A couple of contrasting days.

As well as the (increasingly gradual) clearing out of the playroom, we've been out and about both of the last two days.  Although before we get to that, I wanted to mention that the night before last K & M were having trouble settling down at bedtime, so remembering something I'd seen on Facebook, I suggested they lie on M's bed with the curtain open and see if they could spot any of the Perseid 'shooting stars'.  They did each spot one or two, although we haven't followed it up yet, having been rather busy, but must do so!

Yesterday we went to Nottingham Contemporary, we have been before, soon after it opened about 4 years ago, but not since.  I must admit that modern art really isn't my thing, but seeing as it is on our doorstep and free entry we really should go a bit more often.  We had a particular reason for going this time, as we were undercover judges for the Kids In Museums Family Friendly Museum Award.  We had prepared by looking through their manifesto and bearing it in mind as we spend a few hours there.  It started well, we were greeted when we went in and asked if we knew about the activities that were happening for children in the Space downstairs, which we did having had a look at their website the previous evening.  K & M both drew or coloured in and cut out something to go in the fishing net display on the wall (well M's went on it while we did other stuff, K decided she wanted to keep hers from the off) although their initial reaction was concern for the creatures that had been caught.  Fortunately the notice did say that all creatures would be put back in the water unharmed at the end.  They also enjoyed the digital pool, a large mat with sea creatures swimming around in it, which reacted when you walked or jumped on it.  Having removed their shoes for this, neither K nor M wanted to put them back on to go back upstairs to have a look around at the Aquatopia exhibition, which wasn't a problem either nobody noticed, or if they did they didn't comment.  K & M were very keen to pick up an explorer bag and although the very friendly lady on the reception desk said that one between them would be more than enough, she was quite happy to let them have one each, only asking that we return them before we went back downstairs to the children's activity area in case other people wanted them, which was fair enough.  We had a look through the bags, which were pretty good, they had a variety of activities and props for doing them.  Unfortunately we didn't end up doing any of them though, we went into Gallery 1, and the first paintings we saw were 19 Century seascapes of shipwrecks and disasters, which neither of them were very keen on.  After a quick look around they decided that they wanted to move on, so we had a look in the small room, just off the reading room, which cabinets that you can open the drawers to have a look at the contents.  Gallery 2 was too much for K, who really doesn't like images that portray people or animals in distress or being hurt, there was one picture in particular which from a distance looks like a woman vomiting copious amounts of blood (M on looking a bit closer thought it was bracelets), which she really didn't like and M wasn't keen either, so we quickly left.  I suggested that I could have a look in the final two galleries to see if I though there were things in there that they wouldn't like, but they weren't up for that, so we returned the kit bags to reception and I did mention to the lady there why we were returning so quickly.  She did say that the staff in the galleries were briefed to speak to families about what may not be appropriate for younger children although neither of the staff members in the two galleries had acknowledged us, let alone said anything unfortunately.  K & M did want to return to the activities downstairs, where we happened to bump into friends from our HE gymnastics group, a mum with girl of about 4 or 5 and a sleeping baby in a sling.  She said that there had been a video with in appropriate sexual content that her daughter had sat down and put the headphones on before she was approached by a member of staff who suggested that it wasn't really appropriate, she said that although the sexual aspect went competely over her daughter's head, she didn't want her watching it and it was a bit tricky to 'drag' her daughter away from it.  They joined us, after the children's area shut at 3 o'clock, for a treat in the rather nice cafe.  Just as we were leaving we realised that we'd left a clipboard, that we'd taken in case K & M wanted to do any drawing while there, in the by then shut up space and they were very helpful in retrieving it.  So they'll be getting a rather mixed review from us when we talk to the lady from Kids In Museums next week.

Today we went to Wollaton Hall and met up with friends, Z & R there.  It's a great place to go and spend time, with the most fantastic climbing tree, which is a big favourite of K & M and me too!

M upside down in the climbing tree.

One of the really good things about the place, is that as well as the Hall, which is great for when the weather is bad, there's so much outside space with wonderful variety to explore.  There are the gardens, an orangerie, big open spaces and a lake, surrounded by wooded area.  There are two varieties of deer, as well as smaller animals to spot.

One of today's spots.

R is similar to M in that she likes to have freedom to roam, but being younger and an only child can't do so around where they live yet, so Wollaton Hall is fantastic for her and the three girls were very keen when Z & I suggested that they could go off on their own around the lake if they wanted to for a while.  Z & I sat on a bench at the end of the lake and could actually see them for most of the time, as they played at the edge of the lake and came back to us a good while later, rather grubby, somewhat damp and hungry for the packed lunches we'd brought with us. 

Before we went to find Z & R, we had a rather interesting experience in the car park.  K went to get the pay & display ticket and when we put the money in and pressed the button, instead of producing a ticket it spewed out my £2 along with another £15!  On the second attempt, we did get a ticket but still had £15 in change.  We talked about what we should do and agreed to take the money up to the Hall and hand it in.  It was rather tempting to keep it, but it's free to go to and such a fantastic place for families, K & M took it up to the Hall and gave it in there.

After we left Z & R, we headed up the M1 to go and pick up a microscope that we had arranged to buy from another HE family who mentioned on a Facebook page they were looking to sell.  We had a look at it and checked all was working (a concern that K expressed on the way!) before bringing it home, it looks good and I'm looking forward, in particular, to having a look at some blood.