Tuesday 29/3/11

Hi everyone!!

Today has been fun and fruitful – I spent my morning creating a spread sheet for local B&B’s. We hope to send out some of our museum postcards to various places in and near to Bridport, so that people staying there could potentially come to open evenings at the museum, which would boost our visitor numbers as well as our popularity!!......

This afternoon was also fun – I went over with Emily to the museum, and took some photos of the exhibitions – I also got some good ‘action’ shots, which are quite entertaining!!!........

Stay safe, and be happy!!

Monday 28/3/11

Hi!!

Today started off differently – Emily, Bruce and I quickly popped down to Groves Nursery to get some compost and plants for the courtyard at the museum; its going to look really pretty when its finished, a nice little patio garden for people to walk about in…….

The rest of the day was also good – I spent some of my time doing some more research into sport in and around Bridport – there is soooooo much to learn about……. I also helped Margaret to re-price and re-organise some of the stock items in the shop at the museum. I spent some of my time this afternoon taking photos of the exhibitions, which I have been meaning to do for a few days. I also heard the quiz night was a great success – and a BIG thank you to all who participated!! You help keep the museum going, through your charitable donations, and invaluable efforts.

Here’s a behind the scenes look at the Museum’s preparations filmed by Transvision TV:

www.transitionvision.tv/play/Heritage/Bridport_Museum_Preparing_for_the_2011_season

I’m looking forward to Wednesday and Thursday this week, because I get to meet the other volunteers. By the way, here is a reminder to those of you who haven’t bought your tickets for the Bonny Sartin concert yet. It’s going to be a great unique event:

Bonny Sartin’s - The Banks Of Newfoundland with special guests - Nick Wyke and Becki Driscoll

27th April 2011 at 7:00 PM

The Chapel in the Garden, East Street, Bridport

Tickets £8 adv. / £10 on the door

Available from Bridport Local History Centre or Bridport Music

I split my last hour today between three different occupations: cataloguing items from the collections, writing down information on the history of Bowls as a sport in Bridport, and thirdly writing this blog. I didn’t realise how much I would enjoy writing this blog each day – it’s something that I always look forward to at the end of each day….. It’s really nice to write down my thoughts about each day, and to tell you all about the everyday events that go on here at the Coach House and the museum.

Signing off for now – have a nice evening, I’m off to walk my dog!!

Bye!!

Friday 25/3/11

Hi – sorry about the radio silence for the last couple of days… Wednesday was a bit crazy here for me – I spent the morning running around delivering more donation request letters to businesses in Bridport. As some of you know, there was the meeting up at Mountfield council offices during part of the afternoon. I found it really useful to hear the different ideas from all sides, and to meet the different trustees, friends of the museum, and volunteers. I know that I have come away with more inspiration to take more action in raising funds. On that note, don’t forget the quiz at the British Legion Headquarters tomorrow night at 7:30 – don’t be late for a very important date!!

Yesterday was as hectic for me, if not more. I went up to Dorchester for a couple of courses, which are funded by the Future Jobs Fund – I have a certain amount of money allocated to me so that I can go on these courses to improve my skills basis. This is very useful, and also looks good on any future job applications…

I spent the rest of the morning doing some personal admin. I needed to organise some of my documents into a readable file, which I - and anyone else in the future - can access more easily. We also got our first donation response from Austen, Whetham and Guest, which was a nice surprise- very many thanks to them for their generous support!

This afternoon I spent half my time cataloguing even more items from our collections, and the other half beginning some of my research into sport in Dorset. I really want to delve deep into this feature of our local culture, partly because of the upcoming 2012 Olympics and partly out of pure curiosity. There seems to be a lot of rowing clubs, obviously, as well as football. Sport is an integral part of human nature; although I’m not much of a sporty person, I can see how much enjoyment people get from it, and how much community spirit it creates.

Have a great weekend!!

Tuesday 22/3/11

Hi guys

Today was a quiet day, and I spent my time just simply getting on with cataloguing some more items from our collection. I also spent some time handing out letters to various businesses in Bridport – it is incredible how much of a difference it made to my day, simply getting out for a walk, a change of scenery……

I managed to stay away from the biscuit tin for the second day running!! – I must have a super power or something… Either that or I simply just enjoy eating grapes more…..

We now have some amazingly colourful and feathery masks for the mask-making day on the 13^th of April. It’s beginning to get a bit crazy around here – with less than two weeks to go before we open for this summer season there is a lot going on! I am really looking forward to the museum being open; getting to meet different people and getting their responses from the exhibitions is going to be interesting and useful for the future….

Monday 21/3/11

Hi guys – I have to say, on the beverage front, it was a first today. No one tried to ‘force’ me to have biscuits………………………. They must actually have capitulated on that front. FINALLY they get the message. No more biscuits. Thank you.

On another note, today was cool. Finished off the cataloguing I was doing on last Friday afternoon first thing, which was really satisfying. Then spent an hour chatting with the others during the staff meeting (we did get SOME work done, I promise…. It’s not like we just sit around, drinking cups of tea and coffee, and eating chocolate digestives ALL day…). Then I spent the first hour of my afternoon creating a fun press release for the mask-making day on April 13^th, (it starts at 10:00, ends at 17:00). I also did some more research on Francis Newbery – he appears to have been an iconic local figure in Bridport’s Art community when he was alive. He simply did so much to encourage and promote art amongst the old and young alike, and not just as a hobby…. He encouraged skilled craftsmanship amongst people who would otherwise have been poor labourers.

I am becoming increasingly interested in the history of sport in this county. Considering the 2012 Olympics are just over a year away, I think it’s high time to start digging deep into research concerning this in the local community….

Thanks for listening – I’ll speak again tomorrow!!

Friday 18/3/11

Work was great today – finished off the spread sheet from yesterday, and did some more cataloguing of the items in the collections. So another fun day!! Writing this blog is fun, but sometimes I almost forget to do it at the end of the day!!

See you on Monday!!

Thursday 17/3/11

Hi – it’s me again!!

Today was fun – I spent the morning finishing off organising potential grant body information on the computer, and in the afternoon I spent half my time helping Emily sort out items and generally tidying up, upstairs in the coach house: a general spring clean…………. I need a pinafore for that, I thought…… I spent the rest of my time filing out a spread sheet with address details for potential funding groups in Bridport, and also writing this blog instalment!!

See you tomorrow!!

Monday 13/3/11

Hi – today was quiet but fun. I spent the morning finishing off some fundraising research and documentation concerning applying for grants etc…. And I spent an hour and half in the afternoon period doing some more cataloguing for Judith, of the various items in the collections at the Coach House centre. I spent the last half hour writing this blog, and helping Margaret out pricing items for the museum shop. So all in all, another calm, peaceful and prosperous day at work!! I can’t quite believe how much I’m enjoying working here – the people are really friendly, and the work is interesting and rewarding.

See you on Thursday – I’m off to Canterbury for a university open day!!

Bye for now!!

Thursday 10/3/11

Hi

Went over to the museum for a bit this morning with Emily and Shannon, and helped them move some of the exhibition items around. Spent some of my time this afternoon finishing off cataloguing the items I didn’t manage to get to yesterday with Judith…. Oh, and I also did some research for a friend. So all in all, another great day at work….. Oh no!!, I actually enjoy my work!!

Got to dash – I’m going shopping now!!! Which will be great!!

Will blog again tomorrow!!

Wednesday 9/3/11

Hi

Today was cool – I spent the morning finalising details for an event in June that is being held near Bridport. And I spent the afternoon helping Judith out with some of her cataloguing – taking photos of the items in the collections is interesting because some items have the most amazingly intricate detail on them (hence the photo below of a riding spur!!). Its also nice to have a break from doing research and contacting different organisations about funds; a lot of people may not realise that it is good to do this, to avoid tedium……

See you tomorrow!!

Tuesday 8/3/11

 I didn’t realise how central the Electric Palace has been in the Bridport community – it’s been here for nearly a century, providing entertainment and educational films to many people. I’m determined to see more films there in the future. I am going to see Nicholas Parsons (from ‘Just A Minute’) soon; he is completely hilarious…..

I went over with Emily and a couple of volunteers to the museum this afternoon to do a bit helping with the Wedding Exhibition. The dresses look so beautiful, but they must have been incredibly heavy to wear, not to mention you would probably have got really overheated. I NEVER liked the idea of corsets…… To me, a corset seems like the ultimate female torture, the human equivalent of a boa constrictor……

Bye for now – will blog tomorrow!!

Monday 7/3/11

Hi!!

For the first time in a long time this morning, I didn’t have the dawn chorus of barks and howls from my handsome and heinous 3 year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, whom I LOVE TO BITS!! Rolo is wonderful and intensely irritating in equal and constant measure……

Emily and I came up with an ingenious idea at the end of last week: to put on photos as ‘tasters’ of what is to come in the exhibitions over the summer and autumn. We all really want to promote the museum, and the exhibitions all have fascinating items which deserve to be previewed….

Bye!!

Friday 4/3/11

 Today was really fun – I finished off my research on Francis Newbery, and scanned in some of his beautiful paintings of Corfe Castle and Bridport. I particularly like his painting entitled ‘The Spirit of Bridport’ – it really does I feel, encapsulate many aspects of Bridport culture and identity…..

I realised, pretty much as soon as I walked in the door this morning that I had forgotten my lunch…………. I’m supposed to be on a diet, but like a lot of people who are desperate to abstain, I failed miserably by eating TWO biscuits. I LOVE FOOD – but I am desperate to loose weight. It didn’t help that Bruce, Emily, and Margaret repeatedly attacked me with the biscuit tin, at various points during the day……..

I swear, that one day, I will make them eat all the biscuits in the tin, and then I will happily snigger and laugh at them!!......

I spent about half an hour, along with Shannon, Margaret, Emily and Sandra, folding, licking, and attaching stamps to, the almost endless mailing list………

I now sympathise with organisations that seem to spend ALL THEIR TIME doing this, because it is repetitive and tiring. Not to mention, you get a horrible crick in your neck from bending your head down…..

See you on Monday!!

Thursday 3/3/11

Good day – got a lot done, particularly concerning the history of The Bull Hotel – almost my favourite place in Bridport, save for Bella’s, save for Leakers…………… and so on…

I added my blog to the museum facebook wall today – check out what I’m writing of course, and feel totally free to comment.

I’m forward to when the museum opens – it will be really nice to do shifts standing on the till and having conversations with people, instead of just sitting behind a computer all day. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy do all this research, but like Emily said to me earlier, its good to get out and about sometimes…..

Check out the dates for upcoming events, also posted on the museum facebook wall – there is certainly something for everyone!!

Bye for now!!

Wednesday 2/3/11

Good day again today – did some more fascinating research on Bridport buildings – the Art’s Centre has a fascinating history – I am interested more as a result in the religious history of this town…. There honestly is sooooooo much to research, that I am never going to have a dull moment!!!!….. That is an IMMENSE relief

Tuesday 1/3/11

Hi again – sorry it took me a while to get back to you today – just been a bit busy researching information on traders and buildings in and around Bridport. This town has such a fascinating heritage; I know I’ll barely touch the surface by the end of my job term…

I have managed to finish off my research as a result – I have spent most of the day doing it, which is good. I believe that it is always better to be occupied – I hate (!!!!) having nothing to do. Just sitting around is not an option – at least, not permanently…….

Tuesday 1/3/11

Arrived at 9:50 - Emily let me in to the madhouse.... So far today I have finished off one piece of research, and may actually finish another. Sensational. I really enjoy researching the history of Bridport - there are lots of creepy facts, as well as famous historical persons. I was doing some research on Francis Newbery and his contribution to Dorset as an art philanthropist. It is incredible how much connection he has to Bridport, even though he spent a lot of his life in Glasgow.....

Will blog again today, but later - got to go for lunch break!!

Thursday 24/2/11

Great today! – Emily was pleased with the first draft of my press release – might have to delete some pictures at the final stage if the newspapers/magazines don’t like them, but otherwise cool. I am settling in quickly – working here feels a bit like school – I can remember study periods, and how I just enjoyed getting to grips with a task. It feels the same here, and I really enjoy that…

I’m going to create a profile on Facebook tomorrow – should be really cool!! I’ve never been much of a social person, but I am looking forward to having a profile or two…

Wednesday 23/2/11: Hi

Life at the museum. I arrived around 10:00 today – I was greeted by Margaret and Judith which was nice. I helped Judith out during Wednesday normally, as an assistant volunteer researcher in the Social History collections. Working as a volunteer before this job at the Museum was really good fun. Once you get to know everyone, once you break down the barriers of awkwardness, the Museum is interesting and enjoyable. I was amazed at the amount and quality of documents available for private research – Bridport has a truly thriving culture and social history, particularly concerning its sea faring connections to Canada – I’m hoping to take my third year out at university to study either there, or in the US…

I used to be a cynic about working at Museums – believing they were musty, stuffy, and completely out of touch with the world I belonged to…. I could not have been more wrong. Bridport Museum has recently decided to put on an amazing exhibition to co-celebrate the royal nuptials this coming summer. Some of the gowns in the exhibition are beautiful and really elegant…

Another exhibition which has really caught my eye is ‘Bridport in 1911’ – looking back over the last century, to see life then is fascinating – Bridport’s rope industry was still thriving. Speaking of anniversaries, the most fascinating exhibition, in my opinion, at the museum, is that of the 400^th anniversary of the King James 1^st Bible – the selections of manuscripts have such amazing detail, and their quality remains undiminished, even after four centuries…

Working as a volunteer, you get the chance to see the other side of the museum, the part ‘behind closed doors’ so to speak – I loved going around the different research areas. The Coach House centre is FULL of documents and items donated and discovered in Dorset, and around the world. Just this morning, a gentleman who moved out to California – lucky for some – sent us some photos he had taken when he was living here in Bridport

I had a lot of interesting jobs today – as a marketing and fundraising assistant I’m required to create pamphlets and send out press releases to local newspapers, magazines and businesses etc. I was working on a press release today – my first scary task!! Thankfully, it wasn’t nearly as daunting as my imagination would like me to think…

Introduction

Hello Friends of Bridport Museum. This blog is designed to show the more 'human' side of the museum, the world behind closed doors.........Either weekly or monthly, I will post on this blog events from that week or month that appear amusing, informative and interesting to you, our audience. I will ofcourse be more than happy to read your responses, and take note of your views.

I hope this blog will make you laugh, and involve you more at the heart of this museum, as well as involving you ultimately with the staff and the volunteers, and any events you are interested in.

Thanks for reading!!