Volunteering; The Sixth Week

I have gotten all confused and befuddled. I thought this week was week 6. Turns out my head is a week late. Gah! Anywhooooo. Week six, what happened?

Oh yes! On the Sunday, the MCC had an open day! Myself, Lukas and Lynsey were around to show people around the Natural Science floor, and to speak to visitors about the work we are doing on the collection here. It was a very long day (I had been at work in the morning!) but very enjoyable. I got the chance to walk around the main store on my lunch break, and I managed to see quite a few items that I remember from the old museum. I also held a corn snake! Awesome.

Back in the MCC, Sarah and I continued to work our way through the boxes of 'stuff'. These contain all sorts of wonders, mainly miscellaneous bones! In one box, we found a massive slice of bone, which turned out to be a section though an Elephants skull. Impressive.

We also uncovered a box with Ox bones in.. They looked as though they had once been on a display board, and were in varying stages of being sawn, processed, turned and carved! We found several spoons, some teething rings and a blank for a paper knife. It was really peculiar, and felt a bit weird looking at it all.. Who would want an Ox bone teething ring?!

On the Thursday I was by myself, so I cracked on with the boxes. I managed to finish one box, which meant that we had finished one side of the shelf!! (But then we discovered someone else had dumped more boxes there, booo). During the course of the day, one box contained this:

A fish skull! Not sure what type of fish, I thought maybe a cod? That's my hand on the left for some sort of scale. It was really fragile.. All the bones were wired together, but there were so many! Loads of tiny bones in the middle, and bits inbetween other bits, extra plates tucked in places. Really amazing to look at and hold! It was really delicate - each bone was almost transparent, almost like thick paper. Amazing.

I Lived In Saudi Arabia

My Other Blog

I run another blog, a newish venture, called A Brummie's Guide to Birmingham. The aim of this blog is to showcase what else there is to offer in Brum, what else there is to see and do, aside from the usual Cadbury World, Thinktank, Bullring stuff. So far, posts have included walks along the River Rea; National Cycle Route 5; Canals and some bricks. I've got loads more to write up, and loads more places to visit - just in my local area!! The more I blog the more I find. Go and have a read, maybe possibly share it around, and then maybe visit? :)

Winterbourne House and Garden, B15

Pepper Update

Not growing very much - I don't think they've changed in size since I last saw them (three weeks ago or so). The greenhouse they're in is not heated, so this may be the problem. They have plenty of water (the muddy roots of the weeds I pulled proved this). I will leave them for another week or so because the weather is supposed to be warming up, and then if there is no change I think I will dig them up, pot them up and bring them home to live in my bedroom (south facing window and all that jazz) :-)

To be honest, I'm just glad they're still growing/still there..!

Work, Uni, Jobs, Uke, STUFF

I've handed in my notice at work.
I finish on September 1st.
My doctor is writing the letter I need to return to university.
I'm applying for a job that I don't think I have much chance getting, but if I do, it'll be freakin' awesome.
Losing weight isn't going very well.
I haven't picked up my uke in ages.
I don't think I'll worry about getting another job straight away.

Swings and roundabouts?

Sorting My Life Out and Planning The Future.

It’s amazing how an event or conversation can change your outlook on what has happened in the past, your present situation and what lies ahead in your short and distant future. It’s amazing how three of my relatives who I hardly ever see, let alone speak too, have made me realise that all I want in this world is to leave this country and move far, far away. It’s made me realise that I *need* to go back to uni – getting a degree is my stepping stone to a new life, a new chapter, a new me. It’s my chance to leave everything I hate in and about this country – which is most things – and start anew. Something just happens and something just clicks and everything falls into place, and you realise, all you want is to leave everything and everyone you know – not to make a statement, not to be radical, not to be a loner, but to not have to think about it. To not have to worry about saying the wrong thing. To not have to worry about doing the wrong thing. To not worry about how people you were once close to react. I think, feel, believe with everything in my core that it’ll be quite nice to be alone in a strange land by myself. My life does not belong in England. I do not belong in England. I do not have a future in this country, not a happy one anyway. A lot of people don’t understand this. A lot of people don’t understand what I mean. No one can see it from my point of view because they haven’t lived my 23 years. They don’t quite comprehend my desire to leave my country of birth, to leave everything, to leave my family, to leave my friends (the few that I have), to leave the hobbies that I enjoy here.

The next stage of my life starts within the next seven days. I am quitting my job after just 3 months. I am going to start reading textbooks related to my course. I am going to learn igneous and metamorphic petrology because it is my worst subject area. I am going to email my welfare tutor and start the process of returning to uni. I am going to speak to my doctor and get medical clearance to return. I am going to start going swimming. I am going to take control of my life and make it go the way I want it to go. I’m going to read more blogs and make more things. I’m going to get out into the world more. I’m going to cut down on my internet time. Updates will probably be posted here, and I’ll still be blogging over at A Brummie’s Guide to Birmingham.

T-ra.

Adventures in Oxford

I spent an evening in Kingston Upon Thames, and the day after in Oxford! Here be pics.

Kingston

Oxford 

:-)