T-REX

Went to Newcastle this afternoon.  The weather was cold but really bright and sunny.  It was lovely to see blue sky for a change.

I paid a visit to THE HANCOCK MUSEUM.  Am ashamed to say I had never been there before.  Glad I rectified that as its very interesting. The museum opened on its current site in 1884.  It was closed between 2006 and 2009 for refurbishment.  Among the Museum's permanent residents are a life-size cast of an African Elephant, the Egyptian Mummy  Bakt-hor-Nekht  and a full size replica of a T-Rex skeleton. 

At the moment there is a special exhibition about local woman GERTRUDE BELL. ( 1868 - 1926 ) She was born in Washington, Co. Durham to a wealthy family. She was a writer, traveller, political officer, administrator, spy and archaeologist who explored, mapped, and became highly influential to British imperial policy-making due to her knowledge and contacts, built up through extensive travels in Greater Syria, Mesopotamia, Asia and Arabia.   Along with T E Lawrence  she helped establish the Hashemite dynasties in what is today Jordan as well as in Iraq.  During her lifetime she was highly esteemed and trusted by British officials and given an immense amount of power for a woman at the time. She sounds like a formidable woman.

After the museum I wandered around the shops.  Didn't want anything in particular but in the end I bought a handbag, a jumper, two frying pans, a slotted spoon, a bath mat and a mouse mat.  An expensive afternoon. However everything except the handbag was reduced in price - and I can never resist a bargain ( or a handbag ).

Steps today - 10,871