That’s what’s written along the harbour wall in Ushuaia, the southern-most city in the world and one of the most popular departure points for Antarctic expedition vessels.

One year ago, I was preparing for what many of my friends referred to as the trip of a lifetime:  two and a half weeks in Antarctica, Ushuaia, Buenos Aires and Iguazu Falls. Even at the time and as fortunate as I felt, I already knew that 12 days in Antarctica was never going to be enough! Even with the highest of expectations, nothing could have prepared me for what I saw and experienced. 

When I returned, people asked me to describe Antarctica and I still don’t know how to do it justice. The only explanation which comes close, is to imagine yourself standing at the top of the most beautiful snowy mountain range with peaks as far as you can see.  Multiply that feeling by about a million and you’re just about scratching the surface of the beauty of Antarctica… in my opinion anyway!

When I got home I felt like a one woman Antarctic Tourist Board. I couldn’t get my hands on enough books about the polar regions and it wasn’t long before I started wondering how I could get back there.  During my visit last year we were fortunate enough to make two station landings. One at Vernadsky and one at Port Lockroy. Given that I’ve never been a science wiz (!) I realised that was never going to be my route in! I did however wonder whether the UK Antarctic Heritage Trust, (responsible for the conservation and management of Port Lockroy) might be interested in a new recruit!  Several months later after phone calls,  e-mails and an interview in Wales, the Trust offered me a place in the 2008/2009 Port Lockroy team.

I can hardly believe that one year on I’m back on count down. Not for a holiday, but for the real trip of my lifetime!  

For all of your sakes, I’ll try to make these the first and last cheesy lines, but it only seems right to say a heart-felt thank you to all my friends and family who have already given me so much support and encouragement, and to the Trust who have offered me this amazing opportunity. I also want to say an extra special thank you to my sister Lorna, who didn’t burst into fits of laughter when I sheepishly told her I wanted to work in Antarctica. Instead she filled me with encouragement and made me believe it was all possible .