this comes up, it can be so heartbreaking to let it pass us by. A dear friend of mine was offered a similar opportunity recently - not in Antarctica, but her absolute dream job, and one that would have taken her away from home for six months. She didn’t take it, and it broke her heart. It was the right decision, also based on family and health issues, but I don’t think it’s the end of that chapter of her story. I feel sure it just wasn’t the right time for it to unfold. I think that the seed she sowed in applying in the first place will sprout into something wonderful when the time is right. That is likely the case for me too, the timing isn’t right just now - I’m not going to leave my daughters (!) or compromise my health, but it’s worth a bit of initial exploration, and let’s see where I end up.

The Universe is telling me to apply for it, and I’m going to listen.

Wish me luck x

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I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Love & lemons 💕🍋

Em xx