7 May 2012

Got A Dream To Take Them There

Sherlock went downstairs, dressed in smart trousers and a shirt, just before 3pm, and picked Mrs Hudson up for their afternoon tea date. He looked very smart and serious. He also managed to hail them a cab... I'm assuming the cabbie took pity on Mrs H, because if Sherlock can hail a cab within two seconds when I can't, then the world just isn't right...

So they headed off into the distance. (He had given her a small bunch of tulips, too, which we'd bought earlier.) He's been asking about things he should and shouldn't do, too. Mainly when he was sitting on my bike earlier, cleaning it. (It is very clean). He took great joy in proving he could reach the handlebars. I didn't like to point out he had to be plastered to the tank to do it... He's so desperate to grow.

Which means John and I have had a glorious afternoon alone. It wasn't raining, so we went for a bit of a walk first, having been stuck indoors so much recently. John rode the bike out, because he's not riding it enough (in my opinion), and he needs to keep practicing or he'll forget stuff/get nervous/be less and less likely to ride.



I saw this. I was wondering if I'm allowed to buy it for him, on the assumption that what's his is mine?


It's a Triumph America. And they still sell them brand new. I'm not really sure I can justify dropping another 8 grand on a bike just for me... and it would be crap in the city. But boy, it would be good on the open road.


We also saw this - Sherlock will wish he'd been with us:


It's a pillbox with the roof off. Usually we don't let him go in them because you really don't know what you might find - fairly unsavoury places these days. So he'll insist we go back to this one, undoubtedly.

After we got back to the flat we...revelled in our privacy ;) Not often everyone else is safely out of the way!

And now we're awaiting the return of Mr Smooth, to hear all about his date!

Nicky's also called, to check on our plans, and my Mum even rang to ask if we thought we'd have time to get over to hers. Which is a change of tune. So I said I'd call her back in the week once we've worked out what we're doing. Mycroft seems quite cheery whenever we talk abut it on the phone.

Now I have to go and stop John eating ANOTHER cup cake. He claims he needs the energy...

157 comments:

John H. D. Watson said...

I do need the energy, it's been a big day!

I like the old one better than the new ones you showed me, actually. Pity it didn't have a for sale sign on it.

REReader said...

It is lovely and so endearing, how badly Sherlock wants to get every part of this dating thing RIGHT. Sherlock, I can't wait to hear all about your date with Mrs. Hudson--I'm sure she was delighted altogether!

It's very promising, your mother asking for you all to come by. And excellently good that Mycroft is looking forward to the plans for his birthday weekend!

Sounds like you two, John and L, had a perfectly lovely afternoon too. ;) (Ah, let him eat cupcakes! :D)

Greg Lestrade said...

It's not up to me if he eats cupcakes. He's a big boy now. I'll just tell Sherlock The Personal Trainer to make him to an extra lap of the park :)

Danger, I know what you mean. New bikes don't have quite the character of old ones. And that one needed a bit of tlc, which would have been a nice way to get to know it.

Any closer to wanting one of your own? We could trawl the ads for second hand ones. There are thousands...

REReader said...

Assuming it's not raining, a run/cycle in the park sounds like a wonderful way to end the day!

Small Hobbit said...

I think you should just assume that Sherlock has an ability to hail cabs ;) Very much looking forward to hearing the report on the date.

Do you think you could vote on your poll? My answer is currently looking rather obvious (not that it's based on having a family where the male half spend hours talking about bikes).

John H. D. Watson said...

L - we could look, yeah. I'm not sure I want one in general, but I might see one I want in specific, if you see what I mean.

And I voted in your poll...I do think you want another one. Heh.

Greg Lestrade said...

I think I've done a poor job of pretending I don't want another, to be honest...

Maybe when the boys are older, and we have time to go off touring the land on a bike...then I'd like something big and comfy and easy-going on the bum.

John H. D. Watson said...

We should be looking at ones that you like too, then. I'm sure we can find one we both like.

big and comfy and easy-going on the bum

...No, I'm just going to leave that one alone, I think.

REReader said...

.No, I'm just going to leave that one alone, I think

Where's DW when you want her? :D (I hasten to point out that it's not a holiday on this side of the wet stuff.)

Greg Lestrade said...

I think leaving it alone depends on whether you mean the bum or the statement...

It is your fault my bum needs a comfy seat, mainly.

mazarin said...

I...there are things I want to say involving more cupcakes = more tush cushion, but I'll just leave it.

Or something.

Greg Lestrade said...

I assure you it doesn't need more cushioning than it has!

pandabob said...

If you have the money Greg treat yourself to another bike :-) I'm all for treating yourself if you can, life is for enjoying after all AND the more bikes you have the more John gets to experience before he makes a decision on getting one of his own ;-)

I'm glad you and your mam have continued to make the effort to keep in touch with each other and that she has made the big step of asking you if you'll go see her, however well she might try to hide it she must worry, atleast a little bit, that you'll say no so I hope you manage to fit a visit into your fun filled weekend :-)

Sherlock please educate all those around you as to how to treat people on dates I can only hope that my two little ones will find someone who cares so much about doing dates well when they get to the age to be doing things like that!!

How many cup cakes John? I've had rather a lot today!! ;-)

Anonybob

REReader said...

*judiciously* An appropriate photo or two would settle the question. *nods*

Mazarin said...

See, I've made that point too, but regardless, now that I'm nicely padded, my knees are giving out.

*shrug* Whaddaya gonna do? ;)

John H. D. Watson said...

I think leaving it alone depends on whether you mean the bum or the statement...

Definitely the statement. And your bum has the perfect amount of padding.

Greg Lestrade said...

Ah, you say the nicest things. You're bum has the perfect amount of padding too. But only half the amount of bike under it should :)

Rider said...

Only one motorcycle is not a natural state of affairs!

I can't get into cruisers really. The riding position puts me right off. They might have a wide seat but the feet forward of the hips and the high bars means they are hell on the lower back.

I suppose that just means more excuse for stopping and backrubs so can't be all bad.

Anon Without A Name said...

I think Sherlock is actually getting more adorable. I hope he and Mrs Hudson had a lovely afternoon.

The bike looks like fun. Perhaps anew bike could be a joint purchase? That way you both get to ride it, and neither if you has to "borrow" it.

He claims he needs the energy...

Well, if you will keep him... revelling all afternoon :-p

big and comfy and easy-going on the bum

...

*too many possible responses*

*innuendo overload*

John H. D. Watson said...

Nameless - I thought perhaps he was trying to suggest I was big and comfy and...etc.

L - what do you think of this one?

http://london.craigslist.co.uk/mcy/2961999535.html

REReader said...

I know it's getting late, but can we at least hear if Mrs. Hudson and Sherlock had as lovely a time as such a promising start promised?

REReader said...

(Sorry for all the promising...I was rewriting the sentence to remove the word "betoken" (because I have enough fun made of me, that's why) and this is how it ended up. Stupid mobile version that makes you click "done" all the time and restart!)

Greg Lestrade said...

Well, they both seem happy! Sherlock said he ate a lot of cakes...

Danger - as a bike I think it's a decent one. Have to hear the engine and have a good look at it though.

REReader said...

Well, they both seem happy! Sherlock said he ate a lot of cakes...

Yay! (That'll hold me 'til we get the full report. Which I am eager to hear! :))

Sherlock said...

They gave us loads of cakes and sandwiches but the cakes were better and we had tea and I did get gunpowder tea and it was okay and Mrs Hudson said I was charming.

REReader said...

Fancy little cakes are a lot of fun. :) I'd never heard of gunpowder tea until you mentioned it, and it sounded quite interesting when I looked it up!

And I am absolutely sure Mrs. Hudson was right about you being charming. I'm charmed and I wasn't even there!

Greg Lestrade said...

How we get a very charming 6 year old to calm down for bed is another issue...

REReader said...

Fancy little cakes ARE fun (I had several at my nephew's engagement party last night). The sugar one pumps into one's system that way, however, is not conducive to calming down, I found... :D

Greg Lestrade said...

Yeah, next time I won't suggest it for a school night.

pandabob said...

won't he crash at some point? or is he a real duracell bunny where sugar is concerned?

Anonybob

REReader said...

Ah, well, some things are worth being tired for.

Greg Lestrade said...

Hopefully, AnonyBob.

Mrs T will have a proper little gremlin on her hands tomorrow though, I fear. As will John.

REReader said...

John, just tell her why, and she'll be charmed enough to...well, it should help, anyway. :)

And Sherlock, you should tell Mrs. T about your date with Mrs. Hudson. I think she will be very interested. (I think that mostly because I'm very interested, and she knows you even better than we do!)

pandabob said...

he'll only join all the other little and large Gremlins that always exist after a long weekend ;-)

I hope he's asleep now and you and John are having a nice evening :-)

Anonybob

Greg Lestrade said...

He's in bed but decidedly awake.

John H. D. Watson said...

It's all right, he'll sleep eventually.

pandabob said...

In this house 'in bed' is required, sleeping is optional as long as they don't bother me ;-) they get bored and sleepy very quickly normally :-)

hope you're enjoying your evening :-)

Small Hobbit said...

It's when he starts singing "New York, New York" that you know you really have a problem.

Anyway, I thought with gremlins it was a case of don't feed after midnight and don't get them wet.

Greg Lestrade said...

I'm fairly certain he will indeed get bored enough to sleep soon.

I'm sure I'll be asleep any.minute.

Anon Without A Name said...

Nameless - I thought perhaps he was trying to suggest I was big and comfy and...etc.

John, I would ask if you consider yourself easy on the bum, but it might get taken the wrong way...


/innocentface

Greg Lestrade said...

I assure you John is big and gives my bum endless ... comfort. I was going to say pleasure, but he'd glare at me...

Too late ;)

John H. D. Watson said...

Ha. And that's why I was going to leave that statement alone!

Anon Without A Name said...

Hah, my work here is done ;-)

Greg Lestrade said...

Well, Sherlock was obviously tired out in the end, as he's not up yet. Which is making my morning oddly quiet.

REReader said...

Miss him? :)

Greg Lestrade said...

Yeah, I do. Normally by now I've been quizzed on a range of issues.

REReader said...

I have to say--and I mean this in the best possible way--that's very sweet.

If you like I can try to think of things to quiz you about, but I suspect it won't quite be the same.

REReader said...

Oh yeah--happy back-to-work-and-school Tuesday, everyone!

(And I meant to say, L, the blog title is one of the few song lyrics I recognized immediately, since the album was my high school bff's favorite. On 8-track. :D)

Greg Lestrade said...

Not quite the same, no.

Well, I'm going to work so John gets a lie in until Sherlock wakes up. Be good, Sherlock, and I'll see you tonight. Same to you, Danger.

Small Hobbit said...

Since I presume nanny!John won't write me a note to say I don't need to go to work today I shall just wish all badgers a good week. At least at the moment it looks as if I don't need to commute by ark today.

Anon Without A Name said...

I'm sure Sherlock will save his questions for when you get home, Lestrade. He might even think of a few extra to make up for this morning.

I'm still on holiday for the week, heading off to the south coast for the rest of the week. Hope all the badgers have a good day.

Anonymous said...

coming to this late Greg but just wanted to say how great I think it is that you and your mum have been keeping in touch over the last few weeks. I agree with Pandabob that it was brave of her to ask if you'd go see her but it will be equally as brave if you decide to go so try and make sure you approach it as a level playing field if you know what I mean.

I hope your day is going well and that Sherlock wasn't too tired for John this morning.

EBSanon

Greg Lestrade said...

SH - I'd be first in line to get a note excusing me from work :)

Nameless - Hope you have a fantastic time.

EBSAnon - thanks, I'll try to keep it in mind. I'm not sure what I'll do about taking John and the boys yet. Partly because I'm not sure how much I want to tell her about Bryan, because I definitely don't want them...well, the boys, anyway, to have to hear about that. So yeah, not quite sure what I'll do yet, but I am glad she asked, and I told her that.

Anonymous said...

When I said about maybe talking to your mum about Bryan I didn't mean you should do it right now or the very next time you saw her Greg, or that you should do it in person, just that it might be something to think about if your relationship was getting better.

An hours visit for tea and cake with you, your boys and your mum where you make small talk and discuss nothing all that serious might do you all more good than a serious 'talk.'

Anyway I glad you're glad she asked.

I hope work isn't working you too hard.

EBSanon

pandabob said...

I hope you're having an uneventful day Greg :-)

How was Sherlock this morning John? I hope the later start to his day made up for last night's later night and he was in fine form for school :-) hope work is treating you well :-)

No ark needed here either SH but the weather still seemes to think it's april ;-)

Hope badgers everywhere are having good days.

Anonybob

Greg Lestrade said...

Uneventful-ish

I'm still waiting to hear what time Sherlock managed to sleep until! Maybe one day there will come a time we actually have to wake him up for school. All teenagers go through a phase of sleeping in until lunch, don't they?

Hope you had a good morning, Danger. I've got Frankie Goes To Hollywood in my head.

REReader said...

Good morning, everyone (or good afternoon, if you prefer :))! Like Sherlock, I had a late night followed by a slightly later wake-up--I hope it worked better for you than it did for me, Sherlock!

Sorry I wasn't a good Sherlock-substitute earlier, L. (I don't suppose anyone would be, although I'm sure anyone in your family would make a good breakfast companion. :))

I hope everone is having a relatively unscramble-y day!

John H. D. Watson said...

L - surprisingly late. Good job I still an alarm, no matter how pointless it is most days. I had to wake him up today!

Greg Lestrade said...

Ha! I did wonder if you'd have to. He was dead to the world when I checked on him. He must have been up late reading.

Your morning okay? No sick people coughing on you or anything?

John H. D. Watson said...

No more than the usual number. I did get an interesting thank you card, from an older gentleman who was extremely constipated the last time I saw him, telling me that the situation had...resolved itself.

Greg Lestrade said...

Wow, you get the best things... Not sure I could do your job. Dead bodies are much less trouble than live ones, I think.

You and the boy wonder going to take advantage of the odd bursts of sun we're getting? Try to tire him out again :) was he okay this morning? Not too sleepy, or grumpy he slept in?

John H. D. Watson said...

At least it was just a card...

Yeah, I'll take him to the park after school if possible. He was sort of sweetly grumpy this morning. Whiny and everything was wrong, from the texture of his banana to the seeds in the jam, but he wanted to sit on my lap while he ate and held my hand all the way to school.

Greg Lestrade said...

He is brilliant. And so are you.

Did you find his glass of milk in the fridge? I poured it on autopilot when I made my coffee and then remembered he wasn't there.

John H. D. Watson said...

Ha, I did yeah. He said it was too cold (how I don't know, since his milk would've come out of the fridge anyway...) but he did drink it.

How'd your day going?

REReader said...

Awww.

(It was that the GLASS was too cold!)

Greg Lestrade said...

Ah, no, he actually does have me twisted round his finger so much that when I heat milk for my coffee he gets about a quarter of the glass of that, in with the stuff out of the fridge, to take the chill out. So yeah, it would've been colder than he likes. Sorry, Sherlock!

Day's okay. Doing a cold case review.

REReader said...

Awwww. (Non-sarcastic both times. :))

John H. D. Watson said...

L ...That is incredibly sweet. And also highly amusing. I asked him why he didn't tell me that this morning, and he said 'Because you wouldn't do it right, Lestrade has to do it.' Heh.

Greg Lestrade said...

That's because I'm teaching him to be as picky as me about coffee related things.

John, how hot should milk get? ( Sherlock, you can help him if he doesn't know.)

Sherlock said...

65 degrees and if you make it hotter then you might burn the sugars and it won't taste as nice and John didn't know but now he does so maybe he could make it for me if you showed him how properly

John H. D. Watson said...

...Do you use a thermometer for this?

Greg Lestrade said...

We do have a milk thermometer, but I don't use one because I do it every day. You however, would be welcome to use it.

Enjoying the sunshine?

John H. D. Watson said...

Thank you, no. I think heating milk with such precision that I need a thermometer is just...never going to happen. I'll be happy to supervise Sherlock if he wants to give it a try though.

Very much, yes. Do you know anything about building kites?

Greg Lestrade said...

Not a lot, no. Is that our new project?

John H. D. Watson said...

Maybe? I thought it sounded fun. Just thought I'd see if you had any advice before I turned to the internet.

REReader said...

Would there be anywhere good for kite flying near your sister, L? Because it sounds like the sort of thing that a group of young'uns could enjoy together.(Especially if they turn out to be as good or better at it than the adult-type persons... :D)

Greg Lestrade said...

Of course, dear readers, this means I walk through the door to find Sherlock swooping on me, kite style...

Kites with Nicky's two is entirely possible.

pandabob said...

Did he have a string or tail attached? it might come in useful later if he did for a bit of bedtime Sherlock wrangling ;-)

Greg Lestrade said...

Sadly not...maybe I should fix that?

He wants a kite like the kite-surfers have, one that can lift him up completely.

John H. D. Watson said...

Who wouldn't want one of those?

Greg Lestrade said...

As long as he knows he isn't getting one :)

pandabob said...

It wouldn't need to be all that big a kite to lift Sherlock would it(or John for that matter ;-) ) sounds like a very fun idea to me ;-)

REReader said...

Weeeellllll...it would be rather painful to discover too late that the kite that's lifted you up completely wasn't strong enough to KEEP you up. Better start with a smaller kite and work your way up, I'd think. Get your principles down solidly, and all that... :)

Greg Lestrade said...

If it's lifted you up I don't think it would dump you down too hard. Be worse to discover that it was never going to put Sherlock down... we'd have to send the dogs out to find him or something.

REReader said...

Heh heh heh... *contemplates notion*

Hmmm. That wouldn't be entirely fun, though--it gets awfully cold at higher elevations, after all. And it would certainly take quite a while for him to be rescued--it's hard for the dogs to track him in the air. Impossible, actually. They'd have to work cold. He could end up missing dinner entirely!

Small Hobbit said...

But RR, Sherlock could make sufficient noise for the dogs, who must have excellent hearing, to find him.

Greg Lestrade said...

Sherlock would have no trouble letting people know wherever he'd finally be dumped. But on balance I'd rather he stayed on the ground.

Well, until our balloon ride...which we'll go on at some point when the rain stops!

REReader said...

But SH, if it won't put him down, it might travel quite a distance before he can figure out how to land without crashing--the dogs might not be able to hear him if it flies far enough!

(Speaking of crashing, there is a reason they use those things over water....)

:D

REReader said...

on balance I'd rather he stayed on the ground.

Sound plan. *nods approvingly* Except, as you say, for the balloon ride. :) (And any future airplane and/or helicopter flights.)

Greg Lestrade said...

Having got more than my fair share of bruises from hitting water, I can promise you it can feel as hard as concrete if you hit it with any speed.

REReader said...

True! But you are slightly less likely to get your neck broken. (Of course, there is a significantly greater risk of drowning, but one can't have everything. :))

John H. D. Watson said...

http://powersports.honda.com/street/adventure.aspx

Just looking...

REReader said...

Oooh, pretty shiny thing!

(I don't know anything about motorcycles but it does look nice!)

Greg Lestrade said...

There should be a law against murdering people when it means DIs have to get out of bed in the middle of the night and go out into the pouring rain.

I mean, another law.

REReader said...

Oh, dear. Sorry you have to haul yourself out, L--good luck and stay safe.

John H. D. Watson said...

agreed. especially when it's cold out and warm in bed.

mazarin said...

Oh, darn, L. That stinks. Best, and stay dry(ish?)

Nice bike, John. I really like the lines of it.

Greg Lestrade said...

Mmm, warm bed sounds great. And a long way off...

REReader said...

Have you at least been able to stay dry-ish, or is the crime scene outdoors?

I hope you can get back to warm bed sooner than it looks like at the moment.

Greg Lestrade said...

Outdoors. Soaking, terrible place to have a murder scene in this weather.

I've got spare clothes at the yard if I ever get that far.

pandabob said...

Murderers always pick the best places!!!

I hope you make it somewhere dry soon and the case is not too bad to deal with (I know its murder but you know what I mean.)

I hope you found the milk thermometer John ;-)

Anonybob

Small Hobbit said...

L - hope you manage to get both warm and dry sooner rather than later. Maybe it'll be in the Queen's Speach "In future all murderers will only be active between the hours of 9am and 5pm when the weather is dry, but not hot. Excluding weekends and bank holidays."

Greg Lestrade said...

Thanks all. Am starting to run on fumes. Hopefully someone will do a coffee run soon.

mazarin said...

*looks at own empty cup*

*Realizes you're 5 hours ahead of me and have been awake since I went to bed the night before*

My deepest sympathies on your coffeeless existence. I'd air mail you an entire flask of my best french-pressed Sumatra if I could.

Greg Lestrade said...

Thanks Maz. There have been coffee runs since then. But having been on the go for nearly twelve hours and only drunk coffee, I'm feeling like maybe the Doc has a point about this eating idea... Not that this scene is giving me much of an appetite.

Anonymous said...

You know, I've tried that "eating" thing before and can highly recommend it.

pandabob said...

the doc most definitely has a point with the eating idea Greg, your brain can't possibly do its job properly if you don't give it something to work off even if it's only a packet of crisps or a chocolate biscuit you need to find something.

Are you anywhere near getting to go home Greg? I hope you're a little less wet by now if nothing else :-)

Anonybob

Greg Lestrade said...

The outside of me is less wet, courtesy of a new paper suit, now I've been off-scene and back on. The inside layers still very damp.

And Ive now eaten a kitkat.

Hoping to get home in the next few hours, once everything's been cleared from the scene and we start waiting for some forensics. Depends if anything else comes up that's a lead. At the moment, we're a bit lead-less.

John H. D. Watson said...

Anything I can do? I presume bringing you a sandwich at a crime scene would be frowned upon?

pandabob said...

A dry outside and damp inside is the wrong way around I'm sure but better than totally wet i suppose!

Do I hope you find a lead? or that you don't until you've been home and had some sleep but no one else gets hurt before then? I never know what the best situation is but I hope whatever it is it happens ;-)

Greg Lestrade said...

Danger, I hope to be heading home soon, so pick me up when I land face fiesta inside the door and drag me upstairs?

Hope Sherlock wasn't too early or demanding this morning. I know he hates to miss me heading out for a murder.

Greg Lestrade said...

Face first. My face is a long way from a fiesta

John H. D. Watson said...

Ah, but your face is always a fiesta to me... I'm not even sure what I mean by that. It's been a long day.

I will certainly pick you up and drag you to bed, I mean upstairs. Is there anything you want for dinner? I'm going to Tesco before I fetch his royal crankiness from school.

Greg Lestrade said...

Just something that doesn't require me to do anything but chew and swallow.

But don't let me sleep until a reasonable hour or I'll be awake in the middle of the night.

Or a seal in the middle of the night, my phone says. Some sort of were-seal?

Is he okay? Are you? I hate leaving you in bed. Such a waste :)

Body has now gone (dead one, not mine). So may escape soon and leave soco to finish up.

John H. D. Watson said...

I was hoping he might be better after school, but no. Still grumpy and stompy.

We're having chicken and green beans and coconut rice.

Greg Lestrade said...

Any particular reason for grumpy stompyness?

On the way home shortly.

John H. D. Watson said...

Improperly warmed milk, i.e. he missed you this morning. And then it was raining so they couldn't go out to play after lunch, and apparently I made his sandwich wrong... I think he's just generally grumpy.

REReader said...

I'm sorry the world is not performing up to standard, Sherlock. (I'm not being sarcastic, it's not a nice feeling when everything seems not quite right.) Don't you have Mycroft's birthday dinner tomorrow evening? That should be good!

I hope you're home and dry by now, L.

You can't have been having a great day either, John, all things considered. A group cuddle and a family evening seems called for all round...

Greg Lestrade said...

John has broken a world record for largest sandwich ever made...

REReader said...

You could call it The Lifesaver, John!

Small Hobbit said...

Good for him. What does it have in it? Or would it be quickly to list what it didn't have?

I've just got back from the dental hygienist and am naturally enjoying a large mug of tea and a rock bun.

Greg Lestrade said...

Cheese, olives, mayo, ham, pickles, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, a different sort of cheese, all between lovely fresh bread.

It was a lufesaver and Sherlock is taking great pleasure in obeying my request for them to keep me awake. Although wrestling moves are now banned.

Anon Without A Name said...

Glad you're home, dry and fed, Lestrade.

John, clearly you are a god amongst boyfriends :-)

John H. D. Watson said...

And amazingly, it didn't even spoil his appetite for dinner...

REReader said...

That all sounds like it was the best part of everyone's day so far. :)

Greg Lestrade said...

It definitely beat leaving him in bed at 2am.

And of course it didn't spoil my appetite! I'm severely empty. Need something to soak up the coffee.

pandabob said...

Glad you're home safe, sound, dry and fed Greg :-)

Good job with the sandwich John it sounds like the perfect snack before dinner ;-)

I hope you all have a fun and peaceful evening

Anonybob

REReader said...

I'm just surprised Sherlock didn't demand a piece of that sandwich! (Unless, of course, he did... :D)

Greg Lestrade said...

He did indeed.

And doesn't want to go to bed in case I go anywhere again.

pandabob said...

That is seriously heartbreaking :-(

hope he goes to bed ok eventually (and that you are OK)

Anonybob

REReader said...

Ha!

And I can certainly understand that. Although him being awake wouldn't actually accomplish the goal of keeping you home where you belong, alas.

(Surely they wouldn't actually call you out two nights running...would they?)

Greg Lestrade said...

AnonyBob - his concerns are multiple. - That I'm having fun somewhere without him, that he won't get warm milk, that I won't tell him enough about whatever I'm doing, like I haven't told him much tonight, that John will therefore know more than him, that he won't get breakfast in the morning, or that I somehow won't be able to go on holiday with them. etc. It is nice to feel wanted, though.

And John is putting him to bed.

pandabob said...

all very reasonable concerns I suppose although surely John does feed him breakfast if you're not there?

It's not going to effect your holiday though is it? policemen get holidays don't they?

It's certainly good to be wanted, however much it messes with your head sometimes :-)

Anon Without A Name said...

Aww, poor little toad. I suppose when murder is fun and exciting as an abstract concept, it's difficult for him to understand that you're really not out having fun without him.

Mind you, I distinctly remember being that age and absolutely unable/unwilling to explain what I was really unhappy about, and latching onto just about anything else as an explanation; perhaps he just really does miss you if you're there when he gets up?

Greg Lestrade said...

RR - the price I pay for daring to have weekends off. It's not so bad, being on call. I amvery rarely called.

AnonyBob - John does indeed feed him, although he'll try to persuade you not. It's probably more that I'm not there to cater to his every whim - he actually has to wake John up first. Such a hard life! As for policemen getting holidays...I'm starting to think they're phasing it ou as a bad idea. feels that way.

REReader said...

the price I pay for daring to have weekends off.

:(
Two in a row would be more than slightly brutal. Let's just hope it doesn't ever happen.


I distinctly remember being that age and absolutely unable/unwilling to explain what I was really unhappy about

I remember that too, Nameless--and I wouldn't be surprised if that weren't the largest part of it. (Now, please don't start feeling guilty about that, L, that's not at all the intention! He'd be just the same if it were you missing weekends, or any time--IF we're at all right about it. It's just life, isn't it?)

pandabob said...

They better not be phasing out your holidays, holidays are the only thing that keep you, kind of, sane ;-)

I think you should maybe start getting John up in the morning so he can learn Sherlock's ways then it would be less of a shock when you weren't there. I'm sure John would be in agreement ;-)

(please be assured John that as a registered 'mornings should go away and leave me alone' group member I am very much joking :-) )

Hope you get a full nights sleep tonight :-)

Anonybob

Greg Lestrade said...

My boyfriend, John Hamish, is the best boyfriend in the world.

And now I shall sleep untl a million elbows and knees wake me.

John H. D. Watson said...

Nameless - perhaps he just really does miss you if you're not there when he gets up?

I think that's it really, yeah. I know how he feels, too, even if L doesn't heat my milk up for me...

REReader said...

(Oh, rats--I only put in half what I meant to quote--stupid mobile app. :( But yeah, what Nameless and John said.)

Sweet dreams, guys!

Anon Without A Name said...

John - yeah, same here with my bloke.

Sleep tight, gents.

Ro said...

Have a good sleep, guys! When you wake up it will be Mycroft's birthday! It's already May 10 here, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MYCROFT! Hope you have a great day.

I was meant to go see Heston Blumenthal last night (my early birthday present to myself), but ended up giving the tickets to my flatmate and her boyfriend and going to bed at 9:30 (fantastic show, according to my flatmate!). My grandmother died on Tuesday night, and it's amazing how tired being sad can make you. I'm happy for her, though, as she has had a miserable time the last few years, and outlived most people she knew. I'll be flying up to Brisbane on Monday for the funeral. I've got a book that she wrote about her childhood to read on the plane, and voice recordings she made of her journal from journey to Europe in the 70s to listen to. Nice to have reminders.

REReader said...

I'm so sorry for your loss, Ro--even when you can see the good in it for the person you've lost, it's still so hard for those left behind. It's lovely that you have that book and recordings, those are true treasures.


Oh right! It's well into the 10th in the UK, so happy birthday, Mycroft! (And if you're awake to see this now, I'm sure I should tell you to go to bed, but hey, it's your birthday, do what you want! ;) )

Ro said...

Thanks, RR. There is always sadness at what we are losing, even when there is gladness that they are at peace. I think the technological developments over the past hundred years are great in cases like this. I'm sure my grandmother would have loved to have had such reminders of her parents and grandparents, but all she had were memories and photos, and a few odds and ends.

Calliope said...

Happy birthday, Mycroft!

Ro, I'm sorry to hear about your Gran. Have a safe flight.

Small Hobbit said...

Ro, I too am sorry to hear about your grandmother. And I'm pleased that you've got some tangible things to remind you of her, as well as your own memories. Hope all goes well on Monday.

Greg Lestrade said...

Sorry to hear about your grandmother, Ro. I'm glad youve got happy memories of her.

Danger - finally checked out that bike properly. It is a lovely looking thing. But it is also considerably heavier, and...taller... Than mine. Just to...warn you? :)

Anon Without A Name said...

Ro, my condolences. I hope you have a safe flight, and I hope you and you family are able to share many happy memories of hour Gran with each other.

Mycroft - Happy Birthday! I hope you have a good day, and an excellent weekend.

Jaws said...

Sympathies about your grandmother, Ro. I hope your memories of her are happy ones, and that you and your family can come together even in this difficult time.

Greg Lestrade said...

Just wanted to say, the Police Federation march through London today might cause a few of you some disruption, but it's to highlight the cuts to your police forces. Obviously I'd ask you to support it. But at the very last, please don't hold it against us. The cuts to policing are damaging, in my view. We can't strike - we couldn't want to. Most of us can't even march, as we're on duty. But we can voice our support to those that do.

Ttid said...

Aren't we lucky to have people like you, Greg, keeping us safe.

Small Hobbit said...

Considering all we expect the police to do, supporting you in your march is the least that I can do in response. *waves virtual banner*

mazarin said...

Ro- Deepest condolences. Losing someone is always hard, even when you know they are at peace. Best wishes for a safe flight and all the joy of your memories to share with each other.

L - Hope the march is the catalyst for at least discussion or awareness, if not outright change. Everyone hates taxes, but everyone also likes police protection. They forget that one necessarily feeds the other.

pandabob said...

Behind the police every step of the way Greg, they do an amazing job and they work harder than any of us really appreciate. You can't possibly be the only one who works as hard as you do, however special we all know you are ;-)

Were forensics useful? I hope you're nearly sorted for running quickly away from there for the evenings celebrations :-)

Anonybob

Desert Wanderer said...

Ro, so sorry to hear of your family's loss. Let us know if we can help at all, yeah?

Anon Without A Name said...

Nothing but full support from me, Lestrade. The cuts are so damaging, indiscriminate slashing if budgets - and then blaming police forces when there aren't enough officers on duty to deal with the 'riots' last year.

My union is on strike today, along with several others. Although pension cuts are the headline (I took home less money in April than March, despite the increased tax allowance, because of pension contribution increases), it's about the overall picture if pension cuts, pay freezes, job cuts, and how the hell we're supposed to continue to provide essential public services in these circumstances.

*climbs down off soapbox*

Anyway, consider yourself (and your colleagues) supported :-)

Mycroft said...

Ro, thank you, and happy birthday to you, too (I don't know how early your early birthday present was meant to be, but it must be soon, yes?)

I'm so sorry about your grandmother, but glad that you have those reminders of her and her life.

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