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That Cheeky Fig Tree

nospam@example.com (Ted O'Neill) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:25:01 +0000

We have one serious enemy in our attempt to preserve the spring chamber and spring gallery of the Aqua Traiana.

More stubborn than the nuttiest old archaeologist, more rapacious than the Emperor Trajan himself, is a certain damned fig tree, sitting adjacent to the ‘church’ chamber itself, from where it sends its roots down into the ‘spring’ chamber or ‘water capture’ chamber and down into the aqueduct.

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Going to meet the owners

nospam@example.com (Ted O'Neill) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:20:38 +0000

It's Tuesday 2nd March, about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, and I've got my first appointment to meet the owners ofthe Aqueduct Spring source that we announced in January.

I'm kind of scared and on-edge, and I've asked a representative of the local archaeological society to come with me.

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The Old Spiral Staircase

nospam@example.com (Ted O'Neill) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:17:34 +0000

The old Spriral Staircase curls down for twenty-five metres into the eery space beneath the city of Rome, where archaeology and ancient tunnels have laid undisturbed since a forgotten time.

Peering down from the top as we prepared to film the aqueduct, we saw the shimmer of the purest water rippling yellow-gold lights right in the centre of the stairway where the ancient Aqueduct passes beneath.

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Don't waste a drop...

nospam@example.com (Imelda) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 11:32:00 +0000

The Internet can be a dangerous place. Everyone says so. But so often we dismiss this as paranoia or overparenting and fail to see that the risks can be real.

The most recent online craze is Chat Roulette, a social networking phenomenon that allows web guests to link up with each other using microphones and webcams.

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Filming the Aqua Virgo

nospam@example.com (Ted O'Neill) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 02:22:47 +0000

Cold, wet, in the pitch black, twenty-five metres under the city of Rome, we pushed forwards against the water of Marcus Vespanius Agrippa’s Aqueduct, which has flowed continuously since 19BC, and I prayed that our new high-definition camera wasn’t going to drop into the water and flow all the way back to the Trevi fountain.

Our first filming adventure inside an aqueduct was a one-off. We had spent six months negotiating for access to the Aqua Virgo and we knew we weren’t going to have a second chance.

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The Aqueduct Hunter Diary

nospam@example.com (Ted O'Neill) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:51:37 +0000

My name is Ted O’Neill from Finchampstead in Berkshire, and I am blogging from Rome, where my company is researching and filming the remains of the ancient Roman Aqueducts.

Ancient Rome was not only a Military Powerhouse, but also, in many ways an unsurpassed civilisation and healthy population centre, all powered by clean, fresh water. There was more fresh water arriving in Rome in the year 110 AD than arrives in New York in 2010 AD.

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Fatal Attraction

nospam@example.com (Imelda) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:22:00 +0000

When a relationship is new, it’s like looking after bone china. You carry it with care and try your best not to let it fall to the floor and smash to pieces.

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'A picture tells a thousand words...'

nospam@example.com (Imelda) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 16:21:00 +0000

It’s Valentine’s Day. Everywhere I look, there are couples holding hands or clinging onto each other to make the most of the one day of the year where it’s considered socially acceptable to practically do it in the street and not in the privacy of one’s home.
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Dangerous Liaisons

nospam@example.com (Imelda) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:19:00 +0000

I've never had an argument with someone on a first date before...and I didn't think I ever would.

But when a 30-year-old tells you he's a coke head and thinks the government should legalise drugs so they can be sold alongside booze and cigarettes in bars, it leaves you a little bit annoyed that you wasted a London-bound train fare to meet him for a drink.

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Tightening my financial belt…

nospam@example.com (Alice Murphy) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 13:56:15 +0000

Then loosening it again with an enormous meal.

A good thing to come out of the credit crunch is the cheap food deals at supermarkets.

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Start on your own doorstep

nospam@example.com (Alice Murphy) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:08:12 +0000

THE credit crunch means many people fear for their jobs at the moment.

Shop owners are no exception, but it doesn’t appear to stop lots of people moaning about the centre of Wokingham.

Why doesn’t everyone just support it?

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Let Them Eat Bread

nospam@example.com (Alice Murphy) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:34:14 +0000

In the spirit of New Year's resolutions, my money-saving is being reinstated after the hangover of a Christmas full of excess.

However, diet or no diet, there are few things better than hot bread with fresh butter, in my opinion.

And bread making is one of those things I feel I should be able to do, but actually have never bothered attempting.

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Cash-Strapped Christmas

nospam@example.com (Alice Murphy) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 14:10:52 +0000

Christmas is nearly coming, and with it a hefty round of purse-draining activities.
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The Cash Apocalyse

nospam@example.com (Alice Murphy) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:20:15 +0000

This week, the credit crunch seems to be sliding into full-on recession and it’s going to last until 2010.

Money people in the know are getting ever more alarmed, and one of these is Martin Lewis.

Every week he shows up on the GMTV sofa in a sliding scale of worry.

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Hallowe'en? Bah, Humbug!

nospam@example.com (Alice Murphy) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:51:32 +0000

Hallowe'en, eh? Hijack of an American tradition and an excuse for vandalism and threatening behaviour, or an opportunity for some harmless festive fun?

Either way, it’s a right rip-off.

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