• Date: 17th July 1974

    I did not get a glimpse of a dream at all last night, because of the howling wind which continuously blew through the floorboards. “Bring!”
    The alarm went off, for the fourth time this morning. I slowly got out of my now cold sleeping bag and headed towards the restroom.

    I finished my personal business and then gently squeezed some soap onto my palm, twisted the tap and started to scrub my hands together. I placed my hands beneath the tap to wash off all the soap, but not a single drop of water fell to my skin. At that time I thought to myself “Maybe I didn’t turn it enough”.

    So I gave it another twist, then another, then another and continued for a violent five minutes! Abruptly one single drop of water plummeted from the faucet, about to touch my hand but missed!

    At that moment I realised how silly I was to think that I didn’t turn it quite enough. “The water is frozen!” I yelled at the top of my lungs.
    Afterwards another thought came to my head saying “The water is frozen! That is not supposed to be a good sign! What if I die in this very room?! ”

    Suddenly I started to scrabbling across the room, panicking, looking for hope to survive.

    *
    Several minutes have past and I have calmed down, informed the research station that my water supply had frozen and they have sent out a party of people who are going to take me back to the station, so better start packing, I also have time to do my daily duties like take the temperature and record my observations.

    Temperature: -5°C
    Observations: Penguins, Albatross, Weddell Seals

    Date: 20th July 1974

    I had been awoken at dawn at the screeching sound of the albatrosses tootle. It was Farley dark. I put on my coat and walked towards the door. There it was, the luminous motherly sun at its most beautiful point the sunrise.

    *
    I was expecting the party to arrive today, I could just imagine the research station, all nice and large and secure. If I were to compare my hut with the research station there would be a huge comparison!
    I thought that I might get on with my daily routine while I wait for the party to arrive.

    Temperature: -9 °C
    Observations: Albatross, Ice Bergs continuously rocking u and down but not drifting away from each other (rather unusual manner)

    Several hours have past and the party have not yet arrived; I had started to worry about their safety and my survival. I went towards the telephone and started dialling the number for the research station, but no answer! I had a feeling that my telephone line was not working. These are signs that I will perish this very night on this continent.


    Date: 21st July 1974

    I survived the night by eating a can of baked beans. Even though they tasted revolting, they helped me stay alive along the bitter night. It fell to a -12°C last night! I felt like as though I had a death stalker always following me, every second of my life. I might as well make a start to my daily routine once again, it may also be the last time I ever right in this book.

    Temperature: -1°C
    Observation: The place looked as though it had been deserted of everything but the ice.

    *
    It was noon, my stomach began to moan. My body’s reactions told me that I was hungry; I went over to the pantry and looked in it. There was nothing in it! All my supplies were finished! I am going to starve to death as well as develop frostbites!

    The shelves started to tremble, in fact everything in the room started to tremble! Bang! The shelf fell, just millimetres from me! Death had caught up to me… before I could even catch it.