Science Museum

A Bank Holiday visit to the Science Museum. Just public transport to get there - buses, trains, tubes. So much about transport that was once regarded as everyday, some yet to be so. Films, displays, so much about the huge scale developments in technology, very little on the tiny things that determine these giant achievements.

In a tiny, dark corner, a tiny, dark display on molecular structure. The ten year old looked at the four models showing the bonds between Carbon molecules, noticed that there were only 'black balls' for both diamond and graphite. I mentioned that the little white ones on the structure of rubber represented Hydrogen. We moved on.

Five hours later, after the Hubble 3D film, simulator rides, aeroplanes and the sound and smells of a thousand disinterested and extremely grumpy toddlers, we took refuge again in the quieter corners of the galleries. I took this picture of the cables connected to the bridge because I liked their quiet precision.

Shortly after, she spotted a tiny model representing the structure of DNA. Eyes narrowed, head on one side 'That's got Carbon and Hydrogen in it'.

We left just before closing time with an extra bag.

In that bag was a Chemistry set.