27 March 2014

Victim of the system, say it isn't so

John has continued with his habit of bringing home waifs and strays. Now his menagerie is - two boys, one husband, two dogs, two degus and a kitten.

Apparently she was wandering about near a crime scene, and hasn't eaten any dead people. She's of the age where her paws and ears are still too big for her. I'm hoping she doesn't still need an adult cat to ...do things for her. Apparently they should eat four times a day. She's eaten some plain chicken so far. Sherlock and John lay on the floor feeding her bits of it. She seemed happy enough.

Sherlock has named her Maftet (he's agreed to a slight spelling change, owing to unfortunate leaps of imagination from the original 'Mafdet'). She's got quite a lot to live up to, with a name like that.

She needs a bath. And I have no idea where she's going to sleep.

We're both off tomorrow, and Mycroft doesn't need picking up until Saturday, so I guess we'll be visiting a vet, and getting her checked over. And then I'll try to make doughnuts with Sherlock, while John plays with her...

At the moment she's gnawing on John's finger.


Work was busy today, getting lots done before being off for the weekend. Had some good results recently, so the team are all happy. Everyone passed the fitness tests, which is also good. happy team, happy DI.


Sherlock wants to go for a nice long bike ride at the weekend, and the weather looks promising, so we'll probably go off on an adventure once we have Mycroft. Just see where life takes us, get some lunch in a pub somewhere, maybe have a walk somewhere new before turning back for home. Sounds good to me! And it's nice that Sherlock suggested it - good to know we have shared interests ;)

And then Mycroft will be home for what seems like forever - nearly a month! Sherlock is not happy that he only gets two weeks. Face like thunder, when we told him he didn't break up until later.

78 comments:

Mycroft said...

The cat already has her own tag.

She clearly has you wrapped around her oversized paw, Lestrade.

Greg Lestrade said...

Hush, you.

What are the dogs like with cats?

John H. D. Watson said...

Well...now she's clean, damp, and hates me.

Greg Lestrade said...

She looks very sorry for herself. But considerably cleaner.

You also look sorry for yourself. And considerably wetter.

I think I should rescue you from each other. Which one wants a cuddle first?

Mycroft said...

The dogs seem unconcerned by cats. They sometimes stare at a cat which sits on Anthea's fence, but have never shown any desire to make its acquaintance.

John H. D. Watson said...

Me.

Mycroft - that sounds promising.

Greg Lestrade said...

But if I cuddle you, what's she going to do?

John H. D. Watson said...

...sleep on my shoulder, apparently.

Greg Lestrade said...

SO I'm cuddling both of you :)

Where's she going to sleep tonight? She shouldn't go to bed damp, i assume.

REReader said...

Awwww. :)

John H. D. Watson said...

I'll make a little box for her.

Greg Lestrade said...

Am trying to resist the urge to make jokes about John bringing pussy (cats) into our marital bed(room).

He is talking to her.

Cartlin said...

Don't know if this got noticed at the end of the other thread, but did you know that like orange cats, all Tortoiseshell cats are almost all exclusively female as well?
In fact a lot of cat's colouring is dependent on their sex! I found a whole article devoted to the issue: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_coat_genetics

Cartlin said...

Anyway, I'm glad to see the cat is fitting in well! She seems sweet. It's about time John got a pet too anyway! (there's a joke there, but I'm forcing myself to keep quiet.)

Unknown said...

I expect she'll sort out her own places to sleep, now that she owns a whole flat. That's the way it is with cats. If you have large dog beds, she'll be sure to commandeer one or both of them, and send the dogs to sleep in the tiny box.
Bravely done, giving her a bath. I don't think I've ever actually tried to do that.
S

Anonymous said...

I note that he who gently mocks his husband's cat care-taking was the first to express concern about said cat going to bed while still damp. Mycroft already already mentioned that he gave her a tag, so I will merely note the diminutive, indeed affectionate form the tag takes.

Mmmhmm.

Sleep well, all.

fA

Anonymous said...

Here's hoping that the dogs find the kitten considerably less interesting than rugby balls.

I hope everyone's sleeping well, including the kitten (who, in my head, seems to be getting called Mos Def. Sorry, Sherlock).

Ella

pandabob said...

Did the little one keep you up last night or was she a good girl who slept through? ;-)

I hope you have better weather than I have for your day together.

Greg Lestrade said...

She was good. Got up and explored a few times. Left us little...gifts but we knew she would, and there's only so much floor you can cover in newspaper.

She and Sherlock both ended up in our bed this morning. She was very confused by the squashy fnug.

pandabob said...

I'm glad the little one is settling in well :-)

Enjoy your day together.

Greg Lestrade said...

The vet says she's okay. Bit underweight. We have food and stuff now.

pandabob said...

That's great news Greg :-) now just the toilet training and she'll be the perfect pet ;-)

Piplover said...

Most kittens are pretty good about being litter training. Just show them where the box is and they're good to go, usually.

We had a doberman who was adorable when we got a kitten. She stuck her head in his mouth and he just looked at us as if to say, "What do I DO?"

Greg Lestrade said...

Mrs Hudson is on a litter training mission...

Cartlin said...

Yeah, I can understand that. Cat urine STAINS. Make sure you get the special cleaning products, or those smells will set in. Also make sure to get her fixed as soon as you can to prevent behavior issues, and marking...

Greg Lestrade said...

The vet gave us lists of things to do. But we're a bit new to all this. Is it easier than potty training kids?

Anonymous said...

Vastly easier! Also easier than puppies. Female type cats don't tend to mark much (or indeed at all in my experience) and if you are talking a kitten here then they don't smell much.

REReader said...

Is the doughnut-making done, or still going one?

Greg Lestrade said...

Done. And... Successful? Ish?

Cartlin said...

Did you get a kitten in the dough or something?

Greg Lestrade said...

No it was just hard to get them even and cooked right. Sherlock enjoyed it though, and there's some left for Mycroft to try.

Greg Lestrade said...

Gay couples can marry from midnight tonight.... Should we? I really don't know... What do you think, John ?

Cartlin said...

That's what matters!

John H. D. Watson said...

Do you want to? Last time you mentioned it, you sounded vaguely against it.

Anonymous said...

If you go tonight/tomorrow you may not be able to control people taking your picture. Not sure if that's a concern.

Ella

Greg Lestrade said...

I sort of feel like it's validating the thought that what we have now is inferior. And I don't feel like it should be thought of like that.

John H. D. Watson said...

No, it shouldn't.

REReader said...

It's a good thing that the option is there for those who want it, though.

Glad that fun was had making doughnuts!

Anon Without A Name said...

Am I right in thinking that "conversion" of a civil partnership to a marriage isn't available yet? So you guys have a while to have a think about it all.

OTOH - equal marriages tonight!! Which is pretty bloody fantastic :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

It is fantastic.

But it doesn't make our promises to each other somehow mean less, or need 'upgrading' as people keep saying.

I'm happy with our commitment to each other. Nothing can make that mean more to me than it already does.

REReader said...

All true.

Have a lovely weekend, with Mycrift and bike rides and all!

Joolz said...

Maybe it could be thought of like a 'renewing of your vows' as opposed to an upgrading cos lots of people who are already married do that and then it's not lessening the commitment you have already made to each other but just adding to it. You guys are as 'married' as it gets and don't need a change of title to make it any more important, you are already husband and husband and have pledged your lives together which is surely all that matters. :)
Does it give a couple any different rights/powers that they wouldn't have now?

Kestrel337 said...

I sometimes think about doing a retaking of our vows or something, with an actual priestess officiating. And sometimes I think that's silly, because what makes our promises sacred is the intent we had when we took them. They wouldn't be any more or less meaningful for having been spoken before a priestess as opposed to the judge we had the first time. But still, we're 2 years out from 20, and that feels significant enough in this day and age to be worthy of a celebration.

All of which is a long winded way of expressing my understanding of what you said.

Greg Lestrade said...

The weather looks good tomorrow, should get a nice ride out somewhere together.

Cartlin said...

Hasn't Sherlock been begging for a trip?

Greg Lestrade said...

Yeah, with Mycroft being home too I think he knows his chances are good for a nice day out. So we'll fetch Mycroft and go and see some countryside :)

Cartlin said...

Sounds wonderful. It's still sleeting and wet here. I'm so jealous of your weather.

Greg Lestrade said...

Being jealous of uk weather isn't a thing which happens often.

We have a Mycroft. A brief stop off at home and then we're off on a little adventure.

Anonymous said...

Hope you have an excellent time, and that Mycroft and Madtet and the hounds hit it off!

Greg Lestrade said...

We stopped for lunch... But I think we should keep going! To the sea!

John H. D. Watson said...

The way all three of them are grinning, I'm beginning to suspect something...

Greg Lestrade said...

Suspect us? Us innocents?

Mycroft said...

It's very nice here. But I don't think we should stop at the coast. I think we should go a bit further.

Greg Lestrade said...

Yeah, why not? The ferry port is close...lets just keep going.

Cartlin said...

Yeah, you aren't acting suspiciously at all....

Sherlock said...

We got on the boat and we drive on on the motorbikes and it's good and John says Lestrade is sneaky because he had tickets already and we knew!

Cartlin said...

Very cool! You sure did a good job keeping the surprise, Sherlock. Hope you're having fun.

Anon Without A Name said...

Ooh, you sneaky buggers :-) Enjoy the trip!

John H. D. Watson said...

And I only just recently remembered it's nearly my birthday... Sneaky :)

Greg Lestrade said...

It is indeed your birthday on Monday. I had to check the boys were okay coming away when it's Mother's Day tomorrow, and they were...so here we are.

The dogs and Anthea will be joining us at the house for the weekend. :)

Love you.

John H. D. Watson said...

I love you too. You're all amazing :)

Joolz said...

What a brilliant surprise, well done everyone for organising that. You made it sound very innocent by just asking to go for a bike ride, Sherlock, you're super sneaky. :)
Hope you all have a wonderful holiday away together, plus dogs when they arrive later. Have fun. :)

Sherlock said...

There's a hot tub and a TRAMPOLINE!

Cartlin said...

WOW! Sounds like you are about to have an amazing time, Sherlock.

Greg Lestrade said...

Sherlock and two dogs are now on the trampoline in a big bouncy heap

Becca said...

What an excellent surprise! Have a great early birthday trip!

Anonymous said...

Oh my! That IS an excellent surprise. And a trampoline is genius! Well done on secret keeping!

I can't help but notice but this is twice in the last month or so Sherlock's been able to keep a pretty big secret from someone he sees everyday. Another sign he's growing up.

Hope your weather is good.

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

Yeah, i told him I trusted him not to say anything and he was very good and helpful and packed his own bag in secret.

Anonymous said...

Packing a bag without John catching on? His skill at subterfuge is [perhaps a bit scarily] excellent for his age!

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

Well, I helped a bit, or God knows what we'd have ended up with ;)

We will do more of a trip - this is a tiny break really, as much as time allowed.

John H. D. Watson said...

I was going to say...he packed a bag and it contains more than books?

It's lovely, thank you :)

Greg Lestrade said...

We negotiated.

And it's no more than you deserve. It isn't even what you deserve. There will be more ;)

Greg Lestrade said...

Apologies for any jealousy...but I'm in a hot run under the stars with my husband ;) perfection. Although a dog did just try to join us...

Anonymous said...

Enjoy. :-)

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

Sherlock is far too excited to go to bed. And clocks change tonight...tired bit tomorrow?

Anon Without A Name said...

Sounds like everyone's having a fun time :-)

(I know everyone hates the clocks going back; I really don't like the clocks going forwards, completely throws my bodyclock out, I feel tired for days).

Cartlin said...

Wait, your clocks still haven't changed? Huh. Well, I hope John is enjoying his present, and that all of you are having a fabulous weekend. Sounds as if you guys already have had some wonderful experiences!

pandabob said...

The clocks changing only matters if you've got to be somewhere at a certain time as it is you're on a birthday escape and time is irrelevant ;-)

You are great at surprises Greg and John is a lucky man to have the family he does although it's no more than he deserves :-)

Post a Comment