Monday 4 March 2013

Manchester MOSI

I can't say I loved the Museum of Science and Industry, other than the outside of the building. 



As with most museums in Britain, entrance was free.




The textile part was good, if you wanted to see a thistledown coat, map shoes or fruit clothes. 




It was mainly geared to kids, though I did enjoy watching the old braiding machine. 



There was also a sliding demonstration that showed wool to be smoother than cotton and both smoother than polyester.  Three cheers for wool!  (I know, I'm obsessed).



I think Helen was intrigued by the idea of visiting sewers, which turned out to be a brick tunnel with a lot of posters explaining the history of the water and sewerage systems in England.  It actually is a pretty interesting subject, much related to public health, but I know about it already.  




Bill's favourite part was easily the huge building filled with trains and engines.   Charlotte, Helen and I both wandered around practicing patience. 



 After all, Bill tags along to a lot of things he's not excited about.



The best thing I saw was this the toy train set up. And even better, watching a child's wonder at it.


8 comments:

Unknown said...

Charlotte's angelic face and the other child's expression of wonder are lovely. Good shots Shelley.

Shelley said...

Some times it's hard to take a bad photo!

Carolyn said...

Sounds like a terrific day out :)
Thanks for letting me know it was OK about the photos. I loved your virtual tour of the gallery too! you highlighted some of my own favourite works as well.
We had a copy of The Cricketers in our house while I was growing up, so that is another one dear to my heart.
You might be interested to know that the man in the third work in Frederick McCubbins's triptych is the son, (a baby in the second painting) tending to his father's grave :)

D A Wolf said...

I tried leaving a comment yesterday but Blogger swallowed it up and froze!

You know I love that coat (though it would be a tad... scratchy) but, of course, the shoes are another matter! Amazing. (I'd take a facsimile of map shoes in something a bit sturdier, but I think they're quite lovely.)

Loveliest of all, surely, those beautiful little faces. And Miss Charlotte is mesmerizing.

xo

Shelley said...

Carolyn - Just goes to show, great minds and all that...

D.A. - Having a grandchild does seem to make me see children differently just now.

Shelley said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Beryl said...

Charlotte looks pretty patient. I love the miniature factories and towns in the museums I have seen. Just curious as to how you know so much about sewers? My husband sold big equipment to municipalities for their sewage treatment plants, but I have managed to avoid learning too much about them. Other than that in the US, it is ecologically more sound to put garbage down the disposal than into the trash. But best to compost, which I haven't figured out how to do in an apartment.

Shelley said...

Beryl - I wouldn't say I knew a tremendous amount about sewers, but I worked in public health and closely with the local water company. In my class work and in my day job I have toured sewage treatment works. I still hope to tour London's sewers one day. Yes, composting in an apartment would require cooperation from the management to provide an appropriate location. And then, what would you use the compost for? I agree about the disposal: it ends up fertilizing farmland here, as opposed to filling up a landfill.