23 September 2011

My sergeant is on thin ice...

While the Boss is out, and because he always forget to log out on his computer, you can all enjoy him looking like a thug.

sorry it's not very good quality, it's from a surveillance roll. I think he looks a bit like Bruce Willis.

Sally



Sal! Right. You just wait.

Well, now this has been up for two hours I suppose it would be...vain and slightly odd to remove it. but in future I WILL be logging out of this blog when I leave my office.

As I'm going to do shortly.

Don't know where we're going. We just have to be ready between half one and two, to leave for the airport. So John will fetch Sherlock from school at lunchtime, I'll get back to the flat, and then...God knows where we'll end up. But I'm sure it'll be fun. We shall let you all know, obviously.

Sherlock's suggestions have ranged from the jungle to an underwater city (no, I don't know where he gets these ideas from). Currently he's so excited about going there on a plane that the actual destination isn't that important to him.

156 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's an........ interesting look!

K

Rider said...

Not sure I'd want to meet it in a dark alley. Or over an interview room table either!

Bet he got the "bad cop" role for a few weeks.

Greg Lestrade said...

Ladyeigh, I told John I looked like a thug. And that it didn't suit me. This just shows I was right.

Rider - me neither. And yes, I did.

Desert (Worldwide?) Wanderer said...

Looks just like one of the movers that came to my house today. 5 hours, 36 minutes later and everything I own is packed, crated, and sent away on a lorry bound for the States. Alas.

Enjoy your trip, everyone!

Lindsay said...

You do look a bit like Bruce Willis. Especially with the action-hero scowl.

Greg Lestrade said...

Wow, Wanderer...where are you wandering to now? Wherever in the US it is, I hope you (and your belongings) have a safe journey.

And thanks.

Lindsay - it's a pissed off (or possibly confused) scowl, not an action-hero one, believe me.

Desert Wanderer said...

Off to Virginia for a couple of years (I think). Should be interesting at least.

Does you leaving make Sally the HDSIC (Head DS In Charge)?

And why do I have visions of Sherlock running around the flat, grabbing random things to take along "just in case"?

Anonymous said...

The eyes are still kinda cute though.

Hope you all have a great weekend. Looking forward to hearing about it.

Bronwyn said...

My thought was either "inmate" or "cancer patient". Given the choice, I think I prefer "inmate" of the two. The other is just awful.

Though, weirdly, I still find you cuddly. I think it's that you look so dreadfully sad and lonely in that picture. Maybe it's just me?

Only I want to rub your soft, stubbly head.
Toodles,
Bronwyn

John H. D. Watson said...

I prefer you with hair, but I still think you look good.

(Thanks, Sally!)

Anonymous said...

Wasn't I just the one whining about people making judgments based on hair cut? But boy, a photo like that really illustrates the point. We know you to be a kind and loving fellow, and there are any number of innocuous reasons you might have had that done - as Bronwyn says, it has a bit of a cancer patient look, or I've known people to do it in solidarity for a loved one with cancer, or maybe you were just hot, or in your case under cover. But it does make you look a bit fierce, and probably would have heightened my radar if I was walking alone in the evening and passed you on the pavement.

Have a fantastic weekend wherever you're flying to.

Greg Lestrade said...

Wanderer - the items Sherlock thinks are 'essential' are...boggling. John did well to keep him down to one bag. And Sal is...sort of in charge. Another DI will mind the team, and the DCI will, too, but yeah, Sal will check everyone knows what they're doing.

Bronwyn - I'd hope 'cancer patient' won't come true, now I'm a good boy and have stopped smoking etc.

And...I don't quite know how to describe where we are.

Let's just say that I'm pretty sure I'd never be doing something like this if I weren't involved in the lives of these boys...it's bloody amazing. Sherlock is actually a blur, he's so excited.

Anonymous said...

Were you undercover at the time? Thats sounds like something people would believe, even if you weren't. :b

Greg Lestrade said...

Anon - I was.

Danger, do you even know where Sherlock and Mycroft are? It could take them all day to explore this. Could take us even longer to find them.

John H. D. Watson said...

I'm sure they'll be back when they get hungry.

Greg Lestrade said...

We could go and lose ourselves somewhere...hope no one finds us for a bit. Although that basically guarantees that Sherlock will immediately appear.

John H. D. Watson said...

So we'll accomplish something either way. Excellent.

Greg Lestrade said...

He'll just groan at us for doing soppy kissy stuff. Hah.

Still...I think he's having just about the best day ever?

Anonymous said...

Ok, come on! Where are you? And can I come too? It sounds fun even without the details.

Greg Lestrade said...

I think there's room for all of you, yeah.

We're in a fort. A proper fort, on it's own island. Well, it's connected to another island at low tide. It's massive, like a rabbit warren, all different rooms and gun emplacements and stuff. And it's all ours - I mean, there's no one here but all of us.

It is bloody amazing.

John H. D. Watson said...

I don't know about him, but it's quite possible I'm having the best day ever!

Greg Lestrade said...

Me too, pretty much.

You want to help me do dinner? Somehow doubt we'll get help from the boys with this much to explore.

John H. D. Watson said...

Sure. What's it going to be?

Greg Lestrade said...

Don't know. Mrs Holmes had all the shopping delivered...no idea what ingredients we've got.

So...it'll be Things and Stuff.

John H. D. Watson said...

Ah, my favourite.

Anon Without A Name said...

That place sounds wonderful :-)

Sally - thanks for the photo!

Lestrade - although I prefer the way you look in your profile pic, I don't think you look bad with cropped hair. I am curious though - did it feel soft and fluffy, or stubbly?

Greg Lestrade said...

I'm fairly certain it will everything that is Sherlock's favourite.

But not JUST chocolate, ice cream and cake. Probably.

I've never cooked in a fort before. The kitchen's amazing.

John H. D. Watson said...

I wonder if there are ingredients for rainbow cake...

Greg Lestrade said...

I have a feeling there might be. There's more flour than we would need for a weekend, I'm sure.

Anyway, it'd be good if we made it here and everyone ate it. If it were just down to you, me and Mrs Hudson...well, and Sherlock...I think he'd end up eating his own bodyweight in cake.

Nameless - It is stunning. I didn't even know you could rent a fort.

I think I look like a potato with no hair. It's not a good look. And it started off very velvety, rapidly became spiky in a day or so, if you pushed your hand over it the 'wrong' way. Which I did. A lot. Can't break me of that habit, apparently.

And don't encourage Sgt Donovan.

Sally said...

Have a great time, Sir. You deserve it.

And you John. I hope the two of you both get a bit of time off-duty.

(You did look pretty intimidating without the hair.)

Lupe said...

That sounds like a fun place to be... Although my mind just wandered a bit and I started thinking about The Shinning. XD Shit, well, let's just ignore that train of thought. I hope you're all having lots of fun. :3 Make that rainbow cake!!! :D

John H. D. Watson said...

It's much nicer than The Shining. No red rum at all so far.

innie said...

Sally, please continue to rock on - we all appreciate it.

L, that picture makes me laugh because I can't help thinking of you going all 24601 and singing your heart out. Visually, you with hair wins every time, but I'm with you and Bronwyn in a tactile sense - it's so nice to rub velvety stubble the wrong way.

Has Sherlock designed a flag to claim ownership of the fort yet? Something with spiders, rainbow cakes, and glitter, maybe?

(And is Mrs Holmes with you all?)

Greg Lestrade said...

Yeah, this is a holiday, no deaths allowed.

It's brilliant. Mycroft and Sherlock have been running about with a camera, and Sherlock's changed which bedroom he wants about ten times. He's sworn he won't sleep the entire time we're here...but he's been so excited he's already flagging slightly.

It doesn't feel spooky. Big, but sort of nice, each room is quite cosy. It's just when you remember you're on an island, with the sea battering away at the walls. It would be amazing to see a storm from here.

John H. D. Watson said...

I know I end up saying this wherever we go, but we could definitely live here. No problem.

Greg Lestrade said...

Yeah.

Just ask Mrs Holmes to write a cheque.

Although...we'd need to put a few tutors in one of the buildings. We couldn't home school the Boy Wonder.

John H. D. Watson said...

Right, she needs a country estate. This definitely qualifies.

Greg Lestrade said...

You mean...another country estate? Or Do you think she sold the Hall? Not that I really want to go back there on my holidays. This is much more fun.

(It is, in fact, 'Better than Borneo', according to Sherlock.)

Although the Fort's greatest challenge may come tomorrow morning...when Sherlock attempts to bake in this kitchen, possibly wreaking more havoc than any enemy attack.

John H. D. Watson said...

I assumed she sold the Hall. Maybe she didn't, we should ask. This is definitely better than Borneo.

Heh. I'm sure you two will have loads of fun with all that food colouring. Better wear protective gear.

Greg Lestrade said...

Hey, hey, not 'us two'. That is more cake than one and a half pastry chefs can handle. You'll be needed too. And Mycroft.

You packed me some clothes suitable to look like a bad 70s tie-die by the end, yeah?

John H. D. Watson said...

You'll have Mrs H! She was really good with the cake last time.

Greg Lestrade said...

There's plenty of cake for everyone to help with. Might make you head of the icing department.

John H. D. Watson said...

I shouldn't be head of any department! Assistant at best.

Anon Without A Name said...

Lestrade, you don't look like a potato in that picture. grumpy, certainly. Unhappy too, perhaps. But not potatoish. I'm definitely with Bronwyn and Innie in instinctively having a tactile response.

I also intend to fully encourage Sgt Donovan whenever possible :-p

Who's at the fort with you?

Greg Lestrade said...

I've promoted you. it's icing - what can go wrong? Sherlock is head pastry chef, all of the rest of us are just underlings.

Nameless - I was distinctly unhappy with the bloke in the horrible colour shirt, who was talking.

And next time I have my head shaved I will insist Mycroft invents some form of tactile communication device to embed in the blog for you all. but my hair is ridiculously thick and grows pretty fast, so I go spiky very rapidly.

John H. D. Watson said...

what can go wrong?

Famous last words!

Anonymous said...

what can go wrong?
You didn't seriously ask that question? You are in so much trouble now.

Greg Lestrade said...

It's icing! We're in a Fort! It doesn't matter how colourful, sticky, etc. anything gets. We'll all be there to prevent explosions/destruction.

I seriously cannot imagine anything serious can go wrong.

Anonymous said...

Report back tomorrow and prove it.

And tell us about all the fun, because really, I was jealous before I knew and now I'm triply so.

John H. D. Watson said...

Nameless - us, the boys, their mum, Anthea, and the dogs. Its really nice, especially having Mycroft back with us.

Greg Lestrade said...

I think tomorrow morning is cake-baking time.

And yeah, it is nice being all together again. And, in case we haven't mentioned it...this place is amazing.

John H. D. Watson said...

Does that mean now is bedtime?

Greg Lestrade said...

Now...might be a good time to grab a mug of coffee (tea, if you want), climb up onto the roof (there's an easy way) and watch the sea for a bit, before bed? Just us?

John H. D. Watson said...

That sounds lovely, yes.

Greg Lestrade said...

Can't believe we're in a fort, in the middle of the ocean...just...yeah. Can't believe it.

Rider said...

If the dogs are there then that's kitchen mess cleanup taken care of.

I have visions of them in the plane trying to get their heads out of the window....

John H. D. Watson said...

It's beautiful.

Greg Lestrade said...

so are you.

Anon Without A Name said...

John - so, a full house then? Must be good, especially having had to spend time alone recently. Although it sounds like it's a big enough place for you all to still be rattling around a bit.

Have a fun day baking, guys :-)

Sherlock said...

John, where are you? Mummy says we can't have cake until you and Lestrade are here, and I can't find you but she says I'm not allowed on the causeway or on the roof so you could be anywhere and I want cake.

Greg Lestrade said...

I cannot believe you can fit cake in this soon after lunch, Sherlock.

But we'll come back. Meet you in the kitchen?

Sherlock said...

We have to have cake because then we can have a water pistol fight, and John and Anthea can't be on the same team because they're really good at shooting, so then I can go with John and Mummy, and Mycroft can go with you and Anthea, and Mummy says she doesn't want to play but I said that's silly, because this is a Fort so why wouldn't you want to have a battle? And anyway it's my birthday and I said she had to play and she smiled so I think she will.

Greg Lestrade said...

Of course. Must eat cake, just after eating a big lunch, so we can all run around and get excited...sounds like a perfect plan.

Why can't I be on John's team?

Sherlock said...

Because you wouldn't play properly, you'd probably hide and do kissing stuff and that's not the game. You've got to try to capture our base and we'll try to get yours.

It is a perfect plan.

Small Hobbit said...

It is indeed a perfect plan.

L & J - I predict you are both going to get very wet.

John H. D. Watson said...

you'd probably hide and do kissing stuff and that's not the game

I'm afraid he knows us too well...

Greg Lestrade said...

Indeed.

I'm feeling safer now that Anthea has revealed our team's arsenal though. Things have moved on since the days of squeezing a sad squirt of water that only went a couple of feet.

The gun Mycroft has given me comes with clips...actual water-filled clips, so I won't be caught short...amazing.

Prepare for battle...

John H. D. Watson said...

battle going badly, someone send air support...

Greg Lestrade said...

I can send Phobos with a white flag, if you want to surrender, Team Dangerlock?

John H. D. Watson said...

Never! But for the record I think Anthea has previous experience of water pistols.

...Water assault rifles.

Greg Lestrade said...

I think Sherlock announced that a. he's immortal, and b. Like all the proper battles, this is best-of-three...

I have a feeling Anthea and Mycroft have both done this before...perhaps Harrow isn't all work and no play?

John H. D. Watson said...

Watch out, someone's put food colouring in his water pistol...

Greg Lestrade said...

...someone??

And...being immortal, 'kamikaze' is a valid attack style, because he just has to wriggle free, escape to reload, and attack again.

I think the tide of this battle has turned, Danger.

Can I have that white flag back?

John H. D. Watson said...

I think an offer of more cake might be met with favourable cease fire terms.

Greg Lestrade said...

Cease fire...or just a time out?

And unless the amount of running about screaming has made him sick, I fail to see how he can fit more cake into his body.

John H. D. Watson said...

It should be impossible, I agree, but his capacity for cake defies the laws of physics.

Greg Lestrade said...

Don't mention physics. My head's still spinning from Mycroft and Mrs Holmes talking about that atomic thing that's gone faster than the speed of light, at the Hadron Collider. Don't want to start that again.

Apparently this is only a break. More battle later. Sherlock may demand a change of teams. Or weapons. Or both.

Sherlock said...

It's my birthday, I should win.

Sorry your t-shirt is pink now. I thought it would be red, like blood and it's a SUB-atomic particle.

John H. D. Watson said...

Maybe we should get conveniently stuck on the other side of the causeway when the tide comes in...

Greg Lestrade said...

Good plan. Or just lock ourselves in one of the remote rooms.

Actually, might do that tomorrow, when it's time to go home. Barricade ourselves in, so we don't have to leave.

John H. D. Watson said...

Sounds good to me.

Greg Lestrade said...

One day we'll go through with one of these plans, right?

John H. D. Watson said...

Someday...

Greg Lestrade said...

Right, well I'm utterly soaked and largely pink - thanks Sherlock - so I might change and cook dinner.

Anyone helping?

Mycroft said...

I will.

Bronwyn said...

Hello Mycroft! We've missed you! Did you end up pink as well?
Tinkerty,
Bronwyn

Greg Lestrade said...

Team AnthCroftOrio on the case? Aren't we suppose to be enjoying the spoils of war, not cooking for that losers? ;)

A said...

I do not cook.

Greg Lestrade said...

Do you eat?

A said...

At times.

Greg Lestrade said...

Just raw food, though? :)

John H. D. Watson said...

Well, there is that raw food diet...

Greg Lestrade said...

I could have sworn she ate some Moussaka last night. And some cake today.

Maybe I'm hallucinating.

A said...

You two do like to live dangerously. I knew there was a reason I never comment on this thing.

Greg Lestrade said...

You two do like to live dangerously.

His middle name is Danger - what did you expect?

Anyway, John claimed lack of cooking ability once, and we know that's not true now. Sure you could if you wanted. Eating is reasonably important in life. Very important, if you're Sherlock.

John H. D. Watson said...

It's completely still true!

Greg Lestrade said...

It's completely not true! You cook for the boys when I'm not there - provided there are things in the fridge. And you help when I am there.

And you made me a bloody amazing dinner for my birthday!

John H. D. Watson said...

That's not the same at all.

Greg Lestrade said...

It is the same. You can cook.

I can't imagine something as simple as cooking has ever escaped Anthea, either.

And why oh why did anyone give Sherlock the bugle?

(Nameless - this place is so big that they provide a bugle in the kitchen to call everyone for dinner. Or for 6 year olds to deafen everyone with. It used to house over fifty men. Although now I think there are only about 10-12 beds here. And it's cosy, despite being massive.)

John H. D. Watson said...

Pfft.

Greg Lestrade said...

DO you mean Pfft...or do you mean orgy? I'm fairly sure if A doesn't cook or eat she's probably not up for the latter...

John H. D. Watson said...

Are you suggesting she's a vampire?

(Why is that where my mind goes automatically now? I blame the blog.)

Greg Lestrade said...

Are you suggesting Anthea would see an orgy as like...a buffet?

I'm confused now.

But I suppose it doesn't involve cooking. Just eating.

John H. D. Watson said...

I think I'm going to step away from this conversation before she kills us both.

Greg Lestrade said...

ha.

Still, it'd be a great murder story... Vampire kills nanny and police officer in fort...

Mycroft wants to play Scrabble. Can we form a team? Even together I fear we're no match for Mycroft, Mrs H or Sherlock...

John H. D. Watson said...

I think Mycroft is going to beat us all.

Greg Lestrade said...

I'd rather feel like a failure with you by my side.

...and Sherlock says we HAVE to play 'murder in the dark' afterward.

Anthea, do I have your word you won't try to actually murder John or me?

(I had to give Sherlock my word I wouldn't hide somewhere with John and 'do kissing'. Honestly, is that all he thinks we ever do??)

John H. D. Watson said...

And let's make Sherlock promise not to murder anyone too enthusiastically...

Greg Lestrade said...

No one is to murder anyone too enthusiastically.

And how is 'waqf' a word, Mycroft????

Mycroft said...

It's from waqafa, meaning come to a standstill.

Greg Lestrade said...

i can't believe that's allowed...is it even English?

John tells me I'm not allowed to use rude words, so you shouldn't be allowed to use....impossible words.

Mycroft said...

English was a patchwork of other langages from the start, not to mention more recently adopted foreign vocabulary. Anyway, if you remember it, you can use it next time too.

Greg Lestrade said...

right...cos John and I regularly sit up together and play Scrabble...

I shall try to remember though.

Mycroft said...

We could play online while I'm at school.

Greg Lestrade said...

Could we? If you do you have to promise not to hack into our laptops and use the webcams. Because you will see us cheating. And we'll still lose.

Mycroft said...

You and John can't have Sherlock helping you then. He remembers every new word I show him.

Anonymous said...

Mycroft, thank you for the word! I play Scrabble against my sister, who is in England, and she consistently kicks my butt. Long distance Scrabble is addicting!

Greg Lestrade said...

We'll play after his bedtime, then.

but even if he did help us a bit, he'd still never know as many words as you, not yet.

So, now you've soundly beaten us all, are we going to run about a pitch black fort being murdered?

Mycroft said...

Piplover: qi is a good one too, if you don't already know it.

Lestrade: it is his birthday. Well, sort of.

Greg Lestrade said...

Yeah, it is.

I just don't want to be murdered. Not on holiday.

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Mycroft! You have just made my day!

Greg Lestrade said...

This is...quite spooky, actually.

John H. D. Watson said...

If you have your phone on, it's not really murder in the dark so much as murder by weird mobile phone light. Just saying.

Greg Lestrade said...

I very much doubt anyone will see it, where I am.

And I've got it under my hoody, just in case.

John H. D. Watson said...

That sounds a little sinister.

Greg Lestrade said...

I think Sherlock will accuse me of not playing properly. But I really don't like knowing someone might jump out on me in the dark.

Sherlock said...

You can't talk to each other, that's CHEATING!

Greg Lestrade said...

No talkng. typing

John H. D. Watson said...

Want to sneak off somewhere?

Greg Lestrade said...

definitely.

provided you're not the murderer. Trying to lure me to my death.

John H. D. Watson said...

It's all right, I haven't got a toaster anywhere about my person.

Greg Lestrade said...

I refuse to meet you in the kitchen.

John H. D. Watson said...

How about the roof?

Greg Lestrade said...

At risk of bringing any number of murderers to my hiding place, I'm already on the roof of the Upper Magazine. Far end, by the low wall.

John H. D. Watson said...

Ha. Be with you shortly.

Greg Lestrade said...

be careful.

Greg Lestrade said...

Sherlock, don't actually kill us for this. And DON'T get on the roof without someone with you. Or at all, really. But definitely not without an adult with you.

Sherlock said...

You HAVE to come down and tell me a story because Mummy says I have to go to bed.

It's my birthday. You have to.

John H. D. Watson said...

Do I get an entire week of birthday next year as well, or is there a cut off age for that?

Greg Lestrade said...

I think the rule should be that it cuts off on the following Sunday. Given we seem to have a tradition of going away for the weekend.

John H. D. Watson said...

Good point.

Greg Lestrade said...

Hope my next one is on a Monday, not a Saturday.

And he's finally asleep. How he sleeps in a place like this after a story about murderers, I don't know.

Rider said...

He's got a DI and a security team.

And apparently very pointy elbows, no sane murderer would dare!

John H. D. Watson said...

Rider - sharp little knees too.

Greg Lestrade said...

Want to go back on the roof? Or just have a walk around?

Don't want this to be our last night here.

John H. D. Watson said...

Yeah, a walk in the dark sounds nicer than murder in the dark.

Greg Lestrade said...

I love the sound of the sea on the rocks.

When I was a sulky teenager I used to sit about on the rocks and listen to the sea for hours. Felt like the only time I got alone.

John H. D. Watson said...

I imagine it'd be a good sound to brood to. London traffic didn't work nearly as well for me.

Greg Lestrade said...

Ha! I imagine not, no. Not with all those selfish buggers with sirens rushing about all over the place, too.

I promise to try not to brood though.

Oh, I should have told you all - Hannah called me on Thursday. She'd been back into her school - not to lessons, just to see some of her best friends and her teachers. Which is a good first step, I reckon. Obviously they all know a bit about what happened, so she should have good support when she goes back properly.

John H. D. Watson said...

Oh, that's wonderful, I'm glad. Anything that can make it easier for her is good. Does she still have her teddy bear?

Greg Lestrade said...

Her Gran says she took it with her to school.

And yeah, glad she's easing back. Kids can ask some pretty blunt questions. Even when they're not called Sherlock. Be good for her to have her friends as a first line of defence.

John H. D. Watson said...

Yeah. Blunt questions aren't always bad though, if they're not meant cruelly. Glad she has friends either way though.

Greg Lestrade said...

True.

Right. Bedtime?

Although I'm going to hide the bugle first, otherwise Sherlock will use it for an early wake up call.

Bad enough that he plastered himself to our window this morning. Glad we weren't...in a compromising position.

John H. D. Watson said...

Heh. Good plan.

Definitely bedtime, yes.

Anon Without A Name said...

Close the curtains this time? :-p

Very glad to hear that Hannah is starting on the road to recovery; thanks for letting us know. And it's lovely that she got in touch with you.

(I was feeling hugely jealous of you guys, but that was before you mentioned the bugle, and then starting baiting Anthea... I tend not to be jealous of people with a death wish :-p)

Anthea - hello! And thank you.

Greg Lestrade said...

There are no curtains! And probably not often small boys clambering over rocks. The next people to us should be...East Coast America, or something.

We'll take a picture tomorrow, in an attempt to illustrate.

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