On a lighter note I noticed one of the 'glyphs on a stone carving was shaped [Double-D symbol] proving that ancient civilisations also had the benefits of 5.1 Dolby surround sound.

We went upstairs for more Egypt stuff, rooms 61-65, which had some insights into the language, and some mummies and coffins in.

The Anglo-Saxon helmet from Sutton Hoo

Now you're probably saying "It had what in it?" And I'd forgive you for asking that. Allow me to explain.

Many years ago in history class, must have been 1984, we learned of the burial site at Sutton Hoo. Amongst the relics found was an Anglo-Saxon helmet that had very distinctive facial features including a prominent bottom lip that me and my mate David Nice decided gave the helmet the impression it was going (tongue in bottom lip) 'Ummmnnn'. The helmet was nicknamed 'Um-Head'.

Now, as is the case with many things, you had to be there to find it funny, but the image of that Sutton Hoo helmet has stuck with me, and today I found it in room 41 of the British Museum.

There, story told.

A few photos later and we planned our next move. We plonked ourselves in the corner between two display cabinets and consulted the map. The answer; have a quick scout round the rest of Europe then grab some food.

Angela wasn't that hungry after her brekkie this morning but I was. I had a chicken sandwich and some Jalapeño Pepper and Lemon flavour crisps, which I decided tasted like a bizarre combination of curry and washing-up liquid.

After a quick loo stop we had a wander through the gift shop. The things on offer seemed a bit juvenile, but when we saw the sign saying 'Children's git Shop' all was explained. We walked round the other side of the reading room and went into the proper gift souvenir shop. Not a lot in here really either. A couple of postcards were nice, not to send to anyone but for the pictures, but I didn't get them 'till later.

On the way round the reading room, at the back, was a bookstore which had in it the most laughable historical records ever. It detailed through a colourful time and genealogy line (it was a book aimed at children) the descent of all major world leaders including the royal family. At the end of the book were a myriad of lines for said people going backwards, joining and joining until eventually at the start of the book was just one line. Adam and Eve.

I had half a mind to buy it just to see how they came to this preposterous conclusion. But the other half of my mind told me not to be so stupid so I listened to that half.

The we went back upstairs to the HSBC money exhibit. This detailed how coins first came into use and how the monetary system developed. They had lots of examples there, including one of the very early 'coins'; a foot long slab of copper.

I found this exhibit very interesting. There was even a woman there with a small collection of various coins through the ages which you could touch. Including a dolphin shaped one for which she said "It was one of the very first coins, who said they had to be round". I've held some old coins, but none that went as far back as 400000 years (Or whatever. It was about that).

I don't think Angela was as interested in the coins, as she had already seen most of the Greek exhibit by the time she wandered back to find by talking to a woman about dolphin shaped coins. It was about this time the woman brought out a very old example of currency. A £1 note. Woooo! From ancient dolphins to as far back as I can actually remember. Can't say the collection wasn't varied.

We whizzed back through the Greek exhibits, after a quick look at the designs and prototype (if that's the right word) of the 250th anniversary medal for the British Museum, and went to our final stop; the Americas / Mexicans.

I was most interested to see the Aztec art, but the display of the different tribes of American natives we found on the way was also very interesting.

We then headed out, and it was at this point that I got the postcards.

So intent was I on letting Angela lead the way so she could find her underground feet that she'd already worked out the line and the route before I'd figured it out myself. Damn her learning ability! Or is that kudos to my teaching? Mmmm, I'll choose the latter.

Ah. If I can just go back to the museum for a bit, I forgot to mention the reading room. Well, actually I have mentioned it but only in the sense of having walked round the outside of it. The inside of it was much more impressive.

It was a circular room and it was big. Think of an ant on a 12" record. It won't give you a relative size comparison but it will give you an amusing image of insectoid life on vinyl. The room was filled, maze-like, with desks, some of which had computers with which you could access museum info. All the way round the walls were old books (which were behind glass panels) and way above them was the ceiling. A huge dome of a ceiling. Impressive indeed, and forced my mouth to issue another 'wow'. I must buy it a thesaurus.

Anyway, back to the tube. In fact, no, let's skip the tube cause that bit's boring and let's go straight to the road the hotel is on. It's important at this point to go to the road and not the hotel itself as this is where we were looking for places to eat. We saw a pub selling decent grub and went there. Actually we went back to the hotel to rest before we went there. Actually, I wanted to rest. Angela would have rather, it turned out, gone straight there.

Long story short: We went there. We ate. I had steak pie. We left.

We spent a bit of time back at the hotel deciding what to do tomorrow. We decided on the Science Museum and Natural History Museum, though the brochure said they could both take a day. We also said we might see if we can catch a film at the Liecester Square Odeon Dad's always going on about ("Ooooh, those ships at the start of Star Wars. Wow. etc")


11th February 2003

Did much the same morning routine as yesterday, with Angela going for breakfast earlier and me joining her down there later.

The plan we decided on yesterday got stuck to, almost. The brochure was right; the science museum was going to take us all day, but the rest of it was carried out to perfection.

We started the day by going to Leicester Square and finding the cinema. I spotted an Odeon across the square, failing to spot an even bigger one as we were standing under it. It was closed, but the signs told us that the Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers was going to be on at 19:40. I wasn't going to see that film as I didn't think much of the first, but decided that on a big screen it would be worth doing.

We then made our way to the Science Museum by way of tube and a very long subway.

I wont go into too much detail today. Each exhibit had it's interesting bits, it's fun bits, it's childish bits, and it's just-plain-boring bits. We covered steam power, space flight, DNA and genealogy, aviation, optics, health, materials, and time. Yes, I think that covered it.

Steam Power: A few engines were going (though I suspect they were being moved electrically), Stevenson's Rocket was on display, and some cross sections of boilers and cooling towers were shown.

Space Flight: Nothing I hadn't seen before

DNA and Genealogy: There were lots of interactive displays here, mainly aimed at kids. There was a 'Brain Sex' quiz which told you which gender your brain was geared towards. Me and Angela both got the same score through different combinations of answers, placing us both slightly on the female side. Weird.

Aviation: Various different methods of jet motors and stuff which didn't really interest me.

Optics: Various holograms and exhibits of telescopes and microscopes. Interesting fact: The most powerful electron microscope can see things so small it's the equivalent of looking at the particles of sand forming the concrete on the side of a building - from the moon.

Health: By now we were in a hurry. This exhibit showed the various stages of technology to do with healthcare.

Materials: Ummm... the various different ways you can use different materials. So basically anything then.

Time: Or rather timekeeping. Showing lots of different clocks and timepieces, including ... um, what's the word for marine timepieces [equivalent to 'aviation' for flight]. I want to use the word 'marination' but unless there were any watches you could soak a bit of meat in then I don't think that's it. Oh whatever, like I said by now we were in a hurry to get round before going back to Leicester Square.

We wont go back to the square just yet though because I've deliberately missed a couple of bits for the purposes of running through the exhibits.

The first missing bit was dinner. We stopped at the cafe near the space exhibit, and in a stark break against tradition I'm not going to tell you what I had. You'll just have to guess.

The second missed bit was the IMAX cinema, and this is quite a big thing to miss out 'cause it was bloody spectacular. The movie was all about the international space station and not only was the edge of the screen just on the limits of peripheral vision but it was in 3D too. You really, honest to whatever God you believe in, felt like you were there, and that's not an exaggeration. All cinema should be like this.

Anyway like I said, we were in a hurry at the end of the day, and the reason for this is that we wanted to get a pizza at the Leicester Square Pizza Hut before we went to the cinema.

Before we did that though we got the tickets. Then we had a pizza. Then we went to the cinema.

Now the thing is, when we got the tickets we didn't know which of the three different areas they were selling them for was the best. So we got the middle ones. And we had no control over where we sat either. So the screen may well be the biggest in Europe, but when you're viewing it from 2 miles away it looks a bit on the small side. We were a bit disappointed but I'm not going to pass judgement because a) it might look more impressive if you're more near the front and b) we've been to the IMAX today and frankly you'd have to sit me on Io and project the film onto the surface of Jupiter to beat that.

To my surprise the film was good. Lots more going on and a lot more fighty-actiony bits than the first. Which is what everybody's been telling me all along.

At just gone 11 we got the tube back, and I spent another 2 hours writing this.

P.S. Cheese and Onion sandwich, banana and walnut cake slice, and a banana.

Damn, couldn't resist.


12th February 2003

Same routine for breakfast. Just managed to get out of the breakfast room before 9, which is when they shut up. Came back upstairs (all 61 of the steep buggers) and started to pack.

We were told we could leave our cases in a very safe place (the back of the sofa in reception!) while we spent some more time in the capital. So we decided to visit the London Eye.

We had phoned earlier to check if they were open (as the guide said it was closed part of Feb) and if tickets were available. they were.

A misty view of Parliament from the London Eye

As we came out of the Waterloo station we were following signs for the London Eye, but we needn't have bothered cause when we rounded a corner it was pretty obvious where it was.

The other thing that was pretty obvious was the queue, or lack thereof. There was literally nobody. It wasn't really surprising as it was drizzling and a little misty, so no really great views to be had, but we decided to go up and have a look anyway.

Another misty view from the London Eye

There were a few people about. Our carriage (or whatever they called it) had another 4 or 5 people in. Soon we were ready for 'take off'.

Bloody 'Take Off'! 'Flight', 'Landing'. I know they're trying to get an atmosphere going of some great journey but I think the people who run it should face up to the fact that it's just a giant bike wheel.

Having said that, it's a bloody impressive bike wheel, and the view from the top is amazing. Or so I imagine. As I said, it was drizzly and misty. You could see a fair amount through the mist, but it could have done without the droplets on the glass. I'm glad I did it though, as I've been meaning to for some time.

After taking a load of pictures (more than for the rest of the holiday) we came in for our [roll eyes] 'Landing'. The souvenir picture taken of us was quite good but we declined a purchase. Instead I got a metal mini-London Eye as a gift for mum and dad.

We walked from the 'eye to the Westminster station, passing by parliament and Big Ben (Yes Yes, I know Big Ben is the bell but technically we still passed by it,) and getting a bit wet from the rain.

We took a train to Tower Hill with the idea of visiting the Tower of London, but having seen the cost of entry, and deciding that neither of us was that fussed, we decided to do something else.

That something was the London Dungeon. Not very easy to find from the tube station but we got there in the end and went straight in with no queuing.