It is Saturday.  The weather is still warm, but today there have been heavy downpours.    On the bright side, this means that I do not have to do much watering.  Once the rain stops, if it stops today, I will water the greenhouse plants.  I have tomatoes, rosemary, basil, mint, and some unidentified vegetables/herbs that I forgot to put nametags on.  Outside, I am growing three potatoes in their own potato bags, beans, peas, sweet peas, blueberries, and strawberries.    We will see who gets to the outside crops first when they are ripe.  Me or the birds!

I have had an upset stomach today and am taking it easy, writing up some book reviews.   As an avid reader, I tend to go through books at a high rate, meaning that I do fall behind on this chore.

I have also been doing additional research for the tourism and history sections.  I keep getting distracted.

Yesterday, the distraction was  Time Team, who were back for season two and excavating at the historical site of Sutton Hoo in England.  I have been watching Time Team for years as they did archaeology research digs and discovered new facts that added to the understanding of the history and lives of the past.   They opened the world of historical discovery to a wide audience, and I am delighted that they are back doing what they do best in providing accessible archaeological education with a mix of history, science, and humour.

These days, you can watch their episodes, past and current, on YouTube.  It is amazing to see the leads grow old, some to pass away and some to retire.   Once scrawny students are now leading the digs, greying, and looking a little worn around the edges, now the teacher.

I am one of Time Team’s many patreons, who support the digs and get access to live reports, podcasts, etc.  A far change from the old days of having to wait until next year for the series to be aired.  Season two will not be aired to other folks until next year, after post-production is complete.

Do archaeologists ever retire, or do they just publish so that their knowledge is not lost to the up-and-coming replacements?

Information about Sutton Hoo can be found here.