The 1 year anniversary thread of the UMN: we're not fussed about Tinkers or Tailors but we do like Soldiers and Spies

[PassTheTwiglets]

Ta-da!

Come on then Lady D, wallop the Champagne over our bow :)

That's just what I was thinking too, Spiro.

Sorry that MissS was underwhelmed by the V&A, Spiro. I'd planned a trip there in half term but MissTwigs is also completely uninterested in non-interactive exhibits so perhaps we won't. I want to do something in London with her though. We might do the Greenwich Observatory, as we missed that on our riot-curtailed trip in the summer hols - but then that might be me pushing my interests onto them...

It's difficult not to steer them in the direction of your own interests though isn't it? DD actually said to me today, "I'm sorry Mummy - I can't like everything the same as you." but let's face it true.

I must admit I found the V & A quite hard work myself. It's full of really beautiful things but as it's divided into sections according to the type of thing and where it had come from, rather than the era, if you want to look at stuff from a particular time, as we did, it's virtually impossible. Also the Fashion and Furniture galleries are closed at the moment which is a real disappointment.

We went in Feb half term and they had lots of themes and activities for the kids so probably would be more interesting then.

Of the three in that are I would definitely say the Natural History Museum is the best, although might try and get here sometime soon

We are doing London Zoo in half term and hopefully staying with friends near Greenwich - you'll have to let us know if you go for that Twigs - we might be able to meet up!

Ah well then I definitely won't go, because the fashion galleries is what I thought might spark her interest.

I went to the Nat Hist museum on my day out but found it pretty dull, tbh. There was a whole section of the museum that I couldn't find! Last time I went, I'm sure there was a section with meteorites and weird rocks and so on (right by an escalator?) but MissT was bored so I thought I'd go back to look when I was by myself - but I couldn't find it anywhere! I'm a real Science Museum nut - that's one of my favourite places in the world, I love it!

That bit in the NHM is somewhere off to the right of the Charles Darwin statue on the first floor iirc. It was about the only place we had a good look at last year - with The Vault at the end of it. I wanted to go back to look at it properly this year but was outvoted by Mr & Miss S.

Apart from the interactive bit I wasn't that struck on the Science Museum, but time was pushing on and I was slightly losing the will to live by that stage. I think both that and the V&A will be worth doing again (next term's theme is 'Space' so that's a dead cert), and will probably do V & A on my own with a bit more forward planning once the Fashion section reopens in January.

Ooooh I'm so - I am desperate for them to do space as their topic.

We're really lucky this year - Victorians this term, then Space then Insects (not so great but you can't have everything and I think DD will enjoy it - she loved dinosaurs!)

Our school is really creative about how they get them into it as well. Last term they used a load of foil and all sorts of pipes and tubes and switches and an old clock to turn the shed in the playground into a time machine, which Dr Fossil accidentally bought back some dinosaurs in to the present day and then they escaped and were roaming round the town! They photoshopped pictures of local dinosaur sightings and painted footprints in the playground, and got the kids to leave out different foods to discover if it was a herbivore or a carnivore. It was very cool!

Did someone mention space?

I had a revelation of my own earlier. I have always thought that darling Johnnie was in his mid-thirties, because he tells Margaret at the end of the book that his life is half over and I assumed he was thinking of his biblical three score years and ten. But, whilst supping tea at the Hales, he mentions that his father died 16 years earlier and so I think that makes him a mere 29 as (again my memory may be wrong) he was 13 when his papa died. So, my lovely handsome toyboy is not even 30.

::books self for botox::

Well, to keep myself young and lovely for Mr Thornton I'm going to have an early night. Sweet dreams one and all!

For the space enthusiasts, this might be a bit out of your way, but look where it is

Might be worth a visit sometime late next summer perhaps?

As we often refer to The Man here this has just made me chuckle.

Night, Maud. Mr Thornton certainly looks older than 29, but they aged faster in the 1840's I suppose.

I think he looks more the age the Man was in 2004, myself. For some strange reason.

::looks back, while snorting in an unladylike fashion::

Do you think there's also a shrine nearby? Selling sacred artifacts to weary pilgrims?

They should do an alternate version, with a man with noble beard, Spiro, instead of a bushy tache. . I am loving the webpage instruction : roll over image to zoom.

This artifact has been touched by the great man himself

You all sound so much more cultured than me! But maybe now we are closer a daytrip to London may actually be possible for these museums. The outlaws have taken the DC to the science and natural history museum. DD liked it, DS slept most of the time!!

By the way, what are you saying about Our daughter's nose?! It belongs to him and therefore I love it!!!

You checked where it was then, I see, Maudikins.

It made me snort anyway when I remembered it.

sacred artefacts

...every so often we turn up something on this thread that reassures me I am still just about sane!

::Pauses, half way up the stairs::

Of course I checked, Massive, as clearly we were supposed to. And yes - by an amazing coincidence - Messires Thornton and Armitage seem to be exactly the same age, but acting is about the suspension of disbelief, non? And as ever I pay great attention to the genius of Mrs Gaskell.

Nighty bitey knight, one and all.

Although looking at ebay I may have to get myself a new coaster !

I am hoping Twiggy will buy that used photo, although presumably it's rather crumpled because it's spent the last year under one of these.

Can I tempt you, Massive?!

We could all have one, there are five going. There are nicer shots they could have used though.

I've spent the entire evening on ebay but didn't spot that one. Ooooh and that's my favourite photo too! £49.99 - are they 'avin a larf?!

Aw, boo hiss, that Space musuem is almost 3 hours from us :(

Must away to bed now.