XY just informed me that she is attached. To a guy, I think. I'm jealous cos she is my girl. But I suppose one girl and one guy is fair enough. At least it isn't another girl. I would have been even more jealous.
Alright, I'm straight. I just like to act crooked. Of course I'm happy for XY. I hope it will work out well. Best of luck to you, woman.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Hello all. It's been a while since I last posted. I've been busy with Archaeology field school. First with the on-site lessons where they taught us about geophysical survey, buildings stone-by-stone elevation recording and burial monuments recording., then with the field trips which were planned to give us a feel for the topography and geology of the Yorkshire area and now with excavation at the site of Burdale (muddy field in the middle of godforsakeness).
Let's start from 8 May...
In the little town of Malton,
There was the Talbot Hotel.
Behind the Talbot, there were steps that led down under the building.
The steps led down to an undercroft that had been discovered by an employee of the estate that manages the property. If you turn right at the bottom of the stairs, you enter and the undercroft which consists of two rooms. If you turn left, you will find yourself in an extremely unstable tunnel that leads down to the river. We were not allowed down the tunnel for safety reasons.
Instead, we were led into the damp, cold and dark undercroft where we slaved away making stone-by-stone elevation drawings of the walls.
During lunch break, we were allowed out to get some sun. Which was a good thing.
On 9 May, we went to one of the fields at Burdale to learn about landscape survey using cool equipment like this. This is a Theoldolite. It is used for measuring distance and depth with infrared or laser beams.
When using the infrared beam, you get someone to hold this prism thing over the point you want to record and bounce the beam off it to get the distance and depth.
They didn't allow us to use the laser beams because it would have been dangerous with all the other people walking about the field.
However, my group mate Dave H. managed to get one of the post-grad supervisors to show us how to turn on the laser beam. We were so tempted to laser one of the noisy wandering sheep.
And of course, I'm extremely proficient at relaxing during lunchtime although I sometimes look like a gay wanker.
We spotted a metal detectorist in the next field through the telescope. You can see him here, caught in the crosshairs.
11 May - Field Trip (Like a coach holiday around the Yorkshire area)
This is the nice path in Millington Nature Reserve. The slopes are mainly chalk which is not so good for archaeological preservation.
The lecturers were amusingly interrupted in the middle of their talk by a guy who put up a big yellow sign saying " CAUTION Tree Cutting IN PROGRESS" and proceeded to carry out the threat.
I had two ice lollies for lunch. This was the second one.
The famous Humber Bridge at its spectacular best. Hope you enjoy this, Jun.
This is the view from the bridge. The water is muddy because it is an estuary.
Two busloads of students walking in a field in the middle of nowhere.
We were then told that apparently it was a site of particular archaeological significance. But what with the lovely sunshine, the lecturer was talking to himself.
12 May - Field Trip. Malton and Howardian Hills
I fell asleep on the way there. Some guy took a photo and sent it to me.
At the entrance to the Malton museum, there was this. Anyone remembers our dear friend Edmund Burke who was seriously over-quoted in literature exams?
Intro to Castle Howard and Howardian Hills:
The Howards are a rich ass family. In the late 16th - early 17th century, their rich ass ancestors got hold of this land. They used their money to transform the whole landscape and built magnificent buildings to try to create a paradise landscape. Having lots of money meant they could do pretty much whatever they wanted. This included flooding some land to create a lake and moving an entire village out of the way. Some people refuse to visit the estate because they find such use of wealth and power abhorrent.
Here is an example of kinky architecture. The Victorians were very shy about sex but the Georgians weren't shy at all. Notice the obelisk? It's obviously a phallic symbol. The arch is like a giant vagina. When approach this castle from the south, the undulating road makes the obelisk appear to move in and out of the arch. *Jun, take note.
A view of the castle across a field. They used to have cattle and deer grazing. Notice how everything is calculated to give a sense of grandeur and to awe the visitor.
A little pyramid thing on the outskirts of the estate. Purpose? Because they can.
The Mausoleum.
The artificial lake and a peeking view of the castle.
The Temple of the Four Winds. Nothing really pagan here. They just thought Greek Pagan stuff was really cool.
And then it was off to excavation. I've been excavating for 8 days. Only 2 more days to go. After that, we will be processing finds at King's Manor (washing bones, recording finds etc).
Let's start from 8 May...
In the little town of Malton,
There was the Talbot Hotel.
Behind the Talbot, there were steps that led down under the building.
The steps led down to an undercroft that had been discovered by an employee of the estate that manages the property. If you turn right at the bottom of the stairs, you enter and the undercroft which consists of two rooms. If you turn left, you will find yourself in an extremely unstable tunnel that leads down to the river. We were not allowed down the tunnel for safety reasons.
Instead, we were led into the damp, cold and dark undercroft where we slaved away making stone-by-stone elevation drawings of the walls.
During lunch break, we were allowed out to get some sun. Which was a good thing.
On 9 May, we went to one of the fields at Burdale to learn about landscape survey using cool equipment like this. This is a Theoldolite. It is used for measuring distance and depth with infrared or laser beams.
When using the infrared beam, you get someone to hold this prism thing over the point you want to record and bounce the beam off it to get the distance and depth.
They didn't allow us to use the laser beams because it would have been dangerous with all the other people walking about the field.
However, my group mate Dave H. managed to get one of the post-grad supervisors to show us how to turn on the laser beam. We were so tempted to laser one of the noisy wandering sheep.
And of course, I'm extremely proficient at relaxing during lunchtime although I sometimes look like a gay wanker.
We spotted a metal detectorist in the next field through the telescope. You can see him here, caught in the crosshairs.
11 May - Field Trip (Like a coach holiday around the Yorkshire area)
This is the nice path in Millington Nature Reserve. The slopes are mainly chalk which is not so good for archaeological preservation.
The lecturers were amusingly interrupted in the middle of their talk by a guy who put up a big yellow sign saying " CAUTION Tree Cutting IN PROGRESS" and proceeded to carry out the threat.
I had two ice lollies for lunch. This was the second one.
The famous Humber Bridge at its spectacular best. Hope you enjoy this, Jun.
This is the view from the bridge. The water is muddy because it is an estuary.
Two busloads of students walking in a field in the middle of nowhere.
We were then told that apparently it was a site of particular archaeological significance. But what with the lovely sunshine, the lecturer was talking to himself.
12 May - Field Trip. Malton and Howardian Hills
I fell asleep on the way there. Some guy took a photo and sent it to me.
At the entrance to the Malton museum, there was this. Anyone remembers our dear friend Edmund Burke who was seriously over-quoted in literature exams?
Intro to Castle Howard and Howardian Hills:
The Howards are a rich ass family. In the late 16th - early 17th century, their rich ass ancestors got hold of this land. They used their money to transform the whole landscape and built magnificent buildings to try to create a paradise landscape. Having lots of money meant they could do pretty much whatever they wanted. This included flooding some land to create a lake and moving an entire village out of the way. Some people refuse to visit the estate because they find such use of wealth and power abhorrent.
Here is an example of kinky architecture. The Victorians were very shy about sex but the Georgians weren't shy at all. Notice the obelisk? It's obviously a phallic symbol. The arch is like a giant vagina. When approach this castle from the south, the undulating road makes the obelisk appear to move in and out of the arch. *Jun, take note.
A view of the castle across a field. They used to have cattle and deer grazing. Notice how everything is calculated to give a sense of grandeur and to awe the visitor.
A little pyramid thing on the outskirts of the estate. Purpose? Because they can.
The Mausoleum.
The artificial lake and a peeking view of the castle.
The Temple of the Four Winds. Nothing really pagan here. They just thought Greek Pagan stuff was really cool.
And then it was off to excavation. I've been excavating for 8 days. Only 2 more days to go. After that, we will be processing finds at King's Manor (washing bones, recording finds etc).
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Lazy Saturdays are good. Ironing clothes is my weekend hobby. Fun, I know. But I guess it is better than what the Vet students do at Massey University NZ. According to my dear little asshole of a sister, vet students find laundry very exciting and often go over to each other's houses to watch laundry being done. Students gotta be weird!
I'm being updated live on the general election results. Opps! Just remembered that they said blogs that talk too much about politics must be registered.
Disclaimer: THIS BLOG IS NOT POLITICAL.
(Don't say I didn't make it LOUD and CLEAR)
I'm being updated live on the general election results. Opps! Just remembered that they said blogs that talk too much about politics must be registered.
Disclaimer: THIS BLOG IS NOT POLITICAL.
(Don't say I didn't make it LOUD and CLEAR)
Friday, May 05, 2006
All the Archaeology first years are knackered due to fieldwork. Busy busy busy all week long.
It's Friday evening and I have a little time to post some pictures of York in the summer. It's been sunny and warm. Everywhere on campus, people are sitting on the grass, enjoying the fantastic days while they last. The university issued a warning about bird flu, urging students to wash their hands after sitting on the grass due to the ever-present threat of bird flu.
Mini birds are all over the place now. Doing mini poo-poo everywhere.
Guess which one is my window.
Yes. You are so smart. Only I can possibly be so morbid on this beautiful, sunny day.
Me by the sun-drenched fields with sleepy eyes.
People back home who are having holidays, enjoy yourselves! :)
It's Friday evening and I have a little time to post some pictures of York in the summer. It's been sunny and warm. Everywhere on campus, people are sitting on the grass, enjoying the fantastic days while they last. The university issued a warning about bird flu, urging students to wash their hands after sitting on the grass due to the ever-present threat of bird flu.
Mini birds are all over the place now. Doing mini poo-poo everywhere.
Guess which one is my window.
Yes. You are so smart. Only I can possibly be so morbid on this beautiful, sunny day.
Me by the sun-drenched fields with sleepy eyes.
People back home who are having holidays, enjoy yourselves! :)
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
I've been out in the field working the past two days. First day, we were at Burdale doing geophysical survey with cool machines. The RM15 Resistivity meter and the FM 3.6 Gradiometer. RM15 passes a current into the ground and measures the resistance while FM measures the magnetic susceptibility and magnetic orientation of the ground. Cool stuff
Today, we were at a graveyard just outside Leeds doing recording of grave monuments. I did quite a bit of hacking and clearing away of weeds and stuff. Climbing all over gravestones. This sort of thing would be considered such bad luck back home. If my grandmother or mummy were here, they would probably have pomegranate leaves and water waiting for me at the doorstep. Wash off the bad luck before you enter the house.
It's very tiring but nice to be out in the fresh air in the summer. Pity most of my group members are heavy smokers so the air is not as fresh as it actually is. But the good thing is that they're all serious about work and not the kind who like slacking about.
Today, we were at a graveyard just outside Leeds doing recording of grave monuments. I did quite a bit of hacking and clearing away of weeds and stuff. Climbing all over gravestones. This sort of thing would be considered such bad luck back home. If my grandmother or mummy were here, they would probably have pomegranate leaves and water waiting for me at the doorstep. Wash off the bad luck before you enter the house.
It's very tiring but nice to be out in the fresh air in the summer. Pity most of my group members are heavy smokers so the air is not as fresh as it actually is. But the good thing is that they're all serious about work and not the kind who like slacking about.
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