28 February 2014

They'll think of something funny, When they write your epitaph

Sometimes I think I'm really not cut out to deal with people who actually seem to like me. I'm fine at work, because it's rare anyone does. 'Customers' I mean, not colleagues. Colleagues are...well, they're all fine, but it's not as if I worry if they like me or not. As long as it doesn't get in the way of the job, I don't really care. It's a job, not a popularity contest.

Anyway, sometimes I wonder where that comes from. Or if everyone doesn't feel a bit like that.

I don't like self pity. I'll come straight out with that, because what I'm about to say probably sounds much like it.

I suppose I like being in control, is what it comes down to. And accepting there are things I'm not in control of. Or not responsible for. I want to fix everything. So I try to. And then, inevitably, I fail, because...they are not things of which I am in control. And then I feel bad. And then I feel bad about feeling bad, because it's as if I've not only failed to fix the (unfixable) problem, but then I am the problem, too. Or deflecting attention from the problem. When...really I shouldn't have stuck my oar in at all and it definitely shouldn't be about me.

I've sat here looking at that for quite a long time now and I'm not sure it makes any sense.


Tomorrow we're cleaning up the school. The outdoor area has been neglected over the winter, and now the kids are gearing up to play outside more again, it needs a good tidy. And Sherlock wants the pond tidied before any frogspawn appears. He says it's 'due any time now', so there we go. Need to attract the spawniest frogs, clearly. No one'll come and live in a scruffy pond. So there's been a quick ad hoc gardening party organised for tomorrow afternoon, where people will come if they can for as long as they can, and get stuff done. I want to clean out the pumps at the least, cut back some vegetation, that sort of thing.


The seminar went well. Odd place to go back to. Not the best memories in the world, that hotel.

80 comments:

John H. D. Watson said...

I didn't know it was the same hotel.

Is there...anything in particular you want to talk about?

Greg Lestrade said...

You think the police have any wild thoughts of mixing it up and changing hotels...ever? ;) Once we find one, and no one gets banned, they're stuck with us.

Nope. Except, you know, registering my complaint that I'm unable to bend every tiny thing in the world to my will.

John H. D. Watson said...

Yeah. I hate that.

Greg Lestrade said...

Maybe Sherlock's rubbing off on me.

Although I worry the world is slowly bending to his will...like Uri Geller massaging a spoon.

John H. D. Watson said...

It's entirely possible. One day, giraffes will arrive at our flat, and we won't know how it happened.

Greg Lestrade said...

They'll knock on the door, but be looking through the window... I don't think I'd mind giraffe that much. They seem pretty nice, content things. Better than a pack of wolves or...some kind of weird insect.

John H. D. Watson said...

Weird insects would be smaller...probably.

Greg Lestrade said...

But possibly more plentiful? And...they could get everywhere. I think I'd notice a giraffe in my shoe. Or in the bed. Although if you were in bed too might be hard knowing what was making the fnug tent up...

John H. D. Watson said...

If I dream about weird insects in our bed, it'll be your fault...

Greg Lestrade said...

Spider will keep you safe in her web, don't worry.

Anonymous said...

We all have our mental/emotional . . . rodent exercise wheels? . . .dead ends? The ones we know better than . . . and wind up there anyway.

You've got people who love you, whom you love. You've got a difficult but important job that you do well, by all accounts. Sometimes it's easiest to just stop thinking and do the next thing.

Have a good weekend, best wishes from the Internet.

fA

Anonymous said...

Help there's homemade pizza and vodka I am getting myself into trouble.

Ella

Unknown said...

A wise friend of mine in college used to say, when I had too much homework and everything, "just do as much as you can, and then don't do any more!" which seemed to work out about right.
S

Anonymous said...

Ella, sweetie, I hope you went to town on the pizza and saved your restraint for the vodka. Because "homemade pizza" sounds awesome and doesn't show up every day. Vodka is not so special.

fA

Small Hobbit said...

Ella, I trust it was just the pizza that was homemade, because if that was true for the vodka as well we may not hear from you for a while ;)

Greg Lestrade said...

Hope you got out of trouble again, Ella.

It's sunny! Like, it couldn't be sunnier! And I'mm off work!

Anon Without A Name said...

Ella - good pizza and vodka sound like an excellent Friday night, I hope you had a good one.

Lestrade - It all made sense, yes - was there something specific that triggered the line of thought?

I am making no comment about John's apparently giraffe-like proportions when it come to causing tents in the fnug.

Sherlock said...

Lestrade's phone kept ringing and he had his arms in the pond and I answered it and it was about a murder and I helped.

Anonymous said...

Thanks everyone. The homemade pizza was delicious. The vodka was...let's just say my friend isn't allowed to make me drinks anymore, and I should have been more cautious when another friend was trying to describe what was in it and pointed to a jar of artichoke brine and said it had that.

But the drink mixer got just as drunk as he got everyone else, so alls fair.

I hope you get out in the sunshine for a bit, lestrade. Maybe an observation detail where you get to casually sit on a bench while a suspect feeds pigeons.

Good job helping, Sherlock. Does lestrade agree with your assessment of the situation?

Ella

Greg Lestrade said...

Before anyone worries case details are being given to either year olds...this sneaky one took a message for me and then said "Lestrade says is it for a murder please?" and the person calling said 'yes'! Sneaky little..

The pond is clean(ish), the garden is tidy, ready for the kids. A good day's work. And we still have time for a run and a coffee in the sun ;)

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a good day! It's snowing here, which is making the idea of going running not attractive. But my schedule already precludes me running on anything but weekends so I don't want to skip a day.

I slept at not-my-house last and there's no coffee here. (Only vodka.)

Ella

Unknown said...

Well done, Sherlock, helping!
well done lads, cleaning up the pond and garden!
Ella, good that you survived the vodka and enjoyed the pizza. What's the saying.... good judgment comes from experience... and experience comes from bad judgment. ;)
and with either vodka or coffee, you still need plain water.
sunny here too, and I must do the dump run if nothing else all day!
S

Anonymous said...

Ella! How DARE people put one up without laying in coffee??
I hope they had some good strong black tea, at least.

You don't sound too frail so apparently the damage was minimal. Glad it was fun!

Overcast here, but warm-ish, which I'll take. Still in celebration mode over my recently revised workload/worryload, so I'm getting to do an extra long exercise session today, plus go to the movies to see the short films nominated for the Oscars and powering through the to-do-list. Yesterday finished most of my part of my daughter's annual [college] financial aid forms and if it doesn't actually rain I'll get out in the yard and start on spring-ifying the compost.

Giddy, me? Well, yeah.

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

fA - glad you're still in celebration. Means it was definitely the right choice!

Sherlock is surely worse than any drill sergeant... well, I'll have to check with John. But I think he is. Had lots of "Run faster! Why aren't you running faster?" going on.

Joolz said...

Well look at it this way, at least your little drill sergeant will get you in superfit shape for your bleep drills. If he keeps this up, you'll be the fittest one there. :)

Good job on all tidying the pond/garden today, I'm sure that'll be well worth it when the critters all return. Are you going to be allowed to introduce anything new this time, Sherlock, maybe some fish to join the frogs.

Anonymous said...

fA--So true, about the coffee! Though it's partly my own fault. They're friends who I suspected of being coffee-less, so I really should've checked, and then I could've brought some. There was black tea, though, so that lasted me until I got to coffee.

Ella

Greg Lestrade said...

Joolz - I can only hope so! Happily he doesn't seem to have noticed the beer which has somehow found its way into my hand...

I think doing the half marathon with John will be good for all of us.

Sherlock said...

If beer is bad for running then you'll only have yourself to blame that's what John says.

Greg Lestrade said...

I will indeed, John is correct. He usually is, huh? You got big plans for us all tomorrow?

Anonymous said...

They should let Sherlock ride his bike with y'all in the half marathon, I'm thinking.

Ella

Olli said...

Sherlock, you helped with a murder?! I'm impressed, and also a little alarmed. I sincerely hope there weren't too many case details given to distract from cleaning up with the pond. Whatever we're doing, we must do it with focus... it's a lesson I didn't learn when I was young, and I'm paying for it now with a life of disorganization.

Lestrade: I'm all for the idea of giraffes in the house. But I am not touching the fnug comment with a ten-foot... oh, never mind.

Greg Lestrade said...

Everyone has neatly ignored the fnug comment, apart from a special few ;)

Sherlock...took a message. And then took advantage of the situation by pretending I was asking questions... don't know whether to praise his quick thinking, or tell him off because he knew he shouldn't be doing it and was watching me and backing away even as he did it! But he didn't get any details - just that it was indeed a murder. He then proceeded to quiz me about it before I'd even called the person back...sometimes even geniuses let excitement ruin sensible thought.

Anonymous said...

I like the idea of Sherlock as running coach. As long as he recognizes his athletes are human beings of a certain age, not robots. He should read up on training techniques and set up some charts or graphs.

Sorry you feel your fnug comment didn't get enough love (snerk.) It was appreciated, I swear. Just couldn't come up with a joke, past wondering if it was you or John (both? A breeding pair, perhaps?) you were crediting with the ability to create a giraffe-like effect.

fA

REReader said...

If I'm going to ignore a comment I do want to be neat about it!

(I need to be asleep. But I am not.)

Greg Lestrade said...

fA - we're trying to convince Sherlock we're not lying about rest/recovery days!

And it was definitely John who I was crediting. It's unseemly to brag ;)

pandabob said...

Rest and recovery days are the most important part of training so I hear Greg ;-)

Do you have much restful fun planned for today?

Greg Lestrade said...

Err..he wants us to go swimming. Actually, he wants to go to the Olympic pool, but...well, it's opening weekend, so we're trying to put that off. But we might go in a minute, and splash about a bit. Nothing too strenuous!

Small Hobbit said...

I got distracted by Ella's pizza. But anyway, I thought giraffe impressions were a given. (Would have posted this earlier, but my phone froze at that moment - clearly the thought of all those giraffes was too much for it)

Sherlock said...

We went swimming and I'm learning to breathe and there were people there with all their clothes on and John said I wasn't allowed to do that which isn't fair. I swam really far.

REReader said...

I confess I never got to be very good at coordinating my breathing while swimming (which is why I favor back- and sidestroke), so good for you, Sherlock!

They make swim things out of swimsuit material that look very like street clothes for Muslim woman, could that be what you saw?

Greg Lestrade said...

It is indeed what he saw. Which didn't convince him in the slightest that he shouldn't be allowed to swim in his clothes. We're trying to convince him it might not be so much fun if he had to swim like that all the time, even outside in the summer, or if he wasn't allowed to swim at all. But at the moment, he's just contentedly being envious...

You did swim a really long way, though, Sherlock. Which would have been much harder if you'd been wearing your clothes.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a busy, active, happy weekend. :-) So ordinary and so special at the same time.

fA

REReader said...

Regular fabric gets amazingly heavy when wet, very uncomfortable. (Throwing each other into the pool when they weren't expecting it was a thing when I was at camp. I didn't actually enjoy it, although one had to pretend. And our moms didn't appreciate the effect of chlorinated water on our clothes!)

Sherlock said...

John and Lestrade said if I keep practising then when I'm older I can learn to do lifesaving and then you have to wear some clothes because you have to.

REReader said...

Very true, because you don't always have time to get undressed. Years ago I helped a friend practice for her life saving test--I played victim a lot!--and it was her least favorite thing because it got her tired pretty fast. But she did it!

REReader said...

(You don't always have time to get undressed if someone is drowning, I mean!)

rsf said...

Swimming with clothes on is hard, and with shoes it's even harder. I can't imagine swimming for fun with some of the old fashioned swimsuits that people used to wear. They were knitted out of wool!

I've been doing more looking into things I want to see when I'm in London, and some things will already be done before I get there. I wish I could see Emil and the Detectives at the National Theater, but it's gone by mid-March. Still, I did wonder if you're interested in seeing it, since the story is about kids who solve a mystery. Here's a video about some of the things they did to get it ready.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeARm369J08

Greg Lestrade said...

I have wondered if we should go to the theatre. I haven't been for years. 12 Angry Men is meant to be good. Sherlock might even enjoy it...

Joolz said...

12 Angry Men was brill and Martin Shaw and all the cast were excellent. I'm sure Sherlock would love following the trail of the evidence that's presented, in fact I'm sure he'd figure it out way before the characters in the play do. Maybe you could treat yourselves when Mycroft comes back for his next weekend home. :)

Anonymous said...

It's certainly a good film!

REReader said...

I always started my nieces and nephews at age 11, but I think Sherlock could follow a well-done play now. There's just nothing like live theater!

Greg Lestrade said...

I've never really been to the theatre much. But I hope the boys would enjoy it, if Sherlock can sit still long enough.

John H. D. Watson said...

Might be fun. He is a lot better at not bouncing off the walls than he used to be.

Greg Lestrade said...

Will I manage without fidgeting? ;)

I was looking at the website. Might be able to get a box, so if he did get a bit...jiggly...it wouldn't bother anyone.

John H. D. Watson said...

That might be wise, for a test run.

Greg Lestrade said...

Possibly also take a gag. Or very chewy sweets, to prevent 'solutions' being yelled across the auditorium... or actors being argued with!

Sherlock said...

What's a box I don't want to sit in a box I want a seat.

Small Hobbit said...

Echoing Joolz in saying Twelve Angry Men was excellent. Well worth seeing if you can.

Greg Lestrade said...

And suitable for the tiny terror?

Sherlock, a box is...like a private little balcony you sit on, so you're not right in a row with other people.

REReader said...

Sherlock, the first time I took my niece Rivka to the ballet we got seats in a box, and she LOVED it. First, it feels special, to be in a separate box, and also it meant she could lean forward and rest her arms and head on the railing without it blocking anyone's view and annoying them.

Anon Without A Name said...

Sweets sound like a good plan - fidgeting in the theatre is one thing, but being noisy is something completely different :-p

(Also, if you do see 12 Angry Men, I'll be helplessly jealous)

REReader said...

Also, if the four of you have a box to yourselves, no one tall can sit down in front of you.

Definitely no talking--always remember that if you can hear the actors, the actors can hear you!

Greg Lestrade said...

Nameless - sadly I doubt Martin Shaw will be sporting a perm and wearing skin tight jeans these days. But I can dream ;)

RR - I worry about the talking thing, with the Boy Wonder.

Lancs. Anon said...

I've always wanted to go to the theatre in a box! We were brought up early on local Amateur Operatic society shows and leaned very early that the theatre was somewhere where you shut up and sat still. I will also be jealous if you see 12 angry men, there are a lot of good people in that!

REReader said...

You can always bring a book or two along, with an itty-bitty book light; then if he gets bored he can sit in the back or on the floor and read until it's over. I'm sure he'd agree to that rather than being left behind, or having to leave in the middle.

rsf said...

That's why I was thinking maybe Emil and the Detectives, as it's aimed at kids, and the performers are going to be pretty much okay with occasional commentary from the audience. Also, it's kids doing the acting, which seems to work better with people who are new to live theater.

And there's always the "figure out how many people it takes to make this play work who aren't on the stage" gambit. My neighbor's son went to the ballet with his sister and parents and he thought the dancing was boring, but he spent forty minutes explaining the lighting crew, the sound board, and the orchestra to me after they came home.

Anonymous said...

If sitting through a performance in a theater goes down well, I bet there are lots of live performances in London. Whether it's music, theater or dance, even readings or spoken word, there's something about live performance that can't be beat. He may be young, yet, but I suspect live music might appeal to Sherlock, or maybe the more spectacular dance performances. It's tolerating the suspension-of-disbelief that goes along with fiction that I imagine is his challenge.

fA

REReader said...

there's something about live performance that can't be beat

Totally true, fA.

And there's always this: http://www.stomplondon.com/.
(And no one can hear any talking! But I've seen it several times in New York, and there are always children, and I've never seen any be restless.)

Anonymous said...

RR: Oh, I took my children to see Stomp when they were young - I want to say 5 & 7? Maybe even a year younger. They loved it, and so did I!

There are things that will work with kids. And in a city as large as London there must be good semi-professional and amateur performances - it is always easier to leave something early if the youngest can't handle it when one hasn't spent close to a week's wages on the tickets for the family. (Though I've done that, and been glad, on occasion.)

fA

REReader said...

I loved Stomp myself. :)

Since Sherlock likes to dance, he might like to watch really good/exciting dancing.

Unknown said...

I think 12 Angry Men would be right up Sherlock's street, he can bring along a notebook and pen, and write down any comments or questions he has, rather than saying them out loud. A box sounds like a great plan, as others have noted, you can shift your chair around and lean on the front and nobody is in your way, which is extra important if you aren't tall. My cousin was in a touring production of 12AM a few years ago and I got to see it, what a treat.
Musical and dance performances would be fun to go to also. I remember being taken to the Boston... Pops? probably, before going to the Symphony, when I was about that age.
S

Greg Lestrade said...

We'll see how one trip goes - if we go. And then go from there, before making grand plans!

pandabob said...

Given Sherlock's love of performing I think the theatre would be really interesting for him as long as the actors were good ;-)

How goes the day gentlemen? We have blue sky and sunshine today so we're making the most of our summer ;-)

Greg Lestrade said...

Very suspicious of my helpful sergeant doing this week's shift rota for me..

REReader said...

Oh?

Greg Lestrade said...

She normally hates doing of. She volunteered today.

Anonymous said...

Strenuous interrogation is in order. I leave the suspects to your discretion.

fA

Sherlock said...

LESTRADE it's pancake day tomorrow we have to have pancakes all day I think I can eat 20.

REReader said...

20, huh? That's a great many pancakes.

Greg Lestrade said...

Mmm. I think you won't find out if you can eat 20, horror child. But we'll have some.

For now you can have some dinner. Macaroni, chard, leek, spinach, cabbage and bacon cheese.

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