10 May 2014

Because of my shoes, I'm wearing today...

Firstly, most importantly, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MYCROFT! You have now entered that awkward twilight zone, where you can get married and buy a house - even join the army! But...you can't yet vote for the people who control all of those things...

You can work full time! But you can't buy alcohol or cigarettes... You can fly a glider! But not drive a car.

You can, however....start your scooter lessons. ;)

John and I did a little research the other day, when I was off. Visited a few bike schools. It's amazing how all the trainers claim to be the absolute best when two bikers turn up, one of whom is a DI, asking about lessons for their boy...

So, with Mrs Holme's agreement, John and I have 'given' Mycroft some bike lessons - for him to arrange whenever he wants to. He said he'd like to go to the off road place one more time before he actually starts 'for real', and also that he might not get much time before his exams, but still, he can get his licence all sorted out, and then go for it!

His Mum, in the spirit of allowing her eldest some hard-won freedom, has agreed to match his wages when he goes to work this summer, so he can save up and get himself a nice bike, and any further gear he needs :)  (We can only assume she's also putting swathes of security through their CBT too - only kidding Mycroft ;) )

(although maybe you should get a quad, so the dogs can hang on the back...not sure if they count as passengers or not??)

So happy birthday, kiddo, we hope you enjoy your freedom.


Anyway, on a completely different note...Eurovision!

I hope some of you will join in - I shall be passing comment ;) Murray said he'd turn up 'with enough beer to make it bearable'. Jo and Lisa said they'd probably come, depending on how knackered they are. I think Mrs Hudson will come up and join us, too - she's never one to turn down a nice young Europop moppet in a bit of leather ;) John has rolled his eyes so hard I'm surprised his head hasn't fallen off, but smiled indulgently. Sherlock has promised to dance with me.

Anyway, starts 8pm BST, if you can work it out from that. And you can watch, apparently, on the official Eurovision website. Live, free and legal!

208 comments:

1 – 200 of 208   Newer›   Newest»
Becca said...

Happy Birthday Mycroft! I'm sure your late teens will be far more successful than mine :)

I may join in on the Eurovision thing - I think it starts in about ten minutes?

Becca said...

...Can I ask about the bearded dude in full dress in the trailer? (has never seen this before)

Greg Lestrade said...

SOrry! Ive been getting drinks - the bearded person is one of the singers.

I forget you probably aren't getting our commentary from the official site. If anyone knows where you can get the UK commentary, you should. We're not very polite.

Jo (and passenger) said...

Drinks...you expect me to get through this on tonic water. It's so unfair. Possibly worse than Christmas without a proper drink.

Greg Lestrade said...

'this performance may make you nervous as there's a wind machine, a lady in a flowing gown, and a fast moving human hamster wheel' ...and strobe lighting.

Joolz said...

Nice to see Graham is in good form already. Here we go...

And we're starting with a hamster :)

Becca said...

Clearly I need the commentary!

Is there a drinking game that goes with this?

Greg Lestrade said...

I think we should get one of those wheels for Sherlock.

Greg Lestrade said...

John, I'll never tire of being your sweet cheesecake.

Joolz said...

Does this one get Sherlock's vote just because it's about Cheesecake, ;)

Mycroft said...

Becca, I believe using Tunnelbear to view the BBC iPlayer will get you our commentary, if you feel like it.

Becca said...

Ah! I have tunnelbear, I use it for stealing British tv :) I shall give it a try immediately.

Greg Lestrade said...

The official site should let you watch the country of your choices feed, really. I can't imagine how dull it would be if taken seriously.

Sherlock said...

I like these and their bright suits I want a bright suit and a hamster wheel

Joolz said...

I'm loving the 'hey' guys - ZZTop ;)

Greg Lestrade said...

Did they just say one of them is an MP?

Jo said...

'he looks preoccupied, like he's thinking 'did I leave the gas on' throughout this performance'. So many 'serious' singers do!

Joolz said...

Do you think the girl is auditioning to be a hand model.

Greg Lestrade said...

There are drinking games, and 'find your Eurovision song name' things.

What is the point of that circular keyboard??

Greg Lestrade said...

...this is interesting. I'm fairly sure it's not one kiss that turns seeds into trees.

Joolz said...

Sounds like Hey Mickey

Becca said...

I'm officially afraid to go to Poland now.

Joolz said...

Is anyone reading the lyrics for this one! Brilliant :)

Greg Lestrade said...

We have the sing-a-long on :) this is quite...something...

Lisa said...

I enjoyed it! ;)

John H. D. Watson said...

Does anyone else want more beer?

Greg Lestrade said...

but vodka is best, Danger!

Murray said...

She wears it well

Joolz said...

I'm getting a definite James Bond vibe off this one. I have to say it's not bad.

Greg Lestrade said...

that was good! And by all accounts she's a lovely lady, so she gets my vote so far.

Greg Lestrade said...

i don't think that was right. i will have more gin though.

Murray said...

John's threatening to go and do the laundry

Greg Lestrade said...

I notice Maf is sleeping in protest.

John, it's fun!

Greg Lestrade said...

If you leave you'll have to undo my sad :(

Joolz said...

She looks like she's a cage fighter in those bars, but I quite like it.

John H. D. Watson said...

I'm switching to gin.

Becca said...

Sweden is actually kind of pretty.

Greg Lestrade said...

Well...this is...he doesn't know his cleaning lady, and he wants a moustache...compelling stuff.

Joolz said...

He should borrow the one from the guy with the hat if he's that desperate.

Z said...

I'm still feeling a bit hung up on Poland... I've never seen butter churned like that before.

Also whoever it was had the fake ice skater, that was amazing. But I didn't even hear the song, she was too distracting. I want to learn to roller blade and always pretend I'm ice skating and wear my old skating dresses.

Greg Lestrade said...

Will Russia get a 'boo' do we think? I'm on the edge of my seat!

(I think John is just swigging gin from the bottle.)

Joolz said...

Are you going to vote for this one just for the mozzarella, Greg. ;)

John H. D. Watson said...

I thought their hair was going to tie itself back together at the end.

Greg Lestrade said...

I'm voting for Italy because she's winging about invasive drains and bad parking.

Becca said...

Why is Italy wearing Greek laurels on their heads?

...I should stop asking why, shouldn't I?

Joolz said...

She's going to be sucked into that whirlpool in a minute with her flute waving high, ;)

Becca said...

And I'm off, going to help my mother plant her mother's day plants. Enjoy your gin, John.

Jo said...

I can't believe you're making me watch this sober.

Jo said...

I'll do your laundry if you want, John.

Greg Lestrade said...

She looks like she needs a good hairwash.

Joolz said...

Well she's certainly got a powerful voice, not bad. Not sure about the rain though.

Joolz said...

Bet you could play better than that, Sherlock. :)

Sherlock said...

I drank gin and it wasn't very nice.

John H. D. Watson said...

Jo - can I offer you cake instead?

Greg Lestrade said...

stop him, he's getting away!

Jo said...

Is it cake laced heavily with alcohol or sedatives? Even a bit of acid would probably help.

Joolz said...

skuba duba doo - is shaggy coming out next. ;)

John H. D. Watson said...

Well, Mrs H made it, so you never know...

Greg Lestrade said...

We have ice cream too. And I'm going to make zabaglione when we're in the boring voting bit.

Greg Lestrade said...

I want to know who decides how many ooooos and hhhhhhhhhhs the subtitles get. Seems to bear no relation to the song.

Joolz said...

This one sounds like it could be a real song as opposed to a Eurovision song.

And now everyone is going to be dead jealous cos we want goodies in the boring bit too.

Joolz said...

She looks like she's standing in the middle of a big umbrella.

This sounds a bit like a Bond theme too.

Greg Lestrade said...

well, the stage is only just smaller than her entire country ;)

sorry that you don't get goodies

Joolz said...

Well that was my first time of hearing our song and it wasn't too bad. Still have no chance of winning cos no-one will vote for us :)

Wave to Graham. ;)

Greg Lestrade said...

Exactly - doesn't matter what our song is! No one loves us :)

Right, Sherlock can head to bed, I will head to the kitchen, Murray's heading for the fridge...

Joolz said...

Well the ones I quite liked were :- Belarus with cheesecake, Iceland with the suits, Austria with Conchitta, Sweden in the cage, Slovenia with her flute, Spain with rain on the plain, Denmark with skuba duba doo, and Molly with her buses. I think I'm going to have to go with Austria. Who's anyone else voting for?

It's ok, Greg, we'll have to live vicariously through descriptions of the delights you're making. Enjoy. :)

Greg Lestrade said...

I am...beating the mixture whilst staring at the TV and trying to work out what the...hell...is going on.

Greg Lestrade said...

I'm making overly fluffy zabaglione, with chocolate shavings and blueberries, for those who want it (and are close enough to get it).

Joolz said...

I was going to leap up and say 'I want it' then and you just had to go and spoil it and say close enough to get it. ;) Hope it tastes as good as it sounds. :)

Joolz said...

I want curly wurly cake now. I could Sherlock diving into that one. :)

Greg Lestrade said...

this bit is so weird....

Lisa said...

this zabaglione is so good. John, can I keep him? Or just borrow him for, say, 5 evenings a week? Just to cook?

John H. D. Watson said...

He hoovers glitter as well.

Greg Lestrade said...

quick, the dancers are trying to drown themselves!

Greg Lestrade said...

You trying to get rid of me, Danger??

John H. D. Watson said...

I'm just saying! They'll need that kind of service in a few years...

Joolz said...

Maybe he thinks Maf's plan isn't working fast enough... ;)

Jo said...

Oh no, all glitter needs will be sorted when the babe is being babysat by you two :)

Greg Lestrade said...

Every vote we get where we get nil points we take a drink :)

See readers, all he wants me for is my glitter-removal skills and the odd feed :(

Greg Lestrade said...

5 whole points! Only 24 behind the leaders!

John H. D. Watson said...

And your cat brushing abilities.

Greg Lestrade said...

She seems to have taken to Murray.

Joolz said...

Yay, first points for us - at least we won't be nil points.

Someone should tell each country host that they are only allowed to give their points and not any of the rest of the drivel they come out with.

Anonymous said...

If you are drinking when the UK get no points, Maf, the degus & Sherlock may be the only ones conscious by the end.

fA

Anonymous said...

Wait. I thought the French were supposed to be chic. Their presenter is wearing an ironic hipster moustache necklace? I am confused. (I realize if that's the first confusing thing I saw on Eurovision I haven't been paying attention)

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

I think we're all rooting for Austria

Anonymous said...

And Austria is doing well!

The Twitter feeds here are calling Conchita "the bearded Kardashian." Which is kind of inappropriate (as the Kardashians are beautiful but generally perceived as talentless), but the US has to frame everything in a North American perspective or, apparently, we can't cope.

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

Stop it, Finland.

Joolz said...

Totally embarrassing himself there, why do they think it will ever work to sing or rap!

Come on Austria, only a few left. :)

Greg Lestrade said...

Oh...Austria...I don't even know what to think...

Anonymous said...

Such faux surprise! There had to be someone on that team calculating the point spreads on their smart phone!

fA

Joolz said...

Well that was great fun. Thanks for letting us all join in on here, sorry if I hogged it a bit. Enjoy the rest of your evening everyone and the last half hour of your birthday Mycroft. Well done Austria, could definitely be a Bond theme. :)

Greg Lestrade said...

It was great to have you with us! Jo is practically asleep, Maf is asleep, John and Murray are discussing how Conchita looks better with a beard than either of them ever will, Lisa is figuring out how to get Jo off the sofa :)

Anonymous said...

It is both weird and funny to read all the comments after the fact. :)

Ella

Unknown said...

yes, quite! :) I'm a little sorry now that I didn't tune in earlier and try out the live feed, but I was busy doing other things and... well, I suppose I'll live! The commentary here is quite amusing even without the show.
happy belated, by now, birthday to Mycroft.
S

Greg Lestrade said...

You'll know for next year ;)

We really need to go to the allotment. But the sofa is so soft and comfy...

Anonymous said...

If it's not raining, I trust the allotment won out. It's started hitting 90 F. this week, so I no longer want to go outside to garden after, say, 9 a.m. Finding it a small window so I'd better toughen up.

Ella! How did your outdoor mileage go? Hope you didn't feel "like death" - I am generally so unthrilled while exercising that I couldn't do it if I didn't like how it felt afterwards!

Onwards!

fA

Anonymous said...

It went pretty well, fA, thanks! I didn't go quite as fast as I was hoping, but I got there. I'm really looking forward to my race next weekend now that I know I can do that distance and then some.

I believe "onward!" is becoming the unofficial blog slogan...

Ella

Greg Lestrade said...

Yeah, last day of the footy, John couldn't cope with me staying in!

Anonymous said...

Oh, and forgot to mention--snowing here. In May. Which is how we know it's spring.

Ella

Unknown said...

my goal this summer is going to be a box of deadwood (cut up with my new handy-dandy battery-run sawzall) and a bin of weeds every day that I can get outside. I'm also going to really really try to keep to a decent sleep-wake rhythm so I don't lose the cool mornings as the weather warms up. It's hard cos I'm such a night owl, and I love to lie in bed and read way past lights-out time.
S

Greg Lestrade said...

It's been a bit grey here, but it was okay. Allotmenting was done, we need to step up our watering regime, stop relying on Reg to notice when we've been rubbish. (Obviously this is stuff indoors - not shortage of rain outdoors!)

Maf has fallen asleep with one leg stuck out, claws embedded in John's jumper. Just to mark her territory.

Greg Lestrade said...

What are the groundskeepers doing in the footy? The other week there was a tartan pitch, today's all swirly circles at St Mary's.

pandabob said...

maybe he's looking for a new job? last chance to show off his skills ;-)

Anonymous said...

Saw this on tumblr and thought of you, Lestrade. It seems to sum up your present living situation quite nicely:

http://wilwheaton.tumblr.com/post/85440951136/megsokay-yay-stefon-all-feline-ownership-in

Ella

REReader said...

I was glad to read that you had a satisfactory birthday, Mycroft--and that you got some presents you'll really enjoy. (My mom was always very big on "matching funds" too; I don't recall if I ever mentioned it, but that's how I got my guitar--I earned half and then she chipped in the other half.)

I was disappointed last night to see that I missed Eurovision, as it aired on Shabbat. Sounds like it was a fun evening, anyway!

Sherlock, when I tried it, I also thought gin did not taste at all nice. (And that was before it made me sick!)

We had a beautiful, warm, and sunny day in NYC today--the tree pollen enjoyed it very much indeed. *achoo*

Becca said...

RR - I live just north of the city, and spent much of the day sneezing. This did not deter me from planting a plethora of tomatoes and other veggies/herbs. I'm sure I shall be sneezing tomorrow as a result.

REReader said...

That's the spirit, Becca! ;)

(A shower to get the pollen out of your hair should help--as should spending some time indoors with filtered air!)

Now if I could only get my eyes to stop tearing...

Greg Lestrade said...

RR - Eurovision is always a Saturday, as far as I'm aware. After 50 odd years I don't imagine it'll change any time soon.

Ella- it sure does!

Small Hobbit said...

It's sunny here this morning. Will it last or will it rain at lunchtime when I want to go shopping?

Hope you all have a good week.

pandabob said...

As I sit here dripping wet after the school run I feel rather jealous of your sun SH ;-)

Have a good day gentlemen and everyone else reading this :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

It's sunny here right now, but with lots of clouds lurking.

And my day was better before I managed to cut my hand by being an idiot. But our first wider has leapt to my rescue and covered me in plasters. I will survive. Probably.

Anonymous said...

First wider?

It is...still snowing here. So I guess I'm taking the bus to work.

Ella

Greg Lestrade said...

First aider!

Sherlock still wants snow...

Anonymous said...

L. - If you are going to have a near-death experience from a cut hand, it is your moral duty to wait and do it at home so Sherlock can make observations.

Ella - My daughter is near you, I think. Her roommate's mother told him not to come home for Mother's Day, the trip would be too much, it was snowing so hard.

Becca! - glad you're doing well enough to get outside!

Have a good day, all.

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

Apparently it's limerick day today. So feel free to make some up about John and share them with us all.

Never have I been so sad that 'fanny' doesn't mean the same thing here...

Anonymous said...

Heh. The meetings are long, today. This is perfect. (I admit not all of mine will scan perfectly.)

There once was a doctor named Watson,
His husband proclaimed him a hot one,
The doctor just smiled
(Unless he was riled)
He knew like with like can be lots o’ fun.

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

John Watson was a marvellous Doc,
And Nanny to Greg, Mycroft and Sherlock,
The boys thought he was great,
And their meeting was fate,
Greg mainly loved his big....loving personality, sense of humour and ability to forgive ;)

Tina said...

Yes, well, limericks. No comment.
Happy belated birthday, Mycroft! Hope you´ve fun when getting the licence!

Anonymous said...

On the theme of glares:

When degus and Sherlock run wild,
And Maf cat can't be reconciled,
Some fun in the park,
All at home after dark,
Might manage to keep Doc’s glare mild.
~~~~~~~~~
When patients and young ones give trouble,
If a DI's entendres trend double,
A tired Doc tries to glare,
His man ruffles his hair,
Is a smile peeking out through the stubble?

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

Well these are cheering me up no end :)

Just hope I'm still married by the end of the day ;)

Small Hobbit said...

There once was a doctor named Danger
Sorting trouble for him was no stranger
With two dogs and a cat
Sherlock, Mycroft and that
DI who was Tonto to his Lone Ranger

Anonymous said...

Sadly, my meeting's over soon and I will have to actually work.

With an Internet blog a DI
Can speak truth (or occasional lie),
To all who would hear,
Be they far or near,
'Bout a Doc who lights spark in his eye.

Thanks for the fun. Maybe someone who's not sitting shoulder-to-shoulder around a conference table can join L. in the traditional, risque limericks.

fA
fA

Greg Lestrade said...

SH - you sure I'm not Silver to his Lone Ranger? ;)

Anonymous said...

If you're Silver, won't Federicorn be [even more] jealous?

Kinder not to rub it in that you're the one who won the Doc's enduring affection.

fA

Small Hobbit said...

L - possibly, if he shouts "Hi Ho Silver", as he, err, departs into the sunset. ;)

John H. D. Watson said...

Only very occasionally.

Greg Lestrade said...

He definitely gets my rear up - I mean makes me rear up ;)

Danger, hope you and the boy wonder didn't get caught in that hail storm! People were running for cover like lunatics.

fA - Federicorn has lots of other things going for him, I definitely deserve John ;)

Sherlock said...

Lestrade bought home special milk for Maftet and John told him he was a soft sod and I'm giving the degus a bath.

REReader said...

Is the special milk keeping Maftet away from the degus while they enjoy their bath, Sherlock? Or have they got a bit used to her by now?

Greg Lestrade said...

Honestly, you try to buy a small cat's love with a bit of milk and you get called soft... It was tactical! ;)

REReader said...

But of course!

Anonymous said...

At least if you're getting called a soft sod for treating/tactically bribing the cat, it doesn't sound as if your spouse-themed limerick fest has gotten you into serious trouble.

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

I was hoping to get Maf on my side for one night, to protect me from John!

Anonymous said...

Well, if we don't hear from you tomorrow (or "your" comments don't sound authentic) we'll take bets on who did you in, man or cat.

I'm not actually terribly worried about it, somehow. ;-)

fA

Small Hobbit said...

It is suspiciously quiet this morning. Either that or Maftet is still asleep and no-one is allowed to get up and disturb her.

pandabob said...

How goes the day gents? Successfully I hope :-)

Anonymous said...

Hmmm. Messing with us, aren't you? Or was this vet day for Maf and she rendered all immobile and powerless with her Feline Mind Powers?

Well, could be you're busy, but that's less entertaining to contemplate.

fA

Anonymous said...

Perhaps maftet has eaten them all..,

Ella

Sally said...

I have no idea if John is still with us, but the Boss is sitting at his desk, wearing leather trousers, with his feet propped up in one of the drawers, talking on the phone. I can tell you that a fair few people have noticed him and can corroborate this.

John H. D. Watson said...

I am out in the weather, just done looking at the imprint of someone's teeth in someone else's arm, and I find it deeply unfair that other people are warm and dry and ogling my husband in leather trousers.

Anonymous said...

I just spent about 40 seconds imagining lestrade in rock and roll-style leather trousers, and wondering if leather trousers a usual part of a DI's work wardrobe, before realizing you probably mean his biking leathers.

If he's looking relatively casual I think we can assume that John is fine. Or that maftet and lestrade are colluding in his disappearance. Seems unlikely though.

Ella

Anonymous said...

DS. Donovan, as usual your contribution is brilliant.

You'd think that people needing an FME could have the decency to bring their problems to him so he could stay indoors.

Ella, my mind went there too, and I don't even usually particularly *like* leather clothing. (Irrational as that seems to most.) This blog is SUCH a bad influence.

fA

Anonymous said...

Ha! I don't usually like leather clothing either (unless it's functional, like biking leathers), but I think that's mostly because I tend to not like the people who wear leather clothing. If it's not functional, it seems ostentatious. But then, I'm not usually imagining a man sitting at a desk who is in regular conservative business dress from the waist up, and rock and roll from the waist down. ;)

Ella

Anonymous said...

Ella - ;-)

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

I'm wearing a t short on top, because my suit and shirt are dripping dry in the showers as I got so soaked earlier even my boxers were soggy.

Hope you're warm and dry soon Danger. I won't say it seems to be clearing up, because that's a sure way to get another round of torrential hail.

John H. D. Watson said...

I'm free for the moment and Mrs H is picking up Sherlock. Can I bring you anything? Coffee, dry shorts, me?

Anonymous said...

Sounds to me like you're trying to make the good Doc more envious of your officemates. Or inspire a visitor bearing coffee, if the patients allow.

(DS. Donovan: points off for failing to mention the t-shirt.)

fA

Anonymous said...

HA!

I called it.

Good going Doc, combining self-interest and considerate caring for others like that. You are clever like that.

Greg Lestrade said...

You would be good. You and coffee would be unsurpassable

John H. D. Watson said...

See you soon :)

Greg Lestrade said...

I am so lucky to have you.

John H. D. Watson said...

I love you :)

And your leather trousers.

Greg Lestrade said...

Whole time John was here - glorious sunshine, boiling hot, steamy..pavements.

Now he's gone it is absolutely pissing down again. Can't see the other side of the street.

Coincidence? I think not.

Hope you're indoors, Danger.

And you lot - shirt and tie?? With leathers?? Please! Don't listen to Mycroft about my fashion sense - it's better than that!!

Anonymous said...

Glad y'all got to see each other. :)

And I don't think any of us imagined you in a tie, lestrade. We know you better than that.

Ella

Greg Lestrade said...

Good! But even a shirt...with leathers? That's not right.

Anon Without A Name said...

Yeah, you're right, leather trousers with no shirt is much better ;-)

Anonymous said...

Ha!

I figured something had happened to your trousers. Just didn't see why you'd change out of your shirt too unless something has also happened to it.

Any other Americans on this thread had to repeatedly delete "pants" as they were typing, lest they accidently make this conversation even more funny (for us) and embarrassing (for lestrade)?

Ella

REReader said...

Since I'm only just now reading it, I didn't have to delete any text--but I was doing a fair amount of mental translating since "trousers" is not a word I generally use... ;)

Becca said...

Leather pants would just chafe, I would think.

In other news, today is walking day. Feels very weird to suddenly be able to carry things for myself.

Greg Lestrade said...

What do you call pants? I've always wondered. Or is very specific words for different types?

Can I also say that you lot took the fact cat-milk exists very calmly. I really only bought it because it seemed so ridiculous. Yet none of you seemed perplexed!

REReader said...

If it's for pets, and they can charge tons of money for it, I assume it exists!

You mean men's underpants? I guess we mostly call them underpants shorts (although shorts also means outerwear), or by the specific type.

Women's underpants are panties, generally speaking, or, again, the specific type.

REReader said...

Yay on the walking, Becca!

Small Hobbit said...

Becca, that's great news!

I've seen the ads for cat milk. I'm edicated!

REReader said...

Urgh! That originally read "underpants or shorts"--I don't know where the "or" went.

Anonymous said...

Underpants, underwear, undies, panties (for women's underwear only). There's also a fair amout of calling them by style (boxers, briefs, boxer-briefs, things, etc).

Trousers, to me, are fancy pants. Fancy trousers. Slacks. The sort of thing you could wear to an office. Jeans are pants.

Ella

Greg Lestrade said...

It wasn't that expensive. And she's only getting it as a treat. Or she'll be a fatcat.

I think you should club together and get one simple word for it all, like pants - except obviously not.

Maf has just leapt up and shot off down the stairs, skidded around, returned, headed into our room and finally climbed John to get on top of the fridge (he was making tea, as he is 99% of the time.) She's now washing herself as if nothing happened.

Anonymous said...

And I meant to say thongs, not things. Thanks, autocorrect.

RR--I think "shorts" might be either a regional or a generational thing. I would never call underpants shorts myself, though I've heard it.

Ella

Anonymous said...

I think trying to get 300 million Americans to agree on anything, much less what to call our unmentionables, might restart the Civil War.

Ella

REReader said...

Could well be, Ella--I hear "shorts" fairly often, but then I only live in one region! Undies is a pretty common one, I missed that.

We can't use "pants" for underpants, L, since we use that for the outer garment. It would be weird to use it for both!

REReader said...

Ha, Ella! Have you ever seen DARE, the Dictionary of American Regional English? It's five volumes.

Greg Lestrade said...

RR - hence me saying like pants - except obviously not.

Anonymous said...

What do Brits call it when a person doesn't wear any pants under his pants? Pants under his trousers. Underpants under his pants. Whatever.

Ella

Greg Lestrade said...

I'm fairly sure we used to call it 'I'm not wearing any pants!'....but in these transatlantic times, we call it 'going commando' now.

Becca said...

This quiz entertained my sister and I while visiting relatives on the other side of the country. Don't think it'll work for you British, but you might get a kick out of some of the potential answers. My favorite question might well be: "What do you call a drive through liquor store?" To which I thought, a bad idea?

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/12/20/sunday-review/dialect-quiz-map.html

Greg Lestrade said...

That tells me I'm from New York, Yonkers and Honolulu...

Lancs. Anon said...

New York, Yonkers and Boston. I was surprised by the last one, although some people from my home town (including my ne'er do well great grandfather - literally weeks after my grandma was born, what a peach) did emigrate to Massachusetts.

REReader said...

New York, Jersey City, and Yonkers--I guess they couldn't put "New York" three times!

Small Hobbit said...

Ella - or draughty, if wearing a kilt!

Unknown said...

heh, I've heard many terms for underwear... the usual pants, underpants, panties, undies, briefs, bikinis, boxers, but also knickers (as in "don't get your knickers in a twist over that") and also gazundas, as in that's what gazunda your other clothes.
that was an interesting language quiz... there were some things for which I had to choose between words I use almost interchangeably. But it did place me at least in the greater New England area which is about right. I assume the NY/NJ influence is coming from my grandparents...
S

Greg Lestrade said...

There were lots of things on that quiz where the right answer wasn't there ;)

Those grey things that roll into balls? They're called cheesebobs, everyone knows that!

REReader said...

Apparently "sneakers" is what most put me in New York. What they SHOULD have asked for that was whether I stand on line or in line.

Cool quiz, Becca--and I agree with your answer for drive-through liquor store! (Is there really such a thing?)

Small Hobbit said...

Strangely enough I ended up with Santa Rosa, San Francisco and Santa Ana. Which ain't bad for a Londoner.

Anonymous said...

Drive through liquor stores are in fact a thing. We have a couple in Denver. There's also drive through daiquiris in New Orleans.

When I took that quiz awhile ago, I got put in the south and the Midwest, I believe.

Ella

Joolz said...

Good quiz Becca, thanks. There were quite a few answers not there, the plainest one being motorway for the big road, but I got New York, New Jersey, Yonkers and my strongest answers for that apparently were saying that cot/caught and Mary/merry/marry were all pronounced differently (obviously! - ;-)) Saying that though can I ask anyone who thinks they all sound the same which of the 2 or 3 words does your pronunciation sound like, eg with cot/caught - do they both sound like cot as in rhymes with hot or caught as in rhymes with fort, and the same for Mary/merry/marry.

I always thought 'don't get your knickers in a twist' was a very British saying.

Anonymous said...

trying to get 300 million Americans to agree on anything, much less what to call our unmentionables, might restart the Civil War.

Or, as it's called where I've spent a large part of my life "the War Between the States" (a southern nomenclature, for you non-Americans).

Those regionals speech tests always nail me very accurately, with a few words thrown in that are linked to where my parents spent their childhoods. Which makes sense, as they're the ones who taught me to speak.

fA

starbright said...

I got Louisville, Rochester, and Tuscon in that quiz. I am literally all over the map, apparently.

Unknown said...

Ha, yes, Lestrade, the correct answers were not always given as options. The highway one in particular, they left out "interstate" which is what I would call a big limited-access highway. Most numbered roads, which are highways in general, whether the small 2-lane connectors from town to town, or the 4-6-8 lane turnpikes or freeways, I call by their numbers... or "the turnpike" since there's really only one in Mass. East-west, you can use The Turnpike, or Route 2 (northern tier) or Route 9 (roughly parallels the pike). North-south, there's I-91, or 5&10, west of the River, or 47 or 63 or 116 or whatever east of the River, depending on where you are going. I really had to stop and think about how I refer to these roads in aggregate, since I normally think of them as individuals. Kind of had to come at it from the idea of, if I was planning a trip out of state, "now, where would I want to get off the highway..."
now I'm tempted to take the quiz again and use some of the alternate words that I was trying to decide between... would I turn out to be from someplace else? ;)
S

REReader said...

Haha, S--I did that, and I did get a few different questions, but the exact same result--I guess there's just no taking the New York out of me. :)

(OTOH, I'm often told my accent sounds vaguely and generally "European". I'm not sure what that sounds like, though!)

Greg Lestrade said...

It's a wonderful day! Blue skies, sun...although clouds are creeping in.

I ran in. And I'm about to run home and get the bike to go on a mission.

pandabob said...

A mission sounds interesting!!

Glad the weather is ok and I hope the clouds blow on by without leaving their contents on your head :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

Any mission that starts by surprising my husband with kisses in the kitchen* is a good one.

(*not too surprising, or I'd be on a mission to get my head re attached)

Anonymous said...

Well, nice work if you can get it!

Hope the rest of the day goes well for all. & the mission is as successful as its beginning.

fA

John H. D. Watson said...

I think ideally you should always come home in the middle of the day to kiss me.

Greg Lestrade said...

I think so too!

I shall put it to the commissioner.

You at art class? Creating a masterpiece?

John H. D. Watson said...

Er...creating something anyway...

Anonymous said...

I am trying to talk myself into lifting weights, and reassuring myself that all the buff-ass men in the lifting room are not watching me and my wee 20-lb weights.

I might have an introvert day and go shower early...

Ella

Anonymous said...

Hope you showed those buff-ass men how determined you were with your "wee" weights, Ella!

I know what you mean about the introvert day, though. I am always surprised how talkative some of my gym-mates are (and since the majority, male & female, are 20 years younger than I, it certainly isn't anyone chatting me up) but I really don't go to the gym to chat, and there are a couple of regulars who make me want to hide when I see them.

fA

John H. D. Watson said...

Ella - I'm sure you know this, but if they're judging you negatively for doing something difficult, then they're arseholes, and their opinions don't mean anything.

Greg Lestrade said...

Anyway isn't it better to lift smaller things more? Ignore them all, get in the zone and enjoy yourself :)

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