1 April 2011

So far, so good. So brilliant, actually.

I can't believe John or Sherlock didn't catch on, but I think it's safe to say a weekend away was a total surprise for him. Going by the look on his face and torrent of abuse.

We're currently on the beach, with beer (or juice, depending on age.) And have set up a target range of bits of wood and feathers stuck in the pebbles. Doing our bit for coastal erosion by chucking the stones back down the beach at it. It's sunny now, but not incredibly warm. All the more reason to sit very close to Danger. Although given his utter prowess at stone throwing perhaps I should be nervous. I suppose it's good that the only one who can aim straight was in the army. Sherlock's adopted a more carpet-bomb strategy, throwing handfuls of stones. Mycroft aims very carefully and I just ignore the targets and see how far out to sea I can chuck them. Or that's my excuse, anyway.

It doesn't feel like the weekend is only just starting. Hope you all have a good one!
And apologies for any random words or mistakes in this post. All done with my fat fingers on a small phone!

43 comments:

John H. D. Watson said...

Your'e sure we can't stay here forever? Because I'm giving it serious thought right now.

Sherlock said...

John, Lestrade laughed and said no, but can we stay until we solve the murder? Lestrade told us last night that there was a murder here and it's famous and it's never been solved. I think we should stay, because we could solve it then. It's called 'The Brighton Trunk Murder', and some of the body was here and some in London, so I think we should solve it.

Everyone put votes on here, so we can stay - Bronwyn, you're on my side, aren't you?

Greg Lestrade said...

Can I point out the murder was in 1934. And the victim was never identified, let alone the murderer.

And I'd love to, Danger. Seriously. Even yesterday in the mist it was beautiful. Today in the sun, even better. The real world seems a million miles away.

John H. D. Watson said...

You don't think the trail might be a bit cold by now, Sherlock?

John H. D. Watson said...

L - I liked the mist too. Sort of spooky.

Sherlock said...

Did Lestrade do the police work on the murder? Lestrade, did you? Why didn't you know who it was?

John H. D. Watson said...

...Sherlock, exactly how old do you think Lestrade is?

Greg Lestrade said...

It was 1934, Sherlock! I'm not that bloody old!

Sherlock said...

He's got grey hair, and you get that when you're old. Mrs Hudson says she feels ninety sometimes, when her hip hurts, and she doesn't even have grey hair yet. So Lestrade must be very old. Maybe even immortal.

Greg Lestrade said...

You make me feel about 100 on a regular basis. But I can assure you I wasn't even born in '34, let alone investigating anything, Sherlock.

I'll be a gentleman and not comment on Mrs H's hair colour. But I'm definitely not going down the same route.

John H. D. Watson said...

You mean you're not immortal? I'm very disappointed now.

Greg Lestrade said...

Well I haven't died yet...maybe I am! Even immortals have to be born at some point, I suppose. And the 60s probably involved enough body-and-mind-altering drugs to give me a fair chance of something weird going on.

Lindsay said...

I would think you'd find it disappointing if he was immortal, John. Unless there's something about *yourself* that you're not telling us...

Sherlock- Murders sometimes go unsolved even today, but back then I suspect things could be a lot harder without the investigative tools that prove so useful now. DNA for example, and a greater understanding of forensic pathology. And you'd have even less to go on now, because I don't think the police could have kept the physical evidence on file this long even if they wanted to.

The passage of time always degrades evidence, past a certain point.

Perhaps John and Lestrade could find you some good books about it, so at least you could see the historical evidence, if not the physical evidence?

John H. D. Watson said...

Lindsay - I'd worry less if he were immortal though. Even if it might make things...a bit awkward later on.

Greg Lestrade said...

You'd worry less? I am, then. Totally. Completely immortal. So you can stop worrying right now. Lovely.

John H. D. Watson said...

Yes, well, obviously I completely believe you. Are you a vampire then? Or more the Highlander sort of immortal?

Greg Lestrade said...

Erm...more Wowbagger, The Infinitely Prolonged, probably. Doing some thankless task, just to keep busy...

Although I might be slightly vampiric. I enjoy sucking your....Yeah, well, don't think I've got the teeth for all the neck biting.

And Highlander is all a bit silly. What's the point of immortality if people just try to kill you all the time, and you have to spend all your time killing them? Give us a break! To quote Sherlock...'BORING.'

John H. D. Watson said...

Vampires are a bit silly too. Sorry to break it to you, Dracula, but all the capes and pointy teeth and bathing in the blood of virgins and so on? A bit over the top.

Lindsay said...

But it has sword fights! Awesome sword fights!

I always kind of wished my life had more sword fights.

I guess the appeal is probably less after you've *actually* risked your life, tho'.

Lindsay said...

I don't think I'd mind being immortal, despite the obvious drawbacks. I'm interested in nearly everything and there are so many things I'd like to learn, even as young as I am I sometimes feel like there's never going to be enough time for all of it.

Greg Lestrade said...

Mmmm. True. And can you even get double coffins? Don't fancy sleeping on my own again...

And I don't know any virgins. I mean...y'know, apart from the obvious.

Lindsay - I faced down a very angry drug addict with a samurai sword when I was a PC. It probably would have been slightly less terrifying if I'd had a sword, not a truncheon. But I'm pretty sure it would never have been awesome. Serious brown-trouser time. (Nothing happened - very long stand off. Then he started crying.)

John H. D. Watson said...

Lindsay - I'm pretty sure sword fights are cool no matter what.

John H. D. Watson said...

...Unless they involve Lestrade.

Greg Lestrade said...

It wasn't a fight! He stood there with a sword being incomprehensible and waving it about, we all kept our distance! I think we were mainly there to make sure no innocent members of the public wandered into range.

Although I imagine a lot of things are probably cooler when they don't involve me.

And no, Lindsay, there isn't enough time. Right up until you're willing some time to pass quickly. When there's far too much, suddenly. Mycroft can probably explain that. He likes reading Stephen Hawking books and stuff.

Sherlock said...

Did all people fight with swords when Lestrade was younger? Like on TV? And cannon, and sail ships, and were there pirates? I'd like to be a pirate. But I wouldn't ever be caught. I'd just get lots of gold. And I'd let you all be in my crew, but only if you did what I said. And John could have a wooden leg, so it wouldn't ever hurt. Lestrade could have a hook for a hand. And Mycroft could have an eyepatch. My coat would have a lot of gold on it, to show how much treasure I had.

Greg Lestrade said...

Danger, come to my rescue?

According to the card I sent you, I'm somewhere between 17 and 110 - depending on when exactly during the event you ask...

And if it's all the same to you, Sherlock, I quite like having both hands.

John H. D. Watson said...

Sherlock - that's very sweet but I think I'd rather keep my leg even if it does hurt sometimes. And Lestrade is only in his forties, not his hundred and forties.

Greg Lestrade said...

And Lestrade is only in his forties

You have to say 'only' now, eh, Danger? Now you've joined me :)

Lindsay said...

Lestrade- You have put your finger on the problem. It was not a sword *fight*, which is why it was not cool.

X said...

Sherlock, I would be thrilled to be a member of your pirate crew; thanks for extending the invitation!

It sounds like you all are having a lovely time! I have to admit I'm jealous, being in Canada and still having to slog through the snow. Honestly, snowing on April 1 is a very cruel April fool's joke. I'll bask at the beach vicariously through you!

Since I missed extending birthday wishes in a timely fashion, happy birthday Danger. :) Glad that you're having such a great one!

(also, sidebar, this discussion of swordfighting makes me want to Rewatch the Shindig episode of Firefly. Lestrade, I hope there will be a blog report after John convinces you to watch the show!)

John H. D. Watson said...

Thanks, X. It's the best in a long time. Lestrade's being extremely smug about it, but I don't mind. It looks good on him.

L - I never said you were old! OldER I said. Which is still true. And always will be.

Greg Lestrade said...

Smugness looks good on me? I'm not smug. Just intensely happy. Well, maybe a bit smug, sometimes.

I think immortality should come with some sort of age-defying clause. So I might not always be older than you...And I never said you said I was old. I just pointed out you'd joined me in the forties. Which is nice.

John H. D. Watson said...

Almost everything looks good on you.

Greg Lestrade said...

Everything looks good on you. (even stonewashed sparkly denim jackets. Well, as good as they could look on anyone.)


But nothing looks even better...

John H. D. Watson said...

That can be arranged. If you stop fussing with your phone and get in bed.

Greg Lestrade said...

Pot, kettle...

You know this thing can make videos, right?

John H. D. Watson said...

I'm in bed already! Perfectly prepared to shut my computer any time you see fit to stop threatening me with semi incriminating videos and get your arse over here...

Anonymous said...

Oh Sherlock, darling, I am most definitely on your side! I went and looked up the murder as I was totally unfamiliar with it. It looks like a real doozy, so I wish you the best of luck. I've been talking with my forensic science students about poisons and toxicological testing, so we've been discussing a lot of unusual murders and some of approximately the same era.

Because we're talking poisons, we've also discussed a lot of serial killers - mostly female as they tend to prefer poison about 35% more often than men. It's awesome.

Let me know how much progress you make! I'm fascinated!
Toodle-pip,
Bronwyn

Anonymous said...

Having finally read all the comments, I'm still in favor of a bit of historical investigation. It's fun! Though if Sherlock would prefer a list of books on murder and such instead (as those are more portable and potentially more useful) I can offer some doozies. I just finished "The Poisoner's Handbook" by Deborah Blum, which is a ridiculously easy read, but well researched and useful. Has a lot of short case studies woven in as well.

Toodle-pip,
Bronwyn

Greg Lestrade said...

I'm trying to get away from work, Bronwyn!

But there are lots of second hand bookshops here, which Mycroft enjoys, so we could probably find some things for Sherlock too.

Anonymous said...

*laughs* I'm only vaguely sorry. But I do promise that if nothing else, all the books I offer can be found on Amazon. Or very cheaply as ebooks.
Toodle-pip,
Bronwyn

Anonymous said...

Have Sherlock and Mycroft ever read the Redwall books by Brian Jaques? They might be a bit below their reading levels, but the stories are brilliant. There are even always a riddle or two, even if they would be simple for our favorite geniuses. It's all about little woodland creatures fighting wars. There are sword fights and war machines and a few castles and even some pirates. I would even recommend the cartoon as it is appropriately bloody. I also recommend (to Mycroft, Sherlock is still too young) the 1982 version of Sondhiem's Sweeney Todd starring Angela Lansbury and George Hearn. It is my favorite musical(dementedly delicious). I find that there is just nothing to not like about it.

Greg Lestrade said...

I'm afraid I have no idea if they've read them or not. I'll ask.

As a rule, talking animals dont seem to be met with much enthusiasm, though.

I think my sister's kids used to talk about those books though, rings a bell.

I'll pass on the Sweeney Todd rec., thank you.

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