A Visit to the Museum of London

For the last few years, we have headed down to London on New Years Day, so far, we have been to the Science Museum and the Natural History Museum, they were both empty on New Years Day and it meant we got to look around without too much waiting and queuing.

So we decided to head down again this year, although this time we decided to spend the night there too. It meant we didn't have to squeeze everything in, in just a few hours and instead we could go back to the hotel and relax before heading out for dinner.

On New Years Day itself, we visited the Museum of London, a wonderful look into life in London. There are exhibits showing what London was like before it was London, dating back to prehistoric times, right up to present day.

Whilst most of the artefacts are behind glass, there are also lots of things that you can get up close and personal with, there are many quizzes dotted around the exhibitions that allow children and grown ups alike to get involved and learn more about the history of our capital.

My son is currently learning about the Romans at school, so it was great to be able to take some time in the Roman section and explain what they bought to England, as well as lots more about the Roman empire and what they did for us.

The beautiful rooms that the romans had were great to look at, the detail and decoration wouldn't look all out of place today. The way they heated their houses with clay pipes for hot air to pass through was incredible, it was an interesting thing to learn about.

Although many of the facts and displays were not fully understood by our little ones, if you do have children that are learning about things like the Romans, Henry VIII, the great fire of London or the 1900s, then this is a great place to visit.

I particularly loved the prison cell from the 1700s, the inscriptions still legible all these years on, this reads "The Cubards Empty To Our Sorrow But Hope It Will Be Full Tomorrow', I wondered how long someone must have been incarcerated in there to have written this and with what did they write it with?

And finally in the more modern of the exhibitions was this magnificent display, as you walked in the horses could of been real and to see what the royal carriage looks like up close and personal, with even more memorabilia from the 70s, 80s and 90s there were slowly hints of a world both my husband and I both knew as well as the children with the more recent 2012 London Olympic Games as part of the last exhibition.

There was so much to see that if I put a picture of everything you'd still be reading this sometime next week, so instead, I urge you the next time you're in London to go and take a look at the museum yourself, it is free to enter and there are lockers to leaves bags and coats in. It's a short walk from the tube and you could easily spend a day in there looking at everything.

Later that evening we went and had the most wonderful meal at the Hawksmoor Air Street, another must if you are in London anytime. The following day we visited The Tower of London and the British Museum but there will be more info about these in other posts.

Looking Back over 2012

So many things happened for me in 2012, it was indeed a busy year.

January saw my daughter turning one...

In March I got to meet the fabulous Theo Paphitis at the first Small Business Sunday meetup.

In June we went to see the Queen at the local park as well as seeing Prince William and Kate land on the playing fields across the road from us...

In July we were lucky enough to go to the rehearsal of the Olympic Opening Ceremony...

In September my son started school, it was a tough time and my little boy took a while to get used to it but he settled in and has come along great.

Finally an amazing magical Christmas with both children getting most excited about it for the first time.

I hope you have had a wonderful 2012 and I look forward to what 2013 will bring, I anticipate a few bumps in the road but will try my best to smooth them over.

Cherry, Almond and Brazil Nut Florentines

This is probably a little bit late on the festive recipe front but for me it's never the wrong time of year for anything cake related!

This recipe has been a hit with all my family and friends who have tried it and I must have made about half a dozen batches in the last few weeks.

Ingredients:

75g Golden Syrup
75g Butter
25g Plain Flour
50g Flaked Almonds
25g Brazil Nuts (broken into smallish pieces)
75g Glacé Cherries
1tsp Lemon Juice
125g Plain Chocolate

Method:

1. Heat the oven to 160c and line two baking trays with grease proof paper. If you prefer you can do one tray at a time.

2. Place the butter and golden syrup in a bowl over a pan of hot water and heat until melted. (you can heat in the pan if you prefer but mine aren't the best).

3. Add the cherries, almonds, brazil nuts, flour and lemon to the melted butter and syrup and stir until everything is combined.

4. Place teaspoons of the mixture well apart on the baking sheets and flatten with a fork. Bake for about 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.

5. Transfer to a wire rack to cool, if they have spread into each other you can use a spatula to part them and also make them rounder if needed.

6. Melt the chocolate and spread evenly over the flat underside of each florentine.

7. Leave to set, if you like you can use a fork create a wavy pattern before the chocolate sets completely.

I wrapped these up as gifts and served when visitors came round and they are not just a Christmas thing I love these any time of the year.

Hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.