20 November 2011

There are twenty years to go, And many friends I hope. Though some may hold the rose some hold the rope

Firstly, a misty picture from the park this morning.

 Having a lovely day. Mainly walking, cooking with Mycroft, eating, restraining Danger from running down to the O2 and jumping on Federicorn, air guitaring with Sherlock, all the things Sundays should be about.

Last night was great. John had arranged dinner out, which was lovely and peaceful and romantic. So then I dragged him off to a loud, dirty, sweaty club, which was more raunch than romance.

Four police officers were stabbed yesterday, up in Harrow. A bloke they were trying to talk to ran into a butchers and grabbed a knife. Three of them are still in hospital, the fourth has been released. Whenever I hear about things like that it makes me so angry that we've only got the money to send out single-person patrols. It took four of them to subdue him, and all sustained serious injuries. Imagine if it had just been one officer. Imagine the havoc he could have caused on a busy Saturday shopping street.

Anyway, anger about the job aside, and trying to convince my idiotic brain that just because one bloke with a knife has been arrested in Harrow it doesn't actually mean Harrow will now become a mecca for all madmen with knives, let's get on with the post..

.....



Greg gave a small smile - nothing more than a twitch of the lips, really, when he felt John's warm hand slip into his own, just briefly, to offer a squeeze of condolence and support.

And then people were wandering away from the grave, gathering in groups, talking in low voices, the occasional sniff or sob breaking the calm.

The churchyard had yet to shake off the low mist, creeping around the headstones and giving everything an even more sombre air.


"You okay?" John asked, concern clear in his expression.

Greg nodded and pulled a key from his pocket. In any other situation it would have been a comedy moment - the key was huge, solid, heavy - a thing of fairy tales.

"My grandfather said...he said we should go and look at the place. Said that it was very important to my cousin that it was left to me. Apparently...apparently he admired the fact I'd gone against the family and done what I wanted. I mean, with the floristry." He shrugged. "I never knew it was such a big deal."


Half an hour later they climbed from the car, both looking up at the silent, still, grey castle. The top of the towers were almost invisible in the mist.

"Bloody hell." Greg wasn't sure if he was thinking out loud, or if John was just voicing both their thoughts.

"We should..." Greg began walking toward the huge wooden front doors. Then almost jumped into John's arms as the door swung open, and a man stepped out, smartly dressed in the traditional Butler's suit.

"Welcome, Sirs. We have been expecting you," he said, tone low and steady.

Greg felt John give him a gentle push in the back...

....

28 comments:

REReader said...

(There are a few crazies everywhere. Fewer people in Harrow, so fewer crazies. So the officers just took out a large proportion of the dangerous crazies in Harrow--at a heavy cost, but they got it done. Which means Harrow is a lot safer today.)

(And now I have to convince myself that just because four police officers in the UK were stabbed, it's not open season on police officers in the UK.)


On a happyier note--that lovely photo certainly suits this part of the story! Creaky doors just go with heavy fog... :)

And that does sound like the loveliest of Sundays.

Greg Lestrade said...

Well, Harrow has a slightly higher than average violent crime rate, actually, but still, one severe incident still doesn't mean there will be more - given it wasn't gang related, like most things I deal with are - so it's just convincing myself than I'm being silly that's hard.

Desert Wanderer said...

And Sunday's made even more perfect with an installment of Greg the Florist.

Lestrade, I apparently can't get pastry cutters for love or money in this town. Can I borrow some of yours? What shapes do you have?

Your Captcha is accusing you of being "mentled"

REReader said...

Mycroft is sensible and will be fine. (And has the dogs, who are not to be discounted.)

Anon Without A Name said...

Sounds like the four of you have had a great weekend. Personally, I think a nice combination of romance and raunch are the best ways to celebrate an anniversary (and given we celebrate two anniversaries a year, and have been together since dinosaurs roamed the earth, I know a little whereof I speak ;-p)

I was reading about the attack on the police officers on the news yesterday. There's really nothing I can say that won't sound trite, but I suppose the fact that it did make the national news demonstrates that it' not a common occurrence. I hope all the officers involved have a speedy and full recovery.

Hah - Greg the Florist has a butler! I bet John was hoping he be the only person butling Greg :-p

Greg Lestrade said...

Nameless - absolutely it's not common, it's just one of those things, just like whenever I hear about trouble in Bristol I worry about Nicky. I may have given Mycroft an extra tight hug when we dropped him back there...

REReader said...

I'm sure he appreciated it. (Or at least understood.)

It's hard to reason with your heart, I know. Can I offer you an extra tight virtual hug? Or...Sherlock? John? Some extra hugs for Lestrade, please?

Greg Lestrade said...

Dont worry, there are hugs all around. And Sherlock's graphic 'reassurance' of what the dogs could do to any criminals they came accross...

The flat seems very large and empty without Mycroft and the dogs.

REReader said...

Hugs are excellent. And I like the way Sherlock's mind works. :) I bet he makes very convincing attack dogs, all by himself!

Greg Lestrade said...

He does.

He even looks like he's sulking with his tail between his legs when John tells him off for being too realistic.

(Its not okay to bite either of us, ever, no matter how much you're 'just demonstrating', young man.)

REReader said...

Method acting can absolutely be taken too far.

Rider said...

Good guard dogs growl before biting anyway. So he should really practice a blood-curdling growl with plenty of teeth.

Greg Lestrade said...

There was plenty of growling, snarling, barking and snapping, to attempt to discourage the 'bad guys' too.

There is now sulking. But that's sort of to be expected when Mycroft leaves, guard dog role playing notwithstanding.

REReader said...

Yes, it would be very lowering.

May I offer you a virtual hug, Sherlock? (I don't want to get growled at, so I ask first. :) )

Greg Lestrade said...

He has calmed down a lot now - well, he's asleep right now - but calmed down this evening. Tired, mainly, I think, after the excitement of the weekend.

REReader said...

And unhappy at being separated from Mycroft. (Although I hope it's getting easier as he gets more used to it?)

I'd ask anyway before hugging (really or virtually). I really, really hated it, when I was growing up, how all my parents' family and friends felt perfectly free to hug or pinch or otherwise physically show affection, and I didn't really KNOW these people, and didn't like being touched by them. So I try not to assume, especially with people who aren't yet big enough to tell me to stand off.

Greg Lestrade said...

RR - he does, at least, now focus on enjoying being with Mycroft when they're together, instead of just thinking about how soon Mycroft will be leaving again, as he did before. And it's not long until the Christmas holidays now, either.

And yes, I'm not entirely happy with people making unwelcome advances into my personal space, either.

Do not, however, think that Sherlock is too small to tell anyone to stand off - he is very firm about such things! But it is amazing seeing the difference between how he was a year ago and now. I mean, a year ago he'd barely come near us. Now he takes great joy in clambering all over us.

REReader said...

Are the Christmas holidays the same as intersession/the between semester break? Or does that come after?

I mean, a year ago he'd barely come near us. Now he takes great joy in clambering all over us.

This is very happy-making. :)

(I would ask anyway. I'm not you, and it's his choice. Or yours, if it comes to that. :) )

Greg Lestrade said...

Yeah, Christmas holidays is the break between Autumn and Spring term. Or whatever they call them. Mycroft does get a lot longer off than Sherlock though, so...not quite sure how we'll handle that.

And yes, he'd appreciate it if you asked - but if people don't, he's not slow to spurn their attempts at hugging him - he knows his own mind, and is very able to escape unwanted advances! (and does. As my Mum discovered.) He does tend to let people give him a hug once he knows them though. Nicky is allowed to hug him, and Carla. And possibly Sally now...

John H. D. Watson said...

Since she charmed him with the amazing cow story you're going to tell us all about tomorrow...

Greg Lestrade said...

there was no amazing cow story. There was a cow, a pond and me. All three survived.

REReader said...

Ha! Yes, we must have the cow story. :)

Ah. Some schools here have the long break Christmas time, some go back and have finals after, then have a long break at the end of January.

And good for Sherlock! I was too much a Good Girl to speak up, so I was just angry and miserable quietly. (I did develop effective ways of dealing with it as I went along.)

Greg Lestrade said...

Most schools here have two weeks at Christmas, Easter and six weeks in the summer. But each term also has a one week break in the middle.

Mycroft, however, because of some rules or because public school isn't the same as comps...or something, gets longer holidays. Like I said the other day, I assume that's because they have longer school days, as they board...but I don't actually know for sure. There must be some mysterious way they work it all out.

REReader said...

Well, Harrow's had a bit of time to figure it out. They might even know what they're doing!

I know the length of the school year is regulated state-by-state here, but I can't imagine there's any specific rule for when vacations are, or how long they last--but I don't really know, not being a school administrator. I just ask my sisters when their kids will be free to play with me.

I'm sure Sherlock will find it all very unfair.

Random Anon Lurker said...

Greg, there's a saying. "The more you pay, the less you stay." It's pretty common at private schools. (I think "private school" and "public school" mean different things here and in the UK... I'm talking about privately-funded schools.) However, the private and independent schools generally attract better teachers, so the students end up with a better education even though they spend less time in class!

Random Anon Lurker said...

Ooh, ooh, blog question! Teenage celebrity crushes - Go!

Greg Lestrade said...

Random Anon - yeah, private and public are interchangable here. State schools are the ones anyone can go to, private/public schools are fee-paying. And yes, I suspect the same is true here. But they still do much longer hours - Mycroft works rit into the evening, whereas state comps get out at about half past three.

Thanks for the question. I shall think about it. Can't be as bad as Robin Sparkles, anyway...

Calliope said...

Another question: what do you like Marmite with the best? (I like marmitey toast with cheese.)

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