There are many days of dull tedium being an archive ferret. I have spent many hours opening files, reading boring correspondence, annual accounts, minutes of meetings, reports etc and then standing for equally tedious hours photographing it. But every now and then a little nugget comes along and makes it all so worth while. A couple of weeks ago it was the hand drawn maps and watercolours. Today it was telegrams. Of course telegrams do not have the same immediate beauty as art and I have looked through many telegrams saying nothing more exciting than 'Arriving Thursday' or 'Send money'. Today, however, they told their own little story in tiny little sentences.
It wasn't that it was a previously untold story. It is in fact well known. In March 1921 Russian soldiers,sailors and civilians in the Baltic fortress at Kronstadt near St Petersburg, rebelled against the Bolshevik government. It was brutally suppressed by the Red Army with many of the protesters killed, jailed or fleeing across the ice to Finland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kronstadt_rebellion)
The rebellion only lasted a couple of intense weeks and that story was told by the telegrams in the Zemgor files I read today. In beautifully succinct sentences they revealed, 'Kronstadt is liberated from the Bolsheviks', 'The situation in Kronstadt is difficult' 'We must have success', 'Bombardment continues', 'Children need food' and finally 'Kronstadt has fallen. In Bolshevik hands. Thousands of refugees in Finland.'
Between 'Kronstadt is liberated' and 'Kronstadt has fallen' I was caught up in their struggle and could feel the tears well up as I read the last telegram. The lucky ones who escaped to Finland were met by my Dead Russian Guys who, despite their undoubted feelings of devastation at the lost chance to overthrow the hated Bolsheviks and the opportunity to return to their own country once more, provided shelter, food and a future for the defeated rebels.
Damn! I love what I do! And I love my Dead Russian Guys!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Idiot Magnet
I am an Idiot Magnet. I don’t know why, but I am. Maybe it is an illness. Maybe it is a lifestyle choice or maybe it’s genetic. I’m pretty sure Westboro Baptist Church has a sign saying ‘God Hates Idiot Magnets’ but that’s just the way it is. I’m not sure if it works on a timer or if it simply sucks in Idiots whenever they are in the vicinity but it was certainly switched on today. All I ask is your understanding.
Let me tell you all about it.
After another 10-hour shift with the Dead Russian Guys I left the archive to find it was pouring with rain ...and I had left my umbrella at home. Never mind, I had miPod on shuffle so set off for the bus stop. Everything was going well until I heard a howl behind me. It was a real werewolf kinda howl and I must admit it did make me jump! There was also some indistinguishable shouting so I carried on without looking back (don’t want to encourage them by looking). I should have known the Magnet was working then but I live in hope that it misses the occasional Idiot, especially on a rainy night in Leeds (like Brook Benton’s Rainy Night in Georgia but not so nice).
The shouting continued in an indistinguishable manner until said Idiot walked past me. Magnet on full strength, the Idiot decided I was to be the target of his howling tirade. It was at this point that the rant began to become understandable. Would I, he wanted to know, stand by my husband if he accidentally killed another man by punching him in the face? Well, would I? Would I? Without waiting for my answer, I was told that I would indeed stand by him because he was my husband and therefore it would be wrong of me to ‘Dob him into the police’.
Phew, I thought. I’m glad I’ve got that sorted. Now if only a green man would come on I could cross the street and hopefully get the Magnet to deactivate by putting some distance between me and the Idiot. No, that wasn’t going to happen. (I wonder if the Magnet has something to do with keeping lights from changing to green?).
Having gone through his repertoire of moral education the Idiot started all over again at the beginning. Well? Would I? Would? (Did I say this was at the top of his voice?) While he was walking a few paces ahead of me and shouting over his shoulder at me other people in the street were staring at HIM but then he decided I possibly wasn’t hearing his questions clearly enough so fell into step beside me and began yelling in my right ear. Now everyone in the street was looking at ME. As if he was MY fault!
By the time he had gone through this monologue 3 or 4 times the lights eventually changed and I made my getaway across the street.
I just want to leave you with this thought, dear friends. If I accidentally killed a total stranger in the street by punching him in the face, would you stand by me? Well? Would you? Would you?
Let me tell you all about it.
After another 10-hour shift with the Dead Russian Guys I left the archive to find it was pouring with rain ...and I had left my umbrella at home. Never mind, I had miPod on shuffle so set off for the bus stop. Everything was going well until I heard a howl behind me. It was a real werewolf kinda howl and I must admit it did make me jump! There was also some indistinguishable shouting so I carried on without looking back (don’t want to encourage them by looking). I should have known the Magnet was working then but I live in hope that it misses the occasional Idiot, especially on a rainy night in Leeds (like Brook Benton’s Rainy Night in Georgia but not so nice).
The shouting continued in an indistinguishable manner until said Idiot walked past me. Magnet on full strength, the Idiot decided I was to be the target of his howling tirade. It was at this point that the rant began to become understandable. Would I, he wanted to know, stand by my husband if he accidentally killed another man by punching him in the face? Well, would I? Would I? Without waiting for my answer, I was told that I would indeed stand by him because he was my husband and therefore it would be wrong of me to ‘Dob him into the police’.
Phew, I thought. I’m glad I’ve got that sorted. Now if only a green man would come on I could cross the street and hopefully get the Magnet to deactivate by putting some distance between me and the Idiot. No, that wasn’t going to happen. (I wonder if the Magnet has something to do with keeping lights from changing to green?).
Having gone through his repertoire of moral education the Idiot started all over again at the beginning. Well? Would I? Would? (Did I say this was at the top of his voice?) While he was walking a few paces ahead of me and shouting over his shoulder at me other people in the street were staring at HIM but then he decided I possibly wasn’t hearing his questions clearly enough so fell into step beside me and began yelling in my right ear. Now everyone in the street was looking at ME. As if he was MY fault!
By the time he had gone through this monologue 3 or 4 times the lights eventually changed and I made my getaway across the street.
I just want to leave you with this thought, dear friends. If I accidentally killed a total stranger in the street by punching him in the face, would you stand by me? Well? Would you? Would you?
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Rage!
I have been surprised at how well things have been going in the archive and with my room renting. I have been getting through the work at a reasonable pace and the room has worked out great. Matt and James are great landlords and we are getting on well.
The weekend was lovely. Lots of relaxing, good company and great weather.
The 'Case of the Vomiting Passenger' on the Monday morning bus was unexpected entertainment (the young man opposite me was either - a)not very well, at all or b) not quite recovered from some heavy Sunday night drinking.)and the discovery of some wonderful hand drawn maps and paintings in the archive was a delightful bonus. Otherwise it has been an uneventful week.
I suppose I should have known that it was going too well, or that there had to be a down side to my excess feeling of contentedness. But sometimes it just blindsides you and trips you up when you least expect it. Today my nemesis, the mobile phone, did just that.
Now, those of you who know and love (?) me know me for the gentle, mild mannered person that I normally am (!) but the mobile phone (or rather the inconsiderate mobile phone user)drives me into a frenzied psychopathic rage. The first mobile moment happened late this afternoon in the reading room of the archive - a place of quiet reading pleasure and discovery. Ring! RING! It's OK, I thought, take a deep breath and it will be switched off...she just forgot to switch it off on the way in (Despite the signs asking for all phones to be switched off and the polite idea that it might be courteous to do so!)OH NO! She actually answered it and said...Wait for it...'I'm in the library'!!!!!! (Excessive use of exclamation marks are justified at this point!!)I was so flabbergasted I probably looked at her with my mouth hanging open like a fish! Did she then hang up? If only! By the time I had made several incoherent spluttering noises she did get the idea that I may have been a tad unamused and said 'I'll call you back in a minute!' I should add that she was not a 19 year old student but was at least as old as me if not older!
I finished my last file for the day and I knew there was a good chance I would miss my bus. I have to walk about a mile to the bus stop and I rushed along but to no avail. Unfortunately if I miss the 6.50 p.m. I have to wait until 7.35 for the next one. I settled down to wait and discovered that miPod had decided it wasn't going to work. Occasionally it decides not to do anything and I usually have to let the battery die before it will work again. This was going to be one of these occasions. Oh Well, I thought, I will people-watch instead. Along comes another passenger for the bus, realises she has also missed the bus and decides to phone her friend. Who would have thought such a small woman would have such a loud voice?! Apparently her husband likes to have a bath every night and doesn't think that other people might also want to use the bathroom, her hoover isn't working, her children are difficult, work is a pain, her Mother-in-law...well, we won't go there!...I heard, it all. In fact most of the city centre probably heard it. When we got on the bus 30 minutes later she was still talking/shouting. Just when I thought I was finally going to get some peace another woman got on and I heard all about how she gets up at 6.00a.m to take her partner to work so she can have the car but she is getting too tired doing this so they are thinking about moving house but right now she is going home to tidy her bedroom...I DON'T WANT TO KNOW!!!
Then, when I got back 'home' Matt met me at the door and asked if I wanted some beef and ale stew with dumplings for my dinner. Suddenly I wasn't a grumpy old woman anymore.....
The weekend was lovely. Lots of relaxing, good company and great weather.
The 'Case of the Vomiting Passenger' on the Monday morning bus was unexpected entertainment (the young man opposite me was either - a)not very well, at all or b) not quite recovered from some heavy Sunday night drinking.)and the discovery of some wonderful hand drawn maps and paintings in the archive was a delightful bonus. Otherwise it has been an uneventful week.
I suppose I should have known that it was going too well, or that there had to be a down side to my excess feeling of contentedness. But sometimes it just blindsides you and trips you up when you least expect it. Today my nemesis, the mobile phone, did just that.
Now, those of you who know and love (?) me know me for the gentle, mild mannered person that I normally am (!) but the mobile phone (or rather the inconsiderate mobile phone user)drives me into a frenzied psychopathic rage. The first mobile moment happened late this afternoon in the reading room of the archive - a place of quiet reading pleasure and discovery. Ring! RING! It's OK, I thought, take a deep breath and it will be switched off...she just forgot to switch it off on the way in (Despite the signs asking for all phones to be switched off and the polite idea that it might be courteous to do so!)OH NO! She actually answered it and said...Wait for it...'I'm in the library'!!!!!! (Excessive use of exclamation marks are justified at this point!!)I was so flabbergasted I probably looked at her with my mouth hanging open like a fish! Did she then hang up? If only! By the time I had made several incoherent spluttering noises she did get the idea that I may have been a tad unamused and said 'I'll call you back in a minute!' I should add that she was not a 19 year old student but was at least as old as me if not older!
I finished my last file for the day and I knew there was a good chance I would miss my bus. I have to walk about a mile to the bus stop and I rushed along but to no avail. Unfortunately if I miss the 6.50 p.m. I have to wait until 7.35 for the next one. I settled down to wait and discovered that miPod had decided it wasn't going to work. Occasionally it decides not to do anything and I usually have to let the battery die before it will work again. This was going to be one of these occasions. Oh Well, I thought, I will people-watch instead. Along comes another passenger for the bus, realises she has also missed the bus and decides to phone her friend. Who would have thought such a small woman would have such a loud voice?! Apparently her husband likes to have a bath every night and doesn't think that other people might also want to use the bathroom, her hoover isn't working, her children are difficult, work is a pain, her Mother-in-law...well, we won't go there!...I heard, it all. In fact most of the city centre probably heard it. When we got on the bus 30 minutes later she was still talking/shouting. Just when I thought I was finally going to get some peace another woman got on and I heard all about how she gets up at 6.00a.m to take her partner to work so she can have the car but she is getting too tired doing this so they are thinking about moving house but right now she is going home to tidy her bedroom...I DON'T WANT TO KNOW!!!
Then, when I got back 'home' Matt met me at the door and asked if I wanted some beef and ale stew with dumplings for my dinner. Suddenly I wasn't a grumpy old woman anymore.....
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Of Poultry and Pints.
I have had a great week, both in and out of the archives. At first I seemed to be going through the files really slowly but by Friday I had actually managed to get through everything I had hoped for the week and as the archivist wasn't going to be in on Saturday I was able to take the day off! It was really good to have stay in bed on Saturday morning!
James finished his job at the school on Thursday so I brought home some champagne to celebrate his new job which he will start on Tuesday. I had also just heard that Sean starts a new job on Monday so it was a double celebration (even though Sean wasn't here, obviously!) We had a really good evening chatting and getting to know more about each other. Good times!
Matt has had to work all weekend. There is a major Brass Band competition on in the theatre. It sounds hilarious but he wasn't looking forward to it! I had thought I would go into the city centre for a wander around but it was a horrible wet day so decided to stay at home instead. James and I got bored by mid afternoon so we decided to go up to the local pub for a couple of drinks before tea. On the way up we were spotted by some chickens. One of the bolder ones thought it would be worth its while to follow us. I'm not sure why as I had no chicken food with me but it was persistent.
Today (Sunday) James and I went into the centre for lunch and a wander around. It was a beautiful day down by the canal and we had a nice lunch in a pub. Pubs are tending to feature quite prominently in my stay in Leeds!
Back to the archives for another week and then home for the weekend! Yay!
James finished his job at the school on Thursday so I brought home some champagne to celebrate his new job which he will start on Tuesday. I had also just heard that Sean starts a new job on Monday so it was a double celebration (even though Sean wasn't here, obviously!) We had a really good evening chatting and getting to know more about each other. Good times!
Matt has had to work all weekend. There is a major Brass Band competition on in the theatre. It sounds hilarious but he wasn't looking forward to it! I had thought I would go into the city centre for a wander around but it was a horrible wet day so decided to stay at home instead. James and I got bored by mid afternoon so we decided to go up to the local pub for a couple of drinks before tea. On the way up we were spotted by some chickens. One of the bolder ones thought it would be worth its while to follow us. I'm not sure why as I had no chicken food with me but it was persistent.
Today (Sunday) James and I went into the centre for lunch and a wander around. It was a beautiful day down by the canal and we had a nice lunch in a pub. Pubs are tending to feature quite prominently in my stay in Leeds!
Back to the archives for another week and then home for the weekend! Yay!
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