16 April 2014

Gettin' up the nerve is a man's man's job

First day of the course over - we sat in a classroom, then ran about wearing far too much gear and shouting a lot. Now I'm doing my homework for the tests tomorrow.

Got home to the general air of chaos. Finally found out what had been planted at the allotment (beans). John caught the meaty-pawed dog before it trod cat food into the carpet.

Discovered one small pretending-to-sleep kitten can occupy an entire half of the sofa (If I try that I get told to budge up, or get John's feet in my lap or something. Kitten gets away with it completely unmolested.)

And finally, after some careful questioning, found out that Mycroft has been invited to have a 'trial day' at a local deli, with view to possibly getting a job there in the summer. The lady who part-owns it was impressed by his politeness, manner and, in Sherlock's words 'He knew stuff about cheese'. She is also forewarned that he is related to an ice-cream vacuum, given we went there a few times last year, because in the summer they sell ice cream.

So yeah, they sell cheese, meats, olives, oils etc. A few specialist ingredients. And do a lunchtime sandwich thing, made fresh in front of you from what they sell.

And a few other interesting things.


I saw a thing today that said if food prices had gone up as much as house prices, a chicken would cost £52.

I dunno if I should sell my place. It's...difficult. I mean, the tenants are fine, although having said that I should arrange a day to pop in and check the place over, in case it's a crack den. but...well, I'm feeling more and more like I don't need it.

Which is good. And I'd always keep enough cash back, just in case. The average price here in London has gone up by £63k in the past year - double the average wage. It's madness, right?



102 comments:

pandabob said...

Making money on the flat might be the new reason to keep it Greg, you and John could manage a pretty decent round the world bike ride on the money if you waited to sell it until the boys are all grown up :-D

Great news about the possible job Mycroft :-)

Mycroft said...

Thank you. It is only a trial for a few hours, she may not offer me a job.

"And a few other interesting things." - He means coffee.

pandabob said...

she might not offer you a job Mycroft but I'm sure you'll learn a lot from just a few hours :-)

Is it good coffee?

Mycroft said...

I am certain that it will be most enlightening.

I fear that Lestrade has a long term plan to make it better coffee, but it is quite good.

I also fear that if she does employ me, and train me in the art of coffee production, that Lestrade will keep me locked in the cellar with an espresso machine.

Becca said...

These seem like reasonable fears Mycroft. Congrats on the trial!

Anonymous said...

Sincerest congratulations on not feeling as if you need your old flat any longer, L. So very happy that knowing intellectually and feeling are in sync for you now.

If you don't mind the responsibility of the flat, well, they aren't predicting a housing surplus in London. If it makes money and you keep alert to trends that might cause it to lose value drastically, I'm always inclined to hang on to real estate. But managing it does take time and work, so . . .

Good for Mycroft, and fortunate the employer who hires him to deal with the intricacies of good food. He does seem to appreciate food as both art and science. Hope it works out.

Mycroft, should you learn arcane coffee & espresso production skills, I'd suggest starting a course. For a reasonable fee, you can teach Lestrade's friends, relatives and co-workers how to make adequate coffee. I'm sure he'd be happy to foot the bill for any equipment such a class might require, especially should it remain in the building.

Good sleep, all.
fA

John H. D. Watson said...

Lestrade will keep me locked in the cellar with an espresso machine.

It's a serious concern.

Joolz said...

Congratulations and good luck, Mycroft. I'm sure you'll triumph and be excellent - after all you must be able to provide Sherlock with his ice cream and mainline coffee to Lestrade. I have to wonder what John's hidden desire will be though. ;)

As to the flat, Greg, maybe the change of attitude is all that is needed. Perhaps it's enough that you feel you no longer need it and you can think of it now as merely an investment instead of a bolt hole. I'm so happy for you that you feel comfortable enough with your life and family that it is no longer necessary. :) Good luck with the tests tomorrow.

Greg Lestrade said...

Thanks. And yeah, it was a bit of a surprise when i started thinking i could sell it, to be honest.

Cartlin said...

Has anything with glitter been made for Easter?

Anonymous said...

Hoping the tests have gone well, Lestrade, and you're on your way home soon.

I have a friend from the UK who moved away (from the UK) more than fifteen years ago for work. He only sold his flat in London a couple of years ago; I think he was waiting for the housing market to come back (and to get his US green card. I think once he had that and was more secure from deportation, he didn't feel the need to hold onto it as much).

And in my usual off-topicness, I can report, after several weeks of careful observation, that bruised ribs are complete crap, and I'm now ready to trade out my entire torso for a new one. (And yes, I'm grateful I didn't break anything or get seriously hurt, as the bruising is entirely annoying enough.)

Ella

Greg Lestrade said...

I've been home quite a while - and I passed.

Was met by a grumpy Sherlock, announcing that 'it wasn't fair'...sadly I couldn't make it any fairer, so he went to sulk with his degus, who undoubtedly sympathise with his plight.

Cartlin said...

Awww, being the youngest is really hard sometimes.

Greg Lestrade said...

It's hard being the youngest, eldest and all inbetween I'm sure, all for different reasons.

Anonymous said...

What is specifically unfair this evening?

Ella

Greg Lestrade said...

Mycroft has said he'll save up some of his wage, if he gets the job, to buy himself a motorbike.

Sherlock thinks this is VERY unfair, as he can't get a 'proper' job (John's offer of payment for chores was dismissed.)

It was suggested that Mycroft might not find his job very interesting, but this was also dismissed, as Sherlock, were he allowed to get a 'proper job', would find something interesting, for sure.

(He has agreed to come and eat dinner.)

Anonymous said...

Perhaps it will soothe Sherlock's soul to calculate how long one has to work at entry level wages to save up for a bike.

More likely, not.

fA

Sherlock said...

I would get a good job that paid lots.

Greg Lestrade said...

And no doubt not pay any tax, NI, or other deductions either ;)

Cartlin said...

I'm looking for one of those myself!

John H. D. Watson said...

Sherlock - and what would you do with the money, given that you couldn't ride a motorbike for a few more years yet?

Cartlin said...

Rent a lab John, since Greg won't let him use his apartment.

Sherlock said...

buy everything for a lab and then do experiments and buy a mass spectrometer and buy lots of other things that were good.

Cartlin said...

Oh, I was so close!

John H. D. Watson said...

Ah, of course. And a giraffe?

Sherlock said...

YES!

Cartlin said...

LOL!

Greg Lestrade said...

I fear you'll find the world of work very disappointing, kiddo.

Cartlin said...

I think you are underestimating Sherlock and his ability to convince others of doing things his way...

Greg Lestrade said...

As someone who is frequently the focus of his attempts...I'd have to disagree.

Mycroft said...

He is already attempting to convince me to take ice-cream in lieu of cash as my wage.

Cartlin said...

Genius.

REReader said...

Well, there is something to be said for a supplemental barter economy--you generally get more for your labor. Possibly even more in what the New York Times recently called, in an article, the favor economy...

Congratulations on getting a job trial, Mycroft! It's always a good sign when they are interested enough to want to see how a person fits the job.

Cartlin said...

Greg, I'm prettty sure that it's just proximity and time which have rendered you somewhat immune. I say somewhat, due to things like a giant purple glitter bone hanging in Sherlock's room....

Anonymous said...

I hope you have fun with it, Mycroft. I had a whole comment of advice typed up, and then I remembered that your little brother has probably taught you a lot about keeping your temper and choosing your battles. If customers get difficult, just take a deep breath and pretend they're four feet tall with curly brown hair. ;)

Ella

Greg Lestrade said...

AK - I only agreed to that because John had to fetch it ;) and why would anyone say no?? free giant sparkly purple bone - what else does anyone want?

I think my upbringing rendered me immune. But he's lucky I'm also just a big kid ;)

Cartlin said...

He really is. ;)

Greg Lestrade said...

...I still don't understand how a moglet, the size of a single dog-paw, takes up twice as much space as both the hounds do...

REReader said...

Sheer force of will. ;)

Greg Lestrade said...

She looks like she's asleep (but she's good at pretending) she clearly keeps them well under her paw when we're not watching.

Sherlock said...

Lestrade John won't let me eat my Easter eggs.

Cartlin said...

Well it's not Easter yet!

Greg Lestrade said...

What a terrible injustice! Tired Man Does Not Want Sugar-Rush Child 2 Days Early! Hold the front page!

You can have it on Sunday, when I'm at home too, so we can all have eggs together.

You should be out enjoying the sun, it won't last!

John H. D. Watson said...

It's because I am clearly a terrible person.

We're going to the park now though, so I predict he'll forget about it in roughly fifteen minutes.

Greg Lestrade said...

You mean about the time he begins to die unless he is cured with copious amounts of ice cream ;)

I am now definitely off work starting Sunday for at least four days, maybe longer :)

John H. D. Watson said...

Yes, exactly.

Excellent :)

Anonymous said...

"The Grievances of Well Loved Children." It'd make a great title for one of those introspective, elliptical novels I never am able to finish. ;-)

After much (needed) rain it's sunny here. Weeding is in my future. Hope you all are enjoying your day.

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

It's going as well as any day which involves the scent of a corpse from the Thames can.

Anonymous said...

Well, I'll hope you have the satisfaction of work well done then.

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

Yeah, it's pretty good :) things going well, cases being closed.

REReader said...

Excellent! :)

Greg Lestrade said...

And home to find dinner being cooked by Mycroft and his sous chefs.

REReader said...

And a lovely end to the day... :)

Greg Lestrade said...

It was. and Maf was sleeping in the sun on the floor, so I grabbed John from behind and carried him off, pursued by two dogs and Sherlock. Sadly he struggled, I laughed, and I dropped him before getting away with him entirely.

Cartlin said...

Darn! Sounds like a fabulous day for you all. I shall live vicariously through you, because your days always sound like lots more fun.

Anonymous said...

It's a great blessing to grow up with people who can be silly AND responsible.

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

You keep telling them that! :)

Greg Lestrade said...

So...is it acceptable for John and I to 'drop in' to the deli when Mycroft is there on his trial day - or will he die of embarrassment?

Mycroft said...

You are welcome to come in. I rather suspect the owner expects it, given my age.

I will not make you coffee, however.

Anonymous said...

Unless he acts outright pleased when you mention it, NO DON'T DO IT.

But then, Mycroft is probably more mature than I was - I was an unbelievably self conscious teenager - and one of my two kids was on the high end of the embarrassed-by-parents scale, so that's my bias.

Wait till he's been on the job for a week. ;-)

fA

Anonymous said...

Hahaha.

Point proven. Mycroft is WAY MORE MATURE than I was as a teen.

At the risk of being inappropriate, Mycroft, you are a gem.

fA

John H. D. Watson said...

I think L's probably lost all interest now he knows he won't get coffee... ;)

Greg Lestrade said...

Nonsense! There's still olives, cheese and meat to try ;)

fA - I wouldn't if it were his first day in the job, but as it's a trial...and he is 15 until next month, I almost thought it would be expected... although she does sort of know us all, by sight (and sound, if we're referring to Sherlock).

Mycroft said...

You will be getting no freebies or tasters.

John H. D. Watson said...

Ha, he knows us well...

REReader said...

On the other hand, if Mycroft has a successful trial (which I feel confident he will) and takes the job for the summer, it would be unsurprising if he were encouraged to take home food that would otherwise go stale (such as fresh bread)...

Anon Without A Name said...

Well done, Mycroft - it's good to set the boundaries from the start :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

I've never seen them have much left at the end of a day.

I shall live in hope though. (Hope that Sherlock's growth spurt does not put him within reach of whatever it is we might get, that is.)

REReader said...

Well, the store's goal is to have nothing extra, but mostly stores would rather have a little too much than not quite enough, and unlike say, books (the book business is just insane in the US), food shops can't send the unsold amounts back to the suppliers, so hope is reasonable.

(Of course, if Mycroft starts doing their calculations of how much of everything they need, they may end up with exactly the right amounts of everything!)

Mycroft said...

I believe the owners have an agreement with a local shelter for the homeless to give them everything which cannot be sold.

I would not be surprised, however, if I were to be offered some items too, if I were to work for them.

REReader said...

That's how the bakery/bagel/cafe my nephew worked for a couple of summers worked it, Mycroft--a standing agreement with a local shelter, after the employees took what they wanted of the relevant items. (The shelter, unsurprisingly, generally ended up with more tuna salad and fewer donuts. Which they preferred anyway.)

Greg Lestrade said...

I'll make a note, for when Maf finally turfs me out, to head for that shelter ;)

Anon Without A Name said...

You never know, if you play your cards right, Maf may accept you as a minion, able to retain your place in the household on the basis of your unyielding and unconditional allegiance to her. And of course, your acceptance that John belongs to her, first and last.

Greg Lestrade said...

Yeah, woke up with a jump because her tail smacked me in the face, as she was just snuggling down into John's neck, purring like a chainsaw. Of course me jumping made her jump, her claws went into John's arm, so he jumped...and chaos ensued. As it always does.

Cartlin said...

Awww, poor Greg. You can't ever snuggle if you want, the moglet has taken your place!

Greg Lestrade said...

I'm fully expecting her to have changed the locks by the time I get home ;)

Greg Lestrade said...

Arrived home.

No one here but Maf. She's staring at me. I'm going to do some detecting to see where she's got them all captured...

Cartlin said...

Oh no! Is there blood on her?! She's obviously done something!

Anonymous said...

I think Maf just wants you to know that even when Sherlock grows up, you'll always have someone lying in wait to make the moment more . . . exciting.

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

At least Sherlock never scratched at the door when it was shut...

Anonymous said...

On the other hand, appropriate modesty is not an issue with a cat, so not a bad tradeoff to someday be able to return to your preferred [lack of] sleeping attire.

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

I don't know, the way she pounces on dangly things...

Mycroft has shown me a new game on the computer. I'm trying not to be addicted...but I am, a little bit.

Joolz said...

It does sound a bit risky - I don't think claws and dangly bits go well together. ;)

I assume the fact that Mycroft has shown something to you is proof that Maf hasn't done away with them all then so that can only be good. ;) Well now you've tempted us all, what is this possible addiction...

Greg Lestrade said...

Sorry, yeah, they arrived back from the allotment. Sherlock was starving.

The game is called 2048. I think you can just google that to find it.

Anonymous said...

I am prohibited from 2048 after losing all my free time to it for three days, once.

Try googling "Lestrade 2048." ;-)

Your press people really must think you represent the police well on camera - are there really that many clips of you out there? - either that or somebody in the family has been busy . . .

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

I'm taking my own advice and not googling things on my own blog...

It's actually a bit of a standing joke in the department that I'm terrible at representing us on camera. A good reason for me never to make DCI or higher ;)

Anonymous said...

Well, it didn't occur to me until I'd posted that it might be kind of creepy. So I'm good if you wanted to delete that.

(The way you sound happy about the shift when you get out of the office and onto the street is enough reason to never make DCI)
fA

Greg Lestrade said...

Yeah, being DI is really more rank than I ever wanted. I think I'd've been happy staying as a DS. Albeit one no one would have wanted on their team ;)

Anonymous said...

Meditating on a world in which Sally is the DI and you are the DS . . .

I'd say that eventually that would have settled out into an effective working relationship. ;-)

Hope everyone who celebrates has a good Easter.

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

The way she orders me around, it really wouldn't be that different - except she'd have an office, and probably never let me drive!

Greg Lestrade said...

Has anyone any real idea of how much mess a small Sherlock can make when blowing eggs? We're lucky the dogs like licking up egg innards.

Anonymous said...

Ha. I do remember the mess of children blowing eggs from my childhood. Hence, my kids colored hard boiled egg and missed out on creating more permanent creative works. ;-)

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

Ah, it's a horrible rainy day, and I've barely been here all holidays - wanted John to have a rest, wanted Mycroft to have some study time, and wanted Sherlock to have fun.

REReader said...

Well, it sounds like at least the last mission was accomplished! :)

Anonymous said...

Mission accomplished for sure, RR.

It's all grist for the mill of their active minds. Given Sherlock's liking of hands on pursuits, I'm sure it was a success from his point of view - the one that counts, right? One year my mom got really ambitious and showed us how to lay down wax, color, re-wax, re-color, re-wax, etc. I was 6 or 7 and had never encountered the concept before and was absolutely fascinated. Also frustrated because I wanted my attempts to look as good as hers, which of course they didn't. But it's all part of being a kid lucky enough to have adults who pay attention to you.

fA

Anon Without A Name said...

Sounds like you've made sure that everyone's had a good day :-) Lots of chocolate too, I presume?

Greg Lestrade said...

There has been a certain amount of chocolate :)

Anon Without A Name said...

Good, good :-)

REReader said...

And did you get your dark chocolate egg (as though I need to ask!)?

Greg Lestrade said...

Yeah, dark chocolate egg with salted caramel chocolates. I haven't actually started it yet though.

REReader said...

Yum!

Have a lovely next few days, all, and happy Easter to everyone celebrating, while I'm away celebrating the last days of Passover.

Unknown said...

I haven't dyed eggs in years, and this is the first year in quite a long time that I thought about that with a slightly wistful longing. Not enough to actually do it, since that would involve shopping for supplies (dyes) I don't have on hand. My parents were extremely good at hiding the eggs my sister and I dyed when we were kids. Way up on top of the pleated drapes, inside a fanned out cone of pencils, etc. Color matching was key.
S

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