Showing posts with label Natural History Museum. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Natural History Museum. Show all posts
Wednesday, 7 May 2014
Saturday, 5 March 2011
RAF Museum Hendon with Cubs and Scouts...PHOTOS TO ADD
Today we were supposed to be going on a visit to the RAF museum in Hendon, which is part of Greater London, with the Cubs and Scouts but it seemed as if our plans would be scuppered before we even left the house when the car failed to start, but made up for this by making a most peculiar noise when it tried. Once more, it seemed, the unreliable electrical system had chosen to mess with us at the most inconvenient of times!
As luck would have it, good for a change,
1. Deb had her phone with her (Unflipping Believable)
2. It was charged (will miracles never cease) and, finally, what is more
3. She had, an up to date, contact number for one of the trip organizers.
Well, by the time I’d regained consciousness, she’d called said contact, explained our situation and arranged for the coach to stop nearby and pick us up as it headed for the motorway.
So, after a brief wait, we were on our way to “The Smoke” or at least to its outskirts. Nat sat with me and Han sat with Deb. Determined to ensure that conversation continued to be a dying art Nat immediately plugged his head phones in to my old Nokia N95 and started listening to episode two of Hardcore History’s Punic Nightmare. Following suit, I too, plugged in my phones and settled back to enjoy a little podcast pleasure.
We had, it seemed, a rather talkative driver on this trip who regaled us with snippets of information about the various places we were passing on our journey; for some reason Deb found this quite odd and remarked the next day that she imagined he would be an extremely boring person to talk to. I, on the other hand, thought he was quite interesting and kept removing my headphones to hear what he had to say. This was why I eventually stopped listening to podcasts and switched to music instead. Oh the joy of rediscovering just how good 10CC were (a 1970’s band I loved as a teenager and who, having reformed, are performing in Birmingham next week). Eventually reaching our destination (http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/) we disembarked and were briefed on what we would be doing that day. Each Cub and each Scout was given a questionnaire that they were required complete in order to win their (RAF Museum Visit!!!???) badge. They would only be able to do so if they toured the whole museum and searched carefully for the answers that were hidden there.
It most certainly was an impressive place, I’ve no idea exactly how many planes were on display (I didn’t have to earn a RAFMV badge did I but here’s a link to the list the museum website gives http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/collections/aircraft/london-aircraft-collection.cfm) but I can certainly confirm there were a bloody great lot of them. You can’t really appreciate the size of these old flyers when you see them on film, it’s only when you’re standing next to a, for example, WW2 USAF Mustang, that you grasp just how big the dang thing is! The visible part of the engine is bigger than our whole car and it’s easy to see why inadvertently walking into a spinning turboprop would totally ruin your day! Even the old biplanes, which for some reason I’d always imagined as being tiny, were much, much larger than expected. I think it may be because we equate fragility with daintiness and we’ve all grown up with an image in our minds of these early fighters as fragile creations of wood paper and wire that fell apart under the slightest stress. Believe me, there’s nothing dainty about these mothers! Below are is a large selection of photos which I think prove my point. (INSERT PHOTOS).
After we’d toured the first hall and Han and Nat had ridden in one of the simulators we crossed over to another building which was dedicated to the history of British Aviation during WW2 and particularly to the story of The Battle of Britain.
One of the most impressive exhibits was a full size flying boat that one could actually enter and walk through from front to back. We’d thought that now we’d seen everything but subsequently looking at the museum website I think we may have missed a few exhibits although I’m not quite sure how we managed to do that.
We returned via the shop where we bought a few souvenirs including two of the legendry Biggles books which are once more back in print. The collected boxed set was priced, outrageously, at £39.99 and that was with £10 off!
We decided to take another look at the battle of Britain exhibition but in the end we ended up in the restaurant where we paid £13 for a few drinks and a couple of cakes! Appropriately, I had a bottle of Shepherd Neame brewery Spitfire Ale and very nice it was. Finally it was 4 O’clock and we headed back to the coach for the return journey.
The kind driver once more dropped as near home and our day out was over.
Deb contacted the RAC Re: the car but after they advised that they were exceptionally busy agreed that there was no urgent need for the car that night and we’d be able to wait until the following morning. Because Nat had to play in a rugby match the next morning Deb phoned Jacob’s Dad Bruce who agreed that he would pick Nat up and also take him, along with Jacob and Zak and Zak’s Dad Chris, to the match.
There’s nothing more really to say about the day but as I’ve not yet reached a thousand words I’m going to have to procrastinate a little here just to reach that magical but also, paradoxically, totally arbitrary, figure. Now, normally, at this point I’d just make up some total bull to fill up the space but I’m beginning to feel that this is something of a cheat so instead I’ll use the time to instead tell you this. What a literary device that proved to be, taking up space by writing about why I didn’t just want to just take up space with pointless waffle. Same end achieved but I come out looking (seemingly) noble instead of venal.
As luck would have it, good for a change,
1. Deb had her phone with her (Unflipping Believable)
2. It was charged (will miracles never cease) and, finally, what is more
3. She had, an up to date, contact number for one of the trip organizers.
Well, by the time I’d regained consciousness, she’d called said contact, explained our situation and arranged for the coach to stop nearby and pick us up as it headed for the motorway.
So, after a brief wait, we were on our way to “The Smoke” or at least to its outskirts. Nat sat with me and Han sat with Deb. Determined to ensure that conversation continued to be a dying art Nat immediately plugged his head phones in to my old Nokia N95 and started listening to episode two of Hardcore History’s Punic Nightmare. Following suit, I too, plugged in my phones and settled back to enjoy a little podcast pleasure.
We had, it seemed, a rather talkative driver on this trip who regaled us with snippets of information about the various places we were passing on our journey; for some reason Deb found this quite odd and remarked the next day that she imagined he would be an extremely boring person to talk to. I, on the other hand, thought he was quite interesting and kept removing my headphones to hear what he had to say. This was why I eventually stopped listening to podcasts and switched to music instead. Oh the joy of rediscovering just how good 10CC were (a 1970’s band I loved as a teenager and who, having reformed, are performing in Birmingham next week). Eventually reaching our destination (http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/) we disembarked and were briefed on what we would be doing that day. Each Cub and each Scout was given a questionnaire that they were required complete in order to win their (RAF Museum Visit!!!???) badge. They would only be able to do so if they toured the whole museum and searched carefully for the answers that were hidden there.
It most certainly was an impressive place, I’ve no idea exactly how many planes were on display (I didn’t have to earn a RAFMV badge did I but here’s a link to the list the museum website gives http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/collections/aircraft/london-aircraft-collection.cfm) but I can certainly confirm there were a bloody great lot of them. You can’t really appreciate the size of these old flyers when you see them on film, it’s only when you’re standing next to a, for example, WW2 USAF Mustang, that you grasp just how big the dang thing is! The visible part of the engine is bigger than our whole car and it’s easy to see why inadvertently walking into a spinning turboprop would totally ruin your day! Even the old biplanes, which for some reason I’d always imagined as being tiny, were much, much larger than expected. I think it may be because we equate fragility with daintiness and we’ve all grown up with an image in our minds of these early fighters as fragile creations of wood paper and wire that fell apart under the slightest stress. Believe me, there’s nothing dainty about these mothers! Below are is a large selection of photos which I think prove my point. (INSERT PHOTOS).
After we’d toured the first hall and Han and Nat had ridden in one of the simulators we crossed over to another building which was dedicated to the history of British Aviation during WW2 and particularly to the story of The Battle of Britain.
One of the most impressive exhibits was a full size flying boat that one could actually enter and walk through from front to back. We’d thought that now we’d seen everything but subsequently looking at the museum website I think we may have missed a few exhibits although I’m not quite sure how we managed to do that.
We returned via the shop where we bought a few souvenirs including two of the legendry Biggles books which are once more back in print. The collected boxed set was priced, outrageously, at £39.99 and that was with £10 off!
We decided to take another look at the battle of Britain exhibition but in the end we ended up in the restaurant where we paid £13 for a few drinks and a couple of cakes! Appropriately, I had a bottle of Shepherd Neame brewery Spitfire Ale and very nice it was. Finally it was 4 O’clock and we headed back to the coach for the return journey.
The kind driver once more dropped as near home and our day out was over.
Deb contacted the RAC Re: the car but after they advised that they were exceptionally busy agreed that there was no urgent need for the car that night and we’d be able to wait until the following morning. Because Nat had to play in a rugby match the next morning Deb phoned Jacob’s Dad Bruce who agreed that he would pick Nat up and also take him, along with Jacob and Zak and Zak’s Dad Chris, to the match.
There’s nothing more really to say about the day but as I’ve not yet reached a thousand words I’m going to have to procrastinate a little here just to reach that magical but also, paradoxically, totally arbitrary, figure. Now, normally, at this point I’d just make up some total bull to fill up the space but I’m beginning to feel that this is something of a cheat so instead I’ll use the time to instead tell you this. What a literary device that proved to be, taking up space by writing about why I didn’t just want to just take up space with pointless waffle. Same end achieved but I come out looking (seemingly) noble instead of venal.
Monday, 9 March 2009
To The Science Museum with 600 Cubs and Beavers (Oh God - The Noise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
So off we went to visit the Science Museum in the company of 600 Beavers and Cubs from across the UK. We arrived at the Shakespeare Pub car park at approx 7.30a.m. We were picked up by the coach at around 7.55a.m.
Trip down uneventful other than an unnecessary (in my opinion) stop at a motorway service station for 45m which took up time that could have been better spent at the SM.
Arrived Cromwell Road (outside The Natural History Museum : photo) approx 10.45 and walked around the corner on to Exhibition Road where the entrance to the SM is located (TNHM & SM adjoin one another). Got a lead on the others and made it to the entrance before we were swamped by baby scouts - Here Are The Photos We Took.
Our visit was very circumscribed by the fact that we had booked two IMAX shows (imax) and had to work round the performance times. The first was scheduled to start at 11:55 so by the time we were actually in the building we had barely 40Min's to look round before we had to make our way to the theatre. In effect this meant we walked the length of the ground floor (the IMAX cinema is at the far end) took in the sights and spent some time looking at the Future Foods exhibit and the sliced up digitized bodies exhibition. Then we queued for the first film, which was:
Fly Me to the Moon 3D
Duration: 45 minutes
In 1969 three astronauts dared to go where no man had gone before; the moon. Today, the Science Museum presents Fly Me to the Moon 3D, an animated IMAX film that will take you back to that historic moment.
With truly immersive 3D animation you will be transported deep into the action to become part of this amazing story.
Join three tween-aged flies as they sneak on board the Apollo 11 mission for an incredible space adventure. Fly Me to the Moon 3D will introduce you to space exploration and the momentous occasion when the world was united for man’s first steps on the Moon.
The Science Museum is proud to have on display the real Apollo 10 command module and a full size replica of ‘Eagle’ - the Lander that took astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin to the Moon in 1969. In our Exploring Space gallery you can also find out more about how we are able to live in space – to breathe, to eat, to drink and… to go to the toilet.
So get ready to blast off to the moon and explore space yourself at the Science Museum!
It was absolutely fantastic, the 3D effects were even better than those we had seen in Florida in 2006. The screen itself was the height of 4 London Double Decker Buses!!! I had been a little apprehensive, as I’d wanted to see Space Station 3D which was live action rather than animation, but I wasn’t at all disappointed. I’d recommend the IMAX to anyone; you have to experience it to believe it.
We exited onto the 2nd floor and Hannah, Nat and I immediately queued to ride the Astro Canyon Roller Coaster simulator, Deb decided she’s rather talk to Arkala and other sundry scouting ladies. Great ride, remembered it from when we came to London for a few days with Nat, as a treat, for his 6th birthday in 2003. Hannah loved it this time round which was great.
Trip down uneventful other than an unnecessary (in my opinion) stop at a motorway service station for 45m which took up time that could have been better spent at the SM.
Arrived Cromwell Road (outside The Natural History Museum : photo) approx 10.45 and walked around the corner on to Exhibition Road where the entrance to the SM is located (TNHM & SM adjoin one another). Got a lead on the others and made it to the entrance before we were swamped by baby scouts - Here Are The Photos We Took.
Our visit was very circumscribed by the fact that we had booked two IMAX shows (imax) and had to work round the performance times. The first was scheduled to start at 11:55 so by the time we were actually in the building we had barely 40Min's to look round before we had to make our way to the theatre. In effect this meant we walked the length of the ground floor (the IMAX cinema is at the far end) took in the sights and spent some time looking at the Future Foods exhibit and the sliced up digitized bodies exhibition. Then we queued for the first film, which was:
Fly Me to the Moon 3D
Duration: 45 minutes
In 1969 three astronauts dared to go where no man had gone before; the moon. Today, the Science Museum presents Fly Me to the Moon 3D, an animated IMAX film that will take you back to that historic moment.
With truly immersive 3D animation you will be transported deep into the action to become part of this amazing story.
Join three tween-aged flies as they sneak on board the Apollo 11 mission for an incredible space adventure. Fly Me to the Moon 3D will introduce you to space exploration and the momentous occasion when the world was united for man’s first steps on the Moon.
The Science Museum is proud to have on display the real Apollo 10 command module and a full size replica of ‘Eagle’ - the Lander that took astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin to the Moon in 1969. In our Exploring Space gallery you can also find out more about how we are able to live in space – to breathe, to eat, to drink and… to go to the toilet.
So get ready to blast off to the moon and explore space yourself at the Science Museum!
It was absolutely fantastic, the 3D effects were even better than those we had seen in Florida in 2006. The screen itself was the height of 4 London Double Decker Buses!!! I had been a little apprehensive, as I’d wanted to see Space Station 3D which was live action rather than animation, but I wasn’t at all disappointed. I’d recommend the IMAX to anyone; you have to experience it to believe it.
We exited onto the 2nd floor and Hannah, Nat and I immediately queued to ride the Astro Canyon Roller Coaster simulator, Deb decided she’s rather talk to Arkala and other sundry scouting ladies. Great ride, remembered it from when we came to London for a few days with Nat, as a treat, for his 6th birthday in 2003. Hannah loved it this time round which was great.
After this we meandered through the exhibits on that floor until we reached:-
Dan Dare & the Birth of Hi-tech Britain
Dan Dare’s rocket fleet roars high over Venus to trounce Dare's arch foe – the power-mad Mekon (WANTED). Meanwhile, back on Earth, another extraordinary future is unfolding – one which laid the foundation for Britain’s hi-tech consumer society.
After 1945, though war-weary and broke, Britain found huge pride in wartime advances such as radar, penicillin and the jet engine.
Discoveries like these were now tipped to kick-start world-beating industries, bring prosperity and bankroll the emerging welfare state.
In an age before globalisation, products from rockets to radios sprang from local roots. Together they reveal a fascinating ‘lost world’ of British design and invention – a glimpse of a time when:
the TV/Radio in the corner was
This exciting new temporary exhibition explores the role played by technology in creating post-war Britain.
It was quite interesting but you really would have needed half a day to appreciate it properly. It didn’t take up a lot of room but there were a lot of exhibits. Interestingly, you could phone a special number on your mobile and get an audio tour of the exhibition that way.
It was quite interesting but you really would have needed half a day to appreciate it properly. It didn’t take up a lot of room but there were a lot of exhibits. Interestingly, you could phone a special number on your mobile and get an audio tour of the exhibition that way.
Imax Film 2
After a brief trip down to the basement, to see how we used to live and some seriously out of date domestic appliances, we once more made our way up to the top of the building, my poor busted hip, to see the next IMAX film, which was:-
Deep Sea 3D
After a brief trip down to the basement, to see how we used to live and some seriously out of date domestic appliances, we once more made our way up to the top of the building, my poor busted hip, to see the next IMAX film, which was:-
Deep Sea 3D
Sea life in a whole new way! Dive into the magical 3D underwater adventure, Deep Sea 3D, and be transported below the ocean surface to swim alongside some of the planet's most unique, colourful and fascinating creatures. With startling 3D effects you can float with fried-egg jellyfish, reach out to touch green sea turtles and dodge the tentacles of a giant Pacific octopus without ever getting wet!
Not only is Deep Sea 3D directed by world-renowned underwater cinematographer Howard Hall and accompanied by an original score from Danny Elfman, but it is also narrated by two of Hollywood's hottest stars, Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet!
This wasn’t an animation and it was, as a result, even more impressive than the first film. Apart from the incredible 3D effects you kept wondering how on earth they had managed to film some of the scenes at all.
A clip can be seen here
Not only is Deep Sea 3D directed by world-renowned underwater cinematographer Howard Hall and accompanied by an original score from Danny Elfman, but it is also narrated by two of Hollywood's hottest stars, Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet!
This wasn’t an animation and it was, as a result, even more impressive than the first film. Apart from the incredible 3D effects you kept wondering how on earth they had managed to film some of the scenes at all.
A clip can be seen here
After leaving the last IMAX film we got off the staircase at floor 2 to have a look at some of the exhibits. Don’t know what was being exhibited because we lost Nat. After trying to phone him and getting no reply we eventually found him and discovered that his mobile (maybe he’s remember this one) was safely on the coach – HE IS his Mother’s Son – she leaves mobiles at home so they’ll be safe!!!!!!!
It was approaching 4:00 pm by now so we decided to walk to the gift shop then make our way back to the pick up point via the Natural History Museum. We went in through the entrance next to the Science museum and walked through to the main hall. It was as spectacular as I remember from our last two visits. It really is a true National Treasure (a term used to describe virtually every celeb over 40 and thrown into a conversation almost as often as ‘iconic’) and it’s a shame that the majority of visitors were people for whom English did not appear to be a first language, I suppose it’s like the Eiffel Tower, visited by everyone in Paris except the Parisians, anyway here’s a selection of photo’s
Left NHM and waited outside for our coach. Wasn’t long in coming and eventually off we went. I spent quite a lot of the time on our way out chatting with one of the female scout leaders for another pack who pointed out interesting places as we passed them.
About an hour later we stop for a loo and coffee break at a service station where Nat went and showed how generous he can be on occasion. We went to the Costa Coffee shop where Nat bought a large Americano for him and me and a Cappuccino for his Mum, which she shared with Han.
Dropped off at the Shakespeare at 7:29pm. Deb decided we were going to have a Chinese take away because she was too lazy to cook. I heroically pointed out that during a time of economic downturn it would be better that we cooked for ourselves and gave the money saved to help feed the homeless. Selfish to the end, she ignored my remarks and did as she would. Evil that’s her that is! Got home and watched Deb eat whilst her head spun.
Science Museum Photos
It was approaching 4:00 pm by now so we decided to walk to the gift shop then make our way back to the pick up point via the Natural History Museum. We went in through the entrance next to the Science museum and walked through to the main hall. It was as spectacular as I remember from our last two visits. It really is a true National Treasure (a term used to describe virtually every celeb over 40 and thrown into a conversation almost as often as ‘iconic’) and it’s a shame that the majority of visitors were people for whom English did not appear to be a first language, I suppose it’s like the Eiffel Tower, visited by everyone in Paris except the Parisians, anyway here’s a selection of photo’s
Left NHM and waited outside for our coach. Wasn’t long in coming and eventually off we went. I spent quite a lot of the time on our way out chatting with one of the female scout leaders for another pack who pointed out interesting places as we passed them.
About an hour later we stop for a loo and coffee break at a service station where Nat went and showed how generous he can be on occasion. We went to the Costa Coffee shop where Nat bought a large Americano for him and me and a Cappuccino for his Mum, which she shared with Han.
Dropped off at the Shakespeare at 7:29pm. Deb decided we were going to have a Chinese take away because she was too lazy to cook. I heroically pointed out that during a time of economic downturn it would be better that we cooked for ourselves and gave the money saved to help feed the homeless. Selfish to the end, she ignored my remarks and did as she would. Evil that’s her that is! Got home and watched Deb eat whilst her head spun.
Science Museum Photos
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