16 October 2014

Oh oh the night comes down, And I get afraid of losing my way

Well, we have both recovered from the run.

John did it in 02:15:01, I did it in 02:15:36. He could have gone faster, but he stayed with me until right at the end, when I told him I'd be forced to feel up his arse all the way to the line if he didn't run. Or...I might've thought that, and just panted something like 'Go! Go!' and waved a floppy arm at him.

Anyway, yeah, we did it! And we're quite proud. Sherlock, the girls, the baby, and Mrs H did us proud - I think they probably ran almost as much as we did, charging around the course to see us!

But yeah, it really wasn't too bad, and we might well do something else - or another half marathon. I'll admit a full marathon is still rather daunting...


Here's a video Sherlock said you should all see. And he's right. It's lovely. I think Mycroft sent it to him.




Beautiful Chemical Reactions from L2 Molecule on Vimeo.

I feel like I had other things to say...

I need to go and see Mum again. It's been ages. Again. Definitely before Christmas.

Some UK army medics and soldiers have gone over to Sierra Leone to help with the Ebola crisis. I know John is sort of champing at the bit to be able to do something like that. Or...no, that's probably the wrong words. He would willingly have done something like that, in the past, definitely.

Makes me wonder, about...well, I find it an incredibly difficult area to even think about - because I so desperately wouldn't want him to go, for entirely selfish reasons. And where's the line, between that being 'caring' and that being 'controlling', and if it really was a situation, what would I do? Where would I land on that line?

This is the sort of thing I find goes around and around in my head until I feel like it'll explode. It's...distracting, to say the least. Especially for something which isn't actually an issue.

122 comments:

pandabob said...

those are impressive times for the run, I'm even more impressed than I was now ;-)

I suspect that the fact that you think about the caring v controlling thing means that you'll always fall on the right side of the line in any situation but I don't think its good that it takes over your brain quite as much as you seem to be saying here :-( I know how it happens though!!

Greg Lestrade said...

You know how it is - it comes and goes, when my brain doesn't have better things to do. And unfortunately sometimes stays when my brain does have far better things to do.

I think we spurred each other on in the run! I crtainly wouldn't have kept it up without John.

I'm attempting to read in bed at themoment. Maf is licking my hair.

John H. D. Watson said...

I wouldn't go now, if that helps. It wouldn't be right. I didn't really have anyone who'd miss me when I was in the Army.

Greg Lestrade said...

I'm certain that's not actually true. but I know it can feel that way, at the time.


And can you tell your cat my hair is fine as it is? And cat-breath yawns aren't helping it?

John H. D. Watson said...

I could tell her, but I don't think she'd listen.

Greg Lestrade said...

If I go into the office smelling of cat food, looking rumpled with my hair stuck up everywhere, people will think you've made me sleep on the floor or something...

I wonder what she'd do if I put her in a pillowcase.

John H. D. Watson said...

Cause the apocalypse, I expect.

Greg Lestrade said...

I'll use yours then.

John H. D. Watson said...

This will go well...

Greg Lestrade said...

hmm. Like a small ginger and white eel with sharp claws.

i now fear I'll wake up stuffed into a duvet cover...

Anonymous said...

Holy cow, guys. That's roughly a 10 minute mile! Which is great for the distance for people who can't make running a first priority, but fit it into busy, busy lives. Especially for someone categorized as a "senior man." ;-)

I don't doubt you'd navigate decisions about individual risk taking quite well. As pandabob says, you think about it. Also, the signs are right. John & you ran together, despite the fact that one of you is faster. I always think that's one of those things, like how people treat kids and service workers, that shows who & where people are underneath it all.

fA

Anonymous said...

P.s. You didn't REALLY put Maf into a pillowcase, did you? Your husband & the boys would miss you.

Greg Lestrade said...

I didn't put her in a pillowcase. I tried, but she refused to go, got all sharp and pointy at the corners ;)

She stalked off down the bed, then came back and cuddled john. Oddly enough she decided she would eat the food i put down for this morning though...never expected that....

Anonymous said...

She must have decided to use positive reinforcement in her plan to train you.

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

I'm on the way home, I'm on the way home, I might recruit Maf to come and help me in interviews...she can be good cat bad cat...all cute until she rips your face off....

I think I'm both tired and caffeinated...

pandabob said...

Yay to being on the way home, I hope you're there now :-)

Tired plus caffeine makes for lots of fun I find ;-)

Anonymous said...

I thought that adults with jobs and/or children spent approximately 85% of their waking hours tired and caffeinated. Perhaps you refer to an extreme instance?

I would very much like to be a fly on the wall and watch reactions if you brought Maf into an interview. Good evening/weekend all.

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

Yes, extreme. Or insufferable...depends which end of it you're on?

I might sign her up. PC Maf. (Police Cat). She'd suit a little hat and some battenburg.

John H. D. Watson said...

Would you leave her alone with the suspect or sit there and stroke her like that James Bond villain?

Greg Lestrade said...

Well...I'd have to be there, for the recording. You know, describe what's occurring in the room? "PC Maftet has climbed onto the table, and proceeds to wave her tail in the suspect's face and show him her bum" etc.

But she'd be the one to get the results. All cute an innocent one second, lulling them with her cuteness, next moment, claws in your....crown jewels...as she extracts a full confession. Sorted.

Small Hobbit said...

"Suspect willingly admitted to ten further offences after PC Maftet breathed tuna in their face."

Joolz said...

I love those chemical reactions, they look gorgeous. Thank you Sherlock and Mycroft.

I think what it comes down to is that you'd never stop him if that was what he really wanted to do. You'd always support him even if it was something you weren't so keen on. You are both very supportive of each other and the fact that you are even thinking of it means that you would never take it too far.

Have you seen the latest O2 Be More Dog ad - it has a cat walking down a catwalk to adulation from all, I could totally picture her highness, Maftet in the starring role. Maybe she could be a model as well as a police officer. ;)

Greg Lestrade said...

SH - she doesn't get tuna...but I know they say cat food/dog food is okay for humans to eat, but whoa.... that breath!

Not too happy with our result v Hull today, but considerably happier than any Sunderland fans, I'll wager ;)

Day off tomorrow :)

Anonymous said...

Hoping that this will be a good day for all. Enjoy the day off, those who've got it.

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

Mycroft has popped down to see us! You know, in that casual way that suddenly your kitchen is full of lanky teenager grazing out of the fridge...

I guess being in 6th form you're allowed the freedom to come into town - and what better part of town to visit than one which is full of free food and a small brother to annoy?

John H. D. Watson said...

And it's lovely to see him :) Sherlocks thinks so too. You can tell by the way he's shouted at him for not coming home before if he was allowed to...

Greg Lestrade said...

Nothing quite shows sibling love like some heated bickering and threats of violence, I think.

Anonymous said...

Sibling warfare is very homey. It's so lovely when one's kids come home unprompted. No matter what the material benefits that might have sweetened the pot.

Haven't most of us chosen, when young, to skip a meal to hang out in the cold or rain with friends, rather than go home? I remember doing it, anyway, and not only to avoid something at home. Just because friends were more fun and interesting.

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

Well, you know, he's with his friends 24/7... he only gets nagged about eating properly, asked awkward questions about school and told he's boring by the brother who hasn't strayed more than 2ft from his side since he arrived very occasionally. :)

Joolz said...

What's home for if not for nagging and awkwardness and proving just how much you're missed. ;) I think it's lovely that the boys care so much about each other, even if they don't like to show it. A happy family Sunday indeed. :)

Greg Lestrade said...

Well, he managed to stay long enough to devour a large quantity of Sunday lunch, then head back to his furry family. And Anthea.

Small Hobbit said...

I see you continue to enjoy living dangerously, L!

REReader said...

First, thank you, Sherlock, I really enjoyed that video--it is indeed beautiful, I think I liked the crystallization segment best.

Maf is licking my hair.
Perhaps she thinks you're her kitten? ;)

How lovely that Mycroft did a drop-in visit! Food is a good reason to come by. (When family is an equally good reason--as it clearly is in his case--you know you're doing something right. :))

pandabob said...

The freedom of sixth form is obviously suiting Mycroft very well but I can only imaging how much badgering he's going to get now if he hasn't been home for a week or two ;-)

How is everyone today? I hope the day ahead is a good one :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

SH - there is no other way to live ;)

Anony - it certainly is. He's in his element.

REReader said...

I hope everyone is quiet because you all have a pleasantly busy day...

Greg Lestrade said...

not as pleasant as if I were a florist.... not too bad.

Sherlock wants to mke cupcakes. Which isn't happening.

REReader said...

*does some time conversions* ... It is a bit late to start baking things.

How are you liking school this year, Sherlock, now that you're well into it?

YB (aka Your Boat, wordplay lurker) said...

Hey, Lestrade, just wanted to thank you for posting your cautionary tale -- about a week ago? -- regarding carbon monoxide detectors. I should have replaced the batteries for mine (and my smoke alarms) *months* ago, and you gave me the kick in the pants I needed to get it done. Thanks, again!

Greg Lestrade said...

Glad it was a useful reminder!

Take care, all of you up country getting it in the shorts from Gonzales, hope it's not too bad for any of you! It's certainly piling the leaves up everywhere down here.

pandabob said...

It sounds like it pretty windy down there Greg which can't be good even if only because wind sends kids crazy ;-)

Anonymous said...

I smiled to see florist come up in your thoughts. Shall be unsurprised if that's your retirement job, after a year or two of travel. Hope everyone's trundling along nicely, real life continues here - the negatives are not overwhelming and the positives are not so exciting as to be of general interest.

Shout out to Becca - did you see your surgeon? If so, I hope there's a plan you can live with.

fA

Sherlock said...

John Lestrade the Science Museum do Science Nights and you sleep UNDER A ROCKET and do experiments and PLEASE I want to ask if we can do it at school PLEASE.

REReader said...

Wow, Sherlock, that does sound exciting! If it doesn't work for your school, maybe it could be done during holidays?

Sherlock said...

Yes but it says you shouldn't have more adults than children and even though John says Lestrade counts as a child I don't think he does and anyway it would be more fun with people from school.

REReader said...

It would indeed, it's true. I hope it works, then!

Anonymous said...

That's sounds pretty cool, Sherlock. Hope it works out one way or another!

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

He'll be writing a nice letter to school, complete with all the relevant information and some reasons why it would be beneficial to his education.... and we'll see.

REReader said...

A very excellent way to go about asking--I hope it works. :) (And how lovely that it will be more fun with people from school!)

Anonymous said...

I see how you channeling Sherlock's motivation to have him practice Useful Life Skills. Expert Class Parenting.

fA

Becca said...

fA, thanks for asking after me. I did see my surgeon. He did what's called a stress x-ray, where he pulls my ankle apart with his hands and while they x-ray it to see how much it stretches. It definitely stretched too much, so I need the same surgery I just had on my other foot.

The good news is, I have a brace I can wear to put off the surgery and I went from rolling my ankle 3 times in two weeks to not rolling it at all. Which is good, but it's a big bulky brace that goes up my calf and I don't want to wear it for the rest of my life. So I will get the surgery, but I will try to put it off until either next January or 2016.

REReader said...

Sorry that you need the surgery, Becca--but it's good you have choices with timing.

Becca said...

Thanks RR. Emergency surgery definitely is even worse than planned surgery.

Anonymous said...

Excellent news, Becca. Not that you need surgery, but that you can control the ankle rolling and also have some control over when you have the surgery. So often it's the mental stress and not the physical that's the hardest to bear. (Well, for me anyway. Which might just mean I've been lucky, physically.)

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

Glad there's both short and long term solutions, Becca, and that you have some control over proceedings!

I've bruised my inner thigh, climbing over a fence...I'm too old for this! John did the doctor-ly thing - prodded it and when I yelped said 'did that hurt?'

pandabob said...

don't you just love doctors? ;-)

climbing fences sounds like quite an interesting way to spend the day!! I hope there was a good reason for it.

Small Hobbit said...

And did he advise you not to climb fences to avoid doing the same thing again?

Greg Lestrade said...

He gave me some amazing advice:

'Be more careful next time'.

Stunning ;) (but to be fair, has also offered to kiss it better later.)

I was just following someone who didn't feel like popping down the nick with us.

Becca said...

*sigh*

What is it with parents? Mine just tried to get me to let her talk to my boss for me, claiming that I can't advocate for myself.

REReader said...

to be fair, has also offered to kiss it better later

I'd say that makes up for the doctorly "Does that hurt?"... ("Doctor, doctor, it hurts when I do this!" ;) )

Becca--Perhaps it's just wanting to help? I suppose it comes more naturally to most parents to see one's children as children, even when they've transitioned into being adults.

Anonymous said...

I guess i can't be envious, since I wouldn't be interested should any of my various doctors ever have offered. But I trust you took John up on his offer.

Becca, as a mom of children not quite as grown as you, and a child of a mom once, I can tell you that all you can do is be firm & patient with your mom. Or move far, far, away and don't tell your mom anything of significance. I did that for a while, over a more serious & fundamental circumstance than a bit of meddling. It works. But you pay a price, as with anything. I still don't see that I would do much differently, but I have regrets. Hope you reach a tolerable balance.

fA

Small Hobbit said...

A few years ago my mother commented that both I and my husband were very independently minded - I assume that we'd been ignoring her advice for years!

As for my own kids - I'm happy to give advice when they ask and on occasion will give my opinion when not asked, but we all know that it's just my opinion and therefore will probably be ignored - but don't come crying to me when I tell you that riding your bike off the step is a bad idea and you end up with a nose bleed.

Joolz said...

Hope your injury received its proper reward last night, Greg, and you're not too stiff today. ;)

Did Sherlock write his letter to school. Do you have both boys home for half term next week. Mine has a PD day tomorrow so last day today which is nice.

Enjoy your day everyone. :)

Anonymous said...

Ha! SH, you made me laugh! Because my kids & I both know, when I say stuff like that, that they will come to me for ice and paper towels and an opinion on going to the ER (A&E) and will get all of the above but precious little sympathy. Of course, now they're in their 20s and mostly out of the house, I have fewer opportunities to Refrain Pointedly from saying "I told you so!"

Good day all, and if not good, I hope at least productive.

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

Trying to quell the general unhappiness with the parole board despite sharing it, and juggle cases.

pandabob said...

That sounds like a less than perfect day Greg!! Not long until it's over I hope :-)

Small Hobbit said...

Yeah, great way to make your police force feel wanted.

Sherlock said...

There's loads of fireworks I like fireworks.

REReader said...

I love fireworks! They are beautiful, and they remind me of childhood summers (there would be fireworks every Saturday night where we went--small displays comparatively, but fun).

What are they in honor of, Sherlock?

Sherlock said...

It's Diwali. We made light holders at school with paper and things and it was fun and then we put a light inside them.

REReader said...

Oh, yes, I remember it--that's the Hindu festival of light, right? Very beautiful symbolism--and, I'm sure, beautiful light holders. :)

Greg Lestrade said...

SH - exactly. Three life sentences, and they let him out.

Morale is not good.

Anonymous said...

The prosecutors must be feeling pretty frustrated as well. Not to mention anyone who's suffered because of his crimes. Hope things get better.

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

It's half term, we are making pizza. Will any of the olives make it as far as the pizza? I'm not sure they will...

REReader said...

Yay, pizza! (And also, yay, half term!)

So many of the things that are good on pizza are good without pizza...it's like making chocolate chip cookies.

Greg Lestrade said...

John cunningly had reserve olives up his sleeve.

Not literally up his sleeve. In a cupboard.

REReader said...

Smart man!

(The oil would be hard to wash out of sleeves. ;D)

pandabob said...

He's a smart man that John Watson ;-)

Do you have much planned for half term?

Greg Lestrade said...

Personally...no. But Mycroft returns tomorrow, to eat us out of house and home, and Sherlock undoubtedly has grand plans.

I'm just along for the ride ;)

pandabob said...

Following the plans of the younger members of the family is the way to go I always think, they don't let themselves be stopped by much so more fun is achieved ;-)

School holidays do double or even triple the shopping bill though!

Anonymous said...

Olives are just too hard to resist! Happy half term. Hope you can an extra day off or more.

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

Here's a little game Mycroft has given us to play. Well, mainly it's become some sort of battle of brothers - but I've had two goes now, can't get past level 22.

Although the second time Maf tried to help by sitting on my keyboard, so I don't think it counts.

http://game.ioxapp.com/color/

Lancs. Anon said...

I've got to 31 but some colour ranges are way harder than others!

Small Hobbit said...

I've managed level 26. And I'm not sure you can use Maf as an excuse.

Greg Lestrade said...

Very sad to see that Jack Bruce has died.

And I can always use Maf as an excuse ;) She's so big now! When she decides to leap on you now she's a right lump.

Lancs. Anon said...

So, I got 39 and I'm stopping now, honestly if can stop any time...

Cheers, L. I didn't have anything in mind for this afternoon :)

Joolz said...

Great game, thanks Mycroft. I got 31 and I'm seeing spots before my eyes now. :) So who won the battle of brothers or is it still on going.

I'm glad you're all back home together for the holidays. Do you all have some time off to indulge half term plans or is that pesky work getting in the way. Have fun. :)

Anonymous said...

Mycroft you're an evil genius of distraction. I stall out at 23 or 29, depending on what color families I hit. Thanks.

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

I've got 33 now as my best.

Sherlock is currently winning, although he plays it relentlessly whenever Mycroft gets a better score than he does...or SAYS he gets a better score ;)

Kestrel337 said...

26 for me, too, SH.

Ah, sibling rivalry.

Greg Lestrade said...

Mmmmmmmmm there is nothing like cooking a big dinner to feed an army of hungry boys!

(37, by the way.)

Z said...

Hey, Sherlock- from one hyper-focused, ultra-competitive person to another, try the game on a smartphone if you haven't already. I was stuck in the 40s and when I went to my phone I jumped to 52 (and it called me 'lonely color seeker' rather than 'perverted goat' or any of the things til then... it knows I've spent too much time on this).

Greg Lestrade said...

44...and the roast is nearly ready! Even Maf loves me when she thinks there's food in the offing.

And Mycroft is far too tall now. I may dig a small trench and make him walk in it.

Joolz said...

Isn't it awful when they get too tall. My two have now both overtaken me & take great delight in leaning on my shoulder to show how much shorter I am! ;)
Just wait til Sherlock gets that size too, you'll have no peace. ;)

I've got 41 on the phone but still 31 on laptop so I'll call it 36 to be fair.

Enjoy your evening everyone. :)

Anonymous said...

Feeling loomed over by loved ones? Dare I say it? Now you know what John gracefully accepts. (got 37 once, but it was a fluke)

fA

Greg Lestrade said...

John doesn't gracefully accept it ;)

But yeah, terrifying. When did that sweet little boy we first met turn into this great big adult? When did he go from sweetly asking for a snack from the fridge to emptying the whole fridge and mumbling into a computer screen that he'd go out and buy some more food in a minute?

Anonymous said...

Amazing how it seems you just turn around and they're grown, isn't it? And it's so fascinating to watch them come into their own as adults. My kids fascinate me - they're the same people they've aways been, at the same they're also surprising and so impressive as they try different things out and work out who they are.

fA

REReader said...

The refrigerator and the computer and the mumbling, this all brings back strong memories of my brother at roughly that age. The tall, not so much. He still isn't, although compared to me he is!

(I got 37 and then 42. Question: Is it in Chinese for everyone, or just for me?)

(Side design note: How easy it is to distinguish between shades of a color depends on the color value--it's easier to see shades in a brighter color--and even more the shade of the base color--if there is already black in the base color of lightest square, it will be harder to distinguish from the darker squares. All of which is why black on white is easiest to read.)

Greg Lestrade said...

It's Chinese for everyone. My last two results were 'sexual harrasser' and 'sex maniac'. Hmm.

I find greens by far the easiest to spot. Reds much harder. Is that the same for all of you?

REReader said...

Ah. Thanks!

Browns, darker blues, blacks/grays, darker reds--the darker colors have black in them to make them dark, so yeah, hard to spot a shade lighter. Pinks, lavenders, yellows, mid-to-lighter greens, those are easier. They have to add black to make the darker colors--light doesn't come dark naturally--so it's easier to spot the one without or with less. (If it comes to that, pinks and lighter colors don't come naturally either, they have to add white to them in the first place, then black to make them darker, which really makes squares to which they've not added black stand out.)

Greg Lestrade said...

I find pinks incredibly hard to see.

REReader said...

For me it depends a bit on which screen I'm using--my desktop screen went yellowish a while back so I altered the display to read bluer, which makes it very hard to see the blue shades and much easier to see shades in the colors on the red/yellow side of the spectrum, but I find any of the pastels/lighter colors easier to see even on my iPod--the purer color jumps out at me.

(They cheat on some of the purples, using brighter shades instead of lighter ones.)

I wonder if it's a physical thing, or a mindset thing, that determines which colors a person finds it easier to distinguish between...Hmmm, interesting question.

Greg Lestrade said...

I've only tried it on my laptop.

Well I know my left eye sees things much greener and my right eye sees much redder. No idea why, never investigated it. I always assumed it's quite common though.

REReader said...

I only saw colors differently out of each eye when I had a cataract in one eye--and then later when I had an implant in one eye and not in the other. I dunno, I never asked anyone about it either.

Anonymous said...

I know I see green/grey/taupe - ish colors way greener than the rest of my family does so I wasn't surprised that I have trouble with some of the darker/muddier greens. I am surprised that there's one very saturated pink/violet screen that stumps me every time. Whatever they add or subtract to make the odd tile is apparently invisible to my eyes.

Color perception is fascinating. I am sure differences are least partly physical - isn't color blindness a physical thing? Or am I making that up?

fA

REReader said...

Color perception IS fascinating. And yes, fA, color blindness is absolutely a physical thing--genetic, in fact. One of my brother's-in-law is totally color blind, not just red-green color blind, but none of their children are.

Greg Lestrade said...

yeah, one of my friends at school wanted to be an electrician - but couldn't, as he was colour blind. Don't know what he did in the end.

Joolz said...

My father in law was completely black/white colour blind and my husband can see most colours but not shades of them (so he'd have no chance on this game) but my two seem to have escaped it so it must have lessened over the generations.

Just out of interest, what were you doing to know that you see colours differently from each eye, Greg?

Greg Lestrade said...

I've no idea what I was doing when I first noticed it - it's one of those things I've always known? So must have been a kid when I first noticed.

Now I've spent far too much time on very boring stakeouts etc., where closing one eye, then closing the other, and looking at the same view and noting the different hues has counted as entertainment...

pandabob said...

That game is rather addictive I've found in the last 24 hours ;-)

How is half term treating you all? I'm feeling slightly lazy this holiday and I don't have much planned but I'm fairly sure the short people will sort me out with something to do soon ;-)

I hope you're enjoying your time together whatever you're up to.

Greg Lestrade said...

Half term is good! I worked today, and am working tomorrow, but then, hopefully, having a bit of time off :)

There's a new gallery open at the Science Museum that Sherlock wants to go to, and swimming, and Mycroft has some shopping to do...

REReader said...

It does not sound as though you lot will run out of vacation-type things to do... ;)

pandabob said...

swimming is a must for every holiday or so I'm told!!

I'm sorry that you have to work some of the time but I guess that allows you to enjoy the crazy stories of the day when you get home without the exhaustion of being involved ;-)

tresta said...

Hi Lestrade! We've talked before, but it has been awhile. Glad to see that you and John and the boys are well and thriving. Congrats on your run!

I have been going through some recipes I've collected from the blog over the last years and i had a few questions about your mums shortbread recipe that John shared.

1. When you wrap the dough balls I'm assuming that's wrapped in waxed paper?

2. Do you chill your rolling pin before rolling out? Or flour it? Is there any reason to do or not do either of these?

3. Parchment paper? Where I'm from in the US we usually grease (and sometimes flour) pans rather than line with paper; is it baker's preference or necessary for the recipe? Might PP be called something else in American English?

Thank you!

You know, I think a small cookbook could be compiled (at least a pastry book) from all the recipes that have been shared here over the years.... wonder if folks would like that.

Greg Lestrade said...

Is that the swirly shortbread?

I wrap in cling film...errr... saran wrap, possibly, in the USA? Although don't trust my translations on such matters ;)

And no, I neither chill (it's wood, it wouldn't get very chilly.) or flour. It just doesn't stick. But I'd say flouring wouldn't hurt it, if it did seem sticky.

As for lining the tins..I have never tried shortbread on anything other than parchment. Flouring might be okay if you have a good non-stick tray to begin with. All ours are rather....well worn.

And thanks - John is already making noises about other running-type activities... which is probably just as well, given the amount of baking that gets eaten around here.

tresta said...

Swirly shortbread; I think so. It was posted very early on in 2011 I think. (SHerlock was 5). He pounded up a chocolate bar to put in the dough. And yes, cling film is saran wrap; thanks for clarifying that.

Hopefully not a dumb question, but you use a baking sheet for your shortbread? Mine are pretty well used too! I will see if I can find parchment paper but I might try greasing as per usual too in case PP would be difficult to come by.

GOod point about chilling the rolling pin; guess that's only going to work on marble ones! I usually do flour mine when rolling out things made of a sticky dough like southern biscuits. (The kind you eat with fried chicken not the sweets). Your dough doesn't look so sticky though.

I am eager to try these ! Maybe some with coconut? poppy seeds? Nuts?

tresta

REReader said...

Tresta, I don't think parchment paper for baking (or cooking) is very hard to find here; my mom uses it for some recipes. You might find it in a large supermarket or a shop that carries Wilton's products, like Michaels or AC Moore.

tresta said...

Thanks RR Do you mean Michael's like the craft store? They do have that baking section.

REReader said...

Yep, the crafts store. It's the sort of thing they might carry in their baking section, depends on the demands in the area.

Greg Lestrade said...

Personally, because a good shortbread should melt in the mouth, i like things like chocolate which also melt away. Some soft items also acceptable...cherries, for instance!

But anything hard and I think you'd be left chewing a mouthful of 'bits'. Just personal preference though.

tresta said...

Mmm good point, L. I bow to you in matters of baking;
Nix the nuts, grab the chocolate!

Unknown said...

ohhhh, shortbread.... making my mouth water! I try not to keep a lot of sweets in the house but I do succumb to the little boxes of Walker's now and then. I suppose if I started baking my own it would be cheaper, and ... far more dangerous, because the supply would be unlimited! :D adding chocolate sounds just lovely, too.
S

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