FINALLY WE HAD FISH AND CHIPS
Just returned from eating fish and chips at the Skyliners in Whitkirk, Leeds, something I have been looking forward to for several months. So, were they amazing? Well, yes, kind of. The meal started with my bro’s 5year old son puking into napkins at the dinner table. Now there are two types of people, those who are great with puke (and other bodily nasty stuff) and then others like me who lets just say, are not. So vomit for starters was a lot of fun. Following this was a 16oz slab of deep fried Haddock, with great proper chips – thick and delicious. The food was good but I was distracted by my nephew’s new -found appetite. This would normally be a great thing but all during his meal I couldn’t help to visualize him puking his meal up again, adding to this I was the one sat opposite him. This didn’t really create the most peaceful environment for a meal out, but it was good none  the less.

MY GRANS RESTING PLACE
We went to see where my Gran’s ashes were spread. It was really amazing. My mum showed me where the service was and shared all the details (as I was not able to make the service). There were two books in a room under glass, both opened to today’s date. On these pages were the names of everyone who had died and were laid to rest there on that specific date. I thought this was really special and beautiful, and when we were leaving I saw a lady searching for the name of presuming her passed loved- one. My mum and I went under this huge weeping willow tree where my Grans ashes were spread. We planted some snowdrops(originally from my Gran’s garden) which will flower each year. It was a special time.

ON A DIFFERENT NOTE
While I was there I witnessed once again the tiny size of the English urinal. It had me enquire (to myself mind you) to why UK urinals are so small compared to the ones in the USA. It’s not like the Americans pee twice as much in volume per piss – or maybe they do and I just don’t know. I feel more research coming on

THE ROYAL ARMOURIES
Several years ago the Royal Armouries created their national exhibition in Leeds. My parents have invited me to visit this place now on several occasions but at the time I’d rather watch TV than look at a bunch of old amour and war related exhibits. Once again to my parents’ surprise, I was the one this time that requested to visit the museum, and I have to say it was rather good.

Like many other ‘free’ English national exhibitions it is vast in size and you could spend at least a couple of visits to take in everything. That said we spent a couple of hours wandering and learning about the different ages and how warfare played its part. My favourite sections were the ones that were interactive. People were lined-up so you could experience what taking someone’s head off with an axe felt like. Only joking. They did have this one section where you put on an armoured glove and held a sword of that period. Wow was it ever heavy! It had me think about if this was just a glove and sword how heavy must a half body or even a full body suit of armour weigh; it would have caused some serious trouble for my ‘iffy back’.

In another interactive section you put your face up to and inside what was an armored mask, one with a small horizontal slit for you to look out of. What you saw was a TV screen with a re-enactment of a battle. It was so fast paced and you had very little view through the slit in the mask. It was crazy! Even with armour I think I would have been dead in seconds, thank goodness it was just a demonstration.

The whole museum was fascinating but a little morbid as it was all about war, and in my opinion, a sad and unfortunate part of world history. That being said, it was interesting to see how the development in technology and materials have shaped how we fight battles throughout the ages.

The exhibition designers had transformed the otherwise concrete walled building with large decorative entrances to each level and used large graphic floor indicator signs. The ‘way finding’ signage was also really strong and easy to interpret.

A TRIP TO THE LOFT
Later that night my nephew who is obsessively into Thomas The Tank Engine had bugged my dad long enough that he eventually got my old train set out of the loft (attic). It was great to reminisce as we unpacked the different elements, from the track, the station, the different trains as well as the bag filled with train-set trees. There was much anticipation once we set up a basic track and plugged in the power control unit. The train was delicately balanced on the track and the power was slowly turned up; and then there was nothing. What a let down! That being said, it had been in storage for the last 20 years. So out came the sand paper and we sanded the rails on the track and the wheels on the train. Ready again, we turned up the power and it worked beautifully. Watching my nephew’s wee face light up with extreme excitement was the best. The look of pure child amazement was also present on my dad’s and my face too, reliving the simplicity and enjoyment that comes with playing with a toy train set.

SEE IMAGES ON FLICKR:
part 1, part 2, part 3 & part 4

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