RAF Museum (14th November 2015)

Hello everyone

I hope you are all well. 

Yesterday mummy, daddy and I went to the RAF museum in London. It's one of two RAF museums in the UK.

We went to go to a specialist sale held by LOTS (London Omnibus Traction Society). It was a one day sale that mummy and I went around for a little while then left daddy to it! 

Instead we went around the RAF museum. 

It's full of amazing planes and there are lots of displays and facts around the museum to help you better understand the use and impact of flight for the RAF. 

Some of the planes are huge!! I've never been in any sort of plane so I found it all fascinating.

It's free admission so it's well worth a visit, just make sure you make a small contribution or buy something while you're there to make sure this treasure can stay with us. 

To find out more details about the museum visit their website; www.rafmuseum.org.uk 

Hope you have a good week ahead

Speak to you soon

Lots of love

Ben

Inside a Chinook

Giants of Steam (Bluebell Railway)

Hello everyone

I hope you are all ok.

Sorry I've not been in touch for a while but after I came back from a week in Wales I've been too busy to go out and about on railways. 

Today though I went to the Bluebell Railway where they were having a 'Giants of Steam' event. 

They had an engine called Cheltenham and an A4 class locomotive called Bittern running there. They had goods trains running and lots of other engines running service trains. The shed for the new locomotive (called Atlantic) was also open so I had a look around that. 

There was so much to see and do I don't think I actually got around everything.

Because I love A4s I had a round trip in the observation coach behind Bittern (for a £1 per trip supplement) which was brilliant. After tomorrow Bittern will need lots of boiler work doing so this could be the last time for a while that it runs. 

There were lots of people everywhere today but I still had an amazing day. 

The event runs tomorrow as well so if you are in the area why not pop in to the Bluebell Railway. 

I'm looking forward to my next adventure already. 

Speak to you again soon

Lots of love

Ben

Ready to go in the observation coach 

Swindon Steam Museum

Hello everyone 

I hope you are all well. 

Yesterday and today I'm at the Swindon Steam museum. It's a special event weekend called The Swindon Railway Festival.

It's a special event being held at the museum, (which is where the Swindon works used to be) so people can come to look at everything as usual or go to the special model railways, trader stands and railway stands who've come along.

I had a great time yesterday looking at everything, which drove mum a bit mad, but she got me back by taking me to the shopping centre next door!

I also got to see Pete Waterman yesterday and again this morning which was a nice bonus. 

I'm back today to help some friends with a stall so I'll probably be a bit tired by the end of the day. 

Anyway, I've put some photos of me around the museum below for you all to have a look at.

Why not pop along to the museum today and have a look around yourself? Or if you fancy coming when it's a bit quieter then you can too, for more information on the museum and this special event go to the museum's website;

http://www.steam-museum.org.uk/Pages/Home.aspx

Speak to you soon

Lots of love

Ben

What the Swindon works used to be like 

Great Dorset Steam Fair

Hello everyone 

I hope you are all well. 

I have had such an amazing day, I've been to the Great Dorset Steam Fair.

There was so much to see my eyes almost hurt from looking at everything!! (Well certainly my feet do)

The Fair opened today and remains open until Sunday, closing overnight obviously. 

The fair is held every year and this is the 47th year! 

There is absolutely something for everyone, with traction engines, vintage vehicles, stalls, tractors, horses, sheep sheering, craft and food tents and all sorts of things. 

Last year they installed a replica World War One trench system on site which they've kept for this year and expanded the exhibits in that area. It was really interesting to walk through them to gain some sort of perspective of what the trenches looked like, though the conditions in Dorset were far from what the front line would have been like in the war. 

The weather was fantastic while I was there which made the day even more enjoyable. 

I loved looking at all of the engines as well and seeing what their names are. 

There was one at the fair called 'Clinker' which came by road under its own steam from Cornwall (189 miles) to Dorset to raise money for Cancer Research UK, they want to raise £10,000 and are still looking to reach their target. If you are feeling generous for this amazing cause visit their fundraising page ; www.justgiving.com/steam 

I have to say I'm now feeling a little tired, and my feet a little sore so I'm off to bed. 

For more information on the Great Dorset Steam Fair go to their website; www.gdsf.co.uk

I'm definitely putting the Great Dorset Steam Fair in my diary for next year. 

While I was out I also started tweeting, if you want to follow me please do so @ben_the_giraffe

Speak to you soon

Lots of love

Ben

Arriving through the fair ground first thing 

Sentinels

Engines around the site 

World War One area

A bit of the view from the top of the site 

More engines!!

I didn't take pictures of everything as there were so many things to see

Modern style tractors

At the main arena

Horses

Gigantic 

Checking my map before we headed home to make sure I'd seen everything