"Keep Calm and Carry On"

Yesterday's weather didn't turn out to be as horrible as predicted, but I still went to the London in WWII and Churchill and War Cabinet Museums in the morning. The latter was more worthwhile than the former. The Britain at War Museum had a lot of common goods from the Second World War in London. There was a life-size bomb shelter--way too dark and scary, lots of propoganda posters, gas masks, among other goods. However the Churchill Museum and War Cabinet Museum showed the preserved rooms and their contents that were used by the Churchill and his War Cabinet. Really interesting to see the technology they used back then. There were still rotary dial phones and scramblers. Archaic compared to today of course, but it did the job. There was another section of the museum that was dedicated to the life of Winston Churchill. It turns out he was an amateur painter and his oil paintings weren't half bad at all. It was kinda surprising to learn that a fiesty cigar-smoking man would indulge in such a contemplative passtime.



When I stepped out of the museum, I noticed a nearby building with the inscription "The Institution of Mechanical Engineers." Intrigued, I stepped in to inquire about the purpose of such "institution." It turned out to be the UK's equivalent of APEG. The receptionist gave me a visitor's pass to check out the library. it was housed in a Victorian room with high ceilings and gothic moulding. Although it was small, the library had floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with books, some of which I recognized. I had to step out after reading for half an hour.



Later on in the afternoon, I went to the Guard Museum which displayed all sorts of guards' uniforms (yes, the famous red tunic and black bearskin hat) and armament. I was slightly disappointed because by the time I saw the third red tunic, I felt like I had seen them all.



The day ended with a visit to the National Portrait Gallery and a British independent romantic comedy called Looking for Eric. British humour is rather different as some of their jokes went over my head. Oh well, it is a different culture after all. And some humour was a good way to end a day that started with war and destruction.