Dig Day Sunday 11th April 2010

Dig day 1, for me at least. However, getting up early on a Sunday morning is something I'm going to just have to get used to. Even the mutts looked at me gone out when I had my breakfast at 8am. Was it worth it? I'll let you be the judge of that.

After picking the rest of the troops up (hiya Sue and Clayre) we arrived in Stratford..... a very empty Stratford... well it would be at that time in the morning!

For those of you who don't know, the dig is taking place at Nash's House, in the garden to be more precise. There are 3 trenches. One to uncover the excavation done in the 1800's, one in the Knot Garden and one in the herb garden. To find out more information, visit the website: http://www.digforshakespeare.com/

After signing in and getting to know the rest of the volunteers and the more important things of the day (locations of kitchen and amenities) we were given a health and safety chat by or supervisor, Will. He then assigned us to our initial jobs........gardening for me and others! Remove the plants from the herb garden was our morning mission. Not one I had envisaged, but a very necessary job to do. Plants sort of hide the archaeology don't you know. I certainly came home with more daffodil bulbs than I expected.

Moved onto the knot garden after break. Much more my cup of tea.... digging. Remit was to continue to trowel back as they had started in the morning. Ground dry but hard. Weather sunny. Beautiful day actually. Not many finds. Bloomin' spoil heap is miles away and negotiating the wooden boards, the gate, the statue in the garden which just allows you to navigate the wheelbarrow past it, only mildly grazing your knuckles, past the confused tourists and finally to the mountain of the spoil heap itself. Certainly had a lot of fun lgging the barrow up the 6ft heap!!!

And then all to soon it was 13.30 and time for home. Boo-hiss. As we wandered back to the car we reflected on what a good day it had been. Roll on next week.