27 May 2012

Kew the music...

Today was brilliant!

I got on the bike and headed off to Harrow to fetch Mycroft fairly early, leaving Sherlock to bounce off the walls and drag John out of bed and demand to know where we're going, despite John not knowing.

When Mycroft and I got back we were all ready to go - suncream, water bottles, books, snacks...and off to the tube.

Mycroft knew our destination, and Sherlock guessed every stop we went past, and when we changed tubes...



We ended up at Kew Gardens.

This will sound ridiculous to most of you, but I got rather stupidly happy when John and I could get joint membership - I did it last night on the computer. 'Two adults in the same family, living at the same address' - that's us :) And it means we can go anytime, for free, now, which I hope we will.

Anyway, we got in no trouble...and Sherlock did his first headlong run of the day, knocking aside old grannies and other kids, heading to the pond and the tropical glasshouse.


The pond did indeed have some very big fish. I think John might have nabbed the pictures of that.

It was, being a tropical glasshouse, absolutely boiling. But rather nice when we came out again... except Sherlock kept wanting to go back in.

I did eventually volunteer to take him right to the top walkway, where it was approximately a billion degrees.


Yes, we debated what would happen if we reached out and jumped into trees, or dropped things on people below....

A conversation which had started when we did the treetop walk:



We seriously needed a leash for Sherlock. I climbed the stairs with him on my shoulders, because the risk of him escaping was too high, and then he'd have terrified everyone else up there with questions of death and mayhem. It was amazing. You are right up in the treetops, loads to see, and totally safe. Until Sherlock starts asking about what would happen if it all fell down, and jumping so it sways and shakes, when the other people started to look a bit murderous...

We also spent a good deal of the time lazing about in the shade, eating, sleeping (John Hamish), reading (Mycroft).

And it's so massive there was plenty of room for Sherlock to run about loads, and geese to bother, chickens to catch (we made him put it back), and general fun for all.

And ice cream.

Lots of ice cream.

Although I got a NannyGlare grade 2 for 'eating an ice lolly like that in public'. (I asked what 'like that' was like. I was told I knew what it was 'like'.)

69 comments:

Small Hobbit said...

I think it's very sweet that you were happy at having a joint membership. It's often the little things that make things sweeter.

As for how you ate your ice lolly - I thought from what Sally said that you'd been practising the other day.

Anyway, very glad that you all had such a lovely day. How are John's ears?

Anon Without A Name said...

It looks fantastic. I must go sometime when we're in London.

I did have a bit of "awww" moment when you commented that this is your first joint account. Lovely :-)

NannyJohn, what does "like that" look like?

Greg Lestrade said...

I eat ice lollies the same way everyone else does!

John's ears are...pink.

Nameless - it's great! Find someone who's a member and they can get you in free ;)

It'll be great to go back there now - it's a great space, and as it's relatively expensive to get in, you get a better class of layabouts :)

pandabob said...

I'm glad there was a lot of space for Sherlock to run around and lots for him to see it sounds like a really lovely place to spend day :-)

Ice cream is of course a requirement for a warm day but naughty ice lolly eating may just get you in trouble with more people than John ;-)

Biggest smiles and most happy thoughts of the day go to Joint membership for you and John :-) that is just brilliant and it is in no way ridiculous to be happy about that it's lovely to be able to do things like that :-)

John H. D. Watson said...

Nameless - you also know like what, I'm quite sure! He was definitely doing it on purpose.

Greg Lestrade said...

There was no 'naughty ice lolly eating'!

It was a nice ice lolly. I ate it in the way one must eat a lolly, by putting it into my mouth!

Danger, you were the one spread out on the grass looking ravishing for the world to see.

John H. D. Watson said...

Putting it into your mouth and slowly sliding it in and out, yes...

I don't think ravishing is the word you want there.

Anon Without A Name said...

John - no, sorry, I have no idea; you'll have to be more specific...

Greg Lestrade said...

how does anyone else eat lollies??

Isn't it? Err...right, now I don't know if you're being modest or I just don't know enough about the English language.

Gorgeous is probably better anyway. Think I know what that one means.

pandabob said...

There are only two options with ice lollies aren't there? slowly sucking and moving in and out of the mouth or long slow licks along the length. ;-)

Anon Without A Name said...

Lestrade - As well as sliding in and out, I believe some people try to get maximum flavour quickly by sucking long and hard. Alternatively, you could go for licking all the way up and down,making sure you catch any dribbles. I think many people like a combination of the three.

Although I have no idea why any of that would earn you a glare, I'm sure.

Greg Lestrade said...

Quite, you two. He clearly thought I should just consume it by the power of thought or something...

I did obviously have to do a bit of licking - as you say, to catch dribbles.

It's Danger's dirty mind working overtime, that's all.

John H. D. Watson said...

L - sorry, you know what it means. Just felt more hot and sticky than anything else.

Greg Lestrade said...

Oddly enough, I quite like feeling you when you're hot and sticky...

Greg Lestrade said...

(Sherlock was out like a light. And I am now cooler and less-sticky after a nice long shower. You could undo all my good work there though.)

John H. D. Watson said...

You mean instead of just lying here thinking about you eating ice lollies? Hmm, you have talked me into it.

Greg Lestrade said...

You could lie somewhere else? Then I could...explain... my technique. With demonstrations?

John H. D. Watson said...

You make excellent plans.

Greg Lestrade said...

Mmm. Who knew a visit to some gardens could be so... invigorating. Stimulating. Exciting.

A from NW (who is smothering giggles) said...

*reading about the ways to eat ice lollies and turning red*

I'll be down there, on the floor, choking with laughter. If I pass out, please call 911 and inform them that I had a laughing emergency and may have died from the adorable cuteness of a loving, nurturing relationship between two awesome people.

~A from NW :D

Greg Lestrade said...

Thanks to all of you who don't think I'm ridiculous for getting excited by joint membership.

Court today. And it's too hot.

Small Hobbit said...

Hope it goes well for you in court today and that you don't melt. Maybe you could have another ice lolly afterwards.

Best wishes for a good week to all badgers and hoping that any excitements you have are of a positive nature.

pandabob said...

Totally not ridiculous Greg and made me smile again this morning :-)

I hope you're not stuck in court too long but that it serves its purpose :-)

Happy badgering everyone I hope you enjoy your weeks in or out of the Sun :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

Made me smile again too :)

Court is going well so far. Would rather be outisde though!

John H. D. Watson said...

Do you think you'd have time to get lunch today?

Greg Lestrade said...

You okay?

I will, but I might be on the phone for a bit of it. Been either in court or on the mobile all morning.

Seen lots of sunburned patients today?

John H. D. Watson said...

Yeah. No. I don't know. Just got some bad news. What time?

Greg Lestrade said...

Right now. What's happened? I can leave someone else here and come hone if you'd rather?

John H. D. Watson said...

No, that's all right. Just want to see you. I'll call you, okay?

pandabob said...

hope you're ok John.

Greg Lestrade said...

If you change your mind about me coming home just text. I'll keep my phone on silent. I really really don't mind.

Or if you want me to fetch Sherlock from school so you can have some peace.

And I'll finish as soon as I can and get home, okay?

John H. D. Watson said...

All right. Thank you.

Greg Lestrade said...

Jury's back in, good result, so I've just got to do the press, talk to the family of the victim, get back to the yard for some paperwork and I'll be home.

Sherlock, be good for John, right? And I know you'll have questions, but try and wait until I'm home to ask them, please, in case John doesn't feel like talking about it, okay Champ?

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on the case L!

Thinking of you John.

Sherlock, be kind to John.

pandabob said...

great news about the case Greg :-) well done to you and your team.

I hope you're ok John, obviously you know where we are if there's anything we can do (daft thing to say I know)

Sherlock love however John is feeling at the minute is not down to you but Lestrade is right that you would be best waiting to ask any question you want to until he gets home. I hope you've had a nice day at school and enjoyed the sunshine :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

Thanks all.

The papers tonight seem to he making a lot of the fact we only solve a quarter of all crimes. Glad this was one of them.

pandabob said...

You can always trust the papers to put the police down that's why people are so stupidly frightened of the world!!

I'm glad you got the right result today you all deserve it for your hard work :-)

I hope your evening goes as well as it can :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

True.

I'm just glad for the family. I know it can never bring anyone back, but at least they know a little justice has been done, and he can't do the same to anyone else for a long while. Got to take the victories wherever you can in this job.

pandabob said...

Hows the day treating you Greg? I hope that people are behaving themselves and that your difficult nights sleep is being successfully counteracted by coffee :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

No comment.

pandabob said...

fair enough.

Greg Lestrade said...

Sorry, given current circumstances that sounds ridiculous.

It's going a lot better than a lot of other people's, I'm certain.

Hope your morning is treating you right too.

pandabob said...

you're allowed to have a bad day and not to want to talk about it don't worry about it :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

It's not that, I just thought it sounded a but glib, given the circumstances.

Ideally my day would be spent with John. It isn't being, it's being spent with various people all arguing and trying to blame each other rather than just knuckling down and sorting problems out and I've got a thumping headache, not helped by my mum calling me this morning.

So yeah, not brilliant, but nothing serious.

pandabob said...

pain killers for the headache, though I trust you've already taken some. Phone call to John and arrange to see him/ check how he is? Your mum, well no idea about that but timing seems to be impeccable as always (some people just have the gift and they really don't mean to I'm sure!)

Sorry people are being a pain and I hope they get the problems sorted out soon so you don't have that to worry about as well. :-)

REReader said...

L--Ah, yes, buck-passing, the great indoor sport.

I hope it's just that speaking with your mother is generally stressful (that's bad enough) and nothing specifically headache-inducing.

(And I hope you took something for the headache and that it's working.)

Small Hobbit said...

I hope this afternoon improves a bit for you and that the headache eases up.

John H. D. Watson said...

Do you want to get lunch in a bit?

When did your mum call? At work, or was it before I regained consciousness this morning?

Greg Lestrade said...

Lunch would be great. I'm at the yard, so we can go to the park if you want?

She called at work. General gist , I think, was that none of us love her, she's given up everything for us, she may as well be dead, no one would care etc. it was all pretty hard to understand, given she was steaming at ten in the morning.

As far as I could tell, it started with something about Rachel and the baby. Possibly Rachel not being overawed by mum's offer of help.

I called one of her neighbours who went round to check up on her, and she says she's okay, just drunk. Nicky's going to go around tonight, neighbour's going to pop around a few times between now and then, check she's not too bad, not dehydrated too much. Get her off to hospital if she is.

And i'm fairly sure my own headache is down to exactly that - dehydration. So i'm trying to be good and drink water.

So...how was your morning? Or do you want to tell me at lunch? Sorry to unload on you. Know you don't need it right now.

John H. D. Watson said...

Just what you needed this morning. Sorry, love. I know there's probably not much anyone can do, but let me know if I can help, all right? I hope she'll feel better, or at least more sensible, by this evening when Nicky sees her.

My morning... I don't know. It was all right. Slightly surreal.

Greg Lestrade said...

Seeing you will help plenty.

At least I know she's okay. Well, as okay as you can be when you're drunk.

Surreal in what way?

pandabob said...

I am so sorry that you're having to deal with your mum today Greg, really I'm sorry that you have to deal with this kind of stuff from her ever but today especially so.

I hope however surreal this morning's been John that you are ok.

John H. D. Watson said...

Lack of sleep combined with no one at work knowing anything's wrong. Just that odd feeling of everyone getting on with their lives.

Oh, and yeah, the park would be great. You ready?

Greg Lestrade said...

Ah, yeah, I know that feeling.

I am ready. Can you pick up food on the way? I'll meet you there. Our bench :)
And a not-coffee-drink. (possibly in addition to a coffee one?)

John H. D. Watson said...

Yeah, anything in particular you want?

...Maybe a coffee one on the way back to work. After the non-coffee one.

Greg Lestrade said...

Nah, I trust you to make superior nutritional choices.

pandabob said...

Are you feeling any better for a break and something none coffee to drink Greg? I hope you're getting things sorted and will be ready to escape on time :-)

The fact the world just carries on is the weirdest thing about losing people John! I hope you're having fun with Sherlock now schools over for the day :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

Yeah, got a bit better. Only after my DCI and I had... a frank exchange of views. Very frank. And quite loud.

John H. D. Watson said...

That sounds...exciting.

Greg Lestrade said...

Yeah. Came out of the office to find everyone very studiously ignoring us. No one's dared come in my office since, either.

Super took it quite well though.

John H. D. Watson said...

What was it about? Or shall I ask when you get home?

Greg Lestrade said...

Pretty much my rant earlier. Which sort of turned into being about his command style. It's been brewing a while, to be honest.

John H. D. Watson said...

Well, good. I hope he listened a bit instead of just shouting back. Did it help? In terms of relieving your feelings, I mean?

Greg Lestrade said...

I'll tell you if it helped if he changes at all :)

Yeah, suppose it helped a bit.

John H. D. Watson said...

One can only hope.

Did anyone speak to you again before you left or were they all still avoiding your wrath?

Greg Lestrade said...

A couple of them braved the Lestallion's den.

Anon Without A Name said...

Sorry you had a crappy drunken call from your Mum, Lestrade. Does she remember making these sorts of calls afterwards, do you know? I'm only being hideously nosey because she did seem determined to make some proper progress in recent times, and I'm wondering how she'll react to having done this.

Is the DCI the sort to bear a grudge? Or does he take, um, "constructive criticism" well?

Greg Lestrade said...

Sometimes she does. I don't think she'll remember much about this one. She sounded pretty far gone.

Nicky called me earlier - it was about Rach. Mum wanted to go and stay to 'help' when the baby was born. Rach told her in no uncertain terms that she wasn't coming near the baby when she'd been drinking or smoking, so it wasn't a good idea. That set Mum right off on a 'I managed to raise the five of you, you ungrateful kids' rant, involving lots of cheap alcohol and phonecalls to at least me and Nicky, if not the others.

I'll give it a day or two and call her again. Better just to get over it and carry on, I reckon.

DCI...err, he's not known for taking on board suggestions... but the Super seemed okay with me, so we'll see.

Anon Without A Name said...

Well, I'm glad it seems to have been a temporary thing with your Mum, triggered by a difficult conversation; but I'm equally glad that you seem to have been successfully putting a bit more emotional distance between you for a little while.

And I hope your DCI is OK tomorrow :-)

Post a Comment