I would love to say that we are the sort of family who manage the weekly chores with a smile on their lips and a song in their heart. But alas, round here it's often more like a grimace and a snarl. However, by 2pm yesterday we were done - washing and drying (more complicated these days since we have to use the laundromat), vacuuming, scrubbing and dusting. Thank God. We do straighten up a bit as we go along through the week - beds and sweeping and the kitchen and so on - but we just don't seem to have the time (or, more importantly) the inclination) to do anything major in the evenings.

We spent yesterday afternoon lying around reading (squeezed in a visit to the library after lunch) and a friend came round in the evening to watch a DVD with us, which redeemed the day somewhat.

We went to the Victoria and Albert museum today, to see the Leonardo Da Vinci exhibition. Bobby and I were both quite disappointed in it. There was not really all that much on display, and we were annoyed that, despite being charged a hefty entrance fee and being given timed entrance tickets, the exhibition was still too crowded to look at things properly. Oh, and they wanted an extra £3.50 each for the audio guide. And some pushy old lady jumped the queue on us - she actually elbowed Bobby out the way! (Seems like old ladies really are not what they were). So by the time we walked out we felt distinctly ripped off and peevish about the whole thing.

I did like this statue, though, which was just outside the exhibition. So odd to think that my hulking great teenagers were once adorable babies like this one, and I was all serene and calm instead of the frazzled wreck I often find myself these days.



We walked across the road to the Science Museum afterwards, though, which restored our spirits. It wasn't crowded at all, and there was tons of fun stuff to play with.

This is Sophie, about to attempt crawling through a tunnel to a safe without setting off the alarm system.



We could have spent hours there, but the sun was already starting to set and our feet were starting to hurt, so we left at about 3.30.

This is the ice rink outside the Natural History Museum. I think I might like to go skating at one of the outdoor rinks on my birthday next month.




Coming home was a bit gruelling - the district and circle lines were both closed for repairs so the underground was a seething mass of confused people, often wielding wheely suitcases. It is interesting that I am always very good at navigating the underground - better than Bobby, though he would deny that vehemently. I think it's because it's a place where having a sense of direction does absolutely nothing to help you; the only method that works is to look out for signs and follow them. So, as a person with no sense of direction whatsoever, I am in my natural element.