Given Sophia's fascination with helicopters I figured it was time for a return visit to the RAF museum 10 minutes drive away, which we have previously visited to admire the WWI and WWII aircraft, as well as the fighter planes and helicopters. We ambled around through the hangars, Sophia ran through the loading area of the Chinook helicopter at least 25 times before I got bored, and then we stumbled across the kiddie area where Sophs was delighted beyond words to find a helicopter she could actually sit in. And stay in. For quite some time. Still, it was a lovely distraction.

We had a marvellous time at the Royal Academy today to see the Kuniyoshi Exhibition before it closed. And zoom around the fountains in the courtyard of the gallery! I've been a bit, ok, totally zonked since my exam, and finally felt slightly more energetic today so thought we'd better make the most of it. Sophs loved taking the train, regaled everyone with choo-choo and whistle noises on the way in, was very patient as Mummy got a tad frustrated at finding the lift was out of order and the exhibition was at the top of oh, 6 flights of stairs (I will never criticise American tourists again - thank you whoever you were for carrying the stroller up!).

The exhibition was rammed, far too many people, and I quickly accepted that we would be doing a cut down version as I tried to squeeze Sophs and myself in amongst the crowd. We still got to see the majority of the exhibition; one of us provided a joyful free commentary to all around with songs and sounds themed to the images. We had dog barks and horse neighs and crocodiles snapping, 'it's raining it's pouring' to the exquisite triptych of 3 kimono-clad women huddling under umbrellas in the rain, 'crabs and seasnakes' whenever there were fish, or crabs, or octopuses (octopi??) - of which there were suprisingly many! - some lovely pics of the exhibition here.

I'm preparing to take a deeeep breath in and start running again from next week - I have 7 babies booked to run for my dissertation on Monday, it's going to be a long day, but that means I will have completed almost half the numbers I need - woohoo! (ahem, making the big assumption here that they all participate and don't burst into tears/sit there immobile/throw the toys on the ground). On top of that I have countless journal articles to read through and annotate, my Method section to write, and all my hypnotherapy course work to complete which will at least be enjoyable.

I'm also starting a 3-session sewing class on Monday night, learning how to use a sewing machine (or re-learning in my case) with the ultimate aim of being able to sew clothes, but that will have to be a few classes down the track. Should be good fun!