The Royal Armouries museum, Leeds

A while ago we had a lovely day out to Leeds,

 to the Royal Armouries.

The suits of armour are amazing, so much intricate detail.

Until Feburary 2014 there is a display of swords from Middle-Earth.

Stories from old of Robin Hood.

Fun times dressing up.

Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I presented Henry VIII with the armour that included this extraordinary ‘Horned helmet’ in 1514. This helmet was chosen as the symbol of the Royal Armouries in Leeds because of its extraordinary appearance and association with Henry VIII.

 We all found the gallery with suits of Armour worn by Henry VIII very interesting and we spent most of our time in this gallery.

 Imogen found it hard to believe that these suits had been worn by Henry VIII, in portraits he looks quite plump, but when he was younger he would have been slimmer and much more athletic.

 By Henry’s reign (1509-47) tournaments presented the finest sportsmen – skilled contestants who trained from a young age – and were often held to celebrate marriages, births, alliances and victories. They had become fashionable, courtly displays of power with glittering parades of rulers and noblemen. The spectacle of tournament continued to provide an opportunity for entertainment and sport, training with weapons and even diplomacy.

We had a quick look around the other floors, but we have a museum rule that we only look around one section in detail. In the past we felt frazzled after reading too many information boards.

Well worth a visit and it's free entry too.

Museum and Discovery Centre in Barnsley

 On the 27th June, Barnsley got it's first museum.

There was lots of things to do both inside and outside the museum.

 

 

 And Barnsley's own Dicky Bird.

 But more exciting was the dinosaur.

 They needed expert help to guide the dinosaur, 

luckily Reuben was there to help out!

 Eventually we made our way into the brand new museum, 

I was really pleased we went, turned out the children had smallpox. 

Here they are being treated by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu.

There were famous historical charcters linked to Barnsley around the museum.

Here's Reuben trying on Joseph Locke's hat.

A great museum and we've already returned several times.

Customers rights, celebrity shortbread & cycling

Jemima came downstairs looking very cross with the pen she had bought in the Christmas sales, it had broken, "I'm going to take it back, I've got the receipt". So the next day we went to Meadowhall, on our way to Western Park Museum, and she took the pen back. The staff in the shop were brilliant with her. The best bit for me, was when she had to fill in the return form and sign her signature. She signed her name in the most beautiful, swirly, curly writing!

We then got to decorate Easter biscuits.
So many toppings, Rosanna decided to sample some before carefully choosing which ones to add to her biscuit!
Yep, smarties will do fine!
The biscuit decoration was to promote one of the contestants on master chef, she is also on a TV chef too. Although I'd not seen any of the programmes, we really enjoyed the decorating the shortbread.
Immy and Mima were soooo pleased to pick up the Metro on the tram. Geoff gets it for them everyday and they read it after tea, but they got it early, and fresh too!
Western Park museum currently has a sports exhibition, the museum is great for children with lots of hands on activities. We met up with some home ed families to explore the museum.
Virtual cycling, you get to cycle through a lovely park.

Testing your reactions. And I WON Geoff, only by one, but still a victory!!!
Story time in the igloo.
The weather was so nice, we had to have trip to the park.
Mima outside The University of Sheffield. I studied genetics and microbiology here 1992-1995. It felt really weird walking down Western Bank, groups of students chatting, having fun, hanging out.,that was me 15 years ago, the surroundings were unchanged, but the students had obviously changed.
Geoff is now a student at Sheffield University, in his 2nd year of a pHD.
Western Park
Geoff came to meet us after he finished at uni. Time for coffee.
Hot choc for Immy
Me and my lovely boy enjoying hot chocolate and latte.