Ladybirds pop up everywhere in the desert!

The year is drawing to a close, and its been a pretty interesting few months. I have learnt to do physical work daily like digging neat squares, carrying buckets and gear around, (un/)loading cars, pushing a sieve around and clayey sand through a sieve. I feel stronger but unfortunately mess food indulgences and the resultant kilos hide any suggestion of muscles. I have learned new systems and practices, and lots about archaeology and the land. Ive completed the first subject/semester of the anthropology grad dip (only three more to go) and it has been much harder than expected whilst working, which doesn’t bode well for the next few semesters, but, anyway I have learned a lot there too. I haven’t blogged much, but I’ve been taking plenty of photos. The 4 weeks on 2 off routine has been ok, but essays and bookkeeping for S have taken up the majority of the breaks.

But thats ok, cos now Im on holiday, until mid-March, when fieldwork starts again! Woooohoooo!

Tomorrow, im starting a road trip with S (formerly the VNM) from Moomba to the Sunshine coast, down to Bateman’s Bay for a conference and then back to Adelaide, spread over close to 3 weeks, and most of it close to the ocean. Ms. Indigorayz will come visit after Christmas for a few peaceful weeks of home cooking and slow days on the beach. One of the girls from work may drop in for a couple of days for the Tour Down Under, Kuri is also likely to pop in at some stage, and hopefully there will be a trip to Tokyo in there too? And then at the end, there is the Fringe and Womad in early March. Over the summer, well, there is lots of new stuff that needs some study, and im planning to work on my writing skills. Im planning to spend as much time as possible at the beach, go to yoga, and, erm, apart from the trips, not spend too much money. After Womad, fieldwork starts again. I hope that it will be month on month off next year, and that will give me time for study, bookkeeping and perhaps a bit of work with S….? Fingers crossed. But for now, its time for fun! And to pack.