Wednesday 28 November 2007

ABC WEDNESDAY - S

S IS FOR SUTTON HOO



Sutton Hoo is an estate in Suffolk that is the site of an early burial site. One of the most important archaeological finds was the remains of the ship burial of the Anglo-Saxon King Rædwald, who died in AD 624/5 along with one of the greatest treasure-hoards ever discovered which included the gold and regalia of a warrior-king and silver feasting equipment. A couple of months ago I was lucky enough to join some of the local school children when they visited the site as part of their Anglo-Saxon History lessons; I promised to post some photos on my 'S' post.

Sadly on the day of the trip the weather was pretty bleak.......................and there were many heavy downpours as we made our way to the burial ground. We passed Sutton Hoo House where Mrs Edith May Pretty J.P. who owned the estate used to live.She and her family had often wondered what the strange mounds were in the grounds.On the way we passed the grave of a warrior's horse.................it was quite common in those days for a dead warrior and his horse to be buried side by side.In 1937 Mrs Pretty sought advice from Ipswich Museum's curator, who in 1938 released Basil Brown to work for her. He opened three mounds in the first season. He found plundered cremation burials with goods in two of them. In the larger mound he found iron ship-rivets and a disturbed chamber burial with fragments of metal and glass artifacts. In 1965–1971 re-excavation took place to resolve certain problems posed by the first discovery. The ship impression was again exposed (this is a photo of a photo in the museum) A plaster cast taken, from which a fibre-glass shape was produced. The mound was afterwards restored to its pre-1939 appearance.

After a long wet walk .................we finally reached the mound in which the remains of the buried ship was found.........
Archaeologists have reconstructed how the burial at Sutton Hoo must have taken place. A long trench was dug atop a 100 ft. high cliff above the River Deben. The ship was dragged up from the river and set in the trench. In this photo you can see the river and part of the hill that the ship was dragged up.A hut was built in the centre of the ship, and there was placed a large coffin and the grave goods. The trench was then filled in and a large mound erected over the top.

On the way back and absolutely soaked...(the rain was torrential when we stood on top of the mound...no chance of taking photographs!)...we were shown the remains in one of the smaller burial areas. The actual bones had long gone but the impression they had left had been filled with plaster.


After a hasty lunch we went into the museum and saw a recreation of an Anglo-Saxon hut.
I loved the cooking utensils....just think how much jam I could make in a pan as big as this!We also saw this replica of the Sutton Hoo helm or 'battle mask'. The original (which had to be reconstructed from fragments) can be seen in the British Museum. Unfortunately with 29 children jostling to see my photos of the gold coins and the sword belt buckle came out rather blurred....My photo of the Anglo-Saxon alphabet is clearer........I guess the children weren't quite as interested in seeing this!!!!It was a really long day; the journey itself was over an hour each way and when you consider how wet and tired the children were...they were really well behaved. I think they and we adults were glad to go home rather than back to the classroom.
abc wednesday



S is also for

"Sayonara"

...not sure if that's the way to spell it but I think it means Farewell. Unfortunately I'll no longer be on the Computer for an indefinite period...apologies for all the posts I've not read yet, all the emails that will go unanswered and the Blogspals Birthdays etc I'm going to miss.....including ICARUS whose birthday is on Friday (there is a card in the post Icarus...hope it gets to you at some point). I do have some ABC posts still in draft which I'll try and post through a friends pc........admittedly they could turn up any day of the week...but I'd like to get to 'Z'.


broke

Friday 23 November 2007

SKY WATCH FRIDAY

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket



SKY WATCH BLOGROLL








We've had no snow yet here in Suffolk though I know some parts of Britain have. I'd love to take a photo of a snow laden sky on Christmas Day................


speaking of Christmas...AKELAMALU has a Christmas Carol Quiz on her blog.........if you fancy giving it a go click on her name.......if you get any right she is giving away this cool scroll for your blog.


Christmas Carol Quiz


For my blogpals who wondered what I meant by 'soldiers' yesterday..

soldiers

Have a great weekend!

Thursday 22 November 2007

THURSDAY THOUGHTS

a thought for Thursday


"Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself."
~Chinese Proverb~



I'm doing a lot of thinking at the moment.........


In 'student mode' I'm thinking about the next Literature Assignment I have to do.."Compare and contrast the presentation of childhood in works by William Blake (Songs of Innocence and Experience) and George Eliot (Silas Marner)".


In 'teacher mode' I'm thinking..." I wonder how the Maths Afterschool Club will go this afternoon?"


In 'gardener mode' I'm thinking I really need to get into the garden and finish clearing away the frost-bitten plants.....
I'm also thinking...."how on earth have these roses still managed to bloom?


despite the cold temperatures...........................

at the same time as the Winter Jasmine's started flowering"...............In 'hungry mode' I'm thinking ...."I need to cut some soldiers to dip in my boiled egg!"

But most of all I'm thinking......................

thanksgiving

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL MY AMERICAN BLOGPALS

Wednesday 21 November 2007

ABC WEDNESDAY - R

abc wednesday

R is for REMEMBRANCE


Many of my regular visitors will remember my posts about the building of a garden in remembrance of one of the teacher's at our local primary school. Last week the garden was officially opened. I was so pleased to see blue skies as the crowds gathered.....and it was fitting that many ex pupils like one of my grandaughters, who owe much of their primary education to Mrs. Wimms, attended.....The local Mayor and members of Mrs. Wimm's family also came......Father Jamie dedicated the garden and the whole ceremony was very moving.....The garden is a Friendship Garden.......
Chidren who are feeling lonely can sit on this bench and other children will realise that they need someone to play with.........
I wish you could hear the children singing this........it was beautiful....
Inside the school were many photos of us all in the process of building and planting the garden...And then we all had a cuppa and cake!!!



If any fellow ABCers are not on my blogroll please let me know in my comment box


Sunday 18 November 2007

FOR AKELAMALU

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our blogpal
It's a good job I've been baking today......blow out the candles and make a wish!

Friday 16 November 2007

FROSTY FRIDAY SKY WATCH

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SKY WATCH BLOGROLL




Looking at things from the sky (well from the upstairs windows)
What a change from the slide show I did during July ....









We've now had our hardest frost so far this season..... I guess Winter is on it's way after all!

SKY ALBUM -

EVERY SUNRISE AND SUNSET WE SHARED WAS PRECIOUS

A TOUR OF OUR GARDEN 2006

MEET THE FAMILY

www.flickr.com
This is a Flickr badge showing photos in a set called family. Make your own badge here.
Thanks Akelamula

DENISE'S WISH FOR US ALL

A 1st Birthday Gift to my Blogpals

Thank you from Ruth

FLOWER ALBUM-

Thanks to Akelamula

creative blogger

Thanks Shaz

Thanks Skittles...worn with pride

created by Denise - given with love

AWARDS!

Rockin' Shaz sxhmoozed me From Mags, Gill, Libby,Denise and Meeyauw