london day out

Once inside the British Museum Jack was keen that we find the Rosetta Stone. This surprised me a little, but I guess it is the sort of thing he will have read about. It’s the first time I’ve managed to get the the museum since they opened up the central area & it is very impressive – more s than pictures would have you think (because it’s about ‘space’ & such things are hard to convey on still images). Fortunately the Rosetta Stone was just on the right off the main central area, so that was an easy one… Then we did a round through ancient Egypt back down through Babylonian & bumped into the Children’s Museum Shop. After a good deal of flapping in there from the younger ones (which Jack & Louise avoided by departing for the loo & then drifting into the Greeks) it was decided that as time was pressing on (& it was pressing on & there was some squawking) that we’d best be moving on. Again Jack could have quite happily spent a great deal of time in the museum pondering things, but the family currents swept him along. For Louise’s curiosity it was left out of the gates, left a little & again, 1st right & along & there’s Senate House at the junction on Keppel Street. Her old window view of Senate House is a little obscured by building site bits & bobs…. There seems to be a bit going on – not least a great crane sicking out from the centre of the LSHTM, not that the admissions are in the building any more. Mind you – if they are building the place up (using the disused inner courtyard areas) then they might move admissions back into the building…. you never know…

OK – Catch a 29 on Gower down to Trafalgar – it’s a tourist spot – let the kids see. They might only remember the huge TV screen with China vs. USA basketball playing. They stood there a while by the fountains in a light rain… bit the rain became heavier & heavier & we decided it was time to retreat – back on a bus to Paddington. They’ve had a tiny glimpse of London – some museums, some grand streets & some central streets – but only a glimpse really. I wonder what they made of it – how it will figure? Jude might just have found it frustrating (museums & walking) Esme’s ideas would certainly be more abstract but I hope Eve & Jack came away with a little taste of interest (the wider world). Paddington was a food hunt for the tran home. We were evidently early enough to actually get seats (busy train) but not so early that the kids were bored & frustrated. The journey back to Oxford went really well all things considered.

Then next day, (Monday) unfortunately – it was time to prepare for heading home in the afternoon. We popped over to the local playground in the morning, & then (Louise) got most everything packed. Getting them to pay attention to the deadline of leaving was a little headed than we wanted & we missed the bus we planned to get, but we did get a bus in plenty of time & then there was that mammoth journey home (delays leaving us 45 mins late getting in (hey ho). On the Trans Penninnne train Louise noticed the ‘dour northern faces’ – Oxford was actually jolly friendly & cheery – it’s a good spot.