Victers Visit To The National Museum of Scotland

Originally Composed 12/04/2012

Back by popular demand – Two Mummies & A Poodle!

Thanks to Pipa being a 'bit' of a Twitter addict we found ourselves at “Tweeting the Universe – Tiny Explanations of Very Big Ideas! A talk based on the book of the same name.

“How on Earth!” I hear you call out in your masses.

Well with a lot of things free they come up on Pipa's radar a lot quicker than most other things.

On the mighty social networking phenomenon one afternoon, she noticed a retweet (RT) by Fife Council of a tweet by Edinburgh Science Festival. The tweet was about a competition for two tickets to the talk and a free copy of the book. All she had to do was tweet back to @EdSciFest answering the three hash tag questions #LifeIs #UniverseIs and #EverythingIs. Of course this being Twitter the answers had to be 140 characters r less including the hash tag subjects and @EdSciFest; this for a wise person like Pipa was not a problem - so she tweeted:

“@EdSciFest #LifeIs the process of being born, breathing and living for x years then expiring. While living you learn useful/useless things.”

“@EdSciFest this #UniverseIs the place we all live with an infinitive boundary comprising of many galleries, made of many stars and planets.”

“@EdSciFest #EverythingIs the collective subject of all things ever thought of. #EverythingIs something but something isn't everything.”

So far a boring story. Anyway after a late night Tweet from @EdSciFest and a quick email to the address in the Tweet, the tickets were secured.

Sam went along to her parent's to get them printed off for that evening (the email reply with the tickets only came on Saturday morning).

The Adventure began (kinda).

We walked to the local rail station and hopped on the next train to Edinburgh which wasn't that busy given that there was a football crowd making there way home.

After a short train ride made up of Pipa trying to convince Electra she didn't want to go under the seat in front anymore than she actually had to; Pipa and Sam talking about boring stuff and the drunken fans making their usual quiet chatter - we alighted in Edinburgh. Navigating the station was both fun and confusing as the requirement for all the upgrades to the station. What ever the reason was I don't know but it was perfectly ok the way it had been for years before, sure a few renovation maybe but they practically rebuilt the place. I however digress.

Pushed out onto Market Street into the lowering sun we made for the National Museum of Scotland where the talk was held. I could describe the route we took but I don't wish to make Google maps any less important in all of our lives.

Once we had arrived at the main door to the museum we were pointed to the correct entrance (around the back) and obviously made our way to it.

We got let in that little bit early because it's a well known fact blind people have to sit down and their Guide Dogs need to rest otherwise they might fall-over. Sitting in the spacious hall outside of the auditorium Sam decided she must have a drink of juice from the beverage stand. Trying to persuade Pipa to have one also but to no avail. She soon found out why. £1.60 for a can of diet Coke.

While chatting away Pipa and Sam were politely interrupted on many occasions by people wanting to pet and generally make a fuss of Electra. One nice man who worked there came across to see if Electra would like some water and then went of in search of a vessel to hold the liquid. At this point it would be brilliant to say he returned with a priceless Ming Dynasty bowl or a Roman drinking vessel but sadly not, he came back with an empty Tupperware style container full of chilled water (alright not empty) but Electra was incredibly happy to take it.

At around ten-to-eight we went into the auditorium and took our seats (not that there were any actually designated) but anyway, we sat at the front. Catching Electra in the corner of his eye Marcus Chown came over and introduced himself to Electra and had a chat with her and both Mummies. When the talk began it was “kicked off” by the director of the Edinburgh Science Festival before he had to rush away to other commitments. He did a general welcome and then said how refreshing it was having a dog in the audience and how it was nice to see astronomy and cosmology was interesting for all species. At this point Marcus called “her name is Electra” at this the guy gave her a personal welcome. Which made Sam slide down in her seat with slight embarrassment. Ninety minutes later and lots of talk about M-theory, quantum physics and infinitives – Pipa was presented with her copy of the book. Which both Marcus Chown and Govert Schiling had signed and dedicated to Pipa and Electra.

On the way back home, while playing spot the suicide Provence plaques on George the VI bridge a drunken person walked past and loudly told everyone in a twenty-five meter radius (minus those off the actual bridge) that Electra was “The coolest dog I've seen all night!”. This made both Mummies bite their lip to stop them laughing out loud.

Hearing the train being announced Pipa rushed with Sam and Electra down the steps to the platform where Sam felt the need to ask, “Does this bus go to...”. After boarding the train in stitches of laughter Pipa pointed out to Sam it was a train not a bus – unless she was mistaken trains were the ones you get on at a train station.

Once back at home station prior to getting off there was a small group of young drunk guys. One of whom was Welsh, the others took great pleasure in telling him to leave Electra's hair alone because it wasn't wool and to stop getting excited. Pipa at this point told Electra to watch her bottom which was laughed at by all but as always, Electra stole the laughter by actually turning her hind away.

Once off the train we walked to the ATM got some cash and went for some chips and curry sauce before coming home proper.