Roman Holiday

Where did that week go, I had every intention of writing this

at the beginning of the week but life has overtaken me--again.

It seems weeks ago that we were enjoying the last couple of

days our holiday in the Northumberland.

Our last day was fantastic as I forfilled  one

of my ambitions.  This was to walk along Hadrians wall

or at least part of it.

It is such a historic monument and set in such stunning scenery.

This is Crag Lough.  Looking down on it from the top of the Crag

the water was so clear you could see the Swans heads under the water.

Walking is not really for the faint hearted as

although , we only walked 5 miles  as the crow flies,

the up and downs added quite a bit more.

I love the fact that, in places, you can see the wall stretching

away in the distance, but the tree was our destination.

 I couldn't find a picture of the tree which didn't have me

lurking in a corner somewhere but any of you that

have watched Kevin Costner in Robin Hood
( A family favourite from years ago)

this tree is where Morgan Freeman utters the 

immortal words 

" is there no sun in this accursed country"

Mr T insisted on standing on the wall and shouting it,
luckily there was nobody else about.

 A late lunch and the rest of the day was spent in Vindolanda.

Vindolanda is the site of archaeological excavations

which have going on for over 40 years and will be continuing

for a few more years yet.

It is the site of a succession of forts, the first thought to have 

been built around AD 80's.

You can watch and talk to the diggers while they continue to

explore the secrets of the site. It has a great museum

(next to a cafe)

showing the finds and adding some background to

what has been done to restore some of them.

They have found everything from leather boots and textiles

to the Cerialis archive. These are a collection of

postcard sized sheets of wood which have been written on in

Ink. They cover a wide variety of subjects

from children's writing lessons, shopping lists, official forms

and letters home to loved ones.

I found myself riveted  by the whole place

but particularly with anticipation whilst watching the diggers.

Every time someone picked something up,

I found myself wondering what it might be but the only thing

I saw them dig out was a nail of some sort .

Nevertheless I would have loved to have had a go myself.

Luckily whilst we were there the weather was wonderful

but I'm not sure I would have been so keen to work there in the cold and wet.

Hope you all have a great weekend 

wherever you are and I'll see you again soon.

Gillx