While on a guided tour of a cemetery, the tour guide was momentarily distracted by a cat. She then explained that they often see cats, due to the amount of wildlife they can catch in an otherwise urban area.

The stray cat they had previously sort of adopted was sadly run over. After I asked, it was admitted that it was was quietly buried in corner of the otherwise very very expensive plots - "staff privilege". 

I was going to send an email to a visitor query which was a flat out "We don't have an official position on this, but No".

Instead I have sent an email which is "Here are all the reasons why it could negatively impact on your visit, and on other visitors, the ball is however, in your court."

I'm not sure if that was actually the crueler email to send.

Because they now could do the thing they want to do, but will have to admit that they are knowingly potentially having a negative impact of the fun of others.

​In other words "How much of a twunt do you want to be?" 

He had all of the kit - which she was carrying. Every five minutes he'd be lying full length on the floor to get the best angle he could for a photo. I'm amazed how long her patience lasted before she started to threaten him.

I've just found out about the Museum Freecycle, and wow, so many more museum professionals should know about this!

If you're not familiar with freecycle, it's a series of groups where you sign up, get approved, and then can give away, or get, things for free. Get shot of your shed, pick up a second hand sofa, find part used art supplies, vanish your old magazine collection... It's amazing, and you can also make requests. Desperate for a spare bed? Ask, and someone may supply.

And now a group exists for museums!

"I'm calling to check about visiting with someone who is blind. As their assistant, do I get free entry?"
"Yes you will, although they will need a ticket."
"Do we buy that in advance? Do we need to book anything?"
"You can just get tickets at the entrance desk, and then you're both welcome to simplylook around."

*Brain pauses*

"Uh, poor choice of words, I'm so sorry..."
*Laughing* "Not at all, at least you realised what you'd said!"

I need to have a moment, so do bear with me.

Manchester is special for me. I went to the same clubs there as my mum did when she was young. Shopped in Affleck’s. Went to a gig at the Arena. Wrote my dissertation on part of it.

A friend was in a record shop when the IRA bomb went off. They were lucky, they were behind a vinyl stand, and the explosion of plate glass windows largely missed them.

Last night someone chose to kill themselves, and in doing so hurt and kill and cause panic and distress, mainly to quite young people, for reasons yet unknown. My first thoughts were for the families, for those who were killed, injured, terrified. For those still wondering where loved ones are. My second thought was anger, and a dark disbelief that someone had done this in Manchester, of all places.

Manchester has a long history of standing up, shouting out, and furthering causes where there is injustice. The first public unveiling of a Suffragette banner happened there. The Free Trade Hall was so called because they managed to stop a stranglehold which was leaving people hungry. The People’s Museum is based there, showing how folk have banded together and fought for rights or expressed opinions over the years. From anti nuclear campaigns back to unions for working men.

As yet, we don’t know why this bombing took place. 
Killing doesn’t further causes. 
Killing doesn’t make anyone listen to your message. 
Killing doesn’t demonstrate your plight.
If you wanted a lesson in how to be heard, then Manchester could have provided that, had you listened.
They may not have agreed, but you'd have had your chance.

It’s the offer of rooms, lifts, telephone calls and NHS staff attending a conference, offering to help at hospitals which most people are talking about. It’s the tragedy and cowardice of striking out at young people having a good time which people are talking about. Not about the reasons, the bomber.

That should tell you what we think matters.

After we saw this happen, my travelling companion and I pondered if the fault was with the exhibition design, graphic design and/or copy writing... and well... There were clear and large panels either side of the object, offering both long hand and bullet points, and also illustrations. A great deal of effort had been spent to make it clear that although it looked like one, this was not a sarcophagus. 

The visitors couldn't have not seen those panels given the time they took around the object, and if the long hand looked too much like a wall of text for them, they had the option of the bullet points, or drawn illustrations which showed the object in use. The gent's tone of voice and (longer than quoted here) questioning, implied frustration at a lack of explanation, rather than confusion over the very clear explanation given. We concluded that they are perhaps among that pool of inevitable visitors who are genuinely able to reach around a Do Not Touch sign, and touch something, without having ever realised they have been in contact with a Do Not Touch sign.

Simple solutions: When you have a display plinth too large to balance on the trolley, use a counterweight! What should you use as a counterweight? Whatever is to hand and safe really....