I had promised Spindles that the two of us would go on a bus ride over the Easter holidays.
We had both suggested a few places....he wanted to go to the seaside, but I wanted to do something fun but with a nod to education.
I suggested that we take a bus to Manchester and then to the Museum of Science and Industry.
I had heard of this place but hadn't a clue whereabouts it was in relation to the city centre.
Spindles is mad keen on Science, technology, things with cogs, sprockets, wheels......things which have complex internal workings.
I had a look at the web site for the Museum and it sounded like it was right up his street....he would be able to get up close and personal with many of the exhibits. Better still there were 'hands on' exhibits, things to make. So that was it.
The venue was decided.
I had sort of thought I would take him this Thursday. Thursday is a day when I don't cook tea for himself, Jim and ma......so I could be assured of the day all to myself...could come home after dark if the desire grabbed me.
Looking at the forecast for this Thursday changed my plans though.
It looks like Manchester is set for a deluge on Thursday so I was down town yesterday and mentioned to himself that Thursday didn't look like it was going to be suitable for our jaunt.
Himself said'Why don't you go today?'
So I phoned Nicola and asked how long it would take for Spindles to get ready and could his dad please drop him off in Infant St?...as the plans had changed.
Within half an hour we were in the queue for the Manchester bus....though Spindles had brought not a sous with him.
I asked how he was going to pay his bus fare...he said 'you will have to pay'
'What about lunch?....What about drinks?
What about tea if we stay out a long time?'
He gave a gallic shrug and said he guessed I would have to foot the bill.
I asked if he would pay me back when we got home.
He looked horrified at this suggestion and said 'you invited me....so you pay'.
Nice one huh?
It was one of the new buses...the Red Express...wifi, usb ports, leather seats and smelling all fresh and of new paint.
It was a very good journey and we were in Manchester by 11am.
I had looked at a map of where the museum was so I knew roughly in which direction we should be going...then I remembered that there was the Metro shuttle.
We headed for the stop outside M&S.
Alas, with all the roadworks in the city this stop was not in use.
I asked Spindles if he minded walking.
He asked how far it was. I told him it was about as far as it is from his house to school(I lied...it is further).
'Ok....let's walk it' he said.
So that is what we did. It was about 20 minutes walk(we did take the scenic route), but we found it relatively easily and without having to ask anyone.
We went into the Air and Space bit of the museum first.
Spindles loved it. He was like a dog at a fair...he did not know what to look at first.
He wanted to have his picture taken below a huge helicopter. He pointed out the Leonardo Da Vinci kite style thing and told me that this was the first sort of aeroplane.
He spotted a Kamikaze bomb, with just a small seat for a little kamikaze fighter.
There were cars, horse drawn buggies all kinds of vehicles. Even a bright red Wheelchair motorbike.
This part of the museum was not so busy and we could look around in peace.
We walked across the road to the main body of the museum.
This was so very busy. It was writhing with bunches of school children out on school trips.
We picked up a map.....I gave a donation for our visit( yes, the museum is FREE....but the upkeep costs and I like to pay my way) and set off to explore.
The museum is vast and set out over a number of industrial warehouse type buildings.
There is no way you can get to see everything in one visit...of that I am sure.
Especially as we had taken time out to do a virtual flight in a Typhoon fighter jet...and then another chunk of time in the 4D theatre(that was awesome).
We also needed to have something to eat as both of our bellies were growling...and my advice here is, take food.....take drinks....the food and drink were very expensive......and munched a huge hole in my purse( that is a drawback of spontaneity).
There was an exhibition of computer games right from the game of Pong to the latest in games...but this was an extra charge...and the sessions were 90 minutes...and we had just missed the start of one so we would have to hoof around for another 90 minutes.
Spindles was desperate to do this activity, but I was not so keen. So we went on all the hands on stuff. Then just after 3pm we left the museum.
I said that we could make another visit during the summer holiday...but this did not please his highness as the computer exhibition is only on until the middle of this month.
We headed back for the bus and were on the ten minutes to four bus home.
We did not get home until almost 6pm so we had had a long day. We walked 10km during the day.......I asked him what he thought of his day out......'AWESOME' was his reply.
I phoned him this morning and asked if he wanted to come with me to the museum of science and industry.......'hang on, I'll just go and get ready'
'Whoa' I said.'Only joking......I'm skint,but we can go if you are paying'.
I'm sure you know what the response to that was!
PS...the pictures of the day are on yesterdays and todays 'Today in Pictures'
We had both suggested a few places....he wanted to go to the seaside, but I wanted to do something fun but with a nod to education.
I suggested that we take a bus to Manchester and then to the Museum of Science and Industry.
I had heard of this place but hadn't a clue whereabouts it was in relation to the city centre.
Spindles is mad keen on Science, technology, things with cogs, sprockets, wheels......things which have complex internal workings.
I had a look at the web site for the Museum and it sounded like it was right up his street....he would be able to get up close and personal with many of the exhibits. Better still there were 'hands on' exhibits, things to make. So that was it.
The venue was decided.
I had sort of thought I would take him this Thursday. Thursday is a day when I don't cook tea for himself, Jim and ma......so I could be assured of the day all to myself...could come home after dark if the desire grabbed me.
Looking at the forecast for this Thursday changed my plans though.
It looks like Manchester is set for a deluge on Thursday so I was down town yesterday and mentioned to himself that Thursday didn't look like it was going to be suitable for our jaunt.
Himself said'Why don't you go today?'
So I phoned Nicola and asked how long it would take for Spindles to get ready and could his dad please drop him off in Infant St?...as the plans had changed.
Within half an hour we were in the queue for the Manchester bus....though Spindles had brought not a sous with him.
I asked how he was going to pay his bus fare...he said 'you will have to pay'
'What about lunch?....What about drinks?
What about tea if we stay out a long time?'
He gave a gallic shrug and said he guessed I would have to foot the bill.
I asked if he would pay me back when we got home.
He looked horrified at this suggestion and said 'you invited me....so you pay'.
Nice one huh?
It was one of the new buses...the Red Express...wifi, usb ports, leather seats and smelling all fresh and of new paint.
It was a very good journey and we were in Manchester by 11am.
I had looked at a map of where the museum was so I knew roughly in which direction we should be going...then I remembered that there was the Metro shuttle.
We headed for the stop outside M&S.
Alas, with all the roadworks in the city this stop was not in use.
I asked Spindles if he minded walking.
He asked how far it was. I told him it was about as far as it is from his house to school(I lied...it is further).
'Ok....let's walk it' he said.
So that is what we did. It was about 20 minutes walk(we did take the scenic route), but we found it relatively easily and without having to ask anyone.
We went into the Air and Space bit of the museum first.
Spindles loved it. He was like a dog at a fair...he did not know what to look at first.
He wanted to have his picture taken below a huge helicopter. He pointed out the Leonardo Da Vinci kite style thing and told me that this was the first sort of aeroplane.
He spotted a Kamikaze bomb, with just a small seat for a little kamikaze fighter.
There were cars, horse drawn buggies all kinds of vehicles. Even a bright red Wheelchair motorbike.
This part of the museum was not so busy and we could look around in peace.
We walked across the road to the main body of the museum.
This was so very busy. It was writhing with bunches of school children out on school trips.
We picked up a map.....I gave a donation for our visit( yes, the museum is FREE....but the upkeep costs and I like to pay my way) and set off to explore.
The museum is vast and set out over a number of industrial warehouse type buildings.
There is no way you can get to see everything in one visit...of that I am sure.
Especially as we had taken time out to do a virtual flight in a Typhoon fighter jet...and then another chunk of time in the 4D theatre(that was awesome).
We also needed to have something to eat as both of our bellies were growling...and my advice here is, take food.....take drinks....the food and drink were very expensive......and munched a huge hole in my purse( that is a drawback of spontaneity).
There was an exhibition of computer games right from the game of Pong to the latest in games...but this was an extra charge...and the sessions were 90 minutes...and we had just missed the start of one so we would have to hoof around for another 90 minutes.
Spindles was desperate to do this activity, but I was not so keen. So we went on all the hands on stuff. Then just after 3pm we left the museum.
I said that we could make another visit during the summer holiday...but this did not please his highness as the computer exhibition is only on until the middle of this month.
We headed back for the bus and were on the ten minutes to four bus home.
We did not get home until almost 6pm so we had had a long day. We walked 10km during the day.......I asked him what he thought of his day out......'AWESOME' was his reply.
I phoned him this morning and asked if he wanted to come with me to the museum of science and industry.......'hang on, I'll just go and get ready'
'Whoa' I said.'Only joking......I'm skint,but we can go if you are paying'.
I'm sure you know what the response to that was!
PS...the pictures of the day are on yesterdays and todays 'Today in Pictures'
