Hello From a New Member [Archive] - Ceramic Tile Advice Forums

Repat

09-07-2003, 09:33 PM

Derek and Jacqui,

Yes, we've covered most of the main Roman roads at one time or another. There's not much left these days. The most fun for us were the forts associated with Hadrian's Wall. It's like reaching right back through 2,000 years and touching the real thing. Our favorite was Vindolana because of the tablets and Corsopitum because of the building details.

May I correct you a little. We are not 'escapees' from Londinium. If we had our way, we'd live there or anywhere in the UK in a heartbeat. We're beyond being Anglophiles, almost to the point of being Anglomaniacs. Our son is representing us by living in Leamington Spa and we have Brit friends who we worked with in Riyadh all over the UK.

John,

I don't have any particular points to make about Roman History so I won't expound a lot. Our interest isn't in the why's and wherefores, but rather in the everyday life of people then. After all, those old boys knew how to set some tile, didn't they?

John Bridge

09-08-2003, 05:40 AM

Romans as Tile Setters

It's ironic that a civilization that turned out some of the greatest builders in the world came late to the tile-making and tile-setting business. The genius of the Roman builders, I think, is in their ability to quickly incorporate knowledge gained from conquered societies. The tile-making art had flourished for centuries in Egypt, for example, before the Romans came crashing in. :)

A truly great and unique feat of the Romans was their development of cement mortar. Where would we be without that? :)

Repat

09-08-2003, 08:13 AM

You are spot on, John. The Romans originated very little of their own. Instead, they were masters at acquiring technology from others and formalizing or systematizing it for their own use. Their sense of organization made them indomitable in many areas.

Their soldiers weren't that much better than any others, it's just that they worked as a team, unifying their strengths on the battlefield. They peoples that fought them in Gaul and Britain did so as individuals, thus weakening themselves. This teamwork system created the far-flung Roman Empire which outlasted so many others of the time.

It's hard for Americans to recognize that team approach to things when we are such individualists. We do work in teams but privately most of us want to be the star, the MVP, the person who stands out above the crowd.

smee

09-08-2003, 03:43 PM

Linda here - aka Smee.

I happen to be an Anglomaniac myself. In face, wierdly, I LOVE romano-british history and well all things english\anglo\scottish history. I spend most of my evening hours in books on the above subjects and I am in total agreement with you...I often dream of living in various parts of england and spending endless hours in the basement of York Minster and tooling around in the Wallace Museum London.

you are most welcome!!!!!

I spent most of last year reading early "regular" roman hisotry - have read a tad on the roman conquest and then skipped up to the ending of the roman period and the strange period before the Anglo Saxons got hold of the place :D

This forum has been a bit quiet lately, so tell us....what are you reading now?

Derek & Jacqui

09-08-2003, 06:20 PM

Hi, Repat
WE are the escapies from Londinium, left there in 1983 moved to Cornwall s.w. England,great place to live.

John Bridge

09-08-2003, 06:41 PM

And then you escaped Cornwall and a couple other places and ended up in Tennessee. Now all you have to do is figure out how to get out of Tennessee. :D

flatfloor

09-08-2003, 06:58 PM

John, D & J are British terrorists that's why they move around. Their problem is they don't quite know who they want to terrorize.

;)

Repat

09-08-2003, 10:25 PM

Hiya Smee!

We've traveled all over England and Wales and Southern Scotland. In fact, our Brit friends tell us we've been way more places than they have. I regret never having made it to the Highlands of Scotland.

We've concentrated on seeing and taking pictures of the remains of Roman buildings and mosaics. I don't really know why that subject caught our interest so strongly since the Romans had little lasting effect on what the British peoples became. Actually, it was the Angles and Saxons that laid the foundations for today's Britain. Of course the Celtic language and influence is still going on, mostly in Wales. I always thought Welsh wouldn't be too hard to learn because all their signs are in both languages which makes the whole country a sort of living textbook.

Books were hard to come by in Saudi Arabia so on every trip we made to London, I went to the used book stores near the top of Charing Cross Road and found some older stuff to take back with me. Currently I am rereading The English Channel, published in 1959.

Derek & Jacqui,

We have several friends who lied in and raved about Cornwall. oddly, they were all transplants from other places in England. I don't think I've ever met a real Cornishman. We did the Land's End trip several years ago (never made it to John O'Groats, though) and about froze to death enjoying the view.

John Bridge says you ended up in Tennessee, which means you almost made it all the way to Arkansas. Where in Tennesee did you settle and how to they understand your accents? Even better, how do you understand theirs?

flatfloor,

Brit terrorists are cool. They are so proper, they say 'beg yer pardon, marm' before pulling the trigger. Actually, their greatest weapons are the Stout and Bitters in the pubs. After a few of those, it feels like a bomb went off inside your head. Early on I learned to take it real easy around that stuff.

flatfloor

09-09-2003, 04:38 PM

Should get Jeremy over here another transplanted Brit stuck in the UAE. I think he's trying to get deported. ;)

Derek & Jacqui

09-09-2003, 06:38 PM

We live in Obion N.W. Tennessee so we are not to far from Arkansas, we understand the lingo pretty well. Jacqui watches for the blank looks then does the translating bit, which is quite often.:D

John Bridge

09-09-2003, 06:59 PM

Jeremy will find us. :)

Repat

09-09-2003, 08:07 PM

My condolences to Jeremy in the UAE. I thought Arkansas humidity was bad until I visited Dubai last August.

They do have a lot of excellent tile work throughout the Middle East, though. It's really the only thing that will stand up to that intense sunshine.

I've watched the masons at work over there and it's rough. The temperature is usually 115-120 every day of a four-month-long summer but they're still out there laying 'em down.

In Riyadh, the contracts for outside workers usually state that if the temperature gets over 105, the workers are to be given a break in the middle of the day. The Saudis get around that by simply not reporting temperatures that high.We should all be glad that we live in the free world where employees are considered human beings, not cattle.

If you guys ever get by Fort Smith, look me up. There's always have a cold one in the fridge for Brits.

jjwq8

09-10-2003, 12:15 AM

OK,
you wanted me , you got me. The original Anglo Maniac.

Repat welcome. A voice of sense and reason and correct spelling no doubt. My only advice? Get out now before its too late. This isn't a forum so much as an addiction.

105 Fahrenheit? HAH.

Kuwait it is 50 Celsius- 122 Fahrenheit. And it never never never never goes above 49 celsius ..... honest.

Who's trying to get deported? The devine M wants me home (Q8) and so far has me on a strict diet of earache to ensure compliance.

I've not lost interest or been ignoring you, I am now located in a Site office where we have yet to got an internet connection, so i have to wait to come back into the main office to do this and time as they say is a bugger!

Repat

09-10-2003, 09:37 AM

Jeremy,

Salaam Aleikum. Sorry, but if you want sense and reason, you'll probably have to look elsewhere. Nor do I mind the odd addiction so long as it feels good and so far, this does.

If you can stand the heat and humidity over there, you're a better man than I am, Gunga Din. l did 13 years in Riyadh where the humidity stays so low you never sweat. I'm finding it difficult to adjust now that I'm back home.

To make matters worse, the Saudi's don't allow alcohol so having a nice cold beer at the end of the day requires a lot more work than just popping a top. I actually learned to like Sidiqui, the Saudi version of white lightnin'.

Did I get marked by the whole ME experience? My wife and I were on leave one time, walking down the street in London and I actually said to her "I sure would like a Sid and Pepsi right now." With all the pubs in London, I wanted Sid!

Now that we're home in the States, I've taken up vodka.

Hobbit

09-10-2003, 02:30 PM

Welcome Repat....

Its good to welcome another history student.:)

Most of us here have one era in which we tend to spend most of our study hours. I guess I am a little different......as J.B. so eloquently pointed out.

You should get along fine here. Smee is an avid reader and knows more about early Britain (especially the bellicose hordes) than anyone else around here (probably). Jeremy, on the other hand, knows a lot more than he lets on and comes from fine British stock even though he currently reigns over our contingent from UAE (currently a Fifedom of one). J.B. is our leading historical philosopher on colonial America, AND reigns over the kingdom of Texas.

Me.....I speak for the voice of reason, and try to stimulate intellectual curiosity. (Although I am certain others may see it differently).

Once again, welcome. We thrive on controversy. So speak up. We'll let you know if you're wrong.;)

:):)

Repat

09-10-2003, 05:53 PM

Hiya Hobbit,

Thanks for the welcome. As for era specialization, I've gone through phases during my life. I spent some years reading WW II before moving on to the American Civil War (what we in the south still refer to as the recent unpleasantness). I got the Romano-British bug during the first trip in 1990 and have stayed there ever since. Who knows what comes next?

You said "Smee is an avid reader and knows more about early Britain (especially the bellicose hordes) than anyone else around here" Can you guys be more specific. For a long time, the only people on the scene in Britain were bellicose hordes. I had the image of Brits as polite and considerate until I startedhitting their museums. There I find the damndest collections of weapons anywhere. These guys spent most of the past 2500 years spearing and swording each other until it's a wonder there's anyone left. When there were no more foreigners (aka Romans, Danes, Angles, French) to have at, they got into dust-ups with each other. Generally a feisty bunch.

Again... poor Jeremy, stranded in the Middle East. I found those folks don't care much about what happened and when and how. They are satisfied to know that it happened at all and put no value on sequence. Very few Saudis know anything at all about their own history, and really don't care.

John Bridge invited me into this shebang so if I make a complete pratt of myself here, I'll try to blame it on him. That shouldn't be too hard since I'm originally a Texan too. I'm new to the Forum format, I've always been on email lists in the past.

And you, Hobbit. You're the voice of reason here, huh? That's good to know. Now I know who to look to for guidance.

As I said before, I don't have any pet theories to espouse or special points to make. you won't get much controversy out of me but if you're the spark plug around here, go ahead and spark.

I'm not sure how we're supposed to generate any discourse, with only one specialist in each era, but we'll see how it goes, eh?

jjwq8

09-11-2003, 02:15 AM

R
I can go ever so slightly better than the sid and coke.

M and I sat down in Maximes on the banks of the Seine in Paris and having ordered a sumptuous repaste the Maitre de plonk smarmed over and enquired what we would like to drink? It took three waiters to revive him and carry him away after my reply:
"Tea".

Jeddah Gin is still a favourite :nod:

John Bridge

09-11-2003, 05:55 AM

So Maximes is still there. It's been over forty years since I stood out in front of the place gawking. ;)

Repat

09-11-2003, 12:21 PM

Jeremy,

Maybe that's because of the formula:

French Tea : British Tea :: Sid : Bourbon.

Because we couldn't get real bottled in bond stuff in Riyadh (at any human price ) we really appreciated it when we left the Kingdom.

I've always been a moderate drinker but that first one on the outbound flight was critical. My favorite airline was Lufthansa because they used to push the drinks cart uphill while we were still climbing out of the airport. Later they joined BA in waiting until the plane was out of Saudi air space before serving alcohol.

When that first cold one was slipping down, the vacation was actually starting.

smee

09-11-2003, 01:59 PM

Repat -

howdie over here on this subject.....:D :D

well, here on my desk at work for some light reading I have
"The Anglo-Saxons", Edited by James Campbell.
awesome good book! It's become my anglo period 'desk reference', if you will. Very comprehensive - beginning with the end of Roman Britain and ending with the dealth of Harold and a little commentary on the subsequent conquering business...
A great book - I highly recommend for that period.

You are so on about the hordes. I think Howard was exaggerating about me. I have spent countless years studying all history as a hobby, primarily the "dark ages" and later Anglo Saxon history in Britain focusing on Military History. I have been going back into early Roman history and working my way forward for some more knowlegeable background on them and then into their occupying britain.

I don't know if while in London you had a chance to visit the Wallace Museum? Incredible collection of armour. Just incredible.
On my way to a small town outside of Bath - I had a taxi take me some 20 miles or so - and I was so lucky that the cab driver happened to have spent his life studying Roman coin and Roman history in the area. I didn't want the cab ride to be over. He was a retired teacher - it was such a great moment on my last trip.

I've visited a few battle sites in England over the last 4-5 years but mostly detailing the 15th century civil wars. Tough bunch of nuts is right.

So - I could go on and on....sorry.

Give me some of the books you've read and the things, people, places that are of special interest for you? I'm quite curious.

Linda

Repat

09-11-2003, 03:10 PM

Hi Smee,

The beginning of the 'Dark Ages' is my usual cutoff point. I have read enough to be generaly acquainted with the Angles and Saxons and Danes and Alred and Harold through William T. Conquerer but then I tend to go back and start over with the arrival of the Celts in Britain. I don't know why, but the doings after then don't move me at all.

It's a mystery to me why the period has hooked me so. To stand there and touch the stones that were laid so long ago seems to connect me to those nameless people somehow. I'm not into mysticism at all but there seems to be this odd connection.

Armor was medieval so it hasn't been on our visiting list. We've done the Museum of London and British Museum of course, any place that has anything Roman. What got me into this forum was my interest in the Roman mosaics, which is what I was surfing for when I stumbled across Mr. Bridge's site and this forum.

Bath was beautiful. It's a shame the pump room and the baths are so integrated into the modern city. That seems to detract from it somehow. Try visiting some of the forts along hadrian's wall. We went to Cilernum at Chesters where they have a bathhouse down the hill from the fort. It's by the river and you can kind of squinch up your eyes and see how it was in those times.

We found an amazing man named Michael Binns ( ambinns@hadrians-wall.co.uk ) who conducts custom tours of the Wall and it was one of the more enriching experiences I've ever had. He spent a full day with Virginia and I showing us specific things in answer to questions and providing more background than I had ever dreamed of. If you ever get the chance, it's the best way to spend your time on the wall.

I'm like you... I could go on and on. Fortunately my wife has found all this just as interesting. She's always willing to climb a hillside to look at old rocks.

The book list and special Oh-Wows should probably go off-list at this point. That way I can send the occasional picture as well. After all, this is getting away from a discussion of history as such and there don't seem to be that many others interested in this period.

smee

09-11-2003, 03:27 PM

I can relate. I have no idea why when I come to certain points in history I just have no interest.

I have a few periods. The Anglo. Specific periods in Medieval England. All Welsh history...talking about obscure...try finding someone to talk about that with? :D :D

So, I'm wondering - how do you feel about the picts? Do you think there are some links to Ireland there?

There is a great book I read "Facing the Ocean" Barry Cunliffe.
Barry Cunliffe is prolific in Iron Age studies. You may find some books worth reading there.

I do know how you feel though. Only I'm standing on a field another time but I know I don't understand why it means anything to me???

Linda

Repat

09-11-2003, 05:58 PM

I don't know why we get hooked on a particular period. I spent some time reading everything by James Michener. For me, the draw is getting all that historical detail even if it is wrapped in a fictional wrapper. I found it was a great escape from today's problems.

Perhaps that is one reason for liking to read history casually, as I do. I'm not looking for why's and wherefores, or answers to weighty questions, perhaps I'm still just escaping.

Whatever the reason, there's plenty of it out there to keep a person busy.

I read the blurb on Facing the Ocean, I'll pop down to the local library and check it out. That's another benefit of being back in the Free World. There were no English0language libraries in Riyadh and little selection in the bookstores. I was hard-pressed to supply myself with reading matter. Thanks God for the internet. There's a wealth of stuff there to be downloaded as needed. Plus, I don't have to provide shelf space for all of it!

jjwq8

09-13-2003, 07:06 AM

L
If you want to visit battle sites then take a tour of the home grounds of any of our professional soccer teams. Bloodshed guaranteed each week.
R
Reading matter in Riyadh consists of home brew recipes and airline schedules.....

Repat

09-13-2003, 10:44 AM

Your reading list is unfortunately exact.

Although rare and out-of-print, Aramco's Blue Flame was eagerly sought after. I don't know if British Aerospace had an equivalent but all our Brit friends somehow managed.

I don't know what people would do if water didn't come in 5 gallon bottles.

jjwq8

09-16-2003, 08:21 AM

You would be amazed how rapidly Kuwait Oil Company runs out of each delivery of 316 stainless steel sheet and tube. Stills-R-Us has operated out of their central fabrication shop for many years.

Repat

09-16-2003, 12:10 PM

A respectable improvement over the modified pressure cooker and it allows more capacity, too.

We tried balloon wine which turned out terribly and the beer was too much work. It was easier just to buy sid from our local supplier and flavor it ourselves.

Funny how important it was over there and how unimportant it is here. I've been home since mid-March and I'm working on my second six-pack. As for bourbon, I make sure to have one every week, whether I need it or not.

Derek & Jacqui

09-16-2003, 06:32 PM

Have any of you managed to get to a small town in Sussex by the name of Battle, was where the Battle of Hastings took place, Senlac hill,
I never managed to get into the castle becuase the buses only ran every two hours so not enough time did manage to look in the Abbey across the road.Can't remember to much as it was at least 45 years ago

Repat

09-16-2003, 10:57 PM

Sorry Guys. We never made it to Battle although I had it on the "One of these days" list. We could never work something in that was that modern.

smee

09-17-2003, 08:44 AM

Hey - can I join in?

I did visit Battle, the castle, the abbey. Interesting place. Although, of course there is some speculation on the exact location of 'the' battle :D

I enjoyed it very much.

linda

Repat

09-17-2003, 12:36 PM

Go Smee! Any Pictures?

smee

09-17-2003, 01:43 PM

I have a boatload of pictures....at home in a box.

however, on one occasion a very unfortunate incident happened. One one trip here and there, I managed to take about 15 rolls of film...and packed it in my luggage for my trip home...
merrily I went down to the photo shop (longs drugs:) ) and upon picking up the film it was SO painful to find out that they were blank.....no, I didn't have to take my shoes off at the airport but apparently I had to get my film erased thru the bloody scanning machine.

ugh :bang: I'm still hurting from that one.

oh well, just have to go back!

I'll see if I can dig up some and scan them in - give me a little while.