life lessons part 1

Today we were reminded that sometimes good practice has a lot to do with who you have working on a site. We met a man whose work includes tending to the final resting places of 150 years of Plymouth's citizenry, bringing back a bluebell population and fighting/propigating valerian the diameter of his arm. We met a marine turned forester turned site manager who rattles off botanical latin with ease and whose handshake can crush rocks. We met an architect volunteer who talked about how to honestly ackowledge the presence of new materials in an historic structure. It was all so unexpected and wonderfully surprising.

And even better than all of that, and this is going to sound sentimental, but this place is so green. We got to talk about carbon footprints and biodiversity and wood-chip heat. So now, hear this. We want to be buried in wicker coffins with willow trees above us. We want cemetaries that remind us of meadows. We want specimin plants. We want barn owls as pets.

Maawedge

There we were, a gaggle of mostly young eligible women, and the nice man wanted us to come get married. Could it be just the place?
We've decided to book the decadent Bickleigh Castle for our ceremonies and B&B. Really all we'd ever wanted was a place that felt like Medieval Times, but more real, and with a pink baseboard and a bar that's something out of Camelot. It is just the place. The bridal brochure is really what sold us, with its depictions of horrid wedding revelry. Surely it was not the bizarre profit-hungry dragon woman who was booking the KEEP (not castle) and Anglo-Saxon chapel from the 7th century (above).
It is truly one of the oddest and saddest things to see a building so exploited.
So we're all getting married. It's true. We chose the chapel for intimacy's sake. You're all invited.

Then we'll retire to a huge party over at Buckland Abbey in the barn and garden (right).

Taking our sweet time...

Really sweet-smelling roses outside a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon chapel. We know the good stuff when we see it.

Bath, minibus sickness, and vino

So we all piled into the minibus for a 3 hour tour (sing it, Gilligan!) to Bath. Multiple persons became ill or nearly ill, but we managed to make it without any pit stops. We did some walking, some photographing, some listening (or sleeping) to lectures. However, none of this is very important. I think the most memorable moment of today was the e-mail given to us regarding immigration paperwork that was needed weeks ago. We may not make be allowed to return to the US as a result of the forgotten document, but rest assured that we have now "released, indemnified, and held harmless the University of Pennsylvania from and against any claim for any losses, damages, or injuries arising out of or in connection with our participation in the study abroad program" And no, I do not have repatriation insurance. Then we came home, ate dinner, and drank multiple bottles of wine. The end.

PS- this was written in pink in honor (or should I say honour) of megan's gin and tonic/wedding outfit
PPS- we are in the midst of planning megan's hen/bachelorette party. More to come!

We like tea now.

We have all made it safely to Plymouth, which took some doing... There were insane car trips with jet lag. There were long train rides. There were (are) mountains of luggage. But we did it. So be proud.
Plymouth was England's most bombed out city in WWII because it is home to the Royal Navy. It's not the most lively place on earth but parts of it are quaint and it's picturesque by the sea.
No massive scandals have yet broken out. We were promised gin at the local (yes) distillery here, as Plymouth Gin is supposedly rather top shelf. Alas, our lectures ran over today.
We're living dorm style in suites. I made grilled cheese sandwiches with apples in a pot (not pan)for supper with soup. Not amazing living, but one of our cohorts made a feast complete with sassy presentation! (Someone's cooking for the rest of the family soon...)
Today was lots of lectures by really fun faculty, punctuated with several breaks for tea. Tomorrow we are off to Bath and are in for fun at the pubs in the evening as England plays Sweden in the World Cup. Let's just hope we don't start any brawls. (Or end up on the receiving end of any large swings by forearms with union jack tattoos and bulldogs.)

Prequel

English Heritage places of interest to check out en route to Plymouth?

Train information. Train passes.

T minus one month

Ok, people. Here 'tis - the alluded to, blog for Team Twickenham 2006. Look no further for pithy details, ploughman's lunches and other prattling on.


Twickenham basics
The Beeb's Restoration on Strawberry Hill
Penn's site of Strawberry Hill links