I kept thinking about things I wanted to write on here, but had to crush them and think about posteriors (distracting) and probability density functions (strange). So I am very pleased the exam is done!
The exam was on Thursday and I was totally exhausted on Friday. Could not concentrate at work so took the work home with me and sat staring at it blankly at home instead. I am happy to report that the exhaustion was temporary and by Friday evening I had written about some bacteria AND made a pavlova and about twenty kebabs for the massive BBQ we had that evening.
I attempted to decorate the table using things I found in the cupboard and the garden. Many of these were the result:
I was moderately pleased. Not quite channelling Westminster Abbey on April 29th but a better job than anything we could have foraged from any of our previous gardens.
Bf prepared for the BBQ by chopping the hedge to make space for people. Hedge was previously unruly in manner of bf's hair so this was a great improvement. Luckily hedge trimming is Manly Activity requiring Power Tool and Safety Goggles so he was quite keen to do it.
 |
| Trimmy McPhee |
On Saturday we went to the Roman baths. This was very exciting. We had baths in Bath and then went to the baths (bf had a shower actually but that is not quite so pleasing or themed)! SUCH a good day. I last went to the baths with my parents when I was about eight years old. I remember them being ok but a bit smelly and not that fascinating. This time, however, I was enchanted! They have done SUCH a good job with the renovation and really brought them to life. There's a really good audio tour where a learned-sounding lady babbles about the history and archelology, and then Bill Bryson does a 'reflective' bit which basically consists of going 'wow, isn't it old, imagine what it was like, wow, oh, they'd have all been naked, wow'. This is quite nice to listen to as it a) makes you stop and absorb the place and b) if you are already thinking something along the lines of 'wow this place is old', it makes you feel clever for thinking like Bill Bryson.
There are projectors which run videos of Roman people wandering about the baths wrapped in towels (poor Bill), and a reconstruction of what the front of a temple that was on the site would have looked like, using bits of 2000 yr old stone carving that they have dug up, along with lights and projections to add the missing bits and colours. Absolutely incredible.
The most memorable bit was when bf and I just sat down at the side of the biggest bath. It was a slightly chilly day and the breeze wafted the warmth from the water over us. It was very atmospheric. There was also a man who was dressed up like a Roman who said he was a trader from the Germanic Homelands or something, but spoke with a Welsh accent. I think my friend Steph would have liked him, she generally seems to be interested in all types of men in themed costumes.
You can't swim in the baths because they're not very clean. This in itself is interesting. My work is all about bacteria and I was desperate to know what the funny growths in the water were! They were gently gyrating and looked pretty cool.
 |
| Little growths under the water. What are you? |
Righto, bf has just called and he is on his way home after being on call. I must go and get the meat pie in the oven! Am practicing for being a wife.
See you again soon. I feel a Marcus Diaries coming on...
