hestialacey

Homeward Bound...

Sun, 28 May 2006 17:02:00 GMT

Well, after seven hours of travelling in absolutely horrific weather I've made it back to the home county; I'm now safely back in the North East for the summer. I spent all of yesterday night attempting to fit all of my worldly possessions into a room less than a third of the size of my previous bedroom at home; my parents swapped my room with my five year old sister so that she could have more space to play. I understand the decision but it doesn't comfort me when I have all of about three feet of space to manouvre at the moment. I have bruises everywhere from box corners and awkwardly arranged furniture and I don't even want to discuss my wardrobe issues right now. Suffice is to say I doubt any of my clothes will be living in there this summer; it's easier to just leave them in the suitcase and dig when I want something specific.

I'm also having to use the family computer; there's no room for me to set up my own. So I'm having to use the family computer for my fandom stuff too which is a pain. My parents are blissfully ignorant of the term 'slash' and all that it entails and keeping this so is more effort than I'm used to.

If only they wouldn't press me to seek psychological help, I'd be out of this closet in a blink. However, as my parents would freak out completely, a secret it must be.

Boring...

Mon, 22 May 2006 20:39:43 GMT

I love my degree work.

Really, I do. In fact, I love my work, period. My friend Michelle even made a cross-stitch sampler that says 'CAUTION: EXTREME ACADEMIC' for me to hang on my doorhandle so that when I don't hear the someone knock (which happens more than you might think considering I live in a 4m x 4m room)they at least have some idea why: I was most likely buried in an archaeology text from which it would take more than a quick tap or loud bang to excavate me.

Having said that, I now feel justified in bemoaning the utter tediousness of my current assignment. It's a site report. And it's drier than the Sahara. Trying to find something to give it depth and texture is nigh on impossible. I've been looking all day and the only thing I can come up with that's remotely relevant is some discussion of the ethics of working in an active cemetery and many, many bad puns about the 'gravity' of the situation.

Sigh...

However, I did christen my fabulous new wellington boots today: me and my bright pink, spotted boots took ourselves out in the Welsh rain to take some photographs of the Welsh countryside. Look:

Aren't they bootiful :D Whoever said archaeologists couldn't be fashionable clearly lied - there's not a hand-knitted stipy jumper or odd hat anywhere in my wardrobe.

Strata Florida Abbey

Sun, 14 May 2006 16:35:44 GMT

A little explanation for the images uploaded into my gallery today.

For the last week, I have been working with my University Archaeology Dept. on a project at Strata Florida Cistercian Abbey in Ceredigion, Wales. My group was working in the farmhouse, Mynachlog Fawr (meaning literally 'Abbey Farm'). We were documenting the material culture in the house which was abandoned by the family in the 1990s following the death of one of its elders. It has been a very, very interesting, highly unusual and throughly satisfying experience.

The images I've uploaded give a brief flavour of the place and what the interior was like, as well as some of my favourite finds.

Sun, 14 May 2006 16:13:08 GMT

I should be working. Really, I should: I have an English Reading Medieval Texts exam on Thursday morning and I'm working in the field on my archaeology project 9 'til 4 every day until then. However, I just can't motivate myself to do it; I'm very apathetic right now.

So instead, I decided to finally crate a Live Journal. And here we are.

Gosh, don't I lead an exciting life...