12 April 2023
Wednesday. School holidays. The study is full of archaeologists who come up to my elbow.
I have written the rules for the young in my best hand, because the management would like them followed and I would like to stop guessing. Nine and up is the recommendation in Manly. Seven and up may come with their family. Anyone nine or under brings a grown-up into the study, booked and paying. If the youngest is ten to thirteen, a grown-up waits at the venue instead, which they seem to enjoy, as there is coffee nearby.
A boy of eight, here with both parents, asked whether Dr Smith was coming back. I said the Doctor had never once been on time in his life, so it was too early to worry. He accepted this. His father looked as if he had questions.
They found more in an hour than the Doctor’s last three assistants found in a year. Children are wonderful at noticing things. They have not yet learned what is supposed to be boring.
— H. Plumb (Miss), Expedition Secretary
