Maria & I were slightly unfortunate to volunteer for this weekend, back at the last AGM (2002). At the time it was not realized it would be a joint dig with our friends from Kescrg. The other point was we did not realize that it would be on the Wey & Arun.

The normal preparation started about a month before the dig, which meant emails were flying around before Christmas. Fast Eddie sorted the Accommodation etc but he was doing his best to confuse everyone by publishing the wrong date. (I think it’s his age really). Maria had spoken to Maureen and Brian (Kescrg) saying she would be happy to cook if they wanted to go on site, they accepted the offer.

We slowly received emails back from people who wanted to come and play and others, who had double booked themselves (Andi). At some point the site changed because it was water logged (on the W & A that’s normal).

The lists of people coming was getting longer, we even coaxed Mark Anthony or is it Mark Richardson or was MK2, he decided that playing with a saw (later a brush cutter), would be better than the decorating.

Maria & I were busy speaking to people who had used the accommodation in the past and finding out what we needed to take. The kitchen we were told was small and instead of swing the preferable cat this was swing the mouse! It might have some electric rings but no one could remember a cooker! So we decided what we would cook, but could not think of a pud. But we went shopping on the Thursday before the dig, only buying the breakfast and lunch food. Even thou we would be going in Maria’s Land Rover, what with Helen Dobbie Taking up all the back seat and the two little dogs in the boot, we would not have much room (roll on when the six wheeler is back on the road)

Friday arrived, Helen arrived at the boat yard, the car was loaded and we set off. Easy journey to Guildford, went to our favorite Kebab shop. This was my first error I was driving so I had Helen and Maria munching away on the kebab whilst I’m driving along. It must be a form of torture. Second error was not realizing how dirty the headlights were after coming off the Motorway.

Instructions were good shame that I could not see the pond until I had passed it, but there was a convenient Car park for me to turn around in, and to clean the headlights. Back on our way find the hall was easy someone had thrown a big red transit in the carpark.

In the accommodation it was getting packed Maria’s 1st job was to find a bed space and mine was to eat my Kebab. A quick look around the hall, showed the hall has obviously been refurbished recently. The Kitchen on the smallish size had a shiny cooker with grill and oven. Then it was down to the pub to meet the others.

Informed that Fast Eddie was arriving first thing Saturday morning with Kescrg trailer and cooking utensils. Alarm clock went off and out off bed Maria & I jump, get dressed etc to find no Fast Eddie. Oh that’s a bugger we say, looking around the kitchen no pots or pans anywhere except the grill pan. Decided to make a start with grilling the sausages. Message from Fast Eddie, he was just down the road, and would be with us in minutes.

After breakfast because of the numbers I had to use the Land Rover to shuffle people to site and then come back, to help Maria make lunch. During the lead up to the camp I had been asked to give a person a call that wanted to come to a camp but he lived in Stroud. John Taylor (Tay for short) was going to arrive at the accommodation.

Both Maria & I had seen this car go past, after the second or third time, I went out and the someone was standing by the car in a layby near us, asked if he was looking for us and he was. So Tay, Maria & myself went off to site, with the lunch.

After trying to find the site I knew where to park the car, we walked to what we thought was a large fire. After several sightings decided it must have been a Kescrg fire because it was feeble. After walking for at least half-hour we find site, and soon after a quick cup of coffee it’s off to work we go.

Looking at the fire they were a let down hardly anything, so me being me I jumped on it, it got my boots nice and hot but it also made the fire come to life. Lunch was eaten and Maria & I had to then go off and do the rest off the shopping. (Tesco’s did well),

What we had not realized was during this walking to find the site my mobile fell off my belt. After looking could not see it Maria had retraced our steps, every time you called it went straight to answer machine.

Back at the accommodation Maria & I started to prepare the vegetables two large pots full later, the stove was going well, Maria had decided to make Apple crumble that was prepared, garlic butter and herb butter was prepared for the French sticks.

The rabble had arrived back from site during all this, Wine was opened, beers poured and I could not drink, I had arranged to pick Andi up from the railway station, so she could at least go on site Sunday. Martin drove the mini bus to the Pub in the next village as it was found ours was closed until 19:00hrs. Martin then volunteered to stay sober and collect them when it was scoff time (thanks Martin)

Even better when Martin come in he said here is a present and it was my mobile. Some walkers out with their dogs had picked it up and they tried a few numbers and 2nd or 3rd number they tried happened to be Martin’s. He was about 50 yards away from where they were. (Cheers again Martin)

After scoff, washing up etc I collected Andi from the station and then it was to the pub (surprising that).

Next Morning alarm went off Maria & I got up did the breakfast, our dogs Major and Bess decided to wake a few people up.

Bit later onto site today well it is Sunday. A lot of work was cleared in the morning, I was given a lesson on how to make a fire, and while this was going on the fire was small? Uninspired Maria & I looked for something to do. Arrived at the next fire after having been told is was struggling, to find the fire was going very well and it was getting rid off everything that was being thrown on it. (So much for the lesson on making fires!).

At lunchtime Maria & I and some others went back to the accommodation to start clearing up etc. As a lot of the work had been done by then. Martin after the site was cleared took the minibus and people too see the Aqueduct that has just been restored. When they returned to the accommodation in less than 2 hours we were locking the hall door and on our merry way home.

I think everyone enjoyed them selves; hopefully next dig, Maria & I will be able to do some site work!

A good group of volunteers, about 24 – 25 turned up.

It was a shame the work consisted more of gardening instead of a proper scrub bash that you can get your teeth into, with the numbers we had, we could have made a very worth while contribution.

But it was not the original site we were going to be at.

Moose & Maria