tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70848146238486512722011-12-20T02:03:04.615-03:30General musings on archaeology, genealogy, haberdashery and life...Hen Goodchildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07343193129737475177noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084814623848651272.post-83107724378898246982011-12-19T11:05:00.004-03:302011-12-19T11:11:23.738-03:302011-12-19T11:11:23.738-03:30

...today I am x-raying joints of pig that have been bludgeoned by replicas of Egyptian weapons (daggers, axes, maces).What I have learned is that even meat that is only a few days old can permeate your nostrils in an unpleasant way that you'd not thought possible. Barbecues are not top of my list right now.

Hen Goodchildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07343193129737475177noreply@blogger.com1http://goodhen.blogspot.com/2011/12/my-job-is-weird-because.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084814623848651272.post-60979715318389726012011-10-16T08:30:00.012-02:302011-10-16T09:47:28.508-02:302011-10-16T09:47:28.508-02:30

Having lived in metropolitan areas for most of my life, York's embarrassment of apples has come as something of a shock to me. It seems like almost everyone here has an orchard in their back garden. So, having volunteered harvesting fruit with Edible York's Abundance project for over a year now, I've finally got around to thinking about cider.After an abortive attempt at using a mini home press

Hen Goodchildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07343193129737475177noreply@blogger.com0http://goodhen.blogspot.com/2011/10/of-apples-and-fire-monsters.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084814623848651272.post-12394380695505023132011-10-16T08:10:00.006-02:302011-10-16T08:29:19.390-02:302011-10-16T08:29:19.390-02:30

The best way to get fully matured sloe gin, apparently, is to forget to put enough sugar in it, then not drink it because it's grim, fully intending to get around to sweetening it up, but inevitably never getting around to it.This is why I have a small bottle that I made last year, which lies undrunk on my shelf. Well, NO LONGER! Today I have actually gone and got off my arse and sorted it. The

Hen Goodchildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07343193129737475177noreply@blogger.com0http://goodhen.blogspot.com/2011/10/sloe-lazy.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084814623848651272.post-35703054314515726952011-09-14T10:43:00.012-02:302011-09-14T11:34:40.622-02:302011-09-14T11:34:40.622-02:30

This last weekend me, two colleagues, and some intrepid volunteers went to carry out some geophysical and topographical survey on a prehistoric site up near Lockerbie. It didn't start well, when I realised that my tiny Toyota Yaris didn't fit the Bartington magnetometer in his less-than-capacious boot. Cue a traumatic evening trip to Halfords to purchase roof bars. The next morning we realised

Hen Goodchildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07343193129737475177noreply@blogger.com0http://goodhen.blogspot.com/2011/09/caution-actual-archaeology-content.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084814623848651272.post-43795565768108357602011-07-30T12:30:00.009-02:302011-07-30T13:12:46.918-02:302011-07-30T13:12:46.918-02:30

This year I've been attempting to do a better job than I've previously managed in producing edible goods. With a tiny concrete yard this is problematic, but armed with a magical self watering thing kindly given to me for my birthday last year, I seem to be doing okay-ish.At the side I've got a rogue tomato plant I started growing indoors, but had to put outwhen I buggered off on holidays. It went

Hen Goodchildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07343193129737475177noreply@blogger.com0http://goodhen.blogspot.com/2011/07/concrete-jungle.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084814623848651272.post-40850012080651016992011-07-30T12:08:00.004-02:302011-07-30T12:28:56.970-02:302011-07-30T12:28:56.970-02:30

Yesterday I took part in the Day of Archaeology. This was a great project and I've really enjoyed reading the posts. It was also nice that folks I've met at various points in my life: Rome, Canada, etc, turned up as contributors. In case anyone wants to hear about the sorts of things I get up to of a day, my post is here.

Hen Goodchildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07343193129737475177noreply@blogger.com0http://goodhen.blogspot.com/2011/07/day-in-life.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084814623848651272.post-19171843012692329862011-07-20T14:40:00.013-02:302011-07-20T16:27:21.714-02:302011-07-20T16:27:21.714-02:30

I have learned that bin liners are waterproof but not breathable, and that Northern Jutland is very windy indeed.I have learned that I have an unhealthy love of Ukrainian disco pop.I have learned that, if I were a character in a zombie movie, I would be the one that so nearly made it, but died tragically just metres from safety.I have learned that a magical world of labyrinthine wonder exists in

Hen Goodchildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07343193129737475177noreply@blogger.com0http://goodhen.blogspot.com/2011/07/things-i-have-learned-in-last-six.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084814623848651272.post-48020273330638180192011-02-14T18:33:00.014-03:302011-02-14T18:56:21.121-03:302011-02-14T18:56:21.121-03:30

January was a bit of a spending frenzy, first Maud then 'Czarrna Malgorzata' (Black Margaret).I'd been keeping my eye out on Ravelry for a second hand spinning wheel, and when this lovely lady came up in Leeds I couldn't resist. She's Polish - a Kromski Mazurka - and so she had to be called after the only Polish Goth geologist I know.It's taken me a while to get the hang of it, and here are my

Hen Goodchildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07343193129737475177noreply@blogger.com0http://goodhen.blogspot.com/2011/02/another-new-addition.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084814623848651272.post-9863988373747961992011-02-14T18:25:00.003-03:302011-02-14T18:29:39.481-03:302011-02-14T18:29:39.481-03:30

She's pretty, though it's a bit disconcerting having something your exact shape and size loitering around the house.It's even weirder when she's dressed.

Hen Goodchildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07343193129737475177noreply@blogger.com0http://goodhen.blogspot.com/2011/02/meet-maud.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084814623848651272.post-11199539610051215492011-01-03T17:00:00.011-03:302011-01-04T20:17:27.031-03:302011-01-04T20:17:27.031-03:30

I have to admit that I have a default setting when it comes to foodstuffs. If I have no idea what to do with something, I make it into an alcoholic drink.This year I've done a few (including my ginger beer and and some experimental elderflower champagne), but it all culminated in a Christmas-inspired liqueur frenzy. I get most of my liqueur information from this excellent site but tend to ignore

Hen Goodchildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07343193129737475177noreply@blogger.com1http://goodhen.blogspot.com/2011/01/if-in-doubt-pour-some-booze-on-it.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084814623848651272.post-54507961512299906322010-12-29T18:21:00.008-03:302011-01-03T16:35:34.823-03:302011-01-03T16:35:34.823-03:30

We were initially suspicious on first opening the box - the chocolates just looked too shiny, freshly buffed. We put our fears to one side and braved a taste.The first reaction was one of perplexity. What was that overriding taste sensation? It was narrowed down to a strong taste of Milton sterilizing fluid, with notes of urinal cake. Strangely, the taste improved with chewing, bringing out the

Hen Goodchildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07343193129737475177noreply@blogger.com0http://goodhen.blogspot.com/2010/12/review-national-trust-dark-chocolate.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084814623848651272.post-13464883929276267672010-10-10T16:50:00.013-02:302010-10-10T17:38:55.348-02:302010-10-10T17:38:55.348-02:30

Today I decided to go on a little adventure. I got my kicks on Route 65 of the Trans Pennine Way by cycling to Selby (home of the greatest number of UFO sightings in Britain) and back. 30 miles is rather a lot for little old me and I'm now suffering from jelly legs, despite the flatness of the trail.Downside was that, despite overshooting by a fair few miles, I failed to actually find Pluto...

Hen Goodchildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07343193129737475177noreply@blogger.com2http://goodhen.blogspot.com/2010/10/trip-to-pluto-and-back.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084814623848651272.post-850898615135217632010-10-01T12:30:00.007-02:302010-10-01T13:53:21.000-02:302010-10-01T13:53:21.000-02:30

I'm used to working in hot, sunny places, and so doing archaeology in the UK is a bit of a shock for me. The problem isn't actually the rain, wind, and general unpleasantness of fieldwork, but the annoying Ordnance Survey Grid system. What's with all these letters? GISs don't like letters, they need an actual XY coordinate.So, I did some detective work and have now created the magical OS Grid

Hen Goodchildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07343193129737475177noreply@blogger.com0http://goodhen.blogspot.com/2010/10/nerd-alert.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084814623848651272.post-39954912504561374762010-09-21T15:52:00.006-02:302010-09-21T17:43:30.668-02:302010-09-21T17:43:30.668-02:30

I recently ventured once more into the home production of alcoholic beverages. This time it was ginger beer. I looked around and there are lots of recipes, so I adapted a few. I sampled my first bottle this weekend and it was rather delicious!Highly explosive, but delicious ginger beer and the jar of sedimentTo start off the plant:In a jar, mix together4g active dried yeast (or 14g/0.5oz fresh)3/

Hen Goodchildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07343193129737475177noreply@blogger.com2http://goodhen.blogspot.com/2010/09/lashings-and-lashings-of-ginger-beer.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084814623848651272.post-42141830296447026562010-09-06T13:43:00.006-02:302010-09-06T14:00:42.554-02:302010-09-06T14:00:42.554-02:30

It was only a matter of time before my fibre fetish led me to the world of spinning. I had a very brief go a while back at a Guild open day at the Yorkshire Museum of Farming, but I'd failed to get myself organised enough to actually get myself some kit together.Cue a visit from one of my Newfoundland knitting friends. We took a trip out to the lovely village of Wentworth near Rotherham, to visit

Hen Goodchildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07343193129737475177noreply@blogger.com1http://goodhen.blogspot.com/2010/09/yet-another-new-hobby.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084814623848651272.post-62881051978557355222010-04-25T07:31:00.004-02:302010-04-25T12:09:09.818-02:302010-04-25T12:09:09.818-02:30

I'm hoping so. At least for a few years now. I've made yet another drastic life-changing move, this time back home from Newfoundland to start a new job in York. For the first time in my life I have a job that won't end in 12 months' time. This is exciting stuff people!York is ancient, beautiful and, as I discovered yesterday, home to an amazing Italian deli where I had a most excellent lunch and

Hen Goodchildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07343193129737475177noreply@blogger.com2http://goodhen.blogspot.com/2010/04/last-move.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084814623848651272.post-30165287370287232992010-02-11T10:24:00.007-03:302010-02-11T10:42:02.897-03:302010-02-11T10:42:02.897-03:30

I've been tagged by Rosie to talk about the thing that never fails to make me laugh. I'm fairly easy to amuse, but the one thing that will never fail to make me giggle like a loon, even when I'm in a bad mood, is my other half.We spent a lot of time in the pub when we were getting to know each other. I didn't realise I fancied him at the time, but we'd always end up sitting and chatting together.

Hen Goodchildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07343193129737475177noreply@blogger.com2http://goodhen.blogspot.com/2010/02/best-wooing-strategy-in-world.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084814623848651272.post-21812762936550523042010-01-30T17:56:00.007-03:302010-02-05T17:36:13.185-03:302010-02-05T17:36:13.185-03:30

Or not. I've been having fun with Movie Maker. I recently watched something (that shall remain nameless) and was rather captivated by this scene. It was just so random. I mucked about with it and removed the obvious identifiers.A pint to the first person who knows where this is from.**edit**Blogger was arsing about... the video seems to be working now :)

Hen Goodchildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07343193129737475177noreply@blogger.com4http://goodhen.blogspot.com/2010/01/future-in-art-house-cinema.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084814623848651272.post-62879042173718328672010-01-26T20:11:00.004-03:302010-01-26T20:24:39.140-03:302010-01-26T20:24:39.140-03:30

So, I tried my queso blanco today. I'm not sure exactly how hard it's supposed to be, but mine was quite soft. It tasted great though. Very much like boursin - crumbly but spreadable. The pepper taste made it especially Boursin-ish. I'll definitely make this again.Smell my cheese, you mother!

Hen Goodchildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07343193129737475177noreply@blogger.com0http://goodhen.blogspot.com/2010/01/cheesy-update.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084814623848651272.post-38875855152187402332010-01-25T16:45:00.007-03:302010-01-25T17:13:03.599-03:302010-01-25T17:13:03.599-03:30

I am a huge dairy fiend and recently got to eat proper cheddar cheese curds. They are amazingly tasty so I set about trying to find out how to make them. Turns out it's a bit tricky without complicated ingredients, but on my travels I found this recipe for Queso Blanco.It looked ridiculously easy so I've given it a go. I changed the quantities of the recipe though, to suit those who don't eat a

Hen Goodchildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07343193129737475177noreply@blogger.com1http://goodhen.blogspot.com/2010/01/squeaky-cheese.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084814623848651272.post-12735529780549004812010-01-02T15:31:00.017-03:302010-01-23T10:15:15.060-03:302010-01-23T10:15:15.060-03:30

2009 has been a pretty great year. It's hard to believe that I've been living in Canada for 12 months, yet I've packed more into those than the last few years combined.This time last year I was celebrating Christmas and New Year with my family and friends back home, and preparing to go back to work at Birmingham University to finish off the last two weeks of my contract as a Distance Learning

Hen Goodchildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07343193129737475177noreply@blogger.com0http://goodhen.blogspot.com/2010/01/year-in-life.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084814623848651272.post-35646183301064626372009-11-23T10:41:00.007-03:302009-12-07T10:54:53.679-03:302009-12-07T10:54:53.679-03:30

Everyone knows I loves the yarn. Fibre makes me happy, so I was excited to be doing a short course at the Anna Templeton Centre on Floor Loom Weaving. It's 5 weeks long - 4 hours every Saturday - and I'm past the half way mark. Week 3 was when I actually started weaving. The 8 hours' setup means that I will never again question why handwoven things are so expensive!Week 1 was working out the

Hen Goodchildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07343193129737475177noreply@blogger.com0http://goodhen.blogspot.com/2009/11/my-new-favourite-toy.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084814623848651272.post-76366467781997260232009-11-23T09:31:00.003-03:302009-11-23T09:51:47.609-03:302009-11-23T09:51:47.609-03:30

It's finally happened. My accent has changed. I was hoping to survive unscathed but alas it was not to be. I haven't gone Canadian - my sentences don't all end with 'eh', and I haven't picked up such mannerisms as 'where're you to' (though I quite like that one). Nope, I've gone posh.When I first arrived I was in a lab with all Newfoundlanders (as opposed to my other half, who's shacked up with

Hen Goodchildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07343193129737475177noreply@blogger.com0http://goodhen.blogspot.com/2009/11/lost-voice.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084814623848651272.post-28055172454745476902009-10-28T13:26:00.005-02:302009-10-28T14:11:07.915-02:302009-10-28T14:11:07.915-02:30

I often joke that I would never want to be below the age of 25 again. My formative years were the 1980s and I have some fairly horrific fashion mistakes to blank out, but I also dimly remember some good times wedged somewhere between the geeky angst and the ski pants with bodysuit and deck shoes combos.Thinking back to my childhood pastimes I have three particular favourites:***1) Duetting with

Hen Goodchildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07343193129737475177noreply@blogger.com1http://goodhen.blogspot.com/2009/10/importance-of-play.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7084814623848651272.post-76979922424954634552009-10-26T09:47:00.007-02:302009-10-26T10:14:14.510-02:302009-10-26T10:14:14.510-02:30

I've been a bit quiet of late. Not because I haven't had anything to post about, but more through shame. I'm reluctant to post about projects I've finished when I still feel guilty about not finishing the present I was making for the lovely Lisa's 30th birthday months ago. Lisa - I'm really sorry! I promise you'll get it before Christmas...I've been being fairly experimental, trying to learn new

Hen Goodchildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07343193129737475177noreply@blogger.com2http://goodhen.blogspot.com/2009/10/recent-projects-2.html