gosh...isn't it getting better all the time.....not

[brazier]

Can't see any problems with rewarding drivers. Essential, really. Same for loads of jobs. Think, unless you are lucky (?) enough to work in the big cties where public transport can help out, you do need to drive. I'm sure there are indifferent archaeologists who are drivers, I'm equally sure there are indifferent ones who aren't drivers. Whether they are promoted or not depends on whether they ask, and for what reasons they are worthy of promotion (people do change/adapt), and whether they are committed to doing the job (probably the most important). The choice, keep your freedom relatively intact following what you consider to be a vocation, and act as an educator/enabler (the old skilled all-round "digger" role - the generalist), but lack security of tenure, and become inevitably concerned about getting anywhere - or just go for it, get driving, and specialise, and take on a supervisory role and aim for management within your first five years (where do you see yourself in five years time). It's a personal choice, and it's good, since everyone falls into their roles naturally (not being too Panglossian here I hope!). The only trouble is that there is a cultural blindness to the worth of both parties - most professions acknowledge the essential symbiosis, and reward it accordingly (it isn't such a personal issue who does what if you understand my drift). Archaeology's full of scepticism to the point of divisiveness...not a bad thing, but the engine stalls. More people skills needed! And maybe there are people who don't have them - but good god if we think we are special in that respect just take a look around you will you at other jobs - plenty of difficult characters there. We have it good really (well not so bad). But we do need to professionalise properly, like the civil engineers or surveyors. Then the issues of personal gripes will fade, since CPD will be the norm, and though we might lose that "edge" that makes archaeology different to most jobs and an interesting career to follow - we'll at least have more security, more representation, and basically a normal job you can recommend to people for not just the interest but also the "package" for the want of a better, less corporate term. I know....dream on.....