Ouch, there's something in my eye.

No clever metaphor, there is something in my eye.

Fellow contact lens wearers will understand my distress and the really bloody annoying phenomenon by which the aforementioned "thing" miraculously disappears by the time you reach a mirror. But only after you have stumbled, half-blind, down a corridor/hallway, clutching at a very unattractive red & watering eye socket. Then, of course, people assume you are hideously upset by something. Annoying, like I said.

Things have been all go in this neck of the woods. It's been so hectic I don't possibly have time to record it all here, but I will give you taster of THINGS I COULD WRITE ABOUT, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO just to be aggravating: WOMAD, me slidng/falling down the stairs naked whilst drunk (I giggled alot & Jo scowled), making school lunches with a bona fide surf chick, Jo's parent's new bathroom, the wonderousness of the food at the annual Indian fair, Ghost Rider at the flicks, CDs I have bought. That last one sounds a bit crap, doesn't it? Actually, the bathroom doesn't sound too enthralling either. Indeed today you have the high honour of reading all about my blossoming career in archaeology, and only 15 years after I completed my undergraduate degree - who says I have no ambition/drive/sense of purpose? Not me.

I believe I mentioned that I had an evening being all "expert-y" on the subject of mummies in museums at Te Papa (v. important museum over here, just thought I'd throw that in). Well, I survived despite the horror of having to do the public speaking thing. My voice finally settled to a normal pitch after about 5 minutes of blathering, I didn't swear, I don't think I rolled my eyes at any of the questions (though some were asking for it), I did wave my hands about alot, but that was it. Good for me. I even masterfully deflected the question that somehow managed to reference Anna Nicole Smith. And I said "curse-ed" in a piratey manner, just to amuse myself.

Well, inspired by the fact that I actually enjoyed myself and got paid for just talking the usual guff that people who know me/complete strangers can get for free if they have the misfortune to either a) ask me what I do, or b) mention anything vaguely relating to archaeology, I decided it was time to get this show on the road. Despite my antipathy for anything that could be classed as proactive (my enormous, yet frail, ego demands everyone/thing come to me), I went batshit crazy and sent out some emails. I know! I mean that involved looking up addresses and actually writing stuff. Sometimes I don't know how I fit it all in alongside my tea consumption and singing along to music most other people would frown at (Rufus Wainwright at the moment - so camp he makes the Scissor Sisters look like Einsturzende Neubauten, but I just love the show tuneiness).

First port of call = Victoria University of Wellington - chasing up their not outright rejection of my offer to help out with their proposed study tour to Egypt in 2008. Progress to date = one meeting to look over their possible itinerary (only two days in Luxor. Gah!), a second meeting this very afternoon to meet the bloke heading the tour. No talk of any actual work as yet, but I am guessing they'll be doing some seminars/classes prior to taking this trip and might just have something for me.

Second = Te Papa - still on for giving a guided tour of their current Egyptian exhibition in April. Did have a moment when I wondered whether they might cancel in horror after my "expert" session, but since then I have watched "the Antiques Roadshow" and realise that lots of people get paid for appearing to know something about a particular subject whilst not actually giving any proof that they do.

Third = Newlands College Community Education Centre - I noticed that, bizarrely, they teach an evening class in hieroglyphics (I should go along, I can only remember about 3 phrases and I'm pretty sure I am butchering them). So, a couple of emails & a course outline later and I'm officially booked in to start teaching an "Introduction to Ancient Egypt" evening class as of August.

Fourth = Wellington High School Community Education Centre - emailed them too. They are checking out their schedule and will get back in touch once they have found space for my class.

HOW COOL IS THAT? I am going to get paid to talk to other people about ye olde egypte. Ha ha haaaaaaa! I am very excited.

It also means I get to spend alot of time going over old notes/reading and thinking "oh yeah, I remember all this now", which is surprising considering how much I faffed about whilst I was at university. Except for when I was a mature MA student and took it all very seriously, and did quite well as a result even if I do say so myself.

Other news - "Rich Girl" by Hall & Oates is on now, I am joining in with the backing vocal parts. Jo & I have changed our civil union venue, mainly because the place we had thought of wouldn't budge an inch on anything and now we have the whole ground floor of a house. I have officially given up trying to take Gertie jogging with me, but have realised that I am now used to running as very slow unco-operative dog speed and am unfit (again).

Adios...