Aaah, a nice restful Sunday. Dinner is nearly cooked - a proper group effort. John and Sherlock did all the vegetables, Mycroft and I did the beef, and it all smells stunning. This is what life's about, right?
As you all know, picked up the new bike on Friday. It's just...I can't even explain how brilliant it is to have a bike again.
I've also never been as terrified, leaving the dealer, brand new bike under me, John on the back...I've never run in a bike with a pillion before, or scrubbed new tyres, so we just had a smooth ride planned, nothing too fast or too slow, me trying to balance out the revs, getting used to the thing. So we had an easy ride planned, up to Borehamwood, where there is (glad to say it's still there) a really excellent espresso bar. Of course, this took us straight past Hendon. Where I trained to be a rozzer, all those years ago.
So, because John pulled one of those faces which is impossible to resist, we went in to try our luck.
Luckily I do know a couple of people who work up there sometimes, training and things, so I dropped some of the right names and we were allowed to have a little wander around. Of course, it's all changed since I was there. But some things are the same. It was a bit of a blast from the past, and quite fun to wander around with Danger. It's called the 'Crime Academy' now - which I sort of think sounds like we're training up criminals, rather than coppers. Some things are still there, though - a full courtroom mock up, things like that. And the driving school.
Anyway, all too soon it was time to head back into town. I had wanted to spend the whole afternoon out on the bike...but Danger made me go to school.
Anyway, I know he wants to tell you about that.
Yesterday morning I had to shoot into work quickly - just to check a few things about the suspects I had charged over the gang stabbing. It was just amazing being able to get to the yard on the bike, get my work done and shoot straight home again. No more being stuck on tube trains or any of that. Brilliant. The bike is amazing in the London traffic - it's so easy to move around, through the gaps, so responsive. Danger thinks I'm just making excuses to go places on it now...
Both Mycroft and Sherlock have sat on it, when it's parked. Mycroft is easily tall enough to ride on the back, so I'm going to borrow a helmet from someone I think - or, in a pinch, he could wear Danger's - and let him have a go on the back somewhere quiet or off-road. And if he likes it, we'll buy him a bit of gear, then I can drop him off at class, or pick him up if needed.
Right, think I should check on dinner.
60 comments:
And how did your fans at work like the bike? And the jacket of course.
I don't have fans. I'm sure no one even noticed.
*snort* I don't believe that no one noticed.'
It's so nice to listen to your rapsodizing about the family/domestic parts of life. Lovely.
(And hoping for pics of you two in your bike gear. Fantasy fodder, mmmm.)
I'm sure no one even noticed.
Yeah, right. I'll believe that when sally says it.
So glad that the bike is living up to your expectations - and that it's something you can share with John. Sounds like a whole lot of fun :-)
Your family Sunday sounds blissful; mine currently involves tea, chocolate and football, so is pretty blissful too :-)
humantales - it's been a very long time...well, forever, really, since the family/domestic parts of my life were anything to rapsodize about. It's a very nice feeling.
And to both of you, really, no one noticed! Why would they? Old bloke turns up to work in jeans and a jacket for once, instead of a suit...it hardly makes the front page.
ha, yeah, I'm waiting for the dirt on your fans from Sally. ;D Old bloke my ass...You're too old for me by half, and I know if you showed up to my workplace in leather I would absolutely notice. I don't think I'm alone here; maybe there's something left over from the cave days that makes us humans love a man in leather, I don't know. It seems nigh-universal.
Glad you're loving the bike, and that you had a great weekend! :D
I was only wearing a leather jacket! And a very tatty one at that.
I hope you had a lovely weekend too.
Mine is still very peaceful. Mycroft is upstairs, Sherlock should be asleep - although I doubt he is. But he's in bed, at least, and Danger and I are relaxing on the sofa.
(We did our best to tire ourselves out in the park this afternoon, with the dogs.)
Leather jackets are awesome. However, I blame my celtic / scottish genes for my automatic reaction to a man in a kilt!
I've ridden pillion in London traffic, Danger has more nerve than many (name and nature huh)! Glad you are enjoying the bike, must be an improvement on the Tube - I hate it, and I hardly ever use it!
Dogs, kids and a park sounds fabulous.... Sherlock heading for a quiet night?!
K
xoxo
It's not tatty, it's vintage. that's in style these days I hear.
Kira - I've been very careful with him so far! Wait until I've slid my knee down the sides of a few buses, or hopped the kerbs...although there were stages where if he'd held onto me any tighter I would have passed out from lack of oxygen!
I actually like the tube. When it works. Like watching the people, like the noise and the smells...but I won't miss the heat or unreliability.
Danger - no, it's tatty. And given it's about 25 years younger than I am, you watch what you call vintage! (I keep having to check your page to see if you've chosen to utterly embarrass me regarding the school yet. As you haven't, I may have to drag you to bed and distract you before you get the chance...)
You enjoy the smells of the tube? The smells are pretty much what I hate most about the metro here. It's always something: unwashed masses on a humid summer afternoon, or business people with WAY too much cologne or perfume, or something reminding me of burning rubber that I really don't want to think to hard about or I'll just feel unsafe. Granted it's been quite a while since I've ridden your tube, but I can't imagine it's that much better.
L - I have a technique that's working very well so far: close my eyes and hope for the best.
If you really think it's tatty we could always get you another, but I have a feeling you feel about it the way you claim I feel about the Sparkles jacket.
I do adore living in a place where everything is wide open. I once visited NYC and almost went spare it's so claustrophobic. Everything just keeps going up and up and up. I actually got a little vertiginous and was informed that it was because I couldn't see the horizon. I've only used a subway twice in my life and that was enough. I'll take trolleys and buses any day of the week thank you.
This summer I'm going to be modding an old bike with a motor so I can putt around on it instead. Just the idea of a subway as my primary mode of transportation gives me the willies.
Also, I'll bet you were cute as a button on your bike, Orio.
TTFN,
Bronwyn
You've been closing your eyes? You're missing half the fun!
And no, I don't want a new one. That jacket and I have history. I got it in Italy, years ago. I didn't struggle out of it with a broken collar bone to stop them cutting it off me to bin it now! But it is tatty, patched, stuffed etc. I'm not walking about like a film star as everyone here seems to think.
You truly have no concept of your own attractiveness, do you Orio? I fail to see how. I thought the Met didn't allow blind DIs.
TTFN,
Bronwyn
I'm not attractive! I mean, I'm not a complete troll, either. And I accept that John seems to find me decent enough to look at, but I'm just...ordinary. Nothing special. There are a million other middle aged blokes just like me.
As fat as public transport goes - the tube might occasionally be slow, but buses in London can be ridiculous. The tube is brilliant, for what it is. Sherlock doesn't seem to like it either though. Guess I won't be taking it much any more!
I quite like the tube, but I have the advantage of not living in London, just visiting it quite a bit. I even like the smell. The crowding and heat, yeah, I could do without - the Victoria line was like an oven a couple of weeks ago, it's not even summer yet.
Of course, because I don't live in London, I know what public transport is like elsewhere; where the buses run every half hour rather than every six minutes, where you can't flag down a cab easily if you're running late, and where you can't get a bus after ten in the evening.
Yeah, I like the tube.
Nameless - correct on so many counts. I think the smell I like is the brakes. Of course I can do without the sweaty armpits of my fellow travellers! It does get ferociously hot down there, which I can live with until you get stuck. Especially if it's dark and you're stuck and people are panicking.
And Gid yes, public transport where I grew uo was stupid. About a bus a week, if you were lucky. Maybe that's why I like London too.
God yes, even. My typing is appalling today. (public transport doesn't go fat either, in my comment above. Far was the word I was after.) perhaps I am going blind, Bronwyn?
They're not closed the whole time, just when you're weaving between cars like that.
And you're not ordinary. Anything but. I've never met anyone like you.
Hah, I'm not really complaining, if you want to cling to me with your eyes closed, I can think of worse ways to spend the day.
I don't think the army let you out often enough. There are millions of greying blokes with vaguely inoffensive faces in London alone. However, I'm very glad none of them caught your eye. Or nearly arrested you.
Or nearly arrested you.
Most absurd way to meet ever. And not jut that, those whole three days. God, it's like a Hollywood blockbuster, isn't it? If one of us were a girl anyway.
Speak for yourself, I meet a lot of people by arresting them. Our only dates are generally in court, though.
And as either of us is a girl, what is it? Brokeback Moorland?
Oh and here I thought I was special! I've only been arrested twice, you know.
No no no, too many guns, not enough sex, not nearly enough introspection. Die Hard 4.5: Glow in the Dark Edition?
*raises an eyebrow* Half the time I think y'all are winding us up about how you met. You make it sound like Adventures in Babysitting meets Jeffrey Dahmer.
TTFN,
Bronwyn
*Only* twice??
Both times in Egypt - once for being someone I actually wasn't (never found out who I was suppose to be) and once for vomiting in the street. To be fair, I was suffering from some form of food poisoning at the time. Egypt and I just don't get along.
Note: promise I did not find either of the arresting officers remotely attractive.
*raises other eyebrow* Okay. More than half the time.
TTFN,
Bronwyn
Almost wish I'd arrested you now. Although I think S and M would have done away with me and chucked my body in the swamp if I'd tried.
Glad to hear you don't just fall for anyone who feels your collar though.
Almost wish I'd arrested you now
What, just to join in on the fun?
Think of the money I could have saved on meeting you for coffee. We could have done all that in one short interview under caution. Then cut to the serious dating.
More efficient, certainly. There's no rule against dating people you've arrested?
It's frowned upon, even if the suspect is innocent. But down there, on the moors, no one would ever have had to know.
Want anything in particular for dinner?
That sounds quite sinister really...
Fish? Parasites?
Potatoes I meant!
Should probably have added that often when I visit London I'm off to a gig and may not be dressed entirely normally. I once made a lady get out of a tube train I had just boarded... is Zombie Gangster such a bad look???
There were a couple of VERY cute officers down here today, but since only one looked old enough to shave I left well alone!
Kira
Some nice poached fish and some boiled parasites to soak up some of the sauce, Danger? I will try not to be sinister...although that place was. Glad you didn't stay down there.
Kira, sometimes dressing normally at night on the tube is what makes you stand out.
Mmm, delicious parasites.
I sort of liked it. Wide open spaces and so on. Nice and green, lots of nature.
I suppose it had nice aspects. apart from the wide open deadly swamps and lots of killer hounds.
Not enough crime to keep me busy though. And a hell of a commute for a long distance relationship.
Yeah, that was lurking at the back of my mind when I asked her to move us back to London. Just a bit.
the risk of death-by-countryside, or the possibility of only seeing me once in a blue moon? (Go on, caress my ego.)
The distance from London and, yes, you. I don't think it was that dangerous, apart from the bog.
I mean, it was mostly because I wanted the boys near their mum, but there were other factors.
Hmm. My ego is partially caressed.
I would have come down to see you, you know. Not sure quite how I would have handled emergency call-outs though. Think I could visit crime-scenes via video link?
And no, probably not too dangerous, once the hounds had been tamed. And Sherlock knew the bogs better than anyone else.
I would have come down to see you, you know.
Oh come on, you would've forgot me in a week or two. After the paperwork was done, at least.
Yeah, I did worry a bit about drowning myself while I was out trying to find him some day.
Well.
Firstly, there was no paperwork, thanks to Mrs Holmes. Although I did then have to explain exactly what I'd been doing down here, when apparently there wasn't even a case in the first place...
Secondly (and far more importantly), whatever you might think, I don't actually extend all of my first aid skills to sort out battered feet or, indeed, bring people breakfast in bed, on a regular basis. Admittedly, since that day the breakfast in bed has happened a few more times. Which is entirely your fault.
Well, that very first time was Mrs Hudson's fault.
"Here, take this up to him - you obviously need an excuse, if the way you've been hanging around my kitchen with a face like a wet weekend is anything to go by. Fight for the lives of those boys out on the moor, but too scared to go and knock on the man's door?"
And she was dead right.
Mrs. Hudson sounds like a wise soul, indeed.
Mrs Hudson is some sort of die-hard romantic. I'm fairly sure she'd have started putting viagra in the cup cakes and 'accidentally' locking us in rooms together if I hadn't taken him breakfast up.
You'd known me less than a day! I suppose I thought you were just being kind. I didn't know you were lurking down in the kitchen looking for an an excuse - though yeah, not at all surprised Mrs Hudson provided one.
Yeah, well, I had spent most of the first day thinking you were basically some sort of gorgeous James Bond type. Well, that or a murderer.
And you'd invited me over to your place 'tonight'.
And I wasn't lurking. Loitering, perhaps.
She'd given me a lot to think about. I liked her. She sort of reminded me of Mum, in a way. And not, in a lot of other ways.
You'll have to forgive me if I've gotten the wrong end of the stick here, but am I getting the impression that our filthy-minded BAMF copper fell for the dear Doctor the day you met?
I know you're a soppy old romantic, Lestrade, but that's... actually quite cool :-)
(Of course I could have got this all wrong, and you were just after a quick shag :-p)
She'd given me a lot to think about. I liked her. She sort of reminded me of Mum, in a way. And not, in a lot of other ways.
Not meaning to overstep any boundaries, but I'd love to hear more about this, if you want to share.
Awww, good on Mrs Hudson! :)
You two really do need to write us a proper narrative of how you met, you know. You keep dropping more little details and piquing our interest...
Oh, and how was The Talk at the school? If you'd rather not write about it, L, maybe Sherlock could give us a report?
James Bond! Now I know you're having me on.
Go Mrs. Hudson! She clearly knew what was what there!
Your "origins" story sounds like quite the story. Will you tell us? Enquiring minds want to know. (I'd offer mine in return, but there is a distinct lack of excitement, glowy dogs and exotic moors.)
Nameless - well, I was definitely interested. once I'd established he wasn't a murderer. And then established he wasn't a spy. And he was flirting with me...I mean, who wouldn't be? A gorgeous blond, fit, toned, fearless, kind doctor??
How come I'm a filthy minded BAMF and he's a 'dear'??
I shall attempt to make a coherent set of reasons for why Mrs H reminded me a bit of Mum. Like I said, only some ways. And less now than at first.
Amy - Danger wanted to write about my trip back to school. And his version will be better. He was an amused observer/assistant. I just felt like a rabbit in the headlights.
Humantales - I'll talk to Danger. I don't want Mrs Holmes shipping me off to police the antarctic research station or something because I've said something I'm not supposed to. It is sort of an unbelievable story, though.
Heh, well, now I'm confused again as to whether you'd fallen for him or were after a shag. Both, presumably :-p
How come I'm a filthy minded BAMF and he's a 'dear'??
Well, you are the one with the blog full of innuendo and double entendres, allegedly running riot all over his innocence...
Shall we settle for 'on the way to falling for him'?
If a shag had been the only thing on offer though, I doubt I'd have refused.
On that first day, however, neither of us were fit for anything.
Nameless - Well, the first time I met Mrs Hudson wasn't exactly the best of circumstances...her husband had just given her a black eye, and she was sitting at the kitchen table.
Right then, she could have been my Mum, easily.
John sorted her out, medically, I made tea...and she began to say it was her fault. But she corrected herself. What she really meant was that she wasn't surprised he had done it, when she'd finally stood up to him after years of ignoring what he was up to. And there's a steely core to her. She seems to be able to cope with whatever life throws at her, with a smile and the production of baked goods. She's a lovely woman. Very good at reading people.
My Mum's got the same ability to deal with whatever the world throws at her. Well, she did. When I was little she just kept going, with a smile for all of us, through everything. She hid things alarmingly well, with that smile. And it was only when I was a bit older (hiding things with a smile of my own) that I really understood quite how much.
Sadly, she'd rather cope by finding the bottom of a bottle than baking a cake.
Some days, I can't say I blame her.
The thing Mrs H said that really stuck with me, though - She's glad she and her husband didn't have kids, because she didn't think she could love them when they had a bit of him in them.
Can't help but wonder what my Mum thinks.
Wow. Thank you. That was a little bit heartbreaking. I want to give you a hug now. And Mrs Hudson. And your Mum. (Is it weird, having complete strangers offering hugs?)
I suppose anything I say here will sound trite, but it has been my experience, as a person who doesn't have children, that the things that people without children think and feel seem to be rather different than the things that parents think and feel.
the things that people without children think and feel seem to be rather different than the things that parents think and feel.
Yeah, this. And Mr Hudson was...really pretty awful. Maybe not the worst human being I've ever met, but certainly high up on the list.
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