3 November 2011

Third time. Lucky.

Right, a couple today.

Do I intend to go to Pride with John and the boys again - Yes. Provided they're happy to, I would love to. I do have certain reservations about a lot of gay culture, and a lot of how gay culture is perceived. (for instance, I've never been 'proud' to be gay any more than any of you are proud to be straight, sexual, asexual, bi, or whatever you are. It's not a choice, it's not like other things I've worked hard to acheive and am therefore proud of. It's just how I am. I am, however, happy to honour the fight that people have fought to get us to a point where, whilst not universally accepted, being gay is no longer the issue it once was. Things are changing for the better, year on year.) and it's amazing to be able to walk the streets holding my boyfriend's hand, with the boys, and no one to even spare us a glance. Don't think there's any other day of the year we can do that.

And now, onto 'John's most endearing quality'.

Thought about this one a lot. He's got a lot of endearing qualities.

But the one I've picked to come out tops is that he cares. He cares about the important things. He cares about the people in his life. He cares about me, the boys, all of you. He cares about people he meets at the school gates, the security, the neighbours, people he sees in the street, my team, people on the news...the list could go on.

Sometimes I worry he cares too much. How can one person have that capacity? But he does. And I don't think he even realises it.

I don't want to compare him to Bryan - there really is no comparison to be had - but after the crash, when I was in hospital, he showed up, saw me, sat with me, found out about how I was doing, checked on Sally, and finally got me out of there to take care of at home.

Time before that, when I was in hospital after a bike crash, Bryan showed up in the evening, took my bank card, said there was no point me leaving hospital until I was capable of looking after myself and buggered off.

No, I don't know what I was doing with him either.

Anyway, there you go. Comments, questions, suggestions on a post card. Or in comments.

63 comments:

Random Anon Lurker said...

Oh, Greg. After that Bryan story I just want to reach through the internet and give you a big hug. Unfortunately, my arms don't reach from Canada to England, so I'll have to tag in John or Sherlock. Or maybe the dogs to sit beside you and look at you lovingly; dogs are good for that.

At least your taste in men has significantly improved since!

X said...

Random -- did I miss before the fact that you're in Canada, or is being hopped up on cold meds affecting my brain more than I thought? What province, if you don't mind me inquiring?

L -- seconding the hugs; you're well rid of him as you already know. I will say that from what I've read in your blogs, you're a very caring person yourself.

Since John just related his story of bonfire snuggles and etc (though not ...etc), I have a question along a somewhat similar vein: what's the worst date you've ever been on? Maybe apart from Bryan stories (unless you want) as, given what a right shit he is I'm sure there were some miserable dates.

Random said...

X - Ontari-ari-ario. Toronto, specifically. You?

REReader said...

it's amazing to be able to walk the streets holding my boyfriend's hand, with the boys, and no one to even spare us a glance.

Sorry, I always spare couples holding hands a glance. It makes me happy. :)


It makes perfect sense that you find John's caring his most endearing quality because you have it, too. Not only do you both show it all the time--we can all see it!--but just look at your careers: doctor/soldier, police officer...Not that all people in those professions are drawn to them from a caring heart, but a caring heart is drawn to protective and caretaking jobs, and those are protective and caretaking jobs.

(And, well, the fact that you're a carer and a caretaker does give a reason why you stayed with Bryan so long. You cared, so you made excuses and stayed. And took care. It's a strength, no question, but it's also a vulnerability. Okay, shutting up now. Because when both partners take care, it's a whole different world.)

Anonymous said...

Pride sounds like a wonderful experience for all of you. I hope you get to make it next year and you all have as much, if not more fun, than you did this year!

As for questions...

You play the guitar, but is there another instrument you would like to learn how to play?

Or, for a more generalized question, what is your favorite season? I love autumn, summer and winter, but spring is by far my favorite time of year. What do you love most about your favorite season?

John H. D. Watson said...

More than happy to go to Pride with you again next year.

And...thank you.

Greg Lestrade said...

No, thank YOU.

Desert Wanderer said...

Awww. The four (six) of you must make such a great sight together. Any family as close as yours can't help it. :)

Greg Lestrade said...

We're like a wave of testosterone walking down the road...

Greg Lestrade said...

We're like a wave of testosterone walking down the road...

dw said...

Are both dogs male?

John H. D. Watson said...

A wave of testosterone with fairy wings.

Yes, both male.

Greg Lestrade said...

Might get you matching wings next year. Can imagine you in a tight t-shirt, short shorts wings and boots...am imagining it right now, in fact. You do have a lovely body...

REReader said...

(If you get him fairy wings, he'll get you fairy wings... :D

Might please Sherlock, though! I doubt, however, that you'd get Mycroft to agree to be be-winged. And the dogs might well chew theirs off.)

Greg Lestrade said...

I wouldn't suit wings nearly as well as Danger and Sherlock.

Danger, hope Shortstuff's temper has improved. Hard day for him - not getting to ride on the bike, not getting a bedtime story, and not getting tomorrow off school to spend with us. Also hope he took on board whatever you said about not hiding my bike keys just because he doesn't want me to leave...

DW - the dogs are slightly less testosterone fuelled - they've had the chop. Which is good, because I'm fairly sure if they took a fancy to another dog in the park there wouldn't be much we could do to stop them...

Desert Wanderer said...

This is probably going to make me sound like a huge sop, but I felt soooo guilty when I had my dog spayed. I almost couldn't go through with it.

Feel free to mock me...

Greg Lestrade said...

I'd probably feel guilty too. They came to us pre-done. Although I sort of doubt they were on the moor, so I imagine Mrs Holmes might have had it done before they got to Mycroft...

REReader said...

Aw, poor Sherlock. That is a lot of "nots" for one day. But it's almost the weekend, he'll have Saturday and Sunday with you!

John H. D. Watson said...

No fairy wings for me, thank you, although the short shorts might actually be worse.

Greg Lestrade said...

You'd look stunning.

You okay? I miss you.

I think I just left an essay on your blog. sorry.

X said...

Random -- I'm not far from you, actually; I'm down in Guelph. :) And now I'm going to have the Ontario song stuck in my head all night....

Lestrade -- you can't put the image of John in tight clothes and wings in our heads and then expect us not to ask naughty questions of you. Really now, play fair. ;)

John H. D. Watson said...

X - did you draw today?

L - I'd look like a middle aged man wearing short shorts.

Doing all right, how are you? Did you find out who killed the man at the party?

Greg Lestrade said...

You could ask naughty questions of him...

Someone asked about nightshifts, and I can't find the question.

Our teams all work a two shift system, 7-7. So days are 7am - 7pm, nights 7pm - 7am. Nights are far far longer than days...I feel like I've been here forever already and I'm only 3 hours in.

(And don't do the maths on my hours. I know I work too much.)

Greg Lestrade said...

Danger - you've got a body to die for. Hush.

Doing okay. Wishing for better coffee.

I don't even know who the man at the party was yet.

And earlier today two boys were shot - one dead, one seriously injured. So we're sort of busy.

Missing you.

John H. D. Watson said...

I'm sorry. Young?

Miss you too. I read Sherlock some more of that Discworld book when I put him to bed. He said he wants to tell you all about it so you can guess how the man was poisoned. Just to warn you.

Greg Lestrade said...

Young boys? Teenagers. It's...I don't know. We're not working the case alone - working with another team.

Right, okay.

Try and get some sleep, won't you? I know you tend to stay up when I'm not there. Well, when I am there too, but, y'know...

REReader said...

I don't even know who the man at the party was yet.

This struck me as untterably sad. "Teenagers", too.


I guess the satire of Discworld is not the main point for Sherlock... :D

John H. D. Watson said...

I'll try. It is more fun staying up when you're home.

RR - the murder is 90% of the point for him, but he likes the way Pratchett plays with words too.

X said...

John -- I haven't, no :( I got home from work late and am taking a blog-reading break before I start packing for a trip tomorrow. I may try to start sketching something later, especially as that fairy wing image is rather inspiring. ;)

Glad to hear that Sherlock is enjoying the books too! I'm anxious as anything for my copy of Snuff to arrive!

X said...

(on the subject of books, I made the mistake of starting to read /The Stand/ for the first time while coming down with a cold. Am now quasi-convinced I have Captain Trips. Ah, literature.)

Desert Wanderer said...

Of course it's more fun, John. How are you supposed to play Parcheesi on your own? That is what you're talking about, right?

REReader said...

the murder is 90% of the point for him, but he likes the way Pratchett plays with words too.

This totally makes sense to me.

John H. D. Watson said...

X - I just saw your comment on the other post about lack of time, sorry.

especially as that fairy wing image is rather inspiring

I hope you mean Sherlock...

Am now quasi-convinced I have Captain Trips.

Ha!

Greg Lestrade said...

I'm pretty sure she means you.

And I'm off to the mortuary. Might not be about much for a while. Don't stay up too late (any of you).

John H. D. Watson said...

That is what you're talking about, right?

That wasn't precisely what I had in mind, but close enough for government work.

John H. D. Watson said...

Don't stay up too late

I'll try. Good night.

REReader said...

I have about 5 hours before I have to worry about "too late"...

Sleep well, John!

Desert Wanderer said...

close enough for government work

Hey! I resemble that remark! :P

X said...

John -- I did not, in fact, mean Sherlock. ;) But don't worry, there aren't any fairy wings to be found in the pic I started. And don't apologize for missing my other post; your comment here actually made me face up to the fact that I was (at least in part) making excuses, and I did start something new. Line art and first layer of colouring done, too, so thanks for the nudge in the right direction!

Of course, it's a quarter of the size of the Tony Stark pic (which was 18" x 24") and will likely take me just as long given my schedule, but it means I'm working on something! :)

(It is not even nearly ready for posting on the internet, though, so sorry if I don't share just yet. :))

Desert Wanderer said...

At least you're doing something, X!

X said...

Thanks DW. :) Since my fourth year of undergrad, it's been relegated to something I do only when I've been commissioned (I occasionally do wedding pics of couples, birthday presents, etc), which isn't often. Nice to make money, but it can take the heart out of doing something purely for the pleasure of it.

But now I'd better get off the internet and get that packing done! Eep! Hope to have something approaching posting standard (though by no means finished) by Saturday.

John H. D. Watson said...

DW - nearly all my favourite people resemble that remark!

X - I'm very happy you've started another drawing, if...somewhat concerned about its content...

REReader said...

Still awake, huh? Although 1:00 isn't so very late. (Unless someone is going to get you up at 5:30am or thereabouts.)

Desert Wanderer said...

Not so much with the sleeping, Doc? You're gonna have a disappointed DI on your hands...

REReader said...

(Have you noticed that you've seemed to have picked up a flock of mother hens?)

John H. D. Watson said...

It's not even that late!

REReader said...

I said that. I did!

John H. D. Watson said...

Now it's getting legitimately late.

REReader said...

Can't sleep? Or don't want to? I'd make you some hot cocoa, but I don't think it would stay hot between my kitchen and your kitchen.

John H. D. Watson said...

Bit of both I suppose.

REReader said...

I know that feeling.

Sometimes it helps me to do some crossword puzzles or the like--something only just difficult enough to use the reasoning part of my brain, not hard enough to be frustrating.

innie said...

That "endearing" question was mine, so thanks, L, for giving such a thoughtful and lovely answer! John's heart does seem to be elastic, doesn't it, the way he keeps finding room for more and more people in it?

Anonymous said...

It's always lovely to hear about the support and care both of you give each other and your boys.

Desert Wanderer said...

Any luck, either with sleeping or the case, gentlemen?

Greg Lestrade said...

Not much luck with my cases.

I hope John is asleep, as I assume Sherlock will wake him in the next hour. Then I'll try to get home in time to walk to school with them.

Desert Wanderer said...

Sorry to hear that. Hope things turn a corner soon.

Innie, The Amazing Elastic Heart sound like something from a circus sideshow or a comic book. :D

REReader said...

Sorry the cases aren't going, Lestrade.

I'm headed for bed now, so I'll wish a good morning and good night. :). My mom wants me to go shoe shopping with her in the morning (morning here); God only knows what shape I'll be in when she's done. (I really hate shopping...!)

Greg Lestrade said...

Thanks. I hope so too.

Sherlock, if you read this, just give John a cuddle until it's a decent hour of the day, okay? He'd appreciate that, I'm sure. And I'll see you soon.

REReader said...

Did you get your cuddle, John?

John H. D. Watson said...

Of course! He's very serious about his cuddles.

REReader said...

*happy*

Anonymous said...

Of course! He's very serious about his cuddles.

So different from how cautious and untrusting he was in those first few days you knew him. It's lovely to see the effect a constant and loving presence can have.

X said...

No scandalous or be-winged content, John, I promise. :) Right now even my ability to create a recognizable likeness is in doubt.... That's all I'll say.

Did you know it's Random Act of Kindness Day? On my way to work I was offered free hot chocolate and pancakes by a group of lovely people. Pass it on and make the world a more lovely place today!

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