My nan would have said it’s because I want to know “the top and bottom of Meg’s behind” – which actually means I like to know everything about anything that takes my fancy. [ A Black Country expression 😉 ]
Before I was able to appreciate it I had the chance to visit parts of the ancient world on a school’s cruise in 1967. Malta – St. Paul’s Catacombs and the old city Mdina; Greece – Mycenae, Corinth, Athens; Italy – Naples and Pompeii; Portugal – Lisbon. Maybe that’s what first gave me the taste for things archaeological.
Remember the TT dig in Herefordshire – “Offa’s Palace”? – well I got onto the follow-up dig this June with Herefordshire Archaeology and they were great. I learned loads and did everything from shovelling and shifting soil to trowelling back surfaces and finally I was asked to finish planning the trench I’d worked in most. A marvellous experience with some great people.
After more years than I care to think of I’ve left teaching – we did run a pub for a few years in the middle of all that. What am I going to do now? I’m not sure. I’m learning computer programming and we’re foot-loose and fancy-free and it’s a big year ahead – 2001 and life begins at 50 :-))
Special Interest Areas
Britain – Iron Age, Roman, Dark Ages/Anglo-Saxon, Mediaeval (especially 13th Century) and monasteries – also Ancient Egypt