500 Things to do in the 500 Days until the Big 3-0: 151. The History of the Orange Chairs

14th June 2014, Geffrye Museum, Hoxton, London

Part of this whole blog project is to motivate me to actually go and get things I'm talking about doing, done.

Going to Geffrye Museum is one of those things that I 'just haven't gotten around to'. This is in spite of living basically next door to it for two years and a five minute walk away from it for the prior three years. I am after all the queen of procrastination.

So, all said and done I made it to my old stomping ground and met up with my friend Babushka at Haggerston, primarily so I could get a bit of nostalgia down me by taking the 242 bus and stare into my old bedroom window. The new people are using it for storage and I didn't see my shoe closet anywhere. The new people also seemed a bit uncomfortable being starred at from across the street. People are so sensitive these days.

After a quick coffee and successfully scaring the man at the table next to us by crawling in under it and smashing my head on his right knee, we were off to the actual museum.

Museum like the Geffrye one, I can get onboard with. No crazy odd unidentifiable art, 500 years worth of evolution or anyone sitting in a box painting her toe nails with her tongue. No, this is on the history of the home. Totally relatable. Most people have a home and people have always had places to live and keep their chairs and beds and tables and shoes. And shoes.

It turns out that Geffrye Museum has an amazing little herb garden for me to get excited about seeing as my attempt to grow herbs on my balcony ended up in what can only be referred to as a spice massacre. It would seem like most plants don't appreciate sitting in the shade next to the train tracks. Luckily, the guys at Geffrye's did a much better job than me.

In true inclusive spirit Geffrye's have a kiddie trail throughout the museum. You know, flaps at each section with questions on the origins of the interior piece in question, be it a wallpaper or a porcelain plate. Educational and funny - it had a dog with glasses on it. Dogs don't wear glasses. Silly dog.

So me and the 5 year olds skipped ahead, turning the flaps and learning about the history of all the furniture and homes, from the orange fluffy 60's arm chairs to the servant quarters of the 18th century estates. This whilst Babushka and the grown up walked at a normal pace behind us. At some stage I was even told to calm down before I broke something.

Learning is fun!