Egypt, China, Casterbridge

Today we went to the Tutankhamen exhibition in Dorchester. I've seen the adverts for this museum many times over the years but this was our first visit. My son has been studying Egypt this half term so it seemed an appropriate trip. The museum replicates the antechamber and the tomb, along with recreations of treasures such as the death mask, statues and thrones. Even though nothing originated in Egypt it was still fascinating and brilliantly constructed.

Afterwards we went to another museum which recreated the Terracotta army of Xian (or at least about 5 of them). There was a great 70s video about the first Emperor of China,Qin Shi Huang, who not only unified China, he ordered the Great Wall to be joined together and had the Terracotta Army built; whilst only ruling a unified Imperial China for 10 years. It was really interesting as it's a historical period about which I knew practically nothing.

Upstairs was the Teddy Bear museum where I got to chortle at some dreadful puns (Abearham Lincoln and Che Bearvara) and enjoy being reminded of the brilliance of A.A.Milne and Pooh's immortal view that 'my spelling is wobbly. The letters wobble and go in the wrong place'.

Finally, we sated my Hardy obsession by walking past the house that is immortalised as Michael Henchard's in The Mayor of Casterbridge.