I live in North Yorkshire with my partner and the youngest of three children, the elder two having flown the nest. I have been in my current job (school secretary/clerk) since Easter, but before that I was a legal secretary for nearly 13 years. Part of the reason (a big part) for taking the school job is so I can hopefully do more digging in the school holidays.
I have been interested in history in a very small way for a long time and lately archaeology in a big way. I have been studying archaeology at evening classes since 1996 when I went on a training excavation run by Leeds University Adult Education Centre in Middlesbrough – I was hooked big time! (Leeds University have taken me to Orkney twice – an experience not to be missed! The trip to Skye this year was cancelled due to Foot & Mouth but hopefully will take place next year.) I have now exhausted the courses offered at Middlesbrough and in my quest to become more qualified have now enrolled with Exeter University and their distance learning courses. I find these to be very good but at the same time miss the classroom environment.
Volunteer digs are pretty hard to come by but I manage the odd day here and there.
I am a member of my local Archaeological Society that holds monthly meetings with a variety of speakers. I enjoy travelling around our wonderful countryside hunting out any archaeology and my other interests include my children, watching my partner play Roller Hockey, walking, gardening (new project about to start – sand and bricks at the ready), reading, yummy Australian wine and Orkney Dark Island beer.
Special Interest Areas
Mainly British Prehistory but am interested in most other periods (the Romans leave me cold and so does industrial archaeology)