The British Museum

It's a couple of weeks since we went, but I'll post the images anyway. For one of Ed's modules, it was recommended that he go and see the Enlightenment exhibit at the British Museum. We both thought it would be a great thing for the two of us to as I wanted to go see the Sutton Hoo exhibit, as I studied it last year. Plus, entry is free! We had a great day all together, and we're definitely planning on going to see some of the other free entry museums on London. When you're a student, you need to economise while still educating yourself :)

xox

My Eddie in front of the Museum

Inside the Museum.

One of the collections from the Enlightenment exhibit

A big block of jade from the Enlightenment exhibit

The King's helmet from the Sutton Hoo burial

I can never resist....

Adolescent bones with rickets

Skulls!!

It 1



My Third box context was the most fragmented of the lot. The bags were full of shards, and I wasn't able to put them all together... The bones didn't say much to me either. None of the bones told me anything about the sex of the individual, or their age, so I was at a bit of a loss. Basically, I have to say "I don't know" on this one, which is okay. Chances are it's a male though, because I estimated the height and there weren't many 5'7" women in Anglo-Saxon times!

xox

Hallowe'en Party

Yesterday night, our living room was transformed into a cave in which we hosted our Hallowe'en party. Dressing up was mandatory, so we all got a good kick out of seeing who came as what. Ed dressed up as a pimp, Ben was a mime, Hannah was the Absinthe fairy, George was an Umpa Lumpa, and I dressed up as a 1920's flapper girl. In keeping with my genetic tendencies, I was on the floor with my dress sewing it a half hour before the guests were to arrive....
It was a lovely evening nonetheless, and I glad we did it. For Wednesday, Hannah and I are going to carve pumpkins so if we get any trick-or-treaters, we'll be ready!!
xox

T-minus 30 minutes, and I'm sewing the dress.....

My Handsome Man with me.

The Pimp Man of Copinger Close.....

ME!

Nah (Hannah), our very own Absinth Fairy!

George the 6'7" Umpa Lumpa

Ben, a non-creepy Mime.

Pumpkin decorations :)

'Spiddy' our pet spider!

Ben playing with his fire staffs in the back yard...pretty :)

Dudette 1

These are some photos of Dudette 1, my second box of bones. I had fun using the microscopic attachment to get in close to the cavity.
xox

The whole skeleton layed out.

Top down view of the skull.

Microscopic view of a cavity.

Microscopic view of some enamel.

Dude 1

To earn my degree, I have to complete a project and dissertation in this, my final year. My project consists of cleaning and reassembling the bones from 5 boxes. Presumably there are 5 individuals, but this may not turn out to be the case. These bones are from either the 5th or 6th centuries, and were found in Southern England. So far I have one male, and one female appropriately named: Dude 1 and Dudette 1 respectively. I'm now working on the third box, which I think is going to be 'It 1' as I can't really see whether it's a male or female.
As it is my project, I can take photos of the bones. Below are some photos from Dude 1. I will post photos of Dudette 1 later on.
xox

They're Back!!!


I checked out the pool again to see if there were any more squatters in the skimmer. Sure enough, there were more toads back!! I fished them all out, not without a challenge. Some of them were hiding deep within the leaves in the skimmer, there was a frog, and one little guy with a toe trapped in the basket. I released him safely, and got all the toads and frog out and into the handheld basket. I counted 18 baby toads, 2 big toads, and 1 green frog. I don't know what draws them into the pool, but they seem very happy there.

xox

Toads in the Skimmer!


Today, on my inspection of the pool, I found a few toads living in the skimmer basket. They had quite a happy little living arrangement in the skimmer, because the water level wasn't high enough to let anymore water in, and the leaves in the basket were too dense to drain the basket, so the amphibians were living in the sludge that had accumulated. Once I'd taken out the basket, let the water drain out, and taken out all the stinky leaves, I let all the toads go into a grassy patch away from the pool and other such dangers. Not before taking a view snaps and movies of them, though.

I love toads, not just because of their colour (my favourite colour's green), but also because of my nickname given to me by my Father... "Toad."

Here are a few pictures I took of my little green friends.
xox

My Daddy



I have been away from my blog for so long, I feel out of touch. However this posting is written with a heavy heart. My Daddy passed away peacefully in his sleep early Sunday morning. After a life full of enjoying life, working hard and trying to make every life he came in to just that little bit better, if he could, he now rests and looks out after us all. He has spent the past five years here in England living a dream he has worked for for over a decade. Everything he did over here was approached with strength, and and a caring touch. Dad was selfless, and never complained, yet even our Maker needed a Sabbath and I guess it was time for my Dad's. As for all the PhD's he's made possible, they will continue to push boundaries; and the couple's he's married they will live in love and make babies; and the babies he baptized will grow up so blessed; and as for us girls- his three daughters, we have a torch most bright to carry. One fueled by love and knowledge and strong genes. A torch I am more than proud to carry.

Daddy, Padre, father, Thor, and any other way you were known, you will be missed as long as I live, and loved for even longer.

Morse!

My Godmother Dorothy got a new dog to succeed Muffin. His name evolved somewhat. Dorothy wanted Moses, and her husband Graham wanted Bruce, so I suggested an amalgamation of the two and came up with 'Muce' (pronounced 'Moose'), which then evolved into Morse. He has a toy called 'Lewis'...how fitting! He's an absolute sweetheart, and will definitely be welcomed in our house :D
xox

My New Fishies: Huff & Puff!!!

After my dear Simon went to the big goldfish bowl in the sky, I felt that an empty tank wouldn't do, so I went out with Mum to get a new one. As it turns out, one Oranda fish shouldn't be kept in a tank as small as the one I have (10 l), and therefore it was no wonder he got sick! The poor Dude who sold it to me, was going to get in trouble because he didn't give me much information at all about him. (At least he was nice to us!) Over the last little while, I've been watching their mannerisms, and I've noticed that Puff is more the hyperactive toddler, who doesn't do any cleaning; and Huff is the nagging clean freak :) They're always fun to watch, and make me smile when ever I go into the kitchen :D xox

Their home!

Huff...

& Puff!