Tin and Aluminium
June 10, 2021 2:31 AM Subscribe
Shockingly, it's my 10th wedding anniversary soon and I need some kind of activity relating to tin or aluminium to do near-ish London at the end of June.
Every year so far I've asked this question, here are the other years
They tend to be more silly or interesting things to do rather than gifts to give.
Every year so far I've asked this question, here are the other years
They tend to be more silly or interesting things to do rather than gifts to give.
I just learned that hydrangeas are blue (when they are blue and not pink) due to uptake of aluminum.
posted by amtho at 3:09 AM on June 10, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by amtho at 3:09 AM on June 10, 2021 [2 favorites]
Not massively close to London but - visit the tin mines in Cornwall, make a nice weekend of it.
posted by runincircles at 3:30 AM on June 10, 2021 [7 favorites]
posted by runincircles at 3:30 AM on June 10, 2021 [7 favorites]
You could go to the Museum of Brands and wallow in nostalgia as you admire the biscuit tins of decades past.
You could take a day trip to Hastings.
You could go in search of the sound of tintinnabulation - Westminster Abbey's cancelled its bell-ringing for the time being, but that may not be true of all of London's bells.
You could go to the Tintin Shop.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 3:40 AM on June 10, 2021 [4 favorites]
You could take a day trip to Hastings.
You could go in search of the sound of tintinnabulation - Westminster Abbey's cancelled its bell-ringing for the time being, but that may not be true of all of London's bells.
You could go to the Tintin Shop.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 3:40 AM on June 10, 2021 [4 favorites]
Book a pewter-making workshop with one of the few contemporary pewtersmiths in the UK (West Sussex)
posted by runincircles at 3:44 AM on June 10, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by runincircles at 3:44 AM on June 10, 2021 [3 favorites]
You could go on a tour of Ravensbourne University, which is by the O2 in Greenwich. Why do I suggest this? Because it also includes a tour of the Institute for Creativity and Technology, which is an incredible building clad in reflective aluminium. The tour also sounds really cool and interesting.
posted by essexjan at 3:55 AM on June 10, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by essexjan at 3:55 AM on June 10, 2021 [2 favorites]
There's biscuit tins at the Reading Museum, courtesy of Huntley and Palmer, as well.
posted by ambrosen at 4:01 AM on June 10, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by ambrosen at 4:01 AM on June 10, 2021 [2 favorites]
(Thanks for the reminder. Just realised my 10th wedding anniversary is... tomorrow.)
posted by pipeski at 4:16 AM on June 10, 2021 [6 favorites]
posted by pipeski at 4:16 AM on June 10, 2021 [6 favorites]
(pipeski maybe a quick heart made out of aluminium foil?)
posted by freethefeet at 4:29 AM on June 10, 2021 [4 favorites]
posted by freethefeet at 4:29 AM on June 10, 2021 [4 favorites]
Was going to suggest a visit to the London Metals Exchange where there is still open-cry tin and aluminum trading, but it doesn't look like they do visits by the general public.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 5:20 AM on June 10, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 5:20 AM on June 10, 2021 [2 favorites]
(This answer is a cheat, but)
Spend time planning / day-dreaming about / looking forward to a future trip to Provence taking the Eurostar direct to Avignon. Why? To visit the lovely village of Les Baux-de-Provence from which bauxite (aluminium ore) gets its name.
posted by boudicca at 5:58 AM on June 10, 2021 [3 favorites]
Spend time planning / day-dreaming about / looking forward to a future trip to Provence taking the Eurostar direct to Avignon. Why? To visit the lovely village of Les Baux-de-Provence from which bauxite (aluminium ore) gets its name.
posted by boudicca at 5:58 AM on June 10, 2021 [3 favorites]
Airplanes are made of aluminum. That gives you broad leeway to book a trip for two anywhere.
posted by TestamentToGrace at 6:24 AM on June 10, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by TestamentToGrace at 6:24 AM on June 10, 2021 [1 favorite]
Searching on "tin jewelry" inevitability reveals that the free market has anticipated your situation. Some of the enameled pieces look good to me though they downplay the tin aspect.
IIRC, the Sturbridge Village museum (Massachusetts) has a tin smith who made measuring cups and other kitchen pieces out of tin sheets produced in Wales. There might be some such in an historical recreational site somewhere in the UK. Or maybe just a free-standing workshop.
posted by SemiSalt at 10:09 AM on June 10, 2021
IIRC, the Sturbridge Village museum (Massachusetts) has a tin smith who made measuring cups and other kitchen pieces out of tin sheets produced in Wales. There might be some such in an historical recreational site somewhere in the UK. Or maybe just a free-standing workshop.
posted by SemiSalt at 10:09 AM on June 10, 2021
It might be tricky to find an event whilst lockdown rules remain hazy, but how about a private appointment at London's premier flute emporium to peruse the tin whistle sets in romantic high/low pairs. In exotic Croydon!
You could then wield your purchases in an online tin whistle beginners workshop. You could ask to be taught a simple version of a meaningful tune for the pair of you....
As a bonus why not travel to Croydon via BlackFriars station, taking in the fabulous Aluminium roof as you board the platform.
Then return via London Bridge for some shopping, canoodling and selfies within the modern marvel that is the new station: "All 15 platforms have been rebuilt to be covered by a striking undulating canopy of steel and aluminium".
Even the seats are die-cast aluminium!
posted by freya_lamb at 1:20 PM on June 10, 2021 [3 favorites]
You could then wield your purchases in an online tin whistle beginners workshop. You could ask to be taught a simple version of a meaningful tune for the pair of you....
As a bonus why not travel to Croydon via BlackFriars station, taking in the fabulous Aluminium roof as you board the platform.
Then return via London Bridge for some shopping, canoodling and selfies within the modern marvel that is the new station: "All 15 platforms have been rebuilt to be covered by a striking undulating canopy of steel and aluminium".
Even the seats are die-cast aluminium!
posted by freya_lamb at 1:20 PM on June 10, 2021 [3 favorites]
Tin whistles and lessons/Whistle Punks Urban Axe Throwing/Smith & Whistle at Sheraton Grand London Park Lane
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:49 PM on June 10, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:49 PM on June 10, 2021 [1 favorite]
chocolate is often wrapped in aluminum/ tinfoil.
posted by theora55 at 4:53 PM on June 10, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by theora55 at 4:53 PM on June 10, 2021 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: UPDATE!
Thanks for all the great suggestions!
We had brunch in a nice cafe near portobello road called "The Tin Shed" then later on dinner in an old victoria line tube train. (which was a 1967 stock, and therefore the body was made from aluminium).
I would recommend both places.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 5:07 AM on July 5, 2021 [4 favorites]
Thanks for all the great suggestions!
We had brunch in a nice cafe near portobello road called "The Tin Shed" then later on dinner in an old victoria line tube train. (which was a 1967 stock, and therefore the body was made from aluminium).
I would recommend both places.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 5:07 AM on July 5, 2021 [4 favorites]
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You could always do a tea tasting, of loose leafs teas in the fanciest or most fun tea tins you can find.
Go on a bike ride - a lot of bicycles have aluminum in the frames.
Make a huge batch of y'all's favorite roll out biscuit dough and use tin cutters. You can get personalized biscuit tins on Etsy or similar, or design/decorate your own tenth anniversary tin if that seems a fun project.
(I love this question every year!)
posted by the primroses were over at 3:09 AM on June 10, 2021 [4 favorites]