Way back in early 1999 I was in the UK for some work near Fakenham in Norfolk. After hours there wasn't jack to do in Fakenham so I was staying at a bed and breakfast near Kings Lynn and essentially commuting each day.
At the time there was a fantastically successful Channel 4 series called Time Team. The program tasked a very good team of archeologists to descend on a site and try to figure out what was going on there and they only had 3 days to do it in. At the time it had been on the air for a few years and one of my favorite programs. It eventually ran for 20 years and has recently been revived as an entirely viewer supported program.
One of the main researchers was Carenza Lewis, a tall full figured woman with beautiful long mid back length blonde hair. She wasn't what I'd call overly attractive but I found her personality quite magnetic.
One evening as I sat having my supper at a pub I'd grown fond of in walked a number of very recognizable Time Team members and a handful of not so recognizable members. I figured the ones I didn't recognize were production people and not archeologists, I was wrong.
The pub had been sparsely occupied when I arrived but now it was later and close to packed. I was sitting by myself at a table for 4 in a bit of a nook when they piled into the empty table next to me. Much to my delight one of them was Carenza.
She was looking like she just came in from a field dig wearing a red t-shirt like thing, blue jeans, and a blue light fleece.
A person I recognized as Mick Aston (professor and archeologist) asked if they could use the empty chairs and I replied a bit too loudly, "Only if I can buy a round for you." As an American their response surprised me.
"Oh well, in that case..." he said and waved them en mass to move table and chairs to join at me at my table.
Mick stuck his hand out to me as he sat down opposite me. Before he could say it, I did, "Mick Aston."
He beamed as I added, "I watch you folks all the time!" I stuck my hand out to the guy just sitting down next to Mick, "Phil Harding I presume." Phil (field archeologist) distractedly shook my hand while he downed a long drag of ale watching what was going on next to me.
There was a tussle over the seat next to me. Tony Robinson, the main presenter and quite famous actor, and archeological geophysicist John Gator both had their hands on the seat tugging at it but under their arms came a hand holding a pint, that hand was connected to Carenza who quickly slipped between them and into the seat. She slipped so quickly she had to put her hand on my left thigh to keep from falling into my lap.
I steadied her and said, "Easy there, we've only just met." Phil let out a woop and holler, typical Phil.
As this went on another woman I didn't recognize swooped in to sit next to Phil. Leaving Tony, John, Stewart Ainsworth (archeological investigator), Francis Pryor (archeologist), and another woman I didn't recognize at the other end of the now 9 seat table.
Quickly there were introductions all around. I learned that the tall short haired brunette who had snuck in next to Phil was new comer Helen Geake (small finds archaeologist) and Margaret Cox (forensic anthropologist) was on the end next to John and Stewart.
Margaret immediately caught my eye as a potential cougar. Compared to the rest who looked like they'd just come from the dig, she looked well kept and quite modestly stylish.
I briefly gushed my love of the show. They were all in hysterics when I added that I loved all of them except Helen and Margaret who "were nobodies because I have no idea who they are" and John who I said, "doesn't really belong on the show because geophysics isn't 'real' archeology."
That was met with howling laughter under which John attempted to list successes but with Phil shouting him down he just gave up. I smiled and raised my glass to him so he knew I'd been taking the mickey out. Helen caught my eye by pointing a finger at me and said, "nobody? well you'll know me by the end of the evening I guarantee that!"
To which I replied while blinking my eyes, "as in biblical knowing? I'm shocked you'd be so forward! I mean, we haven't even been introduced."
Once again the table resounded with pounding. Helen flushed deep red of embarrassment and tried to hide behind her pint as she emptied half of it.
I raised my pint, "But I'm up for it if you are," I said with a wink.
Corenza laughed and said to Helen, "Cheers to that." Then she tilted her head toward me and added, "Play your cards right with that one and you'll be knowing a lot before morning."
I leaned to Carenza and whispered in her ear. "But it's you I'd really like to know."
She lifted her left hand and wiggled a ring at me saying with a wink, "If only..."
"Well, I'm relying on alcohol and poor judgment to act in my favor, " I said. Phil and Mick had been watching and both let out an "awwwww" followed by mocking me by trying to proposition Helen and Margaret in my name.
I raised my pint to them and said, "Jerks."
Once again it seems I was hilarious.
I didn't know if the ring was an engagement or a wedding ring but it seemed an impediment to getting Carenza's nickers off. But I wasn't going to give up that quickly given the surprise opportunity fate had lay at my feet.
This type of roaring banter mixed with real archeological discussion over what they'd found that day convinced me these people weren't just acting. In an instant they'd go from jovial inebriation to serious reflection of the happenings at the dig site. They have a passion for archeology which included plenty of friendly. competition.
Carenza and Margaret nursed 2 drinks between them all evening. The rest of them, damn could they drink. Especially Phil. Phil and Helen were serious drinkers. He was red faced happily painless and Helen equally red faced and speech slurring drunk.
