majr

Hello! Thanks for all the answers, no, it doesn't sound so small now, it shouldn't be! I was told that it was 7000 sqare meters, a not insignificant amount larger than what it now appears I am buying. I will have to confirm the details, unfortunately it's not the Notaire who has the information I understand, I have to go to the local mayor and get copies of the land details I think. I haven't seen it myself as I am out of the country, that said I have had 3 family members visit now on 3 different occasions, half an hour of video and about 300 photographs! My issue with the land is that it is very overgrown and there is no boundary markings so I want to be sure of the area I'm paying for, everyone who's seen it has fallen in love with it but I still want to get all the facts straight. Thanks again for the comments. Mat.

Actually that can't be right, it would make the house at 3510 sqare meters and the land at 2360 square meters, that wouldn't be right, the house is small. Hmmmm. Mat.

[quote user="Anton Redman"]a = are which is 100 square metres ca = centi are = 100th of 100 square metres or 1 square metre [/quote] Thanks for the details, I may be wrong but it reads to me that; 58 a or 58 x 100 square meters =5800m2 70 ca or 70x 1 sqaure meters = 70m2 which gives a total of 5870m2, does that seem right?/ Mat.

Hi Cooperlola This is what's on the details, that's all I know at the moment! Does that help at all? Prefixe    Section     No      Adresse ou lieudit      Contenance                A             379     Maye des castries      35 a 10 ca                A             380     30 rue de la gare        23 a 60 ca                                        Contenance totale         58 a 70 ca I presume it's detailing the size of the house and of the land and giving a total area but it could be something else entirely! Thanks for the Notaire link Les, seems about right according to that, just felt like a lot of money. Mat.

Thanks for the link, not quite what I was after, my fault for not explaining properly. I can find loads of conversion sites but I don't know what I'm converting! I don't understand what 58 a 70 ca is an abbreviation of, what is it short for? a and ca are units of what? I can't convert it into acres because I don't know what it means! I may well be thick. Thanks for any help. Mat.

Hello! I hope somebody can help, I have a couple of questions. I have been sent documents through for a house I'm trying to buy, the size of the property is given as 58 a 70ca, I don't know what this means and how to convert it into something I understand, i.e. acres or square meters or something, can anyone help? Also, this is a cheap little place, £30k I have asked the Notaire for an indication of his fees bearing in mind that it's a cash buy, no awkward contractual bits and bobs and I'm happy with the property exactly as it is, he's informed me it will cost 6500 euros, that's 16%! Seems very excessive being as he's also not responded to any of my emails or attached any of the correct paperwork and made loads of mistakes on the contract. Anything I can do about this before signing the Compromis de vente? Thanks in advance for any help. Mat.

First Choice, they were doing a special. I'll ask her for something she's recorded. I like those mornings, been 2 years sice I've woken up to that! I can't wait to experience it again, new shoes too! Mat

Good morning Just Katie, how's the Welsh winter going? A proper singer! Cool, where do I listen?? Mat.

Morning! It's a beautiful day here, quite cold but nice clear skies. I agree Twinkle, White Ladder holds great memories, as does Lost Songs, I was given that album on a trip through Nepal, when I hear it now I can actually taste the Nepal air, sounds daft I know. What do you do in France Twinkle? Mat.

I think that's told her Twinkle. I haven't seen any live music for ages, really miss it actually, shame Lisa whatsername wasn't singing, she makes Damien Rice for me. I haven't listened much to either him or David Gray recently but did today and "O" and White Ladder are albums I think I could listen to anytime. I'm always on the look out for good music, here's a few you may or may not know, Ane Brun, what an amazing voice, A Temporary Dive is a superb album, also try Clayhill, they have an album called Small Circle, the acoustic version is amazing, it's on a lot at the mo. Do you know Kelly Joe Phellps? Or Ben Harper? I like there style of lap steel guitar and I'm going to learn to play when I get back, love that sound. Anyway, I'm rambling. It was a rubbish day to start with, strong winds and no contract at all but brightened up this afternoon and stayed around -30ish so not too bad, how was your day? Summer over? Have a nice evening. Mat.

[quote user="Jonzjob"]Hi Mat. The photos are lovely and it's nice to see that there is some wild life on the planet that is not terrified of mankind! It shows that it is possible.. A question if I may? Do you use any solar power for heating there? In the summer of course!![:-))] Bit dark otherwise. If so what stuff do you use?? And how efficient is it? If not then how do you heat water being as everything has to be shipped in? [/quote] Hi John. We don't use solar power for heating, we do use it for battery charging and for running scientific projects that got deployed into the field and left to collect there data. We have a couple of small panels that charge batteries that are used to power fuel pumps and things like that. Main water heating on the base is done with large boilers that run off Avtur and we also make use of waste energy from the generators that supply power, the exhausts are used to heat air for the main building. This is an old base now, work starts in the summer on Halley 6 which will be a posh new base utilising wind and solar power as well as much more modern techniques for producing and maintaining energy. Mat.

[quote user="Just Katie"]Trying hard arent we Twinks [:D][/quote] Oh shush Just Katie![:)]

No use trying to dig yourself out of the James Blunt hole there Twinkle, the damage is done. I managed to download the Damien Rice video, are you a fan? I have to say that it's incredible stuff, would love to get that much passion into music. I'm glad you like the pictures, it really is an amazing thing to see, not many get the chance infact you really have to do a season here to see them properly, it's a nice bonus after a long winter. We have a copy of the American version of March of the Emperors but it's got a terrible voice over, will have to listen to the French version, thanks for the link! Mat.

Hello! Sorry I've been lacking in Internet time recently, very busy time of the year here with science projects going on and the imminent arrival of all the summer people just 6 weeks away! Thanks for all the comments, I've added a couple more pictures for you to see below, I have a few hundred of the penguins but not had chance to sort them all out yet. In reply to a fe of the questions, no the penguins don't mind us at all, we approach to within 5m or so then let them decide how close they want to come. The younger adults are very inquisitive and once I lay down on the ice I was surrounded very quickly by 20-30 adults all that came within a couple of meters and sat there quite happy as I took pictures. The adults with chicks tend to huddle together a bit more so I didn't get chance to photograph many. Next time I go the chicks will be fairly big and they become very inquisitive too and will surround anyone who comes along. Thanks for the comments about my music twinkle, I'm not a musician at all, I brought a guitar when I came down here 2 years ago and have taught myself, I have more enthusiasm than talent! I wrote a song a year ago just to see if I could and have now writen 11, they are just messing about and I have an intense fear of performing infront of anyone so doubt I will carry it on when I leave here. Thanks for the Damien Rice link, superb stuff although the James Blunt connection I will pass on, can't stand him! haha! Anyway, enough of my rambling, here's a couple of pics. This gives you an idea of where they are, the ice cliffs behind are the edge of the ice shelf and the penguins are living on sea ice. [img]http://www.uncletravellingmat.com/d/1405-2/emp-113.jpg[/img] I like this one, just a few standing on the ice, looks good at full resolution. [img]http://www.uncletravellingmat.com/d/1429-2/emp-17.jpg[/img] This is how they gather around when you sit on the ice. [img]http://www.uncletravellingmat.com/d/1445-2/emp-47.jpg[/img]

A couple more for you [img]http://a141.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/89/l_d53e862bf089df67c2ef33d17b3dbfac.jpg[/img] [img]http://a103.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/108/l_14533214041a414159cbd20993e8b02e.jpg[/img] Mat.

Hello! Sorry for the lack of contact, it's an incredibly busy time of the year with a couple of big science projects going out. I managed to get down to the Emperor Penguins yesterday and took lots of pics, here's a couple. [img]http://a205.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/117/l_201144bfc970e7bf82c6d492a8ac08ec.jpg[/img] [img]http://a766.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/77/l_0ca63c22bee7ed3c0600e736195416a5.jpg[/img] Mat.

Hi Pads. There are strict guidelines for travelling on sea ice, these burgs are all grounded on the bottom and then the sea has frozen around them. The ice was very thick last year and we could safely walk around on it and go up to the iceburgs. You don't get too close because there are still tides and as the burgs don't move you end up with an area a couple of feet wide around the bottom of each one that never sets fully. You would never walk up close to the actual ice cliffs of the glaciers as they can fall or carve at any time and they are very dangerous. You don't have to be quiet but it is very strange on the ice, sort of an eerie silence and you can hear the ice creaking. Often when the seals are giving birth you can hear them under the ice. I've had a look through lots of the pictures on here, some lovely shots! My family have been out to my place today so I'm hoping to have some pictures from them soon, very exciting, even if I'm still 7 months away from seeing it myself! Have a nice weekend. Mat.

Yes Christine, looks like snow would be right! Pretty bad day today, lots of snow and high winds, what you see in the webcam is about the same as you can see walking about, handlines only. Here's a couple more pictures, the big iceburg from the previous page close up was huge, this is it from a distance. We travelled on skidoos across the sea ice to see it up close. [img]http://a56.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/41/l_f920332fbf95db58d3d3c5ae925277cf.jpg[/img] This is looking through an iceburg [img]http://a64.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/14/l_9201ed5351a4d113f740ed5e27e71a4f.jpg[/img] These are a couple of young Blue Eyed Shags taken on the Falkland Islands. [img]http://a755.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/01146/45/75/1146615754_l.jpg[/img] This is a grumpy female Elephant Seal on South Georgia. [img]http://a213.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/01551/21/29/1551149212_l.jpg[/img]

Good news today, the sun made an appearance on the horizon for about an hour! We raise a new Union Flag on sun up so had the ceremony this afternoon, beautiful day but very cold at -42. Thanks to those of you who have written, I have had the same impression Nicos, some very nice people here and your place sounds fantastic, I hope to enjoy my place just as much. We haven't been to the Emperors yet, will do in the next week or two, the chicks will be hatched by then and should get some nice pictures. Mat.

Here's a couple more pictures then being as you have listened to my ramblings for a few posts now! This was an amazing iceburg that froze into the sea ice last year, we went up to it, enormous! [img]http://a625.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/26/l_b85643d28736567c7709a9a1b157f150.jpg[/img] This is an Island called Signy, it's like the land time forgot. [img]http://a541.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/7/l_aec64fbd98dfd31106d55ec624a08c4c.jpg[/img] This is a sculpture of a guy skiing I made, about 14" tall. [img]http://a533.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/81/l_5847e5e16c2b57e27e8183e5155eee8c.jpg[/img] This is a sculpture of one of the guys here going off to dig, I think he's had enough! [img]http://a534.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/81/l_45f8ec34883ab750bf79a2eec31880fd.jpg[/img] These are Giant Petrels, huge birds, scavengers who eat dead seals basically! [img]http://a248.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/36/l_297b75356646e9650305b2d3bc49adef.jpg[/img]

Are you saying I'm too old for a stroppy 20 year old now Pads?? Ha! You are right, it is fascinating, I'm amazed all the time by the people I meet and have met all over the world. Some unusual people and some great people too but mainly mad people! It can be testing at times, 2 years is a long time, I miss people more now, I didn't much when I was younger. You can only be down here for 2 winters maximum before going home, you can come down again as many times as they will have you. There's a guy here on his 4th winter, a few of the old school guys who have been coming here for 10 years. It has a special feeling associated with it, more people have been up Everest than have ever wintered here at Halley. No idea what I will do next to be honest, I've done lots of cool stuff so far. I'd quite like to spend a bit of time making things, always enjoyed it. I'm not good enough to make a living but could take a year and feel like I had given it a go. I make lots of steel sculptures and instruments from wood, drums and guitars, that sort of thing. Who know's what people like, it's all relative. I do "sing" my songs, it's not serious though, it's just something I  wanted to have a go at, I doubt I'd ever have had chance to give it a go if I hadn't been here. You can have a listen, they are on the internet but seriously, I am only playing about. You can go to www.myspace.com/matrichardson and there are 3 on there. The house is going well, my brother is going to sign on my behalf I think so all should go well, I have saved for a long time to buy my own place so even though it's a run down hovel it's my run down hovel! I'd like to stay a while in France but maybe I will come back down here depending on what I can find to do. It's a good way of saving money here and I might need some to do up the house. I will also listen to your words of wisdom about women, I could do with any help I can get, it's going to be tricky fitting back into society again! Have a good night. Mat.

Oooh, you ask the juicy questions Pads! It's 1 hour behind Uk time here, in the summer we switch to Uk time for ease of communications etc. You can do what you want in the evenings, there is a bar area with a tv, loads of DVD's and videos, a pool table. We tend to have different nights set aside for different things. Movies on Tuesdays, German lessons Thursdays, band practice Fridays, that sort of thing. I came here with some specific things I wanted to do and spend a lot of time doing them, much less time socialising, that works for me and I enjoy my time. I have a very basic recording set-up in my office and I came here wanting to learn to play the guitar and 2 years later I have written 10 songs, not much good but I really enjoy the whole thing and if I'm not working I'm playing guitar or making something. I make a lot of sculpture and also musical instruments, anything that takes my fancy really! We work on a 9-5.30 working day, 5 days a week, everyone sticks to that easily. Some work more if needed. I'm one of the older ones here at 34 and I have a very busy job. I run all the vehicles here and I tend to work a lot more hours but that is my choice and it makes the time go quicker. We do whatever needs to be done and if that meens being up all night then so be it, I'm used to lifestyle jobs and don't really look at it as a day job, I'm here to keep everything running and really enjoy that. The internet does make a difference but I'm not really keen to be honest. I like the idea of being cut off! We have only had internet access for a couple of years, I think 4 years ago winterers where on fax or telex. I certainly makes life easier and there are a few here with girlfriends who maintain a relationship with the internet. I'm single, I don't really think it'd be fair to ask someone to wait two and a half years for me! Life is very strange here, it carries on as normal for everyone back home but it's like a timewarp, nothing moves on here, I think a relationship at this distance would be very hard. I spent 3 years in Africa and 2 years in Asia and the Middle East and a year in South America so have been away quite a long time really, I have missed all the getting married and having a family bit which is a real shame, something I'd have liked to have done before now but maybe that will happen in the future sometime. I have a beautiful Niece who was born just before I left to come here and is 2 now so she will probably get pampered a bit when I get home. I couldn't get home in an emergency no, it's a concern but that's the way it is. Hope that answers your questions! Mat

WOW! I didn't see this picture, what a beautiful dog! I haven't seen green grass since the Falkland Islands over a year ago. Thanks Pamela. Let me see what I can sort out for you. Mat

[quote user="Pads"]Matt Did the sun show ? Will you do me a favour ? will you go and make me a snow man with a plaque saying "Hello Pamela and Balloo from Cornwall"  in its hands, take a photo of it and post it on here , then when my hubby rings tonight I can tell him there was a snow man saying hello to me in the antarica today and he wont beleive me . then I will email him the picture to prove it. He will be so mistified and give him a laugh as hes along way from home too. Do you ever have snow fights and make snow men , or are you all to grown up to do things like that ? [:)] Heres hoping Pamela [/quote] Hi Pamela That's a big favour! I only just got your message, give me a couple of days and I will see what I can do, making a snowman at -35 is not even a tiny bit fun!! Ha! There might be something I can do for you if I can't get a snowman, will see. Nope, the sun didn't show, maybe tomorrow. Mat.

Today is a special day, if the sun peeks above the horizon it will be the first sun we have seen for 105 days, winter is almost over which is great as I will be able to go home soon! In a couple of months we will be in 24hr daylight, it all moves very quickly down here! Mat