On the way to the Milkshed I wandered around the Museum of English Rural Life. It was interesting but also very frustrating. Interesting because there were so many exhibits, frustrating because the labelling was very poor and it was difficult to connect the descriptions with the item being described. In addition the descriptions often said things like ".. an improved version.." but neglected to say what the improvement was and almost invariably failed to explain how it worked.
It seems that the publicly visible items and their educational purpose are secondary to the collections kept for research.
Anyway, enough whining, here are some pictures.
Something that I think many people don't appreciate about museums is that often the buildings themselves are interesting or have interesting features. In this one there is a very pleasant stairway and gallery with lovely windows
Just before going to the patisserie I went into Holland and Barrett to get some lavender oil and almond oil. One of the assistants addressed me as madame when she asked if I needed help. When I went to pay the till offered another bottle of almond oil for nothing.
She addressed me as madame when she relayed this to me. Then she asked if I was a member and when I said no she pointed out that if I join I'll get 3 GBP off my next purchase. So I said yes and the screen showing my purchases switched to ask for my email address and name, so I filled those in as Nina with her prompting me through the process and scattering madames like confetti. But she spoilt it at the end when she handed over the receipt and said "Thank you sir."
This exchange would be unheard of in Norway where the equivalent words exist but are used only in jest or ironically.
Watching television, an exotic activity for me. Just caught the end of an ad for delivery of something. There was text at the bottom of the screen. It said:
Delivery excludes Scotland and other geographical locations
Are there any other kinds of locations?
The programme is Michael Portillo's Railway Journeys. I don't know anything about his former career as a politician but he seems like a very likeable person.
In the part I'm watching now he's just taken a preserved railway trip to Cheltenham racecourse.
Just had my first "I need you to put shoes on" moment of the holiday.
I'm in the Alehouse having a pint of Heck's dry cider. About a minute after I sat down with it the barman came over and said that. I said it was quite impossible (my shoes are two kilometres away) and he gave the usual idiotic justification that it was on health and safety grounds. I asked him if he had ever heard of the concept of contributory negligence and pointed out that he really is not liable for injuries to my feet. This seemed to work which is a first. Mind you I think he probably simply decided that arguing with me wasn't worth his time.
Actually contributory negligence isn't quite the right wording because negligence doesn't properly describe my actions but I can't for the life of me remember the proper formulation.
