As you all know, we braved the shops at the weekend. And we wanted to start a bit of a tradition, of sorts - so we each decided we'd get a bauble for the tree. And then, every year, well get a new one each (obviously there will be other tree decorations too, but these four will be special, each year, and hopefully bring back lots of pleasant memories each year.)
So...let the tacky decorations commence!
As you lot keep insisting...The
Silver White Fox. I bought this one. I don't know...it's kind of cute, right? It'll certainly remind me of this year, anyway.
And then I just had to buy this one for Danger, given that everything IS his fault.
Mycroft went for understated in a big way. Matt white plain bauble. (I approve).
And, because Sherlock was torn, Mycroft also bought this one for Sherlock as an early Christmas present:
No, I have no idea why a Pirate Ship is considered festive...but Sherlock loved it, and it is a pretty amazing decoration! Very detailed.
And this was Sherlock's other one. Again, no clue why a...butterfly? is festive either. But we said they could choose anything from the Christmas department, and this was in there. And the sparkliest thing, too...
And then John chose this beautiful one:
for himself. Isn't it pretty? And, in retaliation, this one for me:
An uncanny resemblance...
So there you go. They're now all lost in the explosion-in-a-tinsel-factory that is our tree.
66 comments:
Apparently you have got into the Christmas Spirit bottle early. Or just can't count....
You mean the 'special four'? That was sort of reserved for the ones we choose for ourselves, not the ones inflicted upon us...I mean, kindly brought as gifts for us.
Although they're special in a different way.
Of course a butterfly is festive--it's sparkly and Sherlock like bugs, so it's perfect!
Really, I love the whole collection for the same reason--well, not that they're sparkly, but because they're personal and expressive of your personalities. You've a wonderful start on a very special collection.
Yeah, we said he could have whatever he wanted, so it was fair game. Although a bit lost in the riot of decorations
The Silver Fox is terribly cute. So's the deccie :-p
I heartily approve of Mycroft's choice. Very classy, very understated. I like both of John;s choices.
Sherlock's remind me of his (fairy) wings, although obviously I'm basing that purely on the descriptions.
And who cares about festive? I very nearly bought a gorgeous red and gold stiletto shoe bauble this year. Because, shoes!
No tree, do no baubles--but I have several Chanukah pins that I stick on my big purple tote bag all week. (Because more people can see them on my bag than under my coat, of course.) the cutest is a row of dreidels, but my favorite is a menorah with sparkly flames. (It only pretends to be elegant. :))
Ha, thanks, Nameless. Mycroft's is nice. I'd happily have a tree of those, some white lights and leave it at that!
Sherlock is happy with his - his eyes lit up when he saw it, with all it's straggly glittery feelers and wings. And it will certainly remind us all of what he was like, no matter whether he finds it embarrassing in years to come ;)
I think a red and gold shoe is at least in traditional colours? I mean, not that it matters at all. All that matters is everyone is happy. And short of borrowing some of Oxford Street's lights, that was what made him happy.
I'd be willing to lay down money that one year you'll get your white-and-light tree. (Even if it means having a separate mini-tree for your ornament collection.) Everything in its own time, yeah? And you're absolutely right that this butterfly will always remind you of Sherlock-at-six--and the pirate ship will be a wonderful reminder of Mycroft and Sherlock both at this time.
Ah, I'm not that worried. I never bothered with a tree when it was just me. Just saying, I'd probably be slightly more restrained...not what it's about though, it's about fun, and they deserve lots of it.
Aww! I love the baubles, especially the animal ones. This is a wonderful tradition to start, especially at Sherlock and Mycroft's ages. When time has flown, you'll always have something to hold onto for the holidays.
~A from NW
I just meant--in fifteen years or so they'll want to have a go at elegant. Meanwhile, you--and John--are giving them some magical holiday memories. (Better than Santa, even. :))
And don't forget to take lots of pictures of the tree and decorations--it's something you're going to want to look back at, without a doubt.
And now I'm heading out to beat out my nasty mood at T'ai chi class. (Good timing, that, after a particularly frustrating day. Why can't people pay what they owe? I have bills, too!) Sorry for what spilled out over you all...it wasn't fair at all.
BTW - the fact that the two/four of you are starting traditions and planning for a future that involves many more Christmases together? Warms my heart :-)
You should initial and date them. One of my parents' friends has the same birthday as I do and when I was little every hear he'd give me an ornament. My first tree on my own was decorated almost exclusively with Mr. P's ornaments. It'll be much easier to sort them and reminisce about them if you know when and who for each. It might seem obvious now, but in 10 years you'll be glad you did.
That's a lovely idea.
http://www.texascapitolgiftshop.com/2011-Capitol-Ornament-P1136.aspx
That's my family's new bauble this year. I think it's amazing. And much shinier than its picture would imply. Y'all will treasure those for a long time. I recommend getting a segmented holder for them to keep them safe and in one piece. http://www.solutions.com/jump.jsp?itemType=PRODUCT&itemID=10325 Like that. Because otherwise you'll inevitably lose some to time and clumsy fingers.
Happy Christmas,
Bronwyn
Oh, that's such a lovely thing to do. My step-mother started that tradition for me when I was 7 or so (I'm 35 and she still sends me a new ornament every year), and I've done the same for my son since he was born. That way, when he leaves us for his own home, he'll have a whole box full of ornaments for whatever little tree he may have. We keep all our ornaments in separate storage boxes (husband and I each have one like Bronwyn suggested), so they don't get mixed up, and as KHolly said, either write the year on the box, or make sure the ornament itself is dated.
I love that you guys are starting some traditions for yourselves and the boys. It's something that grounds families, gives a sense of home and future.
Those are lovely ornaments! I'm sure even the pirate ship looks amazing on the tree. What a lovely tradition to start.
My family got new ornaments each year, too. Now I live on my own, most of my ornaments are from when I was younger.
Also, I have a few from when I was in the Army. I think my favorite is Santa parachuting, lol. But I also have a Scottish Santa, complete with kilt and bagpipe. Why? Because it was fun!
I totally agree with dating them, too. My mom and dad did that and now I can look at the ornaments and remember when we got them and what was going on that year.
We had that same tradition. I can remember so many trips to a big department store that made their entire basement into a Christmas wonderland. And we'd wander all around it and pick out the perfect ornament. One of my fondest memories.
Good morning, gentlepersons! Or is Sherlock sleeping in a bit, as it's a holiday for him?
A bit. We got up a few minutes ago.
It's too early, given I probably won't see my bed again for many hours. Tomorrow, I suspect.
Uh oh--are you working tonight, then? And I think you said the office party was this evening...
Not working, just partying. Which I imagine will be even more tiring!
Ha! Probably. Good luck--I hope it doesn't get too out of hand.
We've been warned to be on good behaviour after police were called to their own CID Christmas party in Cleveland, and it made the news...
Ha. That's probably the nicest publicity the police in this country have had in recent months.
Go ahead and enjoy yourselves - you lot deserve it after this year.
And don't forget we want to see the pictures ;)
Have fun tonight :-)
Becca - don't. I used to get so wound up by the stupid things some officers do, but now I just keep my head down and keep my team in line. Otherwise I'd have had a nervous breakdown already.
SH - no pictures, I hope.
Thanks Nameless
Sorry. I'm still trying to process what's going on here and figure out what to do with my outrage. But it's nothing to do with you and this isn't the place for it.
Embarrassingly I've forgotten where you are...
Feel free to vent here if it helps.
I live in New York City. Where there has been rather a lot of police violence in the last few months. Much of it on camera. Much of it beyond stupid, like pepper spraying people lying down, and knocking around reporters wearing police-issued press badges while being filmed by their cameras.
None of which is ok, but is, if not acceptable, a bit expected, when you have protests and sit-ins. Even more disturbing are the reports (from people who were on the conference calls) that the Department of Homeland Security strongly encouraged local governments to order the attacks against protesters.
It makes me nervous, walking in a part of the city near some of the protesters; I don't want to be afraid of the police. I don't know what to think about it all.
Ah, well, I was referring to Cleveland UK, not US.
As for theorist - no idea what I can say. Any violence sanctioned by the state against its own people is pretty unforgivable, I think.
I don't know enough about the situation to make much comment though.
As for the rest, not 'theorist'.
Naming and dating ornaments is a great thing to do! My parents' tree still has glued-and-gold-spray-painted pasta ornaments made by me, and the crowning star is a wonky be-glittered star which my brother made in kindergarten. Now that we're both around 30, it's simultaneously weird and wonderful to see what we thought was fabulous back then.
John's bird ornament is totally something I'd choose today, but the pirate ship is a close second! And is probably what the younger me would have begged for.
Ah, silly me, I thought you meant Cleveland, Ohio. I ought to know that half of this country is named after places in the UK.
Amy, like the song says, "look to the future, it's only just begun" - I think that's how we all feel. So yeah, dates on the ornaments sounds like a good plan.
Becca, I assumed you had - I did have to check when I first heard it! But it was near Hartlepool - Seaton Carew, I think? Maybe I should have said that...
Still, I'm glad I got your view on what's going on with the police and protestors. I do have an interest in policing in other countries - comes with the job, I suppose.
We seem to have more isolated incidents here, now. But only after some reports on the police as a whole which have made politicians and senior officers reasses how we do things. It's far from perfect, but it's far better than a lot of other places.
We did a classy silver and blue tree once, it looked nice, but I like a colourful one better. The personal baubles is a lovely tradition ! (John and Sherlock's are my favourite. And the pirate ship)
Oh, I read this : http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/daily_news/?cat_id=29314&ew_0_a_id=385592
and thought of Sherlock's quest for the perfect tree.
P.
Aesthetically, I like the pirate ship and the little bird the best, though I love that they're all such nice representations of who you are. I wish, though, that the bird had a red breast and a little glitter, because then it could be ... Robin Sparkles!
Innie, what an opportunity lost! That would have been perfect! I shall try and find a robin next year :)
Oh, so you've told everyone about the piss up, Sir, but not the awards? Shame on you.
I love the idea of having names and dates on the ornaments! For the ones hard to find a good place to mark--or even for all of them--you could take photos of the ornaments (as you so handily have already started!) and photoshop in captions with the names and dates (and if they are gifts, from whom) and put a copy of each photo in the box with the actual ornaments. And then you'd each have all the memories, even when Mycroft and Sherlock grow up, if they take their own with them.
(I'm just full of ideas for other people to carry out... :))
Awards?
What awards are those, Sally?
Theyre not proper awards, just and end of year tradition where everyone has the piss thoroughly ripped out of them by their loving colleagues with 'amusing' awards.
And I know she's only telling you so I have to tell you what I got later. Sergeant 'Inter-Departmental Relations 2010'. (I'll let you all guess why she got that one.)
Heh. Are these new, or are you going to tell me what you got last year, too?
No, ,not new. Frequently very old...
And, oddly enough, I think I'll keep quiet about it. Although doubtless certain people will come and grass me up.
Ah, doubtless. Excellent.
(Sometimes I'm quite happy most of my friends are on a different continent...)
John, you didn't know you were dating 'Pride of the Press Office 2010‘?
The boss really did have some choice quotes in press conferences last year, usually in response to very very stupid questions from journos. One of our PR blokes had to go off sick with stress.
I had no idea! I'm so very proud, as you can imagine.
With friends like these...
Did that come with some sort of sparkly sash?
No, just a certificate. Which is probably somewhere in my office.
Sorry, I presume you were asking because you wanted to borrow my sparkly sash, yes? I'll buy you one of your own.
I dread to think what it would say on it.
It would have to be a big sash, to list your awards...
You make that sound so ominous...
"DANGER TO SELF AND OTHERS" is my vote for John's sash.
Merry Christmas,
Bronwyn
Ha! Nothing ominous, Doctor Nanny Kissing person gorgeous clever sparkly Danger Hotson.
"Love Doctor"
Bronwyn
I'm ignoring both of you...
Just hope L doesn't find a nearby shop that does personalized sashes. :D
Ignoring us?
I'm sad now :(
Oh all right, I'm lying. I could never ignore you.
:)
Sergeant 'Inter-Departmental Relations 2010'
Heh, nice one, Sally :-)
'Pride of the Press Office 2010
Do you not like doing press conferences then, Lestrade? I'm shocked :-p
Anyone drunk yet? Wearing especially fetching headgear? Other festive accoutrements?
Silver tongued silver fox, me, dunno what you mean... not my fault the hacks can't understand sarcasm.
Drunk...yes. headgear...yes. acc myphone can't spell that ,yes.
Silver tongued silver fox
Yeah, I had my suspicions :-p
Good work. Pics or descriptions of the headgear and... things?
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