After just 50 years, I've at last produced a picture book on my time in Antarctica in 1966/7 (we're having a 1966 expedition reunion today and tomorrow, so I'll be away for a bit).

The title "YIKLA - well, usually" might seem a little unlikely, so I'll explain it. We had very limited communications while there - no voice radio contact and a personal allowance of only 150 free words/month of telegram messages (in both directions). To help with our messaging, the head office people gave us a code sheet of phrases linked to five letter words to share with families. I'm fairly sure the code word "YIKLA" was only ever used in a sardonic manner, it meant "This is the life". :-) If anyone would care to see a preview of the book (or even purchase a copy), then go to this link.

I was based at Mawson, on the coast at the top of the background map. During the year, I was part of a four month survey trip some 300km inland (more or less the red line shown at the top) to help map the largely unvisited northern Prince Charles Mtns.

Should you feel the need for something playing in the background, well, try this - it's in the book.