31 July 2011

One-and-a-half up.

Today, after a slow start, a long breakfast, quite a bit of coffee and  a run around the park with the dogs (Well, half with the dogs...John and I ran around the paths, Sherlock and Mycroft played frisbee with the dogs in the middle, the dogs occasionally came and tried to trip us up), Mycroft and I headed off on the bike.

We didn't go too far, just for a spin out of town, a few different roads, nothing spectacular. And he mainly liked it. Well, he smiled when he got off...and I think it was because he enjoyed it, not because he was pleased to be off the back. He did say he didn't like filtering through the traffic much ("Because you never know what the other drivers might do - some of them are idiots.") We stopped and had a drink, then came back into town and went straight to the swimming pool, where we met John and Sherlock.




It was great, diving in a pool after an hour of getting hot in leathers. And Sherlock's swimming is really coming on, although now he's discovered the joys of throwing himself into the water, getting out, jumping back in again...it never gets old, when you're five, apparently.

Obviously that meant that Mycroft and I then had to bike it back home. Mycroft very kindly offered to go with John and Sherlock, because Sherlock was...less than happy about the situation. But that's just because Mycroft is a very good, kind young man, and John insisted he'd be fine. So Mycroft and I did the whole trip on the bike.

It will definitely be a good way to pick him up from school on days when the entire school is trying to get away for the weekend. And he looks great in his gear - you'd never think he was thirteen.

he showed quite a bit of interest in the bike and how to ride it. Although I won't take this as a sign he'll be itching to get his own wheels, because he's interested in everything...


Now I've got to decide what I'm going to do with my utterly filthy boyfriend, who's decided that one of me isn't enough...

Oh, and Danger...I bought everything I think I need to make curry for tomorrow night. I'll make it, take mine out, and then you can go mad with chilli and curry powder and whatever to ruin your bit with, okay? Thought I should make the effort to learn how to cook it.

50 comments:

Lawless said...

I'm glad you had a good day. Was Sherlock feeling jealous about Mycroft being on the bike or Mycroft having your attention instead of him?

Anonymous said...

The only time I've ever been a a motorcycle was the day of my grandfather's funeral when my uncle and I were desperate to get out of the house. Uncle Jim'd just bought the bike. He went over a hundred kph. Sitting on the back of that bike was the most terrifying thing I have ever done in my life. So I think Mycroft is pretty brave. Although I'm sure you never break the speed limit!

Have fun with the curry, you can add some marmite to yours. PS: how does John make shepherd's pie without using marmite?

Greg Lestrade said...

Lawless - a bit of both, maybe? I think mainly the bike, though. I swear he measures himself every day. He did sit on the back of it at the pool, with his legs dangling either side, toes reaching for the pegs...

Azure - (Do you mind me shortening your name to that?) we got up to about 60 on the open road. Which is...96.5 kph, I'm told.

I think I'll be happy with just the spices I've brought for the curry - it's a creamy one, so Marmite probably wouldn't be that great in it. And, er...I'm not sure Danger has ever made a Shepherd's pie, Marmite or not...you'll have to wait for him to answer that one!

John H. D. Watson said...

I was going to complain about you impugning my character, but then you had to go and be incredibly sweet about the curry. Thank you, that will be lovely.

Azure - it's easy, I don't make shepherd's pie. Wouldn't have the first idea how, with or without marmite.

Greg Lestrade said...

Thank you, that will be lovely.

That is a truly scary amount of faith you have in me. It may be a total disaster. You have to tell me if it is.

As for Shepherd's pie - you have to start by rounding up some shepherds. Then marinate them in Marmite.

Anyway, how's it 'impugning' when you said it yourself!?

John H. D. Watson said...

You made it sound much worse than I did!

Of course it'll be lovely. Everything you make is delicious. Even the things that secretly contain marmite.

Greg Lestrade said...

That's a guilty conscience talking, Pericolo.

Ha, you're just saying that.

Got any plans to keep the terrible two occupied this week? Do we have a day for Eton yet? And think you might make it into town for lunch one day, maybe?

Anonymous said...

No, I don't mind Azure, it's my name. My parents are hippies who actually gave me that ridiculous name. It's better than my older brother's name: Tobias. But then my dad got remarried and gave my half-siblings really normal names.

I meant to type 100 mph, my fingers slipped. Going that fast I honestly thought we were going to die.

John, you could easily make shepherd's pie. It has several steps but none of them are that time sensitive. It's pretty difficult to mess it up. With Mycroft's assistance it would be a cinch and I have yet to meet a kid, brilliant or otherwise, who won't devour it.

John H. D. Watson said...

I am not just saying that! I can't think of one thing you've made that turned out badly.

Mrs Holmes says can you do Wednesday for Eton? And yeah, lunch would be nice, any time you like. Plans...not yet. Maybe I'll take them to the National Portrait Gallery. I've never been, and Mycroft can tell us all the history.

John H. D. Watson said...

Azure - you underestimate my ability to ruin food. I'll stick to pasta and brownies for the moment, I think.

Greg Lestrade said...

Azure - given someone thought it would be a good idea to make one of my middle names 'Finchley', I understand parents and odd names...

I wouldn't ever ride with Mycroft that fast then, no. With Danger, perhaps...(obviously not illegally. On a track or something. Honest.)

Danger - Wednesday - I'll have to check tomorrow. NPG sounds good. And you can have lunch in the cafe on the roof. Lovely views across the city.

Anon Without A Name said...

I am very jealous of you going to the National Portrait Gallery - I try to make a point of visiting it whenever I'm in London. That and the national Gallery. I could spend all day in those places :-)

Sounds like you all had a lovely day. Must be difficult for both Mycroft and Sherlock at the moment; Mycroft trying to make the most of his time with everyone before school starts in September, and Sherlock being five and hating it.

I presume the best thing to do with a filthy boyfriend is to out-filth him?

John H. D. Watson said...

Must be difficult for both Mycroft and Sherlock at the moment

It is, yeah. And Sherlock doesn't want him to go, of course. I'm not sure there's anything to be done about it, other than keep them busy and try to reassure them both.

(I assume you were talking to L with the last question since it's clearly impossible for me to out-filth him.)

Anon Without A Name said...

I assume you were talking to L with the last question since it's clearly impossible for me to out-filth him

Well, I was; but now it sounds more like a challenge for both of you.

Greg Lestrade said...

You're the one thinking of uses for two of me - filthy uses!

They are both having a hard time. It's not as Mycroft is desperate to leave - and he's being so nice to Sherlock. Whereas Sherlock refuses to admit he'll miss Mycroft, and is playing up a bit (although as Danger says, when they're busy it's all much easier).

John H. D. Watson said...

You started it!

Nameless - I wouldn't dare. Not in public, anyway.

Greg Lestrade said...

I said I'd like a clone to go to work for me! You're the one who started thinking of other uses for the clone.

Never satisfied, some people! I shall start to get an inferiority complex.

John H. D. Watson said...

You were thinking up filthy uses for my fictitious evil twin months ago! I was merely following your lead.

Greg Lestrade said...

Was I? I forget.

Clearly you are enough to satisfy me without the help of any evil twins.

There's only so much Danger a man can handle. ;)

John H. D. Watson said...

I should hope so. Wouldn't want you to get in over your head.

Greg Lestrade said...

Over my head? Is this some kink we should discuss...I've done some things in my time, but that's a new one. Would I need breathing apparatus?

John H. D. Watson said...

I do not even want to imagine what you're picturing right now!

Greg Lestrade said...

I don't think I want to imagine what I'm picturing right now...but it is most definitely your fault I'm picturing it.

You will say these things, without thinking. I can't help having an active imagination. Although thankfully these days I can be more active, and less just imagining it all. Do you know how torturous it was getting to know you over coffee in public places??

John H. D. Watson said...

Well...you should've met me earlier! We lived in the same city for ages, technically, when I was actually here.

Stop picturing it, immediately. I'll distract you.

Greg Lestrade said...

Well you should have acted suspiciously around a murder earlier! Then I would have!

Or been the doctor taking care of me during one of my exceedingly boring and scary-matron filled stays in hospital. It could have been romance over bedpans, instead of dead bodies...

John H. D. Watson said...

My life hasn't presented that many opportunities to act suspiciously around a murder! You could've got yourself sent to Afghanistan. (Do they ever send you abroad? Not to countries with wars in them, please.)

You should've managed to crash in front of me then; I can't be wandering hospitals on leave, looking for gorgeous injured coppers to look after.

Greg Lestrade said...

I've been to Amsterdam before, for work, when I did more drugs stuff. And Spain once, years ago, for the day - to pick up a suspect. Nowhere with a war, thankfully.

And I can't be on the look out for gorgeous off-duty doctors to crash in front of! (Although looking for them as I rode along probably would make me crash.)

Anyway, if you'd been looking out for gorgeous injured coppers you'd have gone straight past me. ;)

I think you should take me to bed and distract me forthwith. Give me something nice (and physically possible) to imagine instead...

John H. D. Watson said...

Well don't start looking for them now! You've had all the crashes you ever should, by my estimation.

I will then, forthwith.

Greg Lestrade said...

All other doctors pale in comparison to you. I promise never to crash for anyone else.

The scale of gorgeousness has been rewritten since I met you.

John H. D. Watson said...

I love you. Turn off your computer, we're going to bed now.

Greg Lestrade said...

It's off! This is my phone...

I love you too.

Ro said...

Aw, you two! It's 9am on Monday morning, my work computer is refusing to cooperate, but you've managed to make me smile :) Go have a nice ... evening!

Bronwyn said...

You underestimate my ability to ruin food.

I have recipes that even you couldn't ruin accidentally, John. On purpose, sure. But until you manage to stick your hands into a vat of molten cheese and butter, or assume that when a recipe asks for a whole egg, that means shell too, you will never top my culinary students. I keep a running list of the top ten cooking disasters they've caused. And thus have found a list of recipes that I've yet to see anyone foul up irreparably - not even the boy who very carefully cut up a selection of vegetables for a party tray without removing the UPC stickers first. That led to two hours of combing through pieces of bell pepper and squash for slivers of sticky tag.

I'm up for the challenge if you are. ;-P
Tinkerty-tonk,
Bronwyn

Becca said...

Boy does that bring back memories, Bronwyn. When I was about 12, I was in home ec class. We were placed in groups to cook, and when I was out of the room, my group somehow forgot to add sugar to the pumpkin bread. I shudder at the memory.

Piplover said...

So long as you don't substitute salt for the sugar or forget the flour, you should be all right.

Also, John, if you get the Coleman's ( I think?) shepherd's pie gravy mix, it has a very simple, easy to follow recipe on the back that's really, really tasty!

Basically, it has you brown the mince, add the veg to it, put it all in a big casserole dish, and cover with mashed potatoes.

Bronwyn said...

Hey Pip,
Would you be averse to helping me out with some writing-type stuff I'm working on? I seem to have a muse again. Which is nice. But I may be lacking in a beta-reader as she probably thinks I've died by now.
Tinkerty-tonk,
Bronwyn

Anon Without A Name said...

Anyway, if you'd been looking out for gorgeous injured coppers you'd have gone straight past me. ;)

John, I reckon you should implement a forfeit system for Lestrade, for every time he refuses to accept a compliment, or tries to deny his own gorgeousness, even in jest. I'm sure you could think of something fun :-)

Pip - see, this is where it starts getting complicated; when I was a kid, shepherd's pie (which was actually cottage pie 'cos it was made with beef mince not lamb) didn't have veg in it :-p

Small Hobbit said...

My shepherd's pie still doesn't have veg in it, although I do add some well-fried onion. It's made with lamb mince, because my daughter can't eat beef. Then, when she's not at home we have cottage pie made with beef mince. And I agree, John, even you should be able to make it.

Greg Lestrade said...

Ro - Glad we made you smile.

Nameless - I'm trying! I was sort of joking... It'll take longer than a few months to break habits of a lifetime though, I think.

All of you - I reckon if John can learn to cut up bodies he should be perfectly able to manage the odd bit of cooking! But he should get a rest in the evenings, so as long as he's in no danger of starving, I don't mind if his cooking repertoire is pretty small.

John H. D. Watson said...

I can manage the cutting up parts fine! No one ever asks me to apply heat and spices to my patients.

Bronwyn said...

My only reply to that is "Braaaains!"
Tinkerty-tonk,
Bronwyn

Cranky Bookwyrm said...

No one ever asks me to apply heat and spices to my patients.

And most of them would object if you did.

John H. D. Watson said...

Most. Probably not all.

Anonymous said...

I never used to be able to cook, and then I joined the Army and it was either learn to cook with a skillet or be forced to eat in the cafeteria. I figured, after asking the cook what the mystery meat was on my plate and they didn't know, it was time to learn to do things properly.

John, the best thing about shephard's pie, is that you can add as much veg or as little as you like. I like to add onions, peas, and parsnip to mine.

Brownwyn - Yay! I'm always glad to help with the writing! Just let me know when and where and I'll be more than happy to help! Glad to hear you're writing again. Wish my muse would come back!

Greg Lestrade said...

I don't mind heat. You can keep the spices though.

Anon Without A Name said...

Lestrade - I know, it's very difficult to break those ingrained habits. So, if not forfeits, maybe some positive reinforcement would help? John pays you a compliment, and when you don't deflect it, he gives you a reward...

Greg Lestrade said...

Hah, you'd have to ask him about that.

But it's...I mean, don't most people deflect compliments? I don't know.

Anon Without A Name said...

Lots of people deflect compliments (I was brought up to), but I've learnt (and been told, repeatedly) over the years that the ability to gracefully accept a compliment is a great compliment itself to the person who is being nice.

Have some examples of both:

John: ... then you had to go and be incredibly sweet about the curry. Thank you, that will be lovely.

Greg: That is a truly scary amount of faith you have in me

John: Of course it'll be lovely. Everything you make is delicious

Greg: Ha, you're just saying that.

John: I am not just saying that!

[...]

John: I can't be wandering hospitals on leave, looking for gorgeous injured coppers to look after.

Greg: And I can't be on the look out for gorgeous off-duty doctors to crash in front of! [...] Anyway, if you'd been looking out for gorgeous injured coppers you'd have gone straight past me. ;)

John: Well don't start looking for them now! You've had all the crashes you ever should, by my estimation.

Greg: All other doctors pale in comparison to you.[...] The scale of gorgeousness has been rewritten since I met you.

John: I love you.


See :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

I can't say I entirely see, but I do get what you mean. Must try harder. I think, in fairness to myself, I'm better not on here. I mean, I don't start argument with Danger when he's complimenting me usually. Well, not most of the time.

On here it's worse, because you're all here and being nice and...well, it's different.

Anon Without A Name said...

Heh, yeah, you're allowed to disagree. I think you'd be wrong, but you're allowed :-p

I guessed that you're a bit different here - I imagine were all are. There's something about putting it in writing that makes us all try to be a bit more polite. Or something.

Anyway. You saying we're all being nice makes me want to give you a hug. Which is probably either even worse than an arbitrary compliment (or just a bit creepy). Sorry :-)

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