14 December 2015

Sweet silver bells, all seem to say, throw cares away.

Well, I wasn't going to write this tonight but then I saw the comments on John's blog...and realised what the next three days holds for me...and decided I'd be in no fit state to try and write one of these any time soon.

So...life is...well, the usual. The job remains difficult. The processes remain slow and frustrating. But there we go. No one said it was gonna be easy.

But we have Mycroft back with us, which is wonderful, and the flat is packed to the rafters with creatures great and small. I feel like I should get myself a critter - Sherlock has the goos, John has Maf (Or, actually, Maf has John), Mycroft has the hounds, Anthea has all of us.... I feel left out!

So, have a Christmas tradition - the choosing of the baubles!

I'll leave you to guess which one belongs to each of us. (This is a lie - they all clearly belong to Queen Maftet)







So there we go.

I'm still completely unsure who is going where for Christmas...I do know that the venue where John and I got married is having a huge refurb soon, and I want to take him back there for dinner before that happens - which may well be squeezed in amongst other festivities.

Oh, and, in other news - because he's kept very quiet about it, but now all there is left to do is wait... Mycroft has applied to university, and on the 6th of January he will discover if he was successful with his first choice! Which is very exciting. He's worked incredibly hard, and certainly deserves to get in - but doubtless so have other thousands of folk just like him. So our very best wishes to him.

(Sherlock is still grumpily refusing to consider leaving his own school, but I have a feeling this holiday may be the one which changes his mind...)

162 comments:

Becca said...

Is Mycroft thinking about a gap year at all?

Greg Lestrade said...

No, he's heading straight to uni, all going well. I feel like gap years have got a poor reputation these days.

Sherlock has announced his school show is on Thursday morning.... Will I stay awake for it??

John H. D. Watson said...

If you were going to get a critter, what would you get?

Greg Lestrade said...

An owl. A small one.

John H. D. Watson said...

Oh good. Everyone is fond of owls.

Greg Lestrade said...

I'm uncertain if the goos would be that fond of another creature which considers them a snack.

REReader said...

Maybe a small-enough owl would feed on insects and not degus? (More research is needed.)

I'm a bit baffled by who chose which bauble--they are all lovely, though! (Maybe Mycroft chose the gold ball?)

REReader said...

Oh, and best of luck, Mycroft! Any university would be lucky to have you.

REReader said...

Okay, bauble guesses:
The one that's all feathers with some silver glittery bits sticking out (is it a bird? I can't tell on this tiny screen!): Sherlock
The one that's all silver wire: John
The gold ball: Mycroft
The gold pinecone: Lestrade

(I wouldn't be surprised if I got every one wrong. :))

Greg Lestrade said...

the one I think you think is gold is just grey and white feathers - picture just seems a little yellow - I only did them on my phone!

Sherlock - along with many other youngsters around the UK - got to watch the rocket launch today, and the astronauts get into the space station this afternoon, so wants to be a space-scientist now.

REReader said...

Ah. (On my iPod it looks like gold swirls--classic but not exactly.)

I want to play with the feathery ones. :)

Greg Lestrade said...

and, I'd like to add, one drinks session in...and, despite serious blackmail, I have neither been forced to sing, nor over-imbibed. Mind you, not home yet, either ;)

Saving myself for the Doc's one on Thurs...I've never known anyone hate and punish the liver as much as medical professionals seem to :)

REReader said...

Well, they do know what the physical limits are...I suppose they want to see if they can move the goalposts!

Kestrel337 said...

Ornament guesses, in order of appearance: John (doesn't he usually choose birds?), Sherlock (because it puts me in mind of protein folding for some reason), Lestrade (because of the color and texture), and Mycroft (because of the layers).

Hubster's company do is this week; I've tried to pick an outfit that will allow me at least ONE drink without exposing the dreaded flush. Curse of the red-head; I'll be bundled up to the neck.

Anonymous said...

I'll guess, though the only choice I had any sort of conviction about was my choice for Mycroft's pick.

Fluffy feathers: John, silver paper-clip looking ball/star: Sherlock, round ball of feathers: Mycroft, pine cone: Greg.

My rationale is that the pine cone speaks to nature & winter traditions, the spiky silvery one is dramatic (& it would hurt if it were thrown into you), the round ball out of feathers is an appealing bit of making one thing look different than what one expects of that of which it is constituted. Not quite trompe l'oeil, but close. And the fluffy feathers are assigned to John because they are lovely and look soft to the touch and represent nothing but something to be enjoyed, and I feel like John, of the lot of you, enjoys Christmas' lights and glitter and varied sensory experiences most purely for their own sake. & it's also the best cat toy of the lot, and Greg's got me convinced Maf can control John's thoughts for brief periods.

(I'll admit, I could argue most of those ornaments for at least two other family members on different grounds.)

-fA

Anonymous said...

In other matters: I'm sure you'll be awake for Sherlock's show, L. You'll have loud, energetic young voices around you and a husband to poke you in the side if your head nods.

Mycroft: Congratulations on your progress! I am sure you'll make the best of wherever you end up; and I hope your first choice school values you as they ought.

-fA

Greg Lestrade said...

Well champagne top start the night was probably a terrible idea

Anon Without A Name said...

Pfft, sounds like an excellent idea. And I'm sure you'll agree tomorrow morning at Sherlock's show :-)

REReader said...

Heh, heh! (Hi, there, Nameless!)

Greg Lestrade said...

We... Not so bad yet. But John thinks we should go home. He has excellent ideas

REReader said...

A wise man, John is.

Greg Lestrade said...

Some time Not so wise. He married me afterall

REReader said...

He (and we) would say that was the wisest of all--it IS wise to do things that make you happy, after all!

Joolz said...

Hope you guys aren't feeling too delicate this morning. :) Only one more to go, though it sounds like it may be the worst of the lot booze-wise. Enjoy it anyway.

Have fun at your show ,Sherlock. Are you singing or playing?

Son & heir is off to see Star Wars today, lucky thing, so I'm sure there'll be much gloating & hints dropped before I go on Wednesday. Enjoy it if anyone is going too. :)

Baubles in order- John, Sherlock, Greg, Mycroft.

Have a great day everyone. :)

Greg Lestrade said...

Not too delicate...Although I don't think anyone needs high pitched 4 year olds singing at then at this time of day... But they were very good. Sherlock both sang and played his violin at different times. Very impressive.

Anon Without A Name said...

Hi ReRe!

So, third night out in a row, gents? How are we holding up so far?

Greg Lestrade said...

Sal is stalking me

Greg Lestrade said...

Sal claims she isn't stalking me.

Did you all know doctors get over their hangovers by snorting some oxygen and hooking themselves onto a drip? Unfair! John just nodded like that was totally normal. Yet has he ever done that for me?? Nope. I despair.

REReader said...

Are IVs and oxygen tanks things you keep around the flat? (I'd think the oxygen tanks would be a bit bulky to tuck into a corner, especially--also not the safest thing.)

Sherlock, congratulations on your stellar performances!

Greg Lestrade said...

Thousands of people with lung diseases have oxygen at home! Don't think it'd be too much to ask for him to get us one ;)

why's it so HOT?

pandabob said...

We always took a qualified doctor on our university scuba trips for entirely that purpose Greg :-D

Well done with the performance Sherlock :-)

Rider said...

Hot? December in London? I guess I shouldn't complain, 32 or so is a pleasant day out compared to the 40+ (cooling down to 30 or so at night) in Adelaide.

Come to Oz, just don't take your eggs out of the box in case they spontaneously fry.

Sally said...

I am not stalking you! If anything you're stalking me.

Greg Lestrade said...

shhhh we need to stan together as our better halfs get along far too well and coul conspire again us

Greg Lestrade said...

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm.Coffee

Small Hobbit said...

How's the retirement going?

Greg Lestrade said...

I either forgot to retire or forgot that i have retired...because i seem to be in the office.

REReader said...

Perhaps you're dreaming!

(I still have school test nightmares now and again, I'd imagine post-retirement work nightmares are a thing too, no?)

Anonymous said...

I'm sure both your teams would sigh in relief knowing they'd dodged the bullet of your retirement, if they'd only known it was pending!

Sorry I missed the real time updates from the holiday pubbing, but! did I discern that Sally's fella has now met and conferred with John?

Neither you nor Sal have a chance, now, should they decide to combine forces. I'm sure they will use their dominion only for your good, though.

-fA

Anonymous said...

Sherlock: Congratulations on your school performance! Hope your school holidays are excellent.

-fA

Greg Lestrade said...

They had met before, but this time they did threaten to unite against us.

I have neither drip nor oxygen, despite obvious hints. Bad husband. Although I hope you're surviving the day, John. Sherlock was distressingly perky about it being the last day of school...

REReader said...

Because LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!

(*very quiet voice* for a little while, anyway)

Greg Lestrade said...

I have cake. And coffee

Greg Lestrade said...

Rider - Wednesday night was warmer in London than any night in June...so yeah, it's warm!

Becca said...

Do you all sing "No more teachers, no more books, no more teacher's dirty looks!" over there?

Greg Lestrade said...

Not really. Kids used to sing it when they left for the final time, sometimes, and DJs like to play it on the radio when the schools break for summer, but I don't think the kids sing it.

Sherlock said...

It's so hot I'm wearing a t shirt not a jumper.

Kestrel337 said...

It was unseasonably warm all month, but this morning (when I have to run kids and errands and all that) it's finally cold. :(

John is being awfully quiet.

Greg Lestrade said...

John promises me he is not at all hungover still, just busy...

REReader said...

I hope he means busy generally and not at 1:30 in the morning....

Greg Lestrade said...

I have been busy wrapping gifts...and putting them not under the tree, but out of reach of all four legged (and some 2 legged) beings.

REReader said...

That sounds like fun! Is everyone else doing their wrapping as well?

Small Hobbit said...

Does that mean John is jumping up and down trying to see what you've got him?

Greg Lestrade said...

It's like you have CCTV in our flat, SH (you may as well have - everyone else probably does).

I have received word from my little sis that my presence has been demanded in the Westcountry...think we might head down there on Wednesday. Joy to all men and all that...

Anonymous said...

Can Ms. Holmes actually see the future? Who hires a nanny and gets her kids a loving family, and on top of that the whole extended family experience (good and . . . contact must be 'managed') as well? From kids who were mostly raising themselves (however temporarily) in the middle of nowhere to pretty near the whole enchilada.

-fA

Anonymous said...

Huh. Apparently last Friday I missed the news that an Austrian DJ barricaded himself in a studio & played Wham's 'Last Christmas' 24 times in a row. Don't know why, but it made me think of you, L.

(I can think of about 50 songs that are more "christmassy" than that one, but to each their own!)

Also, Happy Solstice to all!

-fA

Greg Lestrade said...

...am I too nice? Or too much of a soft touch? Or just gullible....

fA - that sounds quite tempting right now! ;)

Sally said...

Youre all of the above, Sir. But the beard will suit you!

Greg Lestrade said...

How on earth do you already know what I'm talking about??

REReader said...

WE WANT PICTURES!!!

Sally said...

Good news travels fast. Hilarious news travels faster. Old saint Greg.

Anonymous said...

Photos, Ms. Donovan, or John, or Our Beloved Provider of Past Photographic Evidence, Nicky, if this is to take place in your locale. Please??!! The internet needs PHOTOS.

-fA

Greg Lestrade said...

I'm delighted to announce it takes place at a small party for kids in care in the borough and their siblings/parents/guardians and NO ONE ELSE.

REReader said...

Maybe someone there will be kind enough to take a photo...most people have cameras in their phones, after all!

Anonymous said...

Well, if it's similar there, to here, that's a situation in which photo-taking and especially photo-disseminating is discouraged (for the privacy of minors) so unless someone gets a shot ahead of time, I'll just have to imagine the jollity.

Good for you, though, doing it. In answer to your earlier question, it makes you a good guy.

-fA

Greg Lestrade said...

Given some of these kids are in hiding from their own families, it's incredibly unlikely any photos will get out. It's a chance for them to have a bit of fun, and for those parents who are only able to see their kids with supervision to have a tiny bit of a normal christmas with them (we'll all be outnumbered by social workers), and the foster families to have some fun too. It'll be chaos, fuelled by crisps and squash and chocolate... and Father Christmas will indeed be handing out some gifts. Apparently.

And if John smirks one more time then he'll suddenly require a medically-trained elf with DBS clearance...

Sherlock said...

Everyone keeps saying it's the solstice and it's not the solstice and Father Christmas isn't real and it's stupid

REReader said...

I meant just a photo of just you, in all in your lonely glory. :)

Sherlock, isn't tomorrow the winter solstice? (Although that's Northern-hemisphere-centric, as I suppose it is equally the summer solstice for the Southern hemisphere.)

Piplover said...

I thought today was the Solstice, too, Sherlock, but I'm not sure why. Isn't it tomorrow?
And even though Father Christmas doesn't physically exist, the thought of him makes many people smile, which is why he's still believed in.
Sometimes, people need a little bit of magic and make believe to help them get through the rough parts in their life. I'm sorry if you're having a bad day, and I hope things get more shiny and better for you soon.

Greg Lestrade said...

I think the solstice often falls on the 21st - but not this time around, and you all know how people being wrong annoys him ;)

He's fine, he wants to go ice skating, but the rinks are booked up. He's being a little grouch about it.

Anonymous said...

Sorry Sherlock. The explanation I googled is that in MY time zone, the solstice is on the 21st. In YOURS it's on the 22nd. Because, apparently, it happens at the exact same moment wherever you are on earth with respect to the sun's position.

If I misunderstood the explanation, let me know!

-fA

REReader said...

Ah, time zones, they always mess these global-type things up! Thanks for the clue, fA.

Greg Lestrade said...

fA - in a perfect example of kids cutting you down the moment you start to think you might be good at this whole parenting lark, Sherlock was shocked to learn this evening that electricity wasn't freely given out to all and sundry, and we paid for it.... I mean, the boy can explain how a nuclear power station works....but he didn't know we had to pay an electric bill.... sometimes you just have to smile, right?

Kestrel337 said...

At least he figured it out now, rather than when he's the one expected to pay it!

I've had my solstice celebration, with far too much chocolate and some nice wine. Let the daylight increase!

Anonymous said...

Greg - Those smiles inspired by the kids are pretty nice, right?

On the whole I take my parenting omissions lightly when they arise from the fact that their dad & I (divorce & all) managed to make the kids feel secure and not have to question that they'd be cared for & loved. I worked to help them recognize their privilege, but I'm damn glad they had it.

Now Sherlock knows about utilities, I await the day he decides to analyze in more depth by feeding usage data into a spreadsheet in order to "help" you manage more efficiently!

-fA

Anonymous said...

Kestrel, that sounds like a fitting celebration! Hope you can top it off with a good night's sleep. Making good use of all that dark! (Words cannot express how much I enjoy sleeping. And I'm blessed to be someone who rarely has trouble doing so.)

-fA

Greg Lestrade said...

I'm still fairly sure he doesn,t think we pay for water...or our rubbish to be collected....or the police, fire and ambulances ;) maybe we'll have fun over Christmas with some basic life skills!

REReader said...

I definitely knew that electricity cost money when I was Sherlock's age, but that wasn't because I was unusually aware, it was because my father was forever going around closing lights because "electricity doesn't grow on trees, you know"! So we were very energy conserving before that was on the public radar.

Sherlock said...

Yes but they always go on about turning things off but I thought that was because we had to save the planet and not burn fossil fuels and not because it costs money because everyone needs it and uses it everywhere and even places you wouldn't think would pay like a street light or a traffic light but then Lestrade said we paid for that as well in a different way.

REReader said...

Sherlock, saving the planet and conserving fossil fuels are the best reasons not to use too much electricity, but when I was your age, people weren't really thinking about it so much--certainly not as much as they should have been. And yes, we pay for street lights and traffic lights with taxes of various sorts--that's where governments get money to pay for things, from their citizens.

Greg Lestrade said...

John....how many waifs and strays do you have booked in for Christmas? I've got a growing collection, and have ordered most of the contents of noahs ark to feed them.

John H. D. Watson said...

That sounds about right.

Greg Lestrade said...

Nicky etc are coming over on boxing day. Sal is coming after she finishes work on Xmas day, to scrounge for leftovers. Murray wants to come, Both Mrs H's, and Lisa and Jo and the wee man have a broken oven situation, so they're coming too. Your dad also said he'd have a word with you....

REReader said...

You're going to have a lovely full house!

Anon Without A Name said...

ReRe, I suspect "lovely" is only one of the many adjectives that could be applied to the situation ;-)

REReader said...

I like to look on the bright side, particularly when it's for someone else. ;)

Becca said...

Life skills lessons over Christmas break, I love it. But then, I once asked my mother to teach me long division over a school break. I'm completely impressed with my mother, retroactively, for remembering how to do long division - I'm younger than she was then, and I'd be hard pressed to remember.

Greg Lestrade said...

Happily we have a handy Mycroft around for such things...

Anonymous said...

I think it sounds like a wonderful Christmas! But then, I like extremes - do virtually nothing or else have the world over and feed them lavishly. It always seems like if one has to plan and think about everyone's needs and clean and cook, one might as well make it really worthwhile! Just bordering on the right side chaos is a wonderful feeling when your guests are compatible - or at least good natured about their incompatibilities. ;-)

-fA

Kestrel337 said...

Becca, I taught my oldest long division in fourth grade because it was seriously the ONLY way that made sense to her (she's got LD). When she went back to traditional school in sixth grade they were just learning it. Everyone thought she was a genius because she already knew.

That sounds like a lot of people. Do you go potluck style, or do all the cooking yourselves?

Joolz said...

A house full does sound like a lot of fun, manic I'm sure, but fun none the less & I'm sure you'll have plenty of helpers in the kitchen.

Good luck with your visiting today, hope you find them all (well, nearly all) in good spirits. Are you all going down together on the bikes?

Hope everyone has a great day. :)

Greg Lestrade said...

We were going to drive, but since it's sunny and warm we took the bikes. Lovely ride down.

Small Hobbit said...

Did you get wet on the way back?

Greg Lestrade said...

Nope! A good journey both ways.

REReader said...

That is excellent! I hope the visit went as well as trip--or better. :)

(It's very post-Louis XIV here, I got soaked getting the groceries in!)

Greg Lestrade said...

It was about as expected.

REReader said...

Well...at least the getting-there-and-back was good.

Anonymous said...

It's a damn shame you (and your family) aren't properly valued for who are by some, but it's their loss, whether they know it or not. Kudos to you for figuring out how to keep treating them right, because that's who you are, without getting sucked into a pointless battle with their drama. Honestly, being the adult and modeling that for your kids is the best kind of parenting.

Sorry to go on about it. But I see so many folks doing the best they seem to be able to and it's nowhere near as good as you guys do.

Ho ho ho.

-fA

Greg Lestrade said...

What can you do? It grates on me, that she moans to the others that I don't visit, but then doesn't seem to want to see us when we do go. But I can't just stop, so.

Anyway, time to go and play Santa. At least some little people will be glad to see me!

pandabob said...

You are a very good man Mr Lestrade :-)

Have fun with the kids :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

There are good people everywhere - the Met's appeal for gifts to give kids in care this year got over 11,000 gifts for them all this year. Lovely to see the wonderful side of people.

...my santa suit is hot. In all the wrong ways.

Small Hobbit said...

I'm sure you look lovely!

Greg Lestrade said...

I am, happily, free of all Saintly duties now, and kids are all happy and excited and horribly high on jelly and sweets and cakes and rushing about screeching...

but soon I'll be back with my own screechy sugared-up kids, because Sherlock has spent this morning making mince pies, and Mycroft has been prepping cranberry and brie filo parcels....

REReader said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
REReader said...

I'm sure you looked perfect to the intended audience. :)

Isn't it great to have such expert kitchen help?

Jo and Lisa said...

You are so, so kind letting us crash your party tomorrow - but the prospect of a microwave dinner for Christmas was just horrible! Thank you very much for inviting us to your home, John, Sherlock and Mycroft. We promise to behave! And bring chocolate and wine!

John H. D. Watson said...

We'll be very happy to have you here!

Greg Lestrade said...

I think Tadhg will be the life and soul of the party!

We have prepared enough food to feed an army, so just turn up whenever you're ready.

Greg Lestrade said...

In perhaps the best 'wrong number' story ever, Mycroft just told us that the British Astronaut, Tim Peake, called someone earlier, starting the conversation with 'Hello, is this planet Earth?'...and got a confused lady who thought it was a prank call on the other end.

I feel enough of an idiot when I dial a wrong number, let alone when I'm not even on the planet...what's the dialling code for Earth? And does he dial 9 first?

Greg Lestrade said...

(And Happy Christmas, everyone! Just gone midnight here, so we better go to bed or Father Christmas may not turn up!)

REReader said...

I bet Tadhg will be a big part of the entertainment tomorrow... :)

For all those celebrating, Merry Christmas!

ro said...

Merry Christmas/happy holidays to all!

Anonymous said...

I think you're right, RR. Though I suspect he'll have serious competition!

May everyone have a simply lovely day, on the one day of the year in the U.S. that almost everything slows down, whether you're celebrating Christmas or not. Huge thanks to everyone who works so the rest of us don't have to. And for those of us having something other than the much-hyped extravaganza - either because the day or the company is difficult, or because it's just not the way your life is, I wish you the grace to enjoy what you can and the good fortune to leave the rest behind!

I'm time-shifting my family celebration by about a week and a half, have dodged several well-meant invitations & will be doing a massive home cleaning/organization project tomorrow & expect to be basking in a glow of virtue with some wine by this time tomorrow evening!

Happy/Merry Christmas! Be good to yourselves, everyone!

-fA

Joolz said...

Hope Santa Claus has been to see everyone who celebrates. Happy Friday to those who don't. ;)

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night. :)

Greg Lestrade said...

Well, the chaos in our house is certainly cranking up now...

Sherlock said...

He is much more interesting now and more fun because he can do things but he still doesn't understand what you say to him but he still does things and we have made a drum kit out of boxes and wooden spoons

REReader said...

I bet he is absolutely loving that, Sherlock!

Did you get any extra special presents this year--or do you open gifts later?

Sherlock said...

We got lots and Anthea got me battling infra red spiders and my spider keeps winning because I'm the best but Maftet keeps trying to eat them too and Mycroft gave me a kit that I can make my own real alarm for my bedroom so I know when people are getting in it and I got a t-shirt that has all the ingredients to make a human being.

REReader said...

So I guess your spiders are partly a present for Maf, too. ;) The alarm and t-shirt also sound super-cool--people really thought about what you would like!

Kestrel337 said...

Hope everyone has had a lovely morning, those who celebrate and those who don't.

Battling spiders sound amazing, as does a drum kit made from boxes and spoons, and enjoying the delight and wonder in those around you. May we never be too old to find joyful moments.

Greg Lestrade said...

It has been a lovely day. Tadhg is now crashed out in Sherlock's bed, various leftovers are being eaten by Sal and her better half, and everyone else, drinks have been opened, and there's a Bond film on...

Hope you've all enjoyed the day, however you spent it.

REReader said...

How did Sherlock and Mycroft's food contributions go over? :)

I hope you all had a fun and wonderful day.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a good day all around. I'm behind my imaginary schedule but still pleased overall! (I'll be honest, find it hard to be in a bad mood when there are Christmas lights! and over-decorated trees! to enjoy. I just love 'em.)

I have to google those spiders. I am clearly not up on cool toys for big kids!

Hope everyone's having a good day, with good people, and if not, please remember that this too shall pass. You'll have a better day, and I hope it's very soon.

-fA

Becca said...

My day has been lovely so far. The kitten had a blast with all the ribbons until she collapsed, I chided by my grandfather for asking for GRE prep books for the holiday, and I'm about to attempt to cook my very first beef tenderloin.

Unknown said...

Hello all, I've enjoyed catching up on everyone's day. I have enjoyed what I call a "proper holiday" which is when you don't have to get out of your pajamas all day unless you actually feel like it. Over the last couple of weeks it seems like I have alternated between singing parties and quiet nights in, in just about a perfect balance. The 11th, 13th, 15th, 19th, 21st, and yesterday was a great standing room only pub sing with lots of friends and acquaintances. If I'm up for it I can go to another one tomorrow, and a Hunt the Wren event on Sunday. And my garland team is getting together with another side to dance out on New Year's eve.
The warm weather is a bit strange, but I have to confess that I don't miss driving in snow/ice. It would be especially nice to have a mild new year's eve for dancing on the streets.
S

Greg Lestrade said...

We have had to head to the park in an attempt to walk off all our Christmas bellies. The dogs have gone wild because they love visitors, whilst the kids (and not so kid-ish) are still feeding on the souls of adults.

So much cheese has been eaten...there is so much more to eat...

Sherlock said...

Maftet mainly likes the cardboard boxes and so do the degus I made them a special thing to play in. But not the same one as Maftet is in.

Greg Lestrade said...

A lovley day...if we all ignore that football. Obviously can still hang on to the fact I'm not a Man U fan ;) but it's scant consolation!

REReader said...

Sherlock--Well, that's a fair distribution--you get the battle spiders and Maf gets the boxes. :) And I think it was excellent of you to make your degus a specially designed present, very thoughtful of you.

A walk in the park sounds like a lovely way to spend Boxing Day!

Greg Lestrade said...

...and now I have a toilet to fix when I get home from work. Sherlock wants to do it... Everyone else wants a working toilet... He can assist me.

REReader said...

That's a vitally important life-skill, fixing a toilet, and assisting is an excellent way to learn how. (I'm good with a plunger, but unfortunately not much more, at least for the tankless variety we have in most NYC apartments.)

Greg Lestrade said...

...we needed more parts than we had, once we'd taken everything apart and discovered more bits were knackered than first thought! Still, Sherlock seemed interested...although worryingly fascinated at how easy it is to take a toilet apart.

And then her ladyship somehow got in the shower with me...(Maf, not Mrs H...) no end of drama in our bathroom today.

REReader said...

It IS interesting to see how things go together, after all. :)

I thought cats were not enamored of shower (or getting wet in general)--I hope you didn't get scratched when she discovered that "wet" is part of taking a shower!

Unknown said...

sounds like the fixing of the toilet is happening inside the tank rather than down below the u-bend, whew. Trust me, folks, you do not want to flush anything with more structural integrity than toilet paper. Smelly trash is nothing compared to a plumber's emergency bill.
S

Greg Lestrade said...

Maf exited the shower at speed once she realised she was getting wet. I just don't know where she came from in the first place!

I'm fairly fine doing plumbing of the clean or... Less clean... Type. But this was all clean, just a dodgy flush mechanism, which is now a dodgy close couple doughnut as well... But not for long!

REReader said...

Perhaps she was trying to find out what you and Sherlock found so interesting in there before...

Greg Lestrade said...

She had clearly hidden herself away somewhere - the door was closed! She made a half hearted attempt at attacking the shower spray first, like she does with taps, before deciding getting wet wasn't worth it...

REReader said...

A shower is harder to stay out of than the spray from a tap, even if the spray looks like more interesting prey!

ro said...

"close couple doughnut" ... Maybe it's the 'Lestrade Effect', but that sounds like something that shouldn't be googled!

Greg Lestrade said...

Ha! I assure you it's quite safe... Not that anyone will believe me!

It doesn't seem appropriate to say RIP regarding Lemmy. He wasn't known for his peacefulness. But a legend has passed.

Anonymous said...

I am always surprised that that generation of musicians and performers - the ones in their youthful prime in the '60s and '70s - are actually no longer middle aged but actually elder. I don't know why, when everyone I know including me is a whole lot older than we were in 1975. The images I have in my head are fixed, I guess.

-fA

Kestrel337 said...

I know what you mean, fA. The stars of my youth who are forever 'just a little bit older than me'...that doesn't mean the same as it used to.

REReader said...

It's very strange, isn't it? I am only barely middle-aged, surely they must be as well...

pandabob said...

Happy New Year's Eve gentlemen. I hope it's a fun and safe one for all of you :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

Anyone got any plans? Mycroft has some evening plans for us - all top secret!! Very exciting. And then a quiet evening in...

Anonymous said...

Wishing everyone a happy and safe New Year's Eve. I went out with friends last night and tonight I'm staying in and possibly being the driver-on-call for those who are going out.

-fA

Kestrel337 said...

I bought some party poppers, but I very much doubt that anyone here will make it to midnight. Going out for New Year's Eve is a distant memory, and even then I only did it because I thought I should.

pandabob said...

We're celebrating our youngest family members 2nd birthday tonight, where have the last two years gone?

I hope Mycroft's plans are as awesome as he usually manages :-)

REReader said...

I have no plans, so I am extra-interested to hear what Mycroft has planned for you!

Wishing you all a happy, healthy, and peaceful New Year.

Joolz said...

We've had a meal out & my brother has come back to ours & the 5 of us are going to play games to see the New Year in. :)

Hope you have a great evening with Mycroft's plans, fun for all I'm sure. ;)

Happy Birthday to your youngest, Anonybob.

Happy New Year to everyone, here's to a wonderful 2016 for us all. :)

Greg Lestrade said...

He's brought us to the Christmas lights at Kew - it's all lit up, where you walk around, in the trees. Very beautiful.

REReader said...

That sounds like a lovely, magical way to end the year. Good choice, Mycroft! (Not that you need me to tell you, but thumbs up anyway. :) )

Anon Without A Name said...

We've been out to the theatre, currently having a couple of beers in a pub, may stay here or had back to our hotel bar for midnight.

Anonybob - Happy birthday to your youngest! Times flies, doesn't it?

I hope everyone has a Happy New Year, and a peaceful, happy 2016 :-)

Sherlock said...

Happy New Year I'm still awake!

REReader said...

Seeing the New Year in, eh? Cool!

pandabob said...

Happy new year Sherlock :-)

Thanks for the birthday wishes guys, Mini has had a good time as for as I can tell :-)

I hope 2016 is the very best year yet for everyone :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

Happy New Year to you all. I think most of the fireworks here are over now, so I can try to disentangle my husband from Maf ;) Hope 2016 is good to you all.

Becca said...

Happy New Year all!

Greg Lestrade said...

So far today we have GONE FOR A RUN (I know, I know, this is basically a superhuman feat, on New Year's Day), and started cooking a large roast dinner, because why not?

And I feel I should put everyone out of their misery...were you in misery?...Anyway, baubles - top one (white feathers with silver glitter on the tips): Sherlock. Spiky metal silver one - John. Greyish feathers in a ball - Me. Metal Pine cone - Mycroft. Although as I said, they actually all belong to Maf. Everything does.

REReader said...

Going by the "begin as you mean to go on" theory, you are going to have a very healthy and active year. And a yummy one, too! :)

(I was half-right on the baubles, anyway!)

Anonymous said...

My mom used to say that what you do on New Year's Day you do all year long. So you'll well exercised and well fed, that's not a bad combination!

I had to laugh - I batted exactly zero on the Christmas ornaments! Not gonna buy a lottery ticket today I guess!

Happy New Year, all!

-fA

Unknown said...

happy new year, all! Last night, my garland team had a small side, and we met up with two other teams and danced just for an hour at the local first night. it was the perfect informal serendipity kind of stand, where people said to us things like, I had no idea this existed, and I'm glad I saw it! :) Today has been a nice quiet day in, reading, cooking, a little knitting.
I hope the new year brings everyone much happiness and fulfillment!
S

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