4th Sector Pathfinder ([info]pernickety) wrote,
2009-07-27 12:19:00
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Finding Ada - The Women Of Bletchley Park



Sunday was an amazing day. [info]weekend and I headed to Bletchley Park for truly epic nerd out.




THE MANSION THE ACTUAL MANSION.


OMGWTFENIGMARIGHTTHEREFUCKYEAH


We were shown around by Jean Valentine, who worked at Bletchley during WWII as a bombe operator. She's a legend on so many levels.


She also has her own stamps. How fucking cool is that? Before yesterday I've never met anyone whose face is on a stamp.


Way ahead of everyone. Always.


Sequoia tree which disguised the aerials.


THIS SHIT IS THE BOMBE


My tragic, genius nerd crush immortalized in slate. Turing = ♥


Look at the composition.


Pigeons at war




Good news coming in.


2500 valves and less computing power than a laptop. But, let's be honest, it looks far more impressive than a laptop.


From the Museum Of Computing. Those washing machines hold disks of 200Mb each. Damn, we've come a long way in 30 years.


CHURCHILL MOTHERFUCKERS


This flag was actually used on D-Day.


Bletchley Park mansion ball room. They hold weddings there. I've never particularly wanted to get hitched, but now that I know I could get married at Bletchley, I've got to say... Any takers?


Bletchley Park. For details go to www.savingbletchleypark.org


More pictures.

Currently working on uploading videos to youtube.
Tags: nerdgasm

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  • 26 comments

[info]harmyjo

July 27 2009, 12:25:13 UTC 2 years ago Edited:  July 27 2009, 12:25:57 UTC

Oh god. Epic. EPIC. Genuine actual proper legends.

I'll marry you at Bletchley if you like. Just because you would like to be married at Bletchley. :D

[info]pernickety

July 27 2009, 13:11:43 UTC 2 years ago

I had to muster every ounce of restraint in order not to run up to people and yell YOU! YOU TOTAL FUCKING HERO! It was just amazing to even be in the same room.

Ours will be the best wedding ever. Followed by a long wintastic life. How could two people who are the sort who want to get married at Bletchley have anything less? :D

[info]sashataakheru

July 27 2009, 12:30:11 UTC 2 years ago

OMGOMGOMGOMG. 8D!

Oh, I've wanted to go there for years. *nerds out*

[info]pernickety

July 27 2009, 13:13:15 UTC 2 years ago

I hope you get to go there some time. It's just amazing. Like... beyond words amazing. ♥

[info]gutterfl0wer

July 27 2009, 12:35:01 UTC 2 years ago

Wow this looks awesome :D It's pretty cool you met someone whose face was on a stamp!

[info]pernickety

July 27 2009, 13:16:17 UTC 2 years ago

And she's such an amazing, lovely, funny lady as well. I could have listened to her for the rest of all time and been very happy indeed. :D

[info]lo0o0ony_lauren

July 27 2009, 12:54:13 UTC 2 years ago

If you and [info]harmyjo get married at Bletchley, can I come? Because EEEE and it's lovely and also I live quite near there, so.

[info]pernickety

July 27 2009, 13:18:00 UTC 2 years ago

ABSOLUTELY. But you'll have to come dressed as a valve. Or maybe a radio. I intend to enforce a very strict dress code.

[info]strangefrontier

July 27 2009, 12:59:33 UTC 2 years ago

Oh my god, Bletchley Park. Bletchley fucking Park! What an epically awesome day out!

[info]pernickety

July 27 2009, 13:19:23 UTC 2 years ago

Best. Day. EVER. I hope to go again very soon. And every week after that. It's that good. :D

[info]strangefrontier

July 27 2009, 13:26:58 UTC 2 years ago

There are certain objects my mind has built up into mythical proportions, and I end up being slightly unable to believe I'm actually standing next to them. The Rosetta Stone was one, and when I was standing there in the British Museum staring at it with my jaw hanging open, I had to keep saying in my head, yes, this is the real thing, the actual Rosetta Stone. It'll be the same with the Enigma machine at Bletchley whenever I finally get round to visiting. ♥

Anonymous

June 8 2011, 19:04:11 UTC 11 months ago

SWEARING

NICE TO GET A SENSIBLE AND INTERESTING COMMENT WITH NO BAD LANGUAGE. A REFLECTION ON OUR SO CALLED EUCATION SYSTEM, I VERY MUCH SUSPECT.

[info]pernickety

11 months ago

  • Loading...

[info]stoney321

July 27 2009, 13:56:49 UTC 2 years ago

HOLY CRAP!! i've always wanted to go there! ENIGMA MACHINE. right there!! That is an epic day trip. EPIC.

[info]ihavecake

July 27 2009, 15:07:03 UTC 2 years ago

TURING! ENIGMA!! /nerdgasm

(Is it as easy as just booking and going? I might have to do this.)

[info]_lady_vanilla_

July 27 2009, 16:44:54 UTC 2 years ago

I'd totes go with you if you want! =)

[info]ihavecake

July 27 2009, 17:10:22 UTC 2 years ago

You're on. Might be best to wait until after the summer holidays?

[info]_lady_vanilla_

July 27 2009, 16:44:18 UTC 2 years ago

Ohhhh I'm getting flashbacks to when I went as a kiddie! I fucking loved that place - when we went we got a talk from a medical officer during WWII who told us in horrific detail all the different wounds (and fatalities) he had to tend to. That's so fucking cool about being shown around by Jean Valentine.

I really must go again ASAP. =D

[info]fivealive

July 27 2009, 20:24:22 UTC 2 years ago

I am so jealous! I have always wanted to see this!

[info]bigeggy

July 28 2009, 00:02:06 UTC 2 years ago

OMG! THAT JUST LOOKS SO FUCKING WINSOME!
I can't believe I learned just yesterday that you can actually get married in St Pauls (Wrentastic) and now I learn Bletchley Park too! I need me two wives.

[info]bigeggy

July 28 2009, 00:05:01 UTC 2 years ago

Also: Buy this book! http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cryptonomicon-Neal-Stephenson/dp/0099410672/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1248739419&sr=8-1
So much Enigma goodness.

[info]scidae

July 28 2009, 15:08:56 UTC 2 years ago

wow. schaut sehr interessant aus!

Anonymous

August 4 2009, 21:21:36 UTC 2 years ago

I got married at Bletchley and now I work there!!! Geek Heaven!

[info]pernickety

August 4 2009, 23:07:20 UTC 2 years ago

I'm so jealous! Give me a shout if there's ever a job opening. :D

Anonymous

November 22 2009, 23:22:23 UTC 2 years ago

Re: Jean Valentine



I would like to meet Jean and ask her if she might remember my mother Kathleen Holt known as Katters by some - who also worked at BP and in Hut 6 I think.

My mother died in 1973, so she was never able to tell me anything....

I wonder if Jean might also have known my mother's great friend at BP called Margaret Hensley.

My name is Catherine Holt Swain and I can be contacted by email at

chswain77@googlemail.com

I do hope someone can help me.

I look forward to someone getting back to me.

Thank you

Catherine

Anonymous

June 8 2011, 19:24:45 UTC 11 months ago

Re: Jean Valentine

I'm afraid I cannot answer your direct query but would just let you know my Mum, DIANA POWELL (nee) also was at BP for awhile, clerking in an RAF hut. She married Dad in the middle of the war. He was seconded to the War Office, working on special technical projects, sometimes with the legendary Professor Reggie Jones.

If either surname means anything to you, I would be delighted to hear from you. I can be contacted on gilesdaubney@gmail.com. Best wishes

GILES DAUBNEY.
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