A Volunteer's Journal: Week One

Hello Nooklings.

As you may know, I have been a museum volunteer since 2014. I've had so many wonderful experiences, and I've decided to condense them down into a type of journal to share with you all. The following did not, in fact, happen in the same week, but I hope it gives you an idea of the kind of things that can happen when you're volunteering at a museum.

MONDAY The museum is closed to the public on Mondays, but that doesn’t mean no work is getting done. Today I head to the archive to assist the archaeology curator. Today’s task? Editing photos for the museum’s catalogue. We’re digitising the archive, and that means every single object needs a clean, clear image. It’s not a difficult job: open the photo, adjust the white balance and brightness until the background is crisp white, crop out any unnecessary blank space, save, and move on to the next. It does get tedious after a while, though, but that is what my headphones are for.

TUESDAY Once a month on a Tuesday, I would assist at a Memory Café hosted at one of the museums. Tea and biscuits were always on hand, and there was always someone interesting to talk to. On this particular Tuesday, I took my usual seat beside a lovely couple named Pat and Nigel. Pat and I had bonded over a shared love of textiles and the colour blue. As we sat side by side, happily chatting away, Pat suddenly stopped mid-sentence,

“We’re wearing the same colour!” she exclaimed. She was so pleased by this small coincidence that she insisted on telling everyone who passed by. And each time, it brought her just as much joy as the first.

I won’t deny I had a soft spot for Pat and Nigel. Years later, I still find myself thinking of them now and then.

WEDNESDAY One of the perks of being a museum volunteer is the opportunities that come your way. Today’s adventure? A field trip to another city for a talk and a tour of their local museum. A fellow volunteer and friend called Linda, her husband and I had a nice chat on the coach ride there. Our first stop is an art gallery. Now, this may surprise you, dear reader, but I’m not the biggest fan of art. It's a hard thing to appreciate when you are visually impaired. Don't get me wrong, there is some art I love, but for the most part, it just isn't something I can enjoy. I do enjoy listening to my friends talking about it, though. After a quick lunch break, we made our way to the main event: a private talk about a collection of human remains, complete with time to speak with the exhibition's curator, followed by a guided tour of the museum itself.

THURSDAY I arrive at the museum, notebook in hand, ready for a slow stroll and some thoughtful scribbling. This isn’t my usual haunt; in fact, it’s only my second day working at this particular museum. My mission is simply to take notes, lots of notes. Learn about the museum, introduce myself to the staff, and get a good feel for the place. I may also be taking notes for a secret project, but I didn't tell you that.

FRIDAY I arrive at the museum in costume—my handmade 10th-century garb. Some days I’m allowed to dress up, and I take full advantage of that. I've become a regular fixture at the museum by now, and we sometimes have visitors who come specifically to see the Viking lady. This was always my favourite role, object handling.

There's something for everyone: Stone Age hand axes, Roman dice, a grim little chamber pot which I personally despise... But my favourites are the replica Anglo-Saxon sword, a felt version of the Benty Grange helmet for children to try on, a sperm whale tooth, a Roman floor tile with a cat’s paw print pressed into it, and a cannonball from 1648. I'm mid-shift when I spot a young girl and her father waiting patiently for a chance to approach. I recognise them, they visit often, but the girl seems unusually shy today.

That’s when her dad steps in, crouching down beside her and gently nudging her forward. “She made you something,” he says. I’m handed a gift: a tiny loom band bracelet with a green charm to match my green hair. A gift for me, the random Viking lady who shows up every week

I still have that little bracelet.

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I hope you all enjoyed this little dive into my work as a museum volunteer. I'll be back with more posts like thisin the future.