OK, first thing, yes, it's black armbands time for the last Time Team.  A terrible idea to axe it, as everyone knows.  Even the show's detractors can't but admit that it has popularised archaeology in Britain, even, to use the dreaded phrase, made it "cool".  Honestly, though, I wonder how many current archaeologists and historians were inspired by this programme?  How many archaeology courses are still going through people signing up for it spurred on by this hour of Sunday tea-time viewing?  Shows the power of a media idea done well.  New horizons await apparently, very interested in Dig Village...

Giving a talk on cataloguing on Wednesday night.  Well I say that, but as Llangollen - where I'm giving the talk at the museum - has had so much snow, electricity off all over town, Horseshoe Pass and A5 blocked, I'm just hoping things improve! The talk is mostly on the document collection, especially the many Victorian auction posters that show how the town grew, but also trace the many farm auctions - showing times of agricultural depression.  Unravelling a story from such documents is always a fantastic feeling.

Some of the farm auction posters name the horses to be sold, along with their particulars.  You can imagine them running in the fields.  

Busy time recently organising the loans for Llandudno Museum.  Some were from people just round the corner, some from the Royal Collection. If you're ever around Llandudno, it's worth popping in, especially for the Japanese armour presented to the Prince of Wales(later Edward VIII) in 1922. (see photos above - pictures by John Lawson-Reay)

Keeping going with the museum documentation for the Accreditation of the museum too.  Policies and plans - all necessary and all part of the unseen work that heritage professionals and volunteers have to do to keep going - and something that some people - mentioning the management at no county councils in particular - seem to understand.

Heritage. It isn't easy and it isn't cheap.