Absolutely nothing if you're with Edwin Starr (and I am) but it does also make a decent museum piece. If only it would stay a museum piece.

I spent a very pleasant Sunday afternoon wandering around Imperial War Museum North where, as its tagline rather enigmatically states, 'war shapes lives'. Err.. yes, that's one way of putting it. Like 'being stabbed/shot/terrorised is quite painful' or 'having one's family blown to bits can be quite affecting'.

You can see why they have to talk that middle ground: but surely as taglines go they could have come up with something less limp?

Anyway, as a taste of history it's one of those scratch and sniff experiences that will keep kids amused and there's enough letters, uniforms and human interest stories to appeal to the likes of me. I was also rather surprised to discover how small harrier jump jets are and that tanks are actually quite nippy.

For some reason the floor slopes and I've no idea what's going on there... maybe to signify the upwards struggle towards peace... not that that seems to last five minutes with the British.

I also bought a very cute 1940s-esque pinny in the shop (flowery with polka-dot trim) and it's free to get in.