#not ow

[dekkiidan]

been really struggling with my mental health over these past few months - combination of being made redundant, family bereavement and general SAD - but today I did something I've been wanting to do for ages and started learning to horse ride! 🐴

and wow, I feel so much better! I learnt new things, exercised my body and got to be outside with animals - easy to forget that as a human being, really, that's what my lizard brain wants, hehe

Can't wait to get back in the saddle, I'm so excited!

[dekkiidan]

do you have a favorite fossil (or fossils), and why?

Oh gosh, this is such a fun ask, but also a difficult one.

I'm going to class "fossil" as an already discovered specimen - such as Sue the Tyrannosaurus for example, as opposed to a specific species in general, as I believe individual fossil specimens have so much personality and history to them, and the love and care the excavation and research team pour into each find just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy, hehe!

I have also narrowed my choices down to 3 specimens, which was actually really difficult, but I think 3 is a nice number for this!

First up, a big shout out to Dippy the Diplodocus. I visited Dippy at the Natural History Museum when I was 4, and I think I was immediately entranced. Since then, being greeted by them has always been comforting, and I try and see them, well - now the bronze cast twin of them (Fern!) whenever I'm in London!

Dippy the Diplodocus - Photo Credit

Next, we have Leonardo the Brachylophosaurus, one of the most well preserved "dinosaur mummies" ever discovered. Leo has a special place in my heart because they were one of the first specimens I was able to see when I started my MSc in Palaeontology. I had flown all the way to Montana to work on a dig site, and my project supervisor at the time had access to Leo who, at the time, was housed privately. It was amazing to see such a well preserved specimen, and I remember being in awe. Funnily enough, when I visited Japan this year, the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum actually had procured them for their exhibitions! I remember feeling so happy to see them again, especially on public display!

Leonardo the Brachylophosaurus - Photo Credit

And, last but not least, is "Ava" - the sauropod I worked on throughout my internship in Montana. I can't disclose the species, but "she" is a new genus of macronarian sauropod, similar to Camarasaurus! Ava was the first specimen I did a full osteological and palaeoenvironmental analysis on, and she taught me so much.

I unfortunately can't share photos of Ava publicly, but if you're interested in what kind of dinosaur she was, Camarasaurus lentus is your best bet!

A herd of Camarasaurus - Artist Credit - Raul Martin

[dekkiidan]

Went out for a little hike today and found this gorgeous river tumbled granodiorite - look at those stunning hornblende crystals!

[dekkiidan]

it's been nearly 9 years of this and even now at the end I'm consumed by the injustice of it all, I feel for whatever therapist has to unpack all this LOL

soon I can turn the last page of this miserable chapter and heal

[dekkiidan]

and thus the end of our adventure arrives, we're flying home today but what an adventure it has been!

[dekkiidan]

My favourite find from the fossil hunt yesterday! A little cretaceous gastropod from the Upper Greensand beds.

I initially thought that this could have been some kind of coprolitic material, because the colour and texture looked so similar! Unfortunately, that was not the case (I did find an actual coprolite later on!), but still very happy with such a charming little find!

[dekkiidan]

Some snaps from today! Gosh I love the ammonite lampposts so much, they're so cute! And bonus Dan in his natural habitat, hehe!

Found some really cool stuff which I shall post about later >::3c