2 May 2013

I got pictures on my mind.

Well...I feel bad at leaving poor Greg the Florist and John the Ex-Underwear Model in the spooky castle...but I'd already sort of planned a post today.

It's pictures. Now including bonus ratty pictures...

Firstly, here's the rat Sherlock and John bought me. I've called him Valentino Ratti:


His tail and feet almost match our bedding.

And now, onto the post I'd planned. Lots of pictures.




I think I might have said before, that tulips are one of my favourite flowers? Definitely up there, anyway.

So I've taken pictures of some as I've been out and about, and thought I'd share.


This one's so dark it's nearly black. I love it.

 Some fiery red numbers - pointy petals, too.

 A nice rich purple.


And a stripy one.

 Some that are dark red with yellow edges..

 And some orange with yellow edges! Also spiky. Like little flames.

And finally, some more blossom. This tree peers over a wall at the allotment.

I think tulips sort of have it all? Simple, colourful, interesting but understated. Although sometimes I feel like they're a bit ...too simple? I don't know. It's hard to explain, a weird guilt I have for liking a certain flower...

(I do do policework too, inamongst taking photos of flowers. Did I just make up the word inamongst?)

69 comments:

pandabob said...

those pictures are lovely Greg, they really makes it seem like summer might turn up some time :-)

Small Hobbit said...

Those tulips are gorgeous. And there's nothing wrong with being simple, or liking simple things.

Kestrel337 said...

Since my favorite is sunflowers, I have to say 'feel no guilt for liking simple things'.

Anyway, tulips aren't always simple. My gran once had a pink and white one with ruffled/tassled/fringed petals in her garden. That thing was easily as exotic as a bird of paradise and as fancy as an iris (my other favorite).

Anonymous said...

Douglas Adams once wrote about the pleasing round firmness at the bottom of a tulip and I think he had it about right, they are lovely

Lancs. Anon

Greg Lestrade said...

Glad you all think they're okay too :)

I can't explain my completely weird feeling like I should be embarrassed for liking tulips.

Does anyone know if punching yourself in the face will cure an eyelid twitch? It's fine when I'm concentrating, but returns with a vengeance whenever I'm not.

Anonymous said...

Potassium maybe? I don't think a punch would help.

I read somewhere that the fanciest tulips during the Dutch tulipmania actually had some kind of fungus on the bulbs that made the flowers more elaborate. But I like 'em just the way they are.

rsf

pandabob said...

I'd be slightly concerned that someone might see the bruising and be a bit worried Greg but then if you're not at work tomorrow it may be worth a try.

John H. D. Watson said...

It could be eye strain. You've been working hard, especially the past few days.

Greg Lestrade said...

what's the cure? Letting my eyes rest on something glorious? ...You should probably strip off if that's the case...

Anon Without A Name said...

I suspect that Dr Hotson might have something to say about anything that involve his fiancé taking a punch to the face, self-inflicted or otherwise...

Isn't a twitchy eye generally caused by fatigue, stress, caffeine, lack of sleep or dry eyes?

Greg Lestrade said...

Nameless - can't think of any of those I'd suffer from...

John H. D. Watson said...

L - ha. Resting them generally, at least. And maybe a new prescription for your reading glasses.

Greg Lestrade said...

I only just got these ones! Although I think I got called for another eye test...a while ago.

Anonymous said...

RSF the variegated ones originally came from a virus infecting the plant, but as I understand it, it's now bred in, since the virus infection eventually kills off the 'line'.

John H. D. Watson said...

It's worth a try if you don't think it's the caffeine/stress/dehydration, etc.

Greg Lestrade said...

Yeah, I dunno, it's only been three days. See how it goes over the weekend.

But I will go to my eye appointment. If only because I'll keep getting snotty emails until I do, to show the Met cares for me and my excessive use of computers...

REReader said...

Thank you for the happy photos, L--I love 'em, especially the almost black tulip. And as others have said, nothing wrong with simple--my favorite flowers are irises and daisies. You don't get much simpler than daisies!

I was thinking potassium, too, rsf--it works for cramps. (Are tics a kind of cramp? John?)

And I LOVE your rat! He can keep Spider company. :)

Piplover said...

I like tulips, but my favorite is carnations. Nothing wrong with liking a bit of simple.

I hope the tic goes away, that sounds really frustrating.

Desert Wanderer said...

My garden in England had a patch of yellow tulips, which were nice and cheerful, but also a solitary red one, which drove me to distraction. For the first couple of years, I would pull it up, and it would return...in a different spot.

Also, if I can have a least-favorite flower, you can have a favorite.

REReader said...

It was a stealth tulip, DW!

If anyone reading here is from Southern California, stay safe...

Trills said...

Found this and thought it might be of interest to a certain someone http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/whatson/animal-inside-out-exhibition-london-article-11470.html

Greg Lestrade said...

Morning all :) beautiful day!

pandabob said...

you sound happily relaxed :-)

enjoy the rest of your day and have fun getting Mycroft back :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

Yeah, been a lively day. Going to the park in a bit, then to fetch Boy Wonder Snr.

Greg Lestrade said...

Sherlock asked if I meant lively or lovely. I said it's all been lovely, parts of it have been lively ;). He's calling me mean because I won't explain.

pandabob said...

That is mean ;-)

Enjoy your weekend together guys.

Greg Lestrade said...

Now Mycroft is protesting the Sherlock is a bad influence on me when on the bike.

It was only a small wheelie...

pandabob said...

Please say you were nowhere near school ;-)

REReader said...

Oh rly? :) What were you singing together?

Greg Lestrade said...

AnonyBob - I could say that, but I might be lying...

pandabob said...

Tut tut tut ;-)

Greg Lestrade said...

Well it would be illegal on a public road! Anyway, can't help it if the extra weight on the back just let the front wheel come a little unstuck...

pandabob said...

That's very true and I'm sure the headmaster will agree ;-)

REReader said...

Heh, heh!

Was it fun, Sherlock?

Greg Lestrade said...

Think we've all had a great - tiring - day.

REReader said...

:)

Have an equally great rest of the weekend!

Greg Lestrade said...

My sister just sent me an 'amusing' picture for my next blog. Thanks Sis.

pandabob said...

Ooo a picture! Sounds interesting ;-)

I hope the day is being lovely to you all.

Greg Lestrade said...

It is! Sherlock has new shoes. The sun is shining. The allotment is growing. Mycroft and I are trying to grow a watermelon. Sherlock wants to grow an oddly shaped watermelon.

John is getting a tan, he's spent so much time in the sun. And his hair is getting blonder. Sort of. Bits of it are anyway.

Sherlock said...

You shouldn't have gone to work we were having fun and it's still sunny and everything.

pandabob said...

What a fun day you sound to have had Sherlock :-) are you going to stay out having fun until the Sun goes down?

John H. D. Watson said...

Think we are, yeah. Maybe get a pizza on the way home. Good day. :)

Greg Lestrade said...

SOrry, Kiddo. We'll have more fun tomorrow, promise!

And sounds like you're still having fun without me, if pizza is on your horizon.

pandabob said...

Good luck with that John ;-)

enjoy your pizza Sherlock, you too Mycroft.

I hope work treats you ok Greg :-)

Anonymous said...

Did you get shoes with toes, Sherlock? One of the kids in the library had them today and everyone wanted to try them.

rsf

Sherlock said...

No they've got skull and crossbones on and two sets of laces and the sunset is really red and pink and nice.

Anonymous said...

Two sets of laces? Are they both in the front or is one set in the back.

Red sky at night, sailor's delight.


rsf

Greg Lestrade said...

It is very nice, isn't it, Sherlock? The clouds make it look really good.

Anonymous said...

I've got two pairs of Vibrams. I wouldn't recommend them for kids unless you've got money to burn though - they don't come cheap, and kids grow way too fast!

They are fantastically comfy and brilliant though. You do have to stretch out your calves a bit though, or you feel it after a few days.

Anonymous said...

I'd just as soon go barefoot and save the money, anon. But they did look very comfy!

Also:

http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/doublelacing.htm

Is that what you mean by two sets of laces, Sherlock?

rsf

Anonymous said...

Depends where you walk. City streets, covered in spit, broken glass, sharp grit and god knows what else? I think they're worth the money ;)

Sherlock said...

Yes two one bright green and one blue and they're laced together so you can see both colours and even though that's loads of laces I can still do them up on my own.

Anonymous said...

That's neat, Sherlock. I've never tried lacing my shoes with two laces, but I've done patterns on boots sometimes, and I bet they'd be even better with green and blue laces. Do you need a fancy knot, or do you just do both laces at the same time?

Anon, after you've walked barefoot for a summer, even city sidewalks aren't too bad. Asphalt in the sun, however, is a good reason for owning shoes.

rsf

Anonymous said...

I think we'll have to agree to differ. The amount I cut my feet open when I moved to the city with all the broken glass everywhere (having gone barefoot a lot in my life and never had this problem outside of London) and the amount of other people's phlegm I could step in with those open cuts, they are too bad for me! Barefoot shoes are worth every penny.

Greg Lestrade said...

I'll call in a minute Sherlock, to say night night.

Sherlock said...

I can stay up I'm not tiiiiired

Greg Lestrade said...

Well, sleep anyway, or sit in your chair and read - or in bed. We've got exciting things to do tomorrow! No good you being sleepy then :)

And be good for John - he's probably tired!

Sherlock said...

Okaaaaaay but only because everyone is being boring.

Have you got any murders?

Greg Lestrade said...

Nothing very new. But the night is young, the weather is good and the drink is flowing, so I wouldn't be surprised if we had some trouble later.

John H. D. Watson said...

(Sherlock declared that sort of murder 'not interesting' on the phone to L just now...)

Greg Lestrade said...

Yeah, he's very critical of murderers for not doing it interestingly enough.

Bloody Daily Mail are... just scumbags. (nothing we didn't know, I know.)

John H. D. Watson said...

True. Have they done something new?

Greg Lestrade said...

Their entire front page tomorrow is about the deputy speaker being arrested for 'gay rape'. Newflash, morons, it's just called 'rape'. Pretty sure they've never announced a front page headline of 'straight rape'. Shitbags.

(No, Sherlock, you can't say 'shitbags', either. John is putting it on the list as he reads this, I hope.)

John H. D. Watson said...

I have put it on the list.

That is just... Sometimes I don't even know what to say about the things they do.

Anonymous said...

ok I get that's not ok but why does rape of a boy or man make national news but rape of women doesn't? I saw a headline recently that said 'teen rape victim was a BOY' why is that news?

Anon Without A Name said...

I think all the words I would normally use to describe the Mail are unsuitable for a blog read by a seven-year-old. But yeah, they've surpassed themselves this time.

Greg Lestrade said...

Anon - because ... well, we can only assume because society/patriarchy has pushed the idea that rape is something men do to women. Also linked to the reason so few men report such things - because other men have traditionally made the implication that it only happens to weaker people. It's all completely messed up, and we can all only try to change society's views.

Danger - me neither. Made even more ridiculous because until '94 it wasn't even considered possible to rape a man. In law, it was something men could only do to women. All completely ridiculous and now I'm just sitting at my desk a seething pot of rage.

Greg Lestrade said...

Nameless - I don't think they'll ever surpass "Abortion hope after 'gay genes' finding" for me. That was...unbelievable. I mean, I still can't actually believe it's real.

Anon Without A Name said...

Lestrade - oh, god, I think I managed to miss that one. Although I remember having what in hindsight was probably a rather unprofessional argument with a colleague when the story broke generally, something along the lines of me wondering whether scientists didn't have anything better to research (like, oh, I don't know, cancer or heart disease), and she told me I'd feel differently if it was my kids.

God, people are depressing, aren't they?

(The captcha just said "vary radarse". I don't even...)

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