Have been heartily uplifted by working alongside some new diggers over the past year or so. With as little as a few months under their belt, most see the urine-poor state of what is laughingly described as a profession. Recently, one newbie expressed her anger at what she sees as endemic buck passing.We all know that British archaeology has some appalling problems.The young lady was infuriated to find that actually, no-one(according to established grown-ups) is to blame and further, any honest appraisals offered by field staff are ridiculed or ignored.The newbies I have been lucky enough to meet have been refreshingly militant in their outlook and are already on the warpath.Good! One main gripe that I hear regularly is the habit of spouting law in defence of the pantomime-"so and so clause says so and so". In the U.K today, there are plenty of people who can do as they please because parasite lawyers have left holes in law wide enough to drive Bliars mouth through it.It is a sad indictement that grown-up archaeologists today use the same approach and smugly brush aside all criticism and re-assert that all is well. The written word on paper does not excuse practise on the ground.The young uns are seeing through the smokescreens guys! I thought I would leave this thread open for newbies to voice their concerns openly so..... come on, what has fired you up?

..knowledge without action is insanity and action without knowledge is vanity..(imam ghazali,ayyuhal-walad)

Have been veritably enlightened no less Was`nt really overwhelmed by med studies at uni and most med sites I`ve worn/chewed were distinctly uninspiring.Have just spent a goodly few months excavating an 11oos monastic precinct and have loved every minute of it! Not only that, the site in question has played host to some extremely high profile peeps from history so have been standing on the same ground as them-cool! Was somewhat surprised to see a water supply system consisting of a ceramic pipe that not only was green glazed inside and out but- was built in sections with male/female joins! Has been really good to dig the site during the day and read historic documents relating to the site over a dirty kebab in the evenings! Sad I know but-prehistory is taking a back seat as I read Med!!! Never thought I would see the day.Anyone else had their fancies tickled by a site/period that once induced yawns?

..knowledge without action is insanity and action without knowledge is vanity..(imam ghazali,ayyuhal-walad)

Are you saving towards a Pension?

Another day another WSI?

I am aware of a problem with the search facility...

This is the proper link to it, for those that need it

http://www.bajr.org/bajrforum/search.asp


Another day another WSI?

I have had an enquiry from someone who would like a lift from London to the BAJR congress in York. My small ad on the BAJR Conference page hasn't elicited any replies, so a final plea to BAJR at large

Is there anyone heading from London to York who could take a passenger?

If anyone could help out, contact me via e-mail kevinwool@yahoo.com and I will put you in touch with the passenger...

Heres a question....

As a freelance you put in your invoice and expect to be paid within at least 30 days of the invoice date (even earlier is better - but hey... it is the legal maximum time) Do people find that some companies adopt a policy of not paying until the end of the month after the month you send you invoice... so for example if you put in an invoice on the 3rd of July you won't get paid until the end of August.

I found this advice ... so wondered if freelancers are being expected to wait .. when they are the ones that can least afford it.

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/bdotg/act...1073965654

(its a long link... so ensure you copy all of it)


It can be very difficult for individuals - so why make it harder.

I remember one group of Diggers (back when they were being 'employed' as self employed) who had to wait 7 weeks for payment .. which is a long time to be without money.

Is this widespread? Is it a problem...? what are people thoughts.?

Another day another WSI?

I am in my mid twenties and have been working in archaeology since I finished university. As archaeology goes I am on the very respectable wage of £17k, have a perminant job, and I really enjoy what I am doing. However I have bizzarly been "headhunted" and potentially been offered I job completely outside of archaeology with a starting salary of £30k. That amount of money would prove extremely useful obviously but it would mean giving up the job I love. If I leave archaeology now it was potentially be quite hard to get back into it if things didnt work out but I would feel I was being quite selfish turning down the opportunity to take a huge chunk off our mortgage. The money is attractive I have to admit! Would others take the opportunity or are you all too loyal?

So do you have provision for your dotage? If not, are you worried, or (like me) are you resigned to working until they take you out in a box?

Possibly the most compelling but simultaneously the most crap film ever seems to be a must for archies...just sat through it.....
"Timeline" with Billy Connolly et al. A team of student archaeologists diggin at a Medieval site in France....professor disappears into the 14th Century...... Some great lines and if anyone out there should inexplicably find themselves on the wrong end of a wormhole-archaeologists are apparently worth their weight in gold.....get to swing swords about AND get the girl in the end.Oh well, nuff dreamin for today..back to me lime kiln...

..knowledge without action is insanity and action without knowledge is vanity..(imam ghazali,ayyuhal-walad)

Probably touched on before but I can't find it as the search button isn't working at the moment... I was being given a stern lecture the other day by my bank manager for not having a pension. Is there a list of suitable pensions for people who change employers on a regular basis available anywhere???

Lucy