Our Friday the 13th ...

Hah! I just realised it's Friday the 13th today. 'Had a spooky day?

Anyway, today is yet another visit to a museum. We went to visit the Imperial War Museum at the Lambeth Road. We took a bus from Horseferry Road which took us across Lambeth Bridge and discovered the best place to take a full view shot of the Westminster Abbey and Big Ben - it was quite a picture!

The walk to the war museum from Lambeth Bridge took us about less than 8 minutes. I've looked forward to this visit as I've heard so much about the Holocust exhibits from this very museum. A blogger friend of mine narrated her experience during her visit to Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp as used by the Nazi in Germany, the very place where Anne Frank and her family expired towards the end of the war. I simply couldn't pass on the opportunity of visiting the Imperial War Museum while visiting London this time around.

And true to its reputable review, the exhibits did not disappoint. I was moved by the narrations of those who survived the Nazi war as a child. The mere thought of how parents had to send their children away for their own safety was heartbreaking. While walking through The Children's War exhibit, we met an elderly English woman who was a war veteran pilot who graciously shared her experience during the war against the Nazis. Alexander listened intently to every word she said - we could only say a meek "thank you" as she left us to continue our visit. Alexander was silent for a while as we listened to the audio tapes and watched the visual aids along the way, and then finally asked: "Can we stop war?", "Why do grown ups fight? They are ruining everything!". I knew right there and then, I need to explain things as they are and hope he would understand.

There were other interests at the museum which amused Alexander - the war tanks and submarines and cars and aeroplanes. Now and then he would ask if they were for real, if they were the true size of a tank or a fighter airplane. He got all too excited to see a Spitzfire airplane hanging on the ceiling above us. What attracted him the most was the interactive visit to the submarine exhibition where children are taught the basics and science on how to survive inside the submarine and how its mechanical and technical equipments work under water. He was fascinated by the small space where they sleep and how they go around the sub through the small tubes.

My first stroke of bad luck, on a Friday the 13th and all, was losing my hat (again!). I always manage to lose my hat whenever I'm in London, clumsy me! Good thing I had a spare 'coz I'm one who easily catch a cold going around without a hat on a cold and windy day.

Leaving the war museum, Alexander threw in a request:

"Can we go to Waterloo?"

"What do you want to see in Waterloo?", asked my husband.

"You know, Abba's Waterloo".

My husband and I just looked at each other. Oh, well, of course, he's got to see Waterloo (he's seen the London buses with Waterloo destination signs since we arrived London last Monday). And so we walked the short distance from the museum to the Waterloo station to satisfy his curiousity - and how satisfied was he!

From Waterloo, we took the Underground tube to the Oxford Circus station. It was getting dark and we were also feeling a bit hungry. We strolled the stretch of Oxford Street for a look-see and stopped by some shops that caught our fancy (it's still sale week in London). On our way up to the Marble Arch Station, we stopped by at a Marks & Spencers store for some groceries.

As we climbed in the train bound to the Victoria Station, comes the announcement: "This train is held due to a track fault at the Green Park Station. You may stay on the train or find other alternative transport to your point of destination." Great, we thought. The held-up took about 15 mins, but it sure felt like forever to my very hungry boys. Now, that is another stroke of bad luck to me - my second on a Friday the 13th.

When we finally got home, I immediately set off to prepare another quick night meal - pizza and chicken nuggets. Being a Friday and all, Alexander was quick to point out it's fredagsmys (cosy Friday). So, after dinner, we brought out the cashew nuts, chips and ice cream and clumbered to the couch and watched a kiddie film on TV. It was actually a great way to cap our Friday the 13th day.

So, how was your Friday the 13th?