21 October 2012

He's Begging Me To Come With Him...

Um, so, it's actually true. My boyfriend (you know the one? Ex-Army, tough as old boots, has an encyclopaedic range of frowns, has been known to shoot things.) now owns a hoodie...with a unicorn on it.

Yes, that is a hoodie with a unicorn on it.

(And yes, I agree with Mycroft, that it is better than his Christmas jumper)







Sherlock chose it. He says it's because I mentioned getting a tattoo with John riding a farting unicorn on my back...err...which he's sort of right about. You know, in jest.

Anyway, they also bought most of a camping emporium. Including a lovely snuggly sleeping bag liner, a bigger, better camping stove, with a grill, and some bottles we can use as hot water bottles for our sleeping bags. Or just, y'know, water bottles, in the daytime.


Sherlock and I just made these:


He's already eaten two that 'didn't go together right'. Hmmm. And John's eaten at least one.

Well, Sherlock made most of them, I made John dance around the kitchen and tried to help him get floury handprints off his bum. No idea how they got there. At all.

And no matter how many stupid people say idiotic things about how 'same sex couples with kids are 'eroding family values', let me tell you, I've never felt more a part of family in my life than being here, now, with John, Mycroft and Sherlock. I've never felt more myself than when I'm here, with them, either.

174 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure that you could say anything more wonderful about any group of people, Greg, I'm so glad you've all found each other.

Lancs. Anon

pandabob said...

great biscuits Sherlock and lovely jumper John :-)

The only thing that matters with families is that they love each other and no two people could love each other and their children more that you two do. Crappy awful marriages and absent mothers and fathers are what is eroding family values not beautifully committed and loving people forming a family and sharing themselves with each other. (people who judge others and their lives make me cross can you tell?)

John H. D. Watson said...

I've never felt more myself than when I'm here, with them, either.

I know exactly what you mean. :)

And it is not better than my perfectly ordinary non-unicorny Christmas jumper.

REReader said...

I've never felt more myself than when I'm here, with them, either.

That right there? That's the best. That's everything.

Greg Lestrade said...

AnonyBob - exactly. I can't say growing up with my mum and all us kids was easy - but it would have been a million times worse if my Dad had stayed around. And people need to realise that there is no one blueprint for what makes a family. Love is what makes it, nothing else.

Danger - good :) I'm glad. (And it is.)

kholly said...

I had a cousin recently tell me that she resented being expected to be supportive of my sister's marriage when for years my sister-in-law had been introduced as her roommate. And so I said, don't you see that's exactly why she was afraid to tell you? And don't you find it sad that she had to be afraid of her own family? She didn't respond to that and we've pretty much not spoken to each other since even though none of the words were spoken in anger. And even though she and I were close when we were growing up I find that I don't care if we never talk again. "Family" isn't about who you have a common ancestor with, it's about who loves and supports you no matter what. As evidenced by your household where most of you haven't got a common ancestor but you are one of the sweetest families I know.

John H. D. Watson said...

Isn't.

Greg Lestrade said...

Is, you Campicorn.

Greg Lestrade said...

And thank you, Kholly. It is very sad when situations like that arise.

John H. D. Watson said...

kholly - I'm sorry, that's a hard situation. And you're quite right about what makes a family.

L - isn't isn't isn't.

Greg Lestrade said...

isicorn.

Look...I can put my hands in your hoody pockets whilst giving you a lovely hug.

Perfect.

John H. D. Watson said...

That is one benefit.

Greg Lestrade said...

And I can do this....

KHolly said...

I accidentally drove away wearing a hoodie of my Dad's this weekend because it was so soft and warm and comfy. Embrace your rainbow/unicorn/hoodie wearing self John. Or, you know, let L embrace you.

Sherlock said...

And you can put degus in the pockets on a hoodie and they like it but they just eat John's jumpers. I want one with lights on.

John H. D. Watson said...

'This'... I'm not at all sure if that's a benefit or not, let me out of this thing

Greg Lestrade said...

but you're so cute and kissable!

John H. D. Watson said...

Stop scrunching my hood uppppp

Greg Lestrade said...

Hmm..not sure I can undo the knot. I can post a bourbon through the hole though? Or other things ;)

John H. D. Watson said...

Other things, eh? What did you have in mind?

Anonymous said...

I was going to say I've found the hood of my hoodie a great place to hide sweets and things out of reach of the children but then I realised the problem you'd have with that John ;)

Greg Lestrade said...

Oh, whatever you'd like to savour, love of my life.

Sausage?

Sherlock said...

Lestrade's tied up the hood and strings on John's hoodie around hi face and his face is all scrunched up and it's funny and pleeeeeaaaaaaasse can I have one more biscuit and some milk before bed pleeeaaase

REReader said...

And you can put degus in the pockets on a hoodie and they like it

I must admit I never considered the value of a hoodie pouch as a degu cave, which makes a lot of sense. (I mostly think of the uncomfortableness of the hood part under a outer jacket.)

John H. D. Watson said...

I think I'll stick with bourbons until you untie me.

pandabob said...

I'm sure he's only showing John how well he will be kept warm on his camping trip Sherlock and they need to check the practical issues involved as well ;-)

Sleep well when you go to bed Sherlock, I hope you have lots of plans for tomorrow.

Greg Lestrade said...

No, Sherlock. You can have some milk though.

But not until I've freed John from his hood. Honestly, I don't know how me manages to get into such a mess...

Anonymous said...

bondage kink?

Greg Lestrade said...

RR - I always put my hood outside my outer jacket. Inside makes you look like you have a hunch.

Anon Without A Name said...

John - that's a very... special hoodie. Mind you, I can think of worse things that being scrunched up inside a hood by someone threatening to feed me home-baked bourbons :-p

Lestrade - yeah, that's how I tend to wear them as well, if I'm layering up.

REReader said...

Yep, it really does! But that only works if your outer jacket doesn't have a hood--and mine all do!

Greg Lestrade said...

Nameless - I'm killing him with kindness, really.

And I find it helps form an extra scarf-like bit when I'm on the bike, stops any breeze getting in!

RR - I'm not above double-hooding, you just have to make sure the hoodie hood sits inside the outer-hood neatly. No one's ever commented on it being an odd thing to do.

John H. D. Watson said...

Do you think I can get tea through my hoodie hole?

Greg Lestrade said...

Anon - him with the kink, or me?

Danger - hmm. Maybe with a travel mug.

pandabob said...

better to be safe than sorry I guess Greg ;-)

REReader said...

L--I've seen it done so it looks good. Alas, when I do it, it looks horrible. :(

I'm thinking it might be a bit dribble-y, John... :D

Greg Lestrade said...

John is quite often a bit dribbly. Especially if Federicorn is on TV.

John H. D. Watson said...

Maybe I'll wear it to the World Tour Final.

Greg Lestrade said...

(I have freed him from his hood. Taken him to bed.)

John H. D. Watson said...

It is quite comfortable when I'm not scrunched into it.

pandabob said...

I hope you're sleeping ok gents (but I'm very glad you have someone to put their arms around you when you have bad dreams!)

Greg Lestrade said...

On and off, AnonyBob, as usual. Hope you're ok?

REReader said...

Hey, L. (So you know that if you want some meaningless chat, someone's here. :))

Kath Ballantyne said...

I love hoodies and jumpers but my hoodies all have a zip up the front so I can get them on and off without dislocating my shoulders when I'm having a bad day.

in winter I often wear a hoodie with the hood up and then a jumper and then sometimes something else wool over the top in my house. (and sometimes a scarf around my neck before putting the hood up) Hoodies are great for keeping the draught of the back of my neck and for stopping my ears hurting from the cold.

pandabob said...

I hope you got back to sleep ok Greg and sorry you're still on and off with sleep :-(

I er...I wrote things down somewhere hardly anyone ever sees and it kind of cleared my head but I'll be glad when the kids wake up for a hug!

Good luck with work today :-)

Small Hobbit said...

Good luck to all today whatever you may be doing. And if I can get some work done without having to deal with heating not working, cookers not working and slippery ground, I shall be extremely happy.

Greg Lestrade said...

AnonyBob - I hope you don't mind that I err...found that place? Nightmares where you're helpless are the worst - especially when kids are involved. I hope tonight sees a more peaceful night for you.

SH - good luck with your day.

pandabob said...

I don't mind at all Greg and thanks :-)

Hows the day treating you? have you been getting jealous making updates from your boys on what they're up to or are they leaving you in peace?

I hope the three of you are having fun whatever you're up to John :-)

John H. D. Watson said...

"You know, in jest."

Now that I've got the hoodie, you're getting the tattoo, right? I thought that was the deal!

Greg Lestrade said...

I think I have to have the commissioner sign it off or something, nowadays. But yeah, sure...um...

Anonymous said...

First you have to find a tattoo artist who can work on that image without giggling like a loon.

rsf

Small Hobbit said...

L - does that mean you get the tattoo done and then show the Commissioner so that he can sign underneath it?

John H. D. Watson said...

SH - ha, I certainly hope so.

Greg Lestrade said...

Do i then have to get his signature tattooed too?

REReader said...

That would undoubtably be a fairly effective deterrent, L.. :D

I hope everyone is having a good day! (I expect those enjoying a holiday are having more fun than those working, but good is good. :))

John H. D. Watson said...

I think his signature should go on all of them and he should be required to have photos of them all hung up in his office.

Greg Lestrade said...

I think quite soon we'll all be required to have a picture of him up in our offices, and the eyes will be cameras that record our every move...

(I do actually think he's a good bloke, and doing good things for the Met.)

Jaws said...

How's the first proper day of half term going, John? There's a Doctors and Dissection type exhibit on at the Museum of London I believe, if you're looking for more ideas?

Sherlock said...

Do they let you dissect things???

Greg Lestrade said...

Molly says you can go and see her, if you're free tomorrow afternoon, Sherlock. She's got some internal organs you can look at. (not her own, obviously).

Sherlock said...

Yes!!!! I will bring her biscuits, John don't eat anymore.

REReader said...

It's a very nice idea to bring Molly some biscuits. But instead of telling people not to eat any more, why don't you ask John for a container, and then you can set aside some biscuits for Molly. That way you'll be sure to have enough for her, and everyone will know how many are left for eating.

John H. D. Watson said...

As if I'm the biscuit hoover around here...

Greg Lestrade said...

Well, not the only one. But few biscuits survive a sustained Watson/Holmes attack.

REReader said...

Was the visit to Molly your idea, L? :)

John H. D. Watson said...

L - Point. Guilty as charged. Sherlock now wants to eat these and make her skull shaped ones.

REReader said...

Ha! Well, skull-shaped biscuits would be very appropriate!

Greg Lestrade said...

That is a lovely idea, Sherlock. But you'd have to see if Mrs H, or Mycroft would help you. I've got a tonne of work to do.

Or maybe John would give you a hand. Molls has a strong constitution...

Anonymous said...

I was going to suggest you make a sugar skull for her, but Googling for recipes pretty much says that it doesn't work well on humid days. Biscuits, then, or maybe a card to go with biscuits?

rsf

pandabob said...

Are you home, fed and working hard Greg?

You sound like you've had quite a busy day I hope the evening is long enough to get everything you need to finished :-)

The biscuits are a lovely idea Sherlock. I hope you've had a good start to your holidays and enjoyed spending time with Mycroft and John :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

Yeah. been a bit of a day. Lots of grief from on high about my case not going anywhere.

Mycroft just got pretty much every question right on University challenge. They're now watching Nigella.

pandabob said...

who would expect anything less of Mycroft?

Sorry you're getting grief about your case, it's not like you can invent evidence or leads is it! I hope something turns up or becomes clearer soon :-)

REReader said...

Lots of grief from on high about my case not going anywhere.

:(

And I suppose they'd just complain if you made something up. Some people are never satisfied.

Greg Lestrade said...

AnonyBob - cheers. Looking forward to that tent, now! Cold or not :) at least I won't have the DCI on my back. (Just Sherlock.)

pandabob said...

If its bad enough at work for you to be looking forward to being cold and wet then I pray for sunshine and relative warmth for you because you all need a chance to have fun :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

It'll be fun whatever - Sherlock's so excited, and Mycroft's hoping for clear enough skies to get a bit of astronomy in.

I'm waiting for them to tell me what they want to eat (Wild Boar has been Sherlock's suggestion so far.)

REReader said...

Wild Boar has been Sherlock's suggestion so far.

That would take a long time to cook... :D

pandabob said...

you mean you're not living of the land? I'm disappointed ;-)

Greg Lestrade said...

RR - take longer to catch.

AnonyBob - it may yet come to that.

REReader said...

Indubitably! (There are reasons we aren't still hunter gatheres, after all...)

Anonymous said...

Chili is always nice for cold weather camping. Or stew. Can you make s'mores with a fancy camp stove? (We always make 'em at a campfire.)

rsf

Anonymous said...

Oh, and I forgot to link these Halloween treats that I think Sherlock would probably like. You'd need to find the molds, though.

rsf

Greg Lestrade said...

RR - I was more saying it because there are very, very few wild boar in the UK. I don't know anyone who's ever seen one, although they are about.

RSF - I don't even know what s'mores are.

Don't know if we're doing anything for hallowe'en. Maybe carve a pumpkin.

REReader said...

And I was thinking about how hard it's supposed to be to kill one--not to mention the possible illegality. :)

Although finding one would definitely be a prerequisite!

pandabob said...

I hate halloween! I know that makes me a horrible person but I really hate it!

I hope your work is done/nearly done Greg and that you can get some relaxation in before bed :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

It doesn't make you a horrible person. I've got no love for it myself. Especially trick-or-treating. It's 99% misery for all involved.

And doing nightshift is bad enough without every second person you see in the street covered in blood and fake injuries...

Yeah, pretty much done. Feel like I haven't stopped all day. Oh...that'll be because I haven't! ;)

Anonymous said...

You. Don't. Know. What. S'mores. Are?????

O-O

Take a graham cracker. Put a chocolate bar on it. Add two marshmallows, hot and gooey from being roasted over the coals. Top with another graham cracker, making a super sweet sticky little sandwich. Eat. (You can also assemble the sandwich in tinfoil and cook it on the coals, but that's harder to get out without burning your fingers.)

rsf

Greg Lestrade said...

...so what's a Graham cracker? And what sort of chocolate bar, or is that up to the consumer?

We usually just toast marshmallows.

pandabob said...

I will never understand sending kids to knock on strangers doors and ask for sweets when 364 days a year you tell them not to speak to/take things from strangers but I am always told I'm just missing the fun!

If you're almost done, think of something to do before bed that gives you a break between work and sleep, whatever that might be ;-)

Greg Lestrade said...

err..the washing up?

Honestly, work today is such that doing the washing up would actually be quite nice.

pandabob said...

washing up sound perfect :-) just something that isn't work really, you can't possibly sleep properly if you go straight from the stress of work to trying to sleep. Maybe playing the guitar for 20 mins would be better or playing someone else ;-)

Greg Lestrade said...

I've been neglecting my guitar the past few days.

And my boyfriend...but he can at least signal that he feels neglected! I think he's been researching survival techniques (for camping, not surviving neglect...).

Small Hobbit said...

I can't see the attraction of Hallowe'en either - although as it's my birthday - no comment thank you ;) - I reckon I have better things to celebrate.

Greg Lestrade said...

We can all celebrate that then!

Going to play my guitar, then turn in.

Anon Without A Name said...

Sleep well, all.

Anonymous said...

Some more about S'mores

http://whatscookingamerica.net/Cookie/Smores/Smores.htm

Greg Lestrade said...

I always feel like a failure when one of you says that, Nameless!

REReader said...

I'm sorry you've been having rough nights, L. Not fun.

Anonymous said...

That's a nice link, anon. Very illustrative of the general process of s'more making. (Although you can certainly use any kind of plain chocolate candy bar as long as its easy to melt).

Graham crackers, alas, do not seem to have a UK equivalent closer than digestive biscuits. Which, according to some sources just won't do. I did find a recipe for home made graham crackers online, which a suggestion on how to make graham flour up in the part that explains what graham flour is.

Or you could go with some other suggestions and experiment. Just bring lots of marshamallows!

rsf

Anonymous said...

... which INCLUDES a suggestion on how to make graham flour...

Yes, it is just past one in the morning here. How did you guess?

rsf

pandabob said...

I've told you before Greg you can't feel bad about what you do in your sleep and that includes whether you get any or not!

I hope you got a bit even if it was on and off

Good luck with work :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

All right, AnonyBob, I shall try!

If it stays this misty for camping we won't see anything, let alone the stars. May not see each other...

But it's meant to get clearer by the end of the week...and much colder...

Anon Without A Name said...

Aw, sorry Lestrade - it's more of a hope & desire for good sleep (for all of us) than an order :-)

Hope you managed to get at least some?

I keep seeing weatherpeople on the Beeb referring "artic blasts" when describing the weather by the end of the week... perfect excuse for snuggling up with Doc Danger for warmth.

pandabob said...

I just saw a weather forecast that made me feel cold sat in front of the fire so I hope the warm weather camping gear is very good stuff!

I hope work brings you a breakthrough today :-)



(I can't really work out if I've annoyed you about the sleep thing or not, I really didn't mean to if I have. I know its seriously depressing not to sleep properly without also feeling that fault for it somehow lies with you that's all I was trying to say)

Greg Lestrade said...

No, no not annoyed. You're right.

And yeah, but clear and cold is best for stargazing.

HM said...

how's work going Lestrade any breaks in your case?

Greg Lestrade said...

No, nothing yet. I hate it. I mean, obviously, we all do. It really gets you down.

There's just no motive we can find. He still had a few quid on him, he doesnt seem to have been in any arguments in the club or pubs he was in, none of his friends can think of anything. I don't know.

HM said...

I'm sorry you're no making progress, that is not good for anyone :(

do you have someone else looking at it ready to take over tomorrow? different eyes might be useful?

Greg Lestrade said...

Well, my team will keep going, and another DI and the DCI will supervise a bit.

REReader said...

L--Sounds like all the sane and logical avenues are dead ends, so maybe some wild speculation might help? (By which I mean that maybe an unfiltered brainstorming session might give you some new angles. But maybe that's a dumb idea.)

Anonymous said...

Maybe your victim was the aggressor in some situation and the person who killed him panicked and killed him without meaning to? I've known that to happen.

As for clear and cold and stargazing, it's great weather for hunting out double stars and nebulae if you have a decent telescope. Mycroft probably knows this website for ideas of what to look for.

rsf

pandabob said...

Wrapped up warm in a sleeping bag with a hot doc in your arms staring up at the stars sounds almost perfect :-)

I’m sorry the case is being a pain, hopefully the afternoon will bring something useful for you.

Greg Lestrade said...

RR - I don't quite know how to respond to that.

RSF - he has no 'attacking' injuries, plus no weapons found anywhere... I mean, it is a possibility, but would seem unlikely.

AnonyBob - off to meet my boys at the mortuary. Sherlock seeing some intestines will brighten up my afternoon!

REReader said...

I don't think it needs a response, L--either get your team to try it or (if it sounds stupid) ignore it! (If you try it, I hope it helps. :))

Have fun watching Sherlock be fascinated and thrilled! :)

John H. D. Watson said...

L - And that's a sentence I bet you thought you would never have cause to write two years ago...

pandabob said...

This place brings the best lines out of both of you John ;-)

enjoy watching Sherlock enjoying the intestines, my god his teacher is in for an interesting holiday news report when he gets back to school!!

John H. D. Watson said...

...Which reminds me. Sherlock, no pictures.

Anonymous said...

John, How is Sherlock going to record his observations without pictures? Or are sketches allowed? (Although maybe they shouldn't go into a school report.)

L, when the lady who used to babysit me killed her husband he never got close enough to hit her (not that time anyway.) She was just trying to scare him into going away and not coming back until he was sober. It's probably not a parallel to your case, but I couldn't help but think of it.

rsf

Greg Lestrade said...

RSF - yeah, not really the same situation. He was beaten to death, fists and feet. No weapons.

RR - I meant more that we're all professional homicide detectives. All we do is think of reasons people may have been killed. That's our job.

REReader said...

Well, yes, of course! But that's why I thought you might come up with some new directions if you disengage your brains and stop thinking, just throw out crazy ideas instead for a bit. But if not, not.

Sherlock said...

Did more than one person do it?

Greg Lestrade said...

Yes, Sherlock, from the injury patterns and marks it was at least two people.

pandabob said...

out of interest RR can you think of any crazy ideas?

The whole working out what happened, why and by whom thing amazes me!

how are/were the intestines Sherlock?

REReader said...

I read mysteries, Anony, I can come up with loads of ideas, sensible and stupid both! But I doubt L wants a flood of ideas, as though I didn't think he and his team could come up with them themselves, which I'm sure they already have.

pandabob said...

sorry RR I was only curious to know if I was the only one with no idea how they worked it all out that was all.

REReader said...

Nothing to apologize for, Anony--I just don't want to overstep. It's not like I have the remotest claim to expertise in the area. (I think most professionals consider reading mysteries worse than knowing nothing! ;D)

Greg Lestrade said...

No, no, feel free. We haven't come up with the right answer yet, and all we care about is solcing it. I'm sure the vest way to think 'outside the box' is not to be in the box in the first place.

REReader said...

Well...If you want...

Beaten to death might be because they didn't want to primarily kill him, because there are plenty of faster ways. So maybe he was involved in smuggling (art, drugs, antiquities) and they wanted to get the information first.

Or maybe he had corporate secrets or some sort of insider information related to his profession and they wanted computer files--they could have taken something like that, and you wouldn't necessarily know it was missing if he wasn't supposed to have it, like on a thumb drive/USB stick, or even a smart phone. Or maybe he was a courier--I know that in the gem trade, dealers and couriers just stick millions worth of stones in their pockets and walk around with them, their only protection is that they look like everyone else and no one knows who's carrying what. I'm sure that's true of other fields, too.

Or maybe he was mistaken for someone else--was he talking to any strangers in those clubs and pubs? Because if so, the intended victim could have been the other guy.

Or a beating could be out of anger or hatred, so maybe he came on to someone in one of the pubs or clubs and their significant other took offense. Or maybe it was revenge for something he did recently--fired someone, or caused an accident, or something like that. Or maybe he came on to someone who played it cool but really took offense and followed him--a hate crime, or a crazy (as though those are really different).

Or ...should I keep going?

Anonymous said...

Definitely not the same situation. Mistaken identity perhaps? He wasn't the actual target, but just happened to have the same sort of build or jacket as someone who had done something which would make for a motive? Did his description match a rapist, for example?

How can you tell attacking injuries from defensive injuries, btw? I mean, if he swung a fist and hit someone in the jaw, it would be the same bruises.

I hope you all had some fun with Sherlock at the morgue. (Boy, talk about sentences you never expected to type...)

rsf

Greg Lestrade said...

To give you a fighting chance I'll give you some info - can't give you any specifics, I'm afraid.

Mid 20s, British, male, worked in an office, fairly low level job, nothing sensitive as far as we can tell. Been out with work colleagues as someone was leaving for a new job. Had been drinking, not to excess, showed no signs of difficulty walking etc. no signs of robbery, no marks on his hands to suggest he'd thrown any punches, no weapons in the vicinity or used against him. Quiet street, but not wildly so, on his route home, no reports of any arguments during the night or problems elsewhere in life. Had as much money in the bank as you would expect, no more, no less, no odd payments or anything. Lived with two friends in similar circs. They report no problems they know of. Family live elsewhere in the country, they report no probs.


So yes, possibky mistaken identity, possibly he did offend someone, but neither of those things have yet led us to any information about the attackers.

REReader said...

Maybe he accidentally or absent-mindedly picked up someone else's phone (or something small like that, like a piece of paper or a keyring) at one of the pubs, and they REALLY wanted it back because it showed some sort of criminal activity--or was something they shouldn't have had. (What sort of business was it? Would any of the people in the group have had access to valuable information?)

Maybe he saw someone he knew on the way home that shouldn't have been there--or doing something they shouldn't have been doing. Maybe someone from the office that didn't go along on the pub crawl, pleading a headache or previous engagement? Because then he might have gone over to tease the guy about crying off.

Greg Lestrade said...

We've got CCTV for the first part of his journey home, when he was nearer the pubs they'd been in. No sign of anyone following him, or anything untoward. He doesn't look distressed. He sent a text message to a friend as he walked, nothing of note. His job doesn't deal with anything particularly valuable or 'interesting'.

His colleagues say he was fairly well liked, again, quite ordinary, not particularly quiet or remarkable. His manager said he was average - career progressing as expected, turned up for work, did enough work, all very ordinary.

REReader said...

None of that speaks against the idea that he picked up someone else's phone (or whatever)--they might not have realized right away, and if he was just normal his address is probably listed. (And if it was someone else siphoning company secrets--or money--he wouldn't be dealing with anything valuable or interesting himself, the other guy would be.) Same with the idea that he saw someone he knew where he didn't expect them to be. And in both those cases, they would have no reason to have any weapons on hand, so beating would be the only way.

What did the text message to the friend say? Was it from his own phone?

REReader said...

Or, how about his family or non-work-related friends? Is he in line for inheriting anything? Or maybe he saw one of them on the way home, went over to say hi, only to walk in on something illegal being done by someone he could identify? Did he see any old friends or distant family members recently?

Greg Lestrade said...

If he'd picked up something, how would the person know who he was to get his address? He left at the same time as three other people, but more of his group stayed on, as they were going to go on somewhere, and none of them said anyone showed any interest in him. Plus if they had, somehow, identified him, found out his address, worked out his route, then hunted him down - in the short amount of time they had - you'd think they would also have been armed.

All I can really say about his work is that none of his colleagues nor his superiors can think of a work-related reason for his death. An there's little we can do to invstigate that further without any reason.

And yes, possibly he saw someone known to him, but with no witnesses or evidence to lead us to anyone, we can't find that out.

Text message was from his phone, was about meeting for lunch the next day.

Greg Lestrade said...

Family don't report anything in particular. both parents still alive, one brother, averagely well off. Housemates didn't know of anyone odd or unusual he'd met. He doesn't seem to have a large circle of friends - a few from university, but mainly from his job and friends of his housemates, things like that. A few people he played football with.

REReader said...

Hey, you didn't ask for probable or helpful or provable, you asked for crazy! :) (And can anyone play?)

The text message--if he was arranging to meet someone the next day it wasn't a roommate or co-worker. Was meeting this person for lunch a normal thing or an odd thing?


(I swear whoever puts together these captchas wants to make me think my cataracts are getting worse by the day...)


Greg Lestrade said...

I did assume 'crazy' was supposed, eventually, to lead to solving the case, though. And yes, of course anyone can offer suggestions. Although I'll hopefully be going home fairly soon, so if one of you actually hits upon an idea that can be looked into, I'll have to phone the nightshift to do it!

Text message was to a friend, and yes, they met fairly regularly for Sunday lunch, to keep in touch, as part of a group. Not all members of the group made it to every lunch. It was fairly casual.

REReader said...

Well, I leave the proving part to the professionals. :)


Not all members of the group made it to every lunch. It was fairly casual.

Any reason he was contacting one friend in particular about it, then? That seems a bit odd, for a casual thing, to text only one person out of the group. Why not send the text to everyone in the group? It doesn't take much longer than texting one.


Or...were there any storefronts or anything on the street he was killed on? (I'm assuming he was killed where he was found.) Because I've noticed that you can see quite well into windows nowadays, since lots of people don't bother to put up curtains or close blinds or anything, and of course stores don't have them. So maybe he saw something, maybe even banged on the window to try to get them to stop?

Sherlock said...

Does no marks on his fists mean he didn't try to stop the people hurting him at all? Why wouldn't he try?

REReader said...

A very excellent question, Sherlock. Unless he wasn't expecting to be hit, and whoever it was either knocked him out first off, or maybe managed to get him pinned so that he couldn't move to fight?

pandabob said...

Are you on your way home yet Greg? I hope you are and that the evening is full of excitement about the freezing few days ahead :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

RR - yes, that friend hadn't been well, he was asking if he was going to be at the lunch. He was.

The road was mainly business premises. Not really stores, more like small offices, a solicitors, a funeral parlour, things like that. None of the ones with CCTV caught anything.

Sherlock - he had lots of marks on his arms and his fingers had been hurt, as if he'd been holding has hands/arms up to protect himself, but his knuckles weren't bruised or grazed, as if he'd thrown a punch. It's not an absolute guarantee he didn't throw a punch and miss or something, but it would seem unlikely that he would go into a fight, for no reason we can find, outnumbered, not even land a blow and then be killed for it.

Greg Lestrade said...

AnonyBob - leaving now!

pandabob said...

good good :-) safe trip.

Greg Lestrade said...

I seriously hadn't notice how late it was.

Sorry Sherlock, John, Mycroft.

REReader said...

For when you get home...

Sherlock asked a good question, though--if he was attacked, why wouldn't he try to hit back? I don't know much about soccer--what you call football, right?--but someone in their twenties, who is fit enough to play soccer regularly, you'd think he'd try to fight back, if he could.

Was anyone working at the funeral parlor? (Funeral parlor...nope, not going in the direction of the undead.) (Although...) (No.) (:D)

Did he send any other texts that evening? Or get any?

REReader said...

I did assume 'crazy' was supposed, eventually, to lead to solving the case, though.

Well, yes--but not directly! I mean, brainstorming-type ideas aren't supposed to make actual sense. It's more like the script conference scenes in some of those late-late-early movies I used to watch on tv when I couldn't sleep way back in high school--you know, where all the producers sit around going, "why wouldn't the girl just marry the guy", and one crazy producer would jump up and say, "I know! Her father's the king of England!" and another would say, "Well, not the King, but maybe a noble of some sort would work," and they'd end up settling for a rich industrialist because a manor house would be out of budget.

Greg Lestrade said...

generally speaking, fights aren't an exchange of punches. They're one punch, and the person being hit goes down. Even worse if you're hit from behind. There may be grappling if you don't, but it is actually quite rare a second punch is thrown - if you've just been hit, your first instinct is to run or protect yourself. He had marks consistent with trying to grab hold of a kicking foot or something, with damage to his finger joints.

No one was working in any shops very close by, closest was a kebab shop up the road.

Sherlock said...

I'm in my sleeping bag doing a caterpillar on the floor but Mycroft keeps poking me with his foot when I'm caterpillaring because he's stupid.

pandabob said...

its a very good idea to practice moving around in your sleeping bag Sherlock. I'm glad you're having fun :-)

was dinner nice?

Anon Without A Name said...

Caterpillaring in your sleeping bag sounds like fun, Sherlock.

Although, and you'll have to forgive me for this, poking your little brother with your foot while he's caterpillaring sounds a bit like fun too :-)

(I have no little brothers - well, not blood relatives, anyway, but it certainly sounds like the sort of thing my big brothers found fun)

REReader said...

Perhaps it's because you look convincingly caterpillar-like, Sherlock?

REReader said...

(I'll keep thinking on it, L--I'm sure I can come up with something even more far-fetched... )

Sherlock said...

It was boring pasta and Lestrade's in a bad mood except now he's watching a show about a person helping fix a steam train I'd like to drive a steam train and climb inside it like they are and do blacksmithing and everything.

pandabob said...

'Boring Pasta' is that the official name?

I'm sorry Lestrade's not in the best mood, he hasn't had the best day from what I can see, hopefully the steam trains will cheer him up :-)

Driving a steam train would be really fun my kids are going to see some at a museum next week but I'm not sure they'll get to drive one, they may travel in one though who knows.

REReader said...

Sherlock, please tell Lestrade that if I am the reason for his bad mood I apologize and will not try any more crazy ideas.

I didn't know they did any blacksmithing in connection to steam engines. What do they make that an engine needs?

Sherlock said...

He made the shovel because he's never done it before and he can't make anything important but they're making all of the rivets and axles and bits for wheels and everything because it's all metal except they're not replacing all of it because some of it is still okay.

Anon Without A Name said...

Hey, Sherlock, how was your afternoon with Molly?

REReader said...

He made the shovel because he's never done it before and he can't make anything important but they're making all of the rivets and axles and bits for wheels and everything

That makes sense. Is it that they can't get rivets and stuff for that old engine anymore, or is it that they want to see how it would have been when the engine was new? (I love that kind of show!)

Rider said...

crazy? OK, he's been feeling not macho enough for some reason and so went to a shonky "self defence" school or got info over the web, and one thing they told him was that he mustn't punch because the cops would do him for "fighting". He needs to look like he just defended himself and not tried to retaliate but they will teach him how to hurt people and the cops won't know. Website probably has things like "Street self defence" and "The police won't help" in big letters...


So they teach him things like forearm strikes and elbow hits.

He leaves the pub and he's a bit upset with something. No one notices because really... not many people do.

He sees something, yobboes taunting someone, or some kind of thing that sets him off. He has to prove he's a man to himself.

Which is when he learns this self defence thing doesn't work.

The yobs are piling in and one of them hits too hard or otherwise does him in, they realise and run.

Not that it helps you find them of course.

Sherlock said...

It was the best EVER there was even a brain and intestines and a heart and some lungs and EVERYTHING and I wasn't allowed to cut anything up but she let me hold a liver and it was heavy and it was because she'd done a class and then these were the bits they'd done and so she'd finished with them and that person who was dead had said they wanted their body to be used to teach people and I want to go back again and watch them actually cut it up but John said when I'm older maybe and I can't wait.

REReader yes because they're doing it the old ways because that's what the programme is about and it's the man who Lestrade likes who rides motorbikes.

REReader said...

As I said, the shows where they see what it would have been like, I love those--it's like making connections across time!

And YAY for your great day with Molly! Letting you see everything and hold the liver and all--that's a great way to use those body parts to teach, I bet you learned every bit as much as her regular class. (And it's not a bad idea to leave something to learn when you're older, after all. :))

pandabob said...

I'm glad you had a good time Sherlock, it sounds like it would be really interesting so see all those things you normally don't get to.

Are you off early tomorrow or have I got the day wrong?

Anon Without A Name said...

That sounds like a really interesting afternoon Sherlock! I've never seen human organs like that, it must be fascinating - especially seeing a brain. Its really amazing the way that the physical function of the brain interacts with the psychological action of the mind.

Are you off camping tomorrow? I hope you all have a lovely time, and that it doesn't get too cold for you all (yeah, I'm a wuss) :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

Yeah, we're off tomorrow morning. Not too early I hope. But we have pretty much packed.

Sorry, I shouldn't have talked about the case on here. My fault, none of yours.

REReader said...

L--If any other ideas occur, should we say, or just let it drop?

Small Hobbit said...

And how many of Sherlock's belongings have been unpacked?

pandabob said...

you mean how many degus right SH? ;-)

Mycroft said...

I believe Lestrade feels it was wrong to allow the murder investigation to turn into some form of 'game' on a public forum. So I think he would prefer it if the discussion didn't continue.

Small Hobbit, I think any unpacking of Sherlock's bag would be futile at this early stage.

REReader said...

Well, I certainly wasn't thinking of it as a game--but consider it dropped. Thank you, Mycroft.

Anonymous said...

*nod* Okay, Mycroft.

BTW, have you by any chance been releasing hordes of attack chickens in Minecraft? Because the kids who were playing here at the library today got inundated with them.

rsf

pandabob said...

how is holiday mode going to be achieved Greg? guitar playing?

I hope you've had some time to relax and are ready for a few days of fun :-)

Anonymous said...

Have a good time camping tomorrow, everyone! My internet access is likely to be very spotty for a while, but I'll peek in when I can to cheer you on.

rsf

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