It was Ms Really Should Know Better, at her desk!

I finally found an ink pad (in the stationery department of the big Coop in the local shopping centre, they must be out of fashion) had a little forensics party all by myself with the John Adams New Scotland Yard Forensics Kit.

The fingerprinting was fun, and I know now that I am a Loop (which is nothing to get excited about, it's the most common type) and that I should refrain from committing any crimes involving my left ring finger as the scar makes a very distinct print (long story involving my brother and a gate, long long ago). I was a bit worried by the staying power of the ink, but by the time I'd washed my hands repeatedly as I went through the rest of the kit the blue stain was mostly gone.

Apart from the lack of any ink pad in the kit - which looks like a factory issue, as the box that should have contained it was sealed - there was also no pipette for measuring water to test the "mystery substance" (clearly labelled with a health and safety warning stating what it was and how it was toxic). So it was all a bit haphazard, but I suppose people think that's all right for children. Still, they could have made an effort. A child would get a shock watching CSI after using this kit.

(I was overcome with a desire to watch CSI, and nearly bought the first season streaming on Amazon.com before realising that their T&Cs state the service is only available in the US, so although they would sell it to me they probably wouldn't then let me watch it.)

I appreciated the clear health and safety warnings and advice on how to handle the powders, but it would have been nice to know that both plastic jars were sealed with foil, so you had to totally remove the child-proof caps to get the seal off. Lots of potential for throwing activated carbon and calcium carbonate all over the place.

I got the fingerprint identification wrong, and had to decide what "lab result" the chromatography matched based on who I thought had done it as it looked nothing like any of the possibilities. But overall it was fun and definitely checked the box for the optional "take fingerprints" activity for the OU Elements of Forensic Science module.

Things I have learned:

• Forensics is messy
• It involves a lot of washing of hands (or disposing of gloves, I suppose)
• It involves a certain amount of waiting around (chromatography, I'm looking at you)
• Activated carbon gets everywhere. An object lesson in "every contact leaves a trace".
• No, really. I kept finding it rooms I didn't even remember going into while playing with the kit. And black powder on a black glass desk is a nightmare.

It was fun and doing some of the activities may help me understand the content of the forensics course a little better, but I'd be wary of buying the kit again as it was missing items (pipette and ink pad). It's also far cheaper online (about £21) than in Hamleys (about £33), although it would have been easier to bring it back to a physical shop and complain. There were also reports of missing dusting powder in the Science Museum fingerprinting kits, which is annoying. Even children expect a certain level of quality. 

I'm going to keep a few of the items out, as they might be useful and/or fun - plastic tweezers, UV light and UV pen with "NEW SCOTLAND YARD" on it. 

Biggest gripe? "Forensics' kit" wasn't a just a flare of something on the outer box. It was everywhere. Along with the amusingly ambiguous "Advice for supervising adults" and the awful "Hair and how is it examined?".

Unboxing

I know, people usually take photos or video of unboxing the latest highly sought-after gadget but no, I unbox a Scotland Yard forensics playset. If only to show how much of it was in fact styrofoam.

I really hope that thing that looks like an apostrophe after "Forensics" is some kind of background pattern...

All very exciting...

And, as you can see, mostly styrofoam.

It all ended up being not much bigger than a book, although the impression clay caused a bit of a problem as I already had 10 things that security like to consider liquid. Apparently Lush's solid shampoo/conditioner bar is also a 'liquid' despite the fact I can rattle it in its tin. 

But at least they didn't take away my sewing machine needles.

In the name of science

So yes, maybe it is just a little tiny bit slightly over the top... I only needed a fingerprint kit for the optional activity on the OU forensics course... but... but... chromatography!!

Walking

I've been trying to get out for a walk more recently, especially since the weather has been halfway decent. There are some cherry trees in bloom down by the river.

I've also planted some shiso seeds, although nothing showing yet. 

Went to the shops to get a birthday card, and found a rather optimistic one (I don't think people live to 999 even here).

And you may want to spellcheck before you embroider (courtesy of Butlers).

We went out to a barbeque by the river with Mr Yamaguchi and Hiro Takahashi (the Japanese baker) where himself picked up this beauty. We thought it was dead at first, but it roused and eventually flew off.

Another little creature seen out walking, on the other side of the river on the hill with the church on the top.

A sweet window display at the local craft shop.

We also went to see a property in Horgen, where the mild, rainy day made it feel almost like autumn. Lots of lovely buildings.

And last weekend we took advantage of the good weather to go up to the Wildpark, and made it into a part of the park we'd never been in before. That meant we got to see the Przewalski's horses, including a cute foal who was so sleepy he passed out leaning on his nose. The enclosures were full of Christmas trees for some reason.