The Main Event

What kind of excitement goes on around here on a Saturday night?

BINGO!

It’s baffling how popular the game is down here on the ice, but Bingo night always draws a huge crowd. No where else would I be playing Bingo but at the South Pole. OK, that’s not exactly true – my first time playing was when my sister Dana came to visit me when I was working on the Navajo reservation in Chinle, AZ and like here, Bingo was the only thing to do on a Saturday night. But that’s another amusing story for later.

We just about needed translators with Sven and Paul calling the numbers in thick Swedish and Kiwi accents.

Sven and Paul getting ready to call numbers. Note the sunset in the windows behind them.

It could have been a great opportunity to learn some numbers in Swedish if we hadn’t been teasing Sven so much with countless jokes about the Swedish chef on the Muppet show (bork bork bork).

Some great prizes were given away, mostly gift certificates to restaurants in Christchurch. Of course the winners will have to wait another 8 months before they can use them.

Kris with his winning card. He used Cracklin' Oat Bran cereal for the number markers. Others preferred Goldfish crackers.

Kari was the jackpot winner of the last game blackout with $156 in cash and she won’t have to wait until Christchurch to use it.

And in a news update, Michael is finding out that fame has its price as overzealous fans all want a piece of him.

That's Neil, his boss, and Jordan the network admin showing him some fan adoration.