Russia (Day 55 in the Big Brother Russian House) Meino

Yesterday ended at just before 05:50 hrs this morning as we were still uploading equipment to the ribs at 02:30 hrs this morning and then back to base where it was a case of more packing and cleaning for Martin and myself as Nigel was on board the ship with enough of his work to deal with. I managed to get to bed just before 06:00 hrs and then was up again at 09:00hrs when Nigel appeared like a jack in the box (another one his many magic tricks). He had to return to pick up some more eqipment before returning back to the rib (photo above). After this Martin continued to catch mosquitoes where I continued pack up kit and then before you know 16:00hrs was here and then the rest of the team who were departing left. This time I saw Martin depart and as I walked back to base I again felt some what alone and empty. I made a cup of Tea, sat there thinking of what has been and how fast this whole expedition trip has gone. It doesn't seem like five minutes ago when all arrived in Anadyr to where the ground was thick with snow, it was snowing , the wind was blowing the snow in our faces and eyes and it was bitterly cold and we braced ourselves for what lay ahead over the next few months. Now I guess chapter one is partly over and I sit here tonight updating as Roman kindly gave me the access codes for the internet as he installed them on to my net-book. I did feel a bit down for a few hours as I have lived with Nigel and Martin in this base for 24hrs a day 7 days a week for near on 6 weeks in which we didn't once have a disagreement and so for them to just be gone all of a sudden did leave me feeling a bit empty to say the least. I tried to sleep as I have been living off of around 3 hours sleep a night for the previous 3 days and I am feeling a bit beat up at the moment. I think I must be over-tired as couldn't sleep and so after an hour I decided to take a stroll to Sveta's house to return some bits and pieces. As I arrived I was greeted with a typical warm & welcoming smile from Sveta and she is just like one of your favourite aunt's who just makes you feel welcome. Then as ever top guy Nicoli was there and began chatting away and I have to say he really is just a Good guy. We talked about the plans for the 2 weeks ahead and then Sveta served me up some food. I walked back to base feeling a lot better than I did when I returned from seeing Martin depart. I have just had Pavel and Igor around as they will be moving in to this base cottage for the rest of the expedition and now I am here uploading todays' posting before I take a long hot soak and then try to call it an early night at around midnight. I intend to spend as much time here for the remainder of the expedition hopefully watching spoon billed sandpipers but I also intend to trek further out to the west of the morane hills in the hope of trying to find some adults brooding chicks from a nest that we haven't discovered so far. (Fingers crossed) As I finish typing this post I look around the walls of this cottage and think back and smile to when the 3 of us Nigel, Martin and I were on our hands and knees cleaning, scrubbing and bleaching everything every where in order to prepare this as the base for the incubation, hatching and brooding units and now it is all just a memory (but a good and happy one).