Show Me Love

Show Me Love

"The World of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless." 

 

Jean Jacques Rousseau 

(printed on one of the blinds at the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green today)

E told me first thing this morning that his imagination had given him a great dream about Atlantis.

There are no photos on the blog today because somehow I forgot to charge my 'phone last night and by the time I realised it was flat it was time to dash for the train. It has been rather liberating in a way although a little frustrating too.

O, 3, stayed home happily with his Grandma and had a few hours at Fishers Farm whilst S, 7, E, 5, and I have had a London day. Not ideal timing but with various holidays coming up it was the only opportunity until late next month. London feels like a bride getting ready for a wedding at the moment and its visitors and guests are in the way of it getting dressed for the big days of the Diamond Jubilee and the 2012 Olympics. I strongly suspect we'll be avoiding it around those times, there are posters up at stations informing travellers it might be quicker to walk.

Just as with our home education the journey is as, if not more, important than the destination so it is with London trips and we had a great time playing: noughts and crosses, drawing guessing games and hangman on the train.

First stop was the Museum of Childhood, there are many photos of our numerous previous visits on the blog.

E enjoyed the Star Wars display, the fake lego, Scalextric, playmobil native Americans and rocking horses. The museum was very busy with several school trips. I love observing how the social divisions are carved out so early between the state and private pupils. I even overhead one posh (judging by the uniform) girl's private school teacher inform one of her pupils that "Girl's don't bang!" when she was a little enthusiastic with the magnetic hair table!

S loved the familiar rocking horses and, after yesterday at Petworth House, her little dolls tried out a few new pads in the Doll House area.

My Mum reminded my a while ago how I don't seem to prepare the children so much as I once did. It is true, I have really fallen out of the habit of letting them know what to expect and so to that end I dug out an old Usborne London Sticker book for E and I to do on the train and it made a huge difference. As we were going about he spotted several familiar reminders which seemed to comfort him.

After the MoC we headed West to the ever popular Princess Diana Memorial Park. As we arrived the sky cleared to blue and we arrived at the door to find it CLOSED! (damn forgetting that phone!)  "Oh No!" I thought this it it. Given that some months ago E melted down on the same spot when his mint choc chip ice cream turned out to be white not green but he just brushed it off and asked if we could come back another time.

S, however, was annoyed that E didn't then want to go to the nearby NHM or Science Museum or Tate Britain instead (her sponge can take a lot more soaking than his!) and when we discovered Kensington Palace has reopened and he didn't want to go in there either she was seriously vexed! 

Thinking quick I remembered the 52 is a double decker that goes back to Victoria from right there and it was distraction enough especially when they bagged the top front seats. Phew! (I lived and worked in London for 10 years in the 90's)

Took all of our own food today minus 2 ice creams and a coffee so with train travel (inc tube and bus) for 3 at just over £20 it was a great value day out.

Felt rather nice eating home made biscuits on  the train which is why I am about to make some more for tomorrow's gallivant.