Monday 21 July 2008

Fun Monday - Work

Our Hostess this week is Irish Coffeehouse and this is our assignment:

THEN: As a child day dreaming of what your future would hold for you, what did you want to be when you grew up? Did you ever pursue or achieve it?

NOW: If you could be trained and placed in any career beginning tomorrow, what would it be?



Cows. Yes, an odd picture to illustrate my Fun Monday post perhaps but from a fairly early age, I knew I wanted to be a farmer. My uncle had a sheep farm where I used to spend my summer holidays so I guess it was in my blood. I knew I didn't want to work with sheep so which other aspect of farming did I want to work in. My father, a man of little imagination, thought I should work in a bank and, failing that, perhaps I should consider being a farm secretary instead. You know, woman's work. Then someone suggested dairy farming and that just sounded right. So at 16 I left home and went to live and work on a dairy farm for a year to learn how to milk and look after a herd of dairy cows. Then I went to agricultural college to get my qualifications and at 19, I was in full control of a herd of dairy cows. Dream achieved.

But now? I love the job I have now and really think I have found my niche but if I could start all over again, knowing what I know now? Forensic anthropology would be my choice.


What a fascinating career that must be: identifying skeletons, putting together the mystery of how they died, rebuilding their faces and giving the dead a voice. I'd never heard of such work until about 10 years ago and it really made me wish I had known about it 30 years ago.

26 comments:

  1. Forensic Anthropologist? Sounds like a great job title, let alone what you actually get to do! It always amazes me what you can learn from skeletons about the person who was. (Secret time-team addict!)

    ReplyDelete
  2. You might enjoy the "Eve Duncan" series by Iris Johansen. The first one is called "Face of Deception". I was totally hooked and daydreamed of being a face rebuilder too. Of course, it may have been her writing - but I have enjoyed all of her books in that series!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I bet you watch the TV program Bones on Mondays too, huh? If not, you should watch a few episodes...that could be YOU!

    Love the fact that you had/and have....achieved your dream career!!

    Come by if you can find time. Have a super-duper Monday.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Isn't it funny how fathers think they know best!

    I've always been fascinated to see how the forensic scientists can build up a profile of people from so little!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh, I've missed so many Fun Mondays. I love doing them.
    Ha! I once helped some friends with a dairy farm (who also had race horses - they were my thing) and got so many tails full of yuck in the face. The girls knew I was clueless!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm not sure why your link wasn't working, but I have it fixed now.

    I'm glad you stuck to your dreams even if others thought it wasn't meant to be. :)

    I've never thought about forensics. Definitely interesting and intriguing!

    ReplyDelete
  7. You do have interesting career choices. Forensic anthropology does sound rather intriguing.

    ReplyDelete
  8. See, I found out something new about you. Great post and fun photos.

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a great topic this week and how fun to learn a little more about everyone. From cows to forensic science ... who knew? Mine's up finally at Small Reflections.
    Hugs and blessings,

    ReplyDelete
  10. So in addition to Bones, do you watch the American show CSI? When reading your blog in the past, I've always wondered if you have an agricultural background. Now we know. Aren't Fun Mondays just a great source of information?

    ReplyDelete
  11. I can handle the farming, but the forensic anthropology is a bit creepy! No offense, of course.

    ReplyDelete
  12. forensic anthropology sounds AWESOME!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I think you have the most unique of all career choices/dreams.

    Forensic anthorpology is facinating...but I know that I would never have enough patience to do something like that.

    ReplyDelete
  14. As exciting as anthropology sounds, I think I prefer the dairy farming choice myself. Cute Cows!

    ReplyDelete
  15. From Farmer Ed to Quincy. Now THAT would be a transition.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Great story about the dairy farming. Way to chase that dream! My daughter is considerating a degree in forensics when she graduates high school. I think it's a fascinating field.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Great cows! I always thought I'd either work with farmers or marry one, and I did (marry one.) Chickens are his thing.

    We saw this really cool forensic anthropology (CSI) exhibit at the Museum of Science in Boston last winter. Amazing what can be reconstructed from bones.

    ReplyDelete
  18. what a great job being a dairy farmer!! how fun..I don't think I could be a forensic anthropologist though..I am too much of a chicken!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. How funny... I considered a career in Forensic Anthropology when I was in University. I majored in Anthropology, but the school I was at didn't offer curriculum in Forensics. I would have had to change schools to pursue that interest. Oh well... I still haven't done it, but I've always wanted to.

    One more thing for me to like about you!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I'm impressed ! My grandfather was a dairy farmer (the cows always scared me - maybe that's why I don't care for milk !)

    ReplyDelete
  21. oh the things we learn on a fun monday!!
    Wow!

    ReplyDelete
  22. I have something for you...come over and see!!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I LOVE moooooo cows!!! I would love to live on a farm. I know it can be hard work, but rewarding. :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. AOJ I always think that looks amazing too though I don't know if I could handle the sad part of it. I love the TV show Bones though. The new Bone kickers one though - it's a bit pants.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Since I'm going to be a paid assassin, I wonder if you could identify my victims. Of course, it would save a lot of time and effort if I just told you who they are/were.

    ReplyDelete
  26. uuuuuuuh, that's all I am going to say...loved the cows

    ReplyDelete

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.