50 Things to Do Before You’re 11 3/4

The National Trust has launched a new website www.50things.org.uk with 50 things to do before you’re 11 3/4.  If you’re over 11 3/4  and there’s anything you’ve not done or not done for 5 years…time you did them (again)?

image from Daily Mail website

Farnborough Air Sciences Trust

Our Nov 2011 outing to Farnborough Air Sciences Trust was excellent with lots of us planning to go back…there was so much to see.  Our hosts started with a quick talk about the history of the centre and the first manned, powered, sustained flight in the UK by Samuel F Cody.  The video of less successful attempts at flying was great fun.  After refreshments we then had the talk and demonstration of the replica Cody flyer before splitting into groups and trying the Cody flight simulator, visiting the air raid shelter, the wind-tunnel, the Trident cockpit (manned on the day by an ex-pilot of that very plane!) and lots more.  Thanks to all at FAST for a great day.

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If you were inspired by flight and fancy having a go, here’s a review of various free flight simulator software packages.

Manlab

BBC's Man Lab

If you’ve not seen it yet, take a look at Man Lab on BBC with James May.  Could almost have been written for DC4B.

DadCanDo

Dadcando is a website and now an accompanying book with loads of ideas for stuff dad’s can do with their children.  Developed by Chris Barnardo, the site and book have a special emphasis on single or non-resident fathers, but that’s really the extra on top of a fantastic collection of ideas.

The website is split into three main sections – making, cooking and doing.  Whilst you can browse through ideas for free, to get the best out of the website you need to subscribe, for which you’ll get access to loads of downloadable sheets with well presented and clear instructions for how to make everything from dragon eggs to a junk model of a Bell Huey helicopter.

The book is mainly a selection of the ideas from the website plus some pages with advice about being a dad and is great from browsing with your kids – choosing what project to do next.  You can get the book from Amazon (click on the image to go to Amazon) or Guardian Books.

So, next time you’re asked what you’d like for Christmas or your birthday….