For some years now, it has been the delightful custom of my sister and/or my mother to give Robert and me a voucher for afternoon tea somewhere. This year, at our request, it was at the Science Museum.
We booked our tea for 15:00, and were told we needed to be at the museum by 14:30, but we wanted a bit of a look round while we were at it, so we left home about 13:15 (as I need to eat regularly, I had had a small lunch at about noon; the Swan Whisperer, who had been out all morning, didn't bother), going on the Tube from Brixton, and changing at Victoria. We walked through the tunnel at South Kensington, to save faffing about with crossing the road, and were quite surprised how long it was! The other museums were nearer....
Anyway, we got there at last and got into the museum very easily. It is so different from what it was in my childhood, although the horrible mine is still there at the entrance! It's even changed since we took the Boy there when he was a toddler! We pottered round "The Making of Modern Life", and had planned to visit the Space exhibition, but this was rendered hideous by school groups racing up and down and screaming. There is much to be said for the old-fashioned "crocodiles"! So we decided to go up to the first floor - the café where the tea was is on the 2nd - as somehow one hardly ever goes above the ground floor. In my childhood, there was a large children's area in the basement, which was our go-to on wet days when we stayed with my grandmother, who lived nearby. That's long since gone, of course. Anyway, we looked round the Wellcome exhibition, and then went upstairs. I left the Swan Whisperer looking round the mathematical exhibition, which meant less than nothing to me, and spent a very happy 20 minutes wandering round the Clock Museum, which was totally new to me.
The SW had to pay a quick visit to the Difference Engine, of course. And then it was time for tea.
The service was good and attentive, and the meal was delicious. But I'm only giving it four stars, as they had no lemon to put in my tea. I don't bother with it at home, but on a special occasion - and they ought to have had it. What they did provide, though, was a doggy-bag, as I couldn't eat all my share, so I've bought it home and will enjoy some of it later. I watched the end of the men's free on my phone while we were waiting to be served!
We decided to go home on the bus, which was a bit of a mistake as it was very slow, due to road works, but we got there in the end. And home in time for most of the pairs free!
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