The size of a crocodile

Today we went to a local museum. It was the first time I have ever been there, and it was really lovely, and empty. May be this is why is was so lovely. There was only the lady on the visitors stand and us. We could poke and roam and wonder aloud at all of the interesting, and slightly bizarre artifacts amassed in this little building. We got to appreciate local archeology - who knew that Saxons were buried a mere mile from our house?

One of the highlights was a play area that was set in the Victorian era, with a puppet theatre and dolls house, and lots of dressing up clothes and mirrors. Ever wondered what you looked like in a potatoe sack? I for one need wonder no more.

We tried on tunics and togas, and OD impressed me by managing to dress herself as a roman after only one demonstration. I have pictures on my phone, I just need to down load them.

We oohed and aaahed at the Saxon swords, and gagged at the stinky old fire engine (it did really hum!) We wondered who on earth the "oddfellows" that adorned a large wall hanging were (a poor relation to the freemasons in case you were wondering.)

Then we climbed the stairs for the grand finale.....a real stuffed crocodile! OD wanted to spend the rest of the day in this room. It was a real surprise for a local museum. He measured about 15 feet in length, and had been a resident at the museum since 1939. Best of all, and rather surprisingly given its age, we were allowed to touch the crocodile. OD came home and wrote up a description of the croc in the kind of amazing detail you could never get from a book. She knows what crocodile skin and teeth feel like, she got to peer inside it's mouth without the danger of having her head snapped off, and I got to feel all smug about home ed.

Perfect.