31 March 2016

Happy Birthday John!

We truly are the luckiest household in the world, having you in our lives, looking after us, looking out for us, caring for us, loving us.

I've no idea what I'd be doing if you hadn't come into my life, but I know that now,  5 and a bit years on from you falling at my feet (well, sort of) I feel more alive, feel like every day I want to get up and face whatever life throws at us.


Anyway, dear readers, I'm writing all this whilst my husband and the boys are out on a Birthday Bike Ride. The boys said it's traditional, and now Mycroft's got his own wheels they can still go without little old me.


So I've been here, setting up tea. There's two sorts of cake, there's posh little sandwiches, involving cucumber and salmon and things, no crusts, naturally, there's biscuits (Mrs Hudson, I owe you, because John still thinks he's just getting cake) and there's indoor sparklers, because candles have been banned (owing to global warming). The boys have both got their poshest suits ready to throw on when they get back, and I'm about to clamber into my best bib and tucker in a minute, once I'm done with this.


My leg is getting better all the time, I'm allowed to walk in my big air boot thing, it's just a bit awkward. And I'm allowed to take it off in bed now, and for washing. It's just about being careful not to stretch anything I don't mean to... which doesn't include stretching that I do have to do, which John helps with, and is amazing at, because otherwise once I am allowed back onto it properly it'll all have healed too tightly. So. It's boring because Sherlock, particularly, is so FAST and I am so SLOW (as he tells me, frequently). And I can't ride my bike. and and and boring boring boring.

BUT it has given me a few weeks to thoroughly enjoy John's company (and feel lonely when he's off at work). It is lovely, just spending time together, relaxed, laughing, getting on with bits and pieces. Although I do have some paperwork to do now. But still, I get to do it with him. :)

And here's a composite photo of some bees that Sherlock found. I think it's by some people called Acidmath. It's very beautiful, anyway.




178 comments:

pandabob said...

Being stuck at home whilst they're all out on their bikes is not fair and is something I hope you don't have to put up with for much longer :-)

Enjoy your special evening John :-)

Lancs. Anon said...

Happy Birthday, John! I hope the birthday tea has lived up to expectations and that the bike ride was great. You lot are all so very lucky to have each other!

Greg Lestrade said...

It's not fair, Anonybob, but this time there was madness to my method ;) and Mrs H helped me get everything ready for tea.

And now we're going to walk the hounds in the park if any of us can move under the weight of tea consumed.

Becca said...

Wishing you a very happy birthday John, which it sounds like you're having. The tea sounds delicious! Hooray for Mrs. H.

REReader said...

A formal tea is a very celebratory thing, and yours sounds lovely. I hope you're enjoying your special day, John!

Sherlock said...

Lestrade is so old that only elephants and whales and some other undersea creatures can be older than him and John is nearly that old but when I'm that old I bet I'll still be young because we'll be able to live longer. And I'll still be able to think of things I want for my birthday because John and Lestrade never can think of anything.

There was frogspawn and the pond at school needs cleaning and Lestrade can't do it until he's better.

REReader said...

"Lestrade is so old that only elephants and whales and some other undersea creatures can be older than him"

And giant tortoises.

And me. :)

And I can still think of things I want for my birthday--I just don't get them! (My family isn't much for presents.)

Were you able to get a good look at the frogspawn, Sherlock? Or did you just see it on your way past?

Maybe some of the other parents could do the pond cleaning while Lestrade supervises...

John H. D. Watson said...

Thanks for all the birthday wishes, everyone! And thanks especially to my wonderful husband and Sherlock and Mycroft and Mrs H for being amazing people. The tea was delicious. A perfect day. :)

Greg Lestrade said...

RR - he said he meant to say tortoises, but got too interested in looking at geoducks or something and quahogs. I don't know, and he's now in bed (although not asleep...)

John - it's been a pleasure. You are a wonderful man.

REReader said...

Tell Sherlock I completely understand the distraction of falling into interesting internet black holes. ;)

Glad you had such a great birthday, John!

Kestrel337 said...

What about parrots? Those can live for an awfully long time. It sounds like a wonderful time was had; Happy Birthday!

Anonymous said...

Oh Sherlock, there are quite a number of us at least a couple of years older than Lestrade. Just think, when you are a quite grown man, older than Mycroft is now, how positively ANCIENT John & Lestrade will be!

And yet some vital spark will remain, which I'm sure they'll be clinging to with both hands, still riding their bikes and working and going on holiday. Possibly even still cooking and baking for you, at least on special days.

I hope Birthday High Tea was as wonderful as it sounds.

-fA

Anonymous said...

P.s. Oh, Greg, how WILL the school pond EVER be cleaned if you're out of commission?! I hope they won't save the job till you're better. Time those other parents pulled their weight!

-fA

Greg Lestrade said...

It is funny, to think how old some people seemed when I was young -who were quite possibly only around my age now.

I'm certain the pond will look after itself, to be honest. It'll soon be full of little tadpoles and froglets. Or frigates, if my auto correct is to be believed.

Joolz said...

Happy birthday, John. It sounds like a wonderful day was had by all. :)

You're right in saying that people seemed so much older when we were young, but when we get to those ages ourselves they seem so different. I think the important thing is a young attitude (that's what I tell myself when I hit ages I'd rather not consider!) and with those lovely boys around, you certainly have that so make the most of it & keep telling yourself you're 21 inside. ;)

Have a great day everyone. :)

REReader said...

I remember my childhood self calculating (with perfect seriousness) that I'd be almost 40 by the time the year 2000 rolled around and thinking I could probably still be alive then... :D

A pond full of frigates would be an interesting trick!

Greg Lestrade said...

The year 2000 was going to be so magical when I was a kid - it was properly The Future.

It's kind of sad to think Sherlock won't have a big date like that to look forward to.

Mycroft bought me some delicious Colombian coffee. And well done to some kids out playing today in Surrey who lay on the ground and formed a human arrow for the police helicopter to track some burglars! Top notch.

REReader said...

I saw a little video of those kids on Mashable this morning! Clever of 'em.

Kestrel337 said...

But maybe not having a big benchmark date will make it easier for him to look forward to the less socially but more personally relevant dates?

It's fun to be in on something historically significant, but history is happening all the time. Neither 1929 nor 1969 were particular years if you just go by date, but things changed A LOT because of the wall street crash and the moon landing. (I've chosen dates from US history because I didn't study world history nearly so well as I should have) Okay, that's me done pontificating now.

Well done, Mycroft, bringing delicious coffee!

Greg Lestrade said...

delicious coffee, delicious win by Arsenal....a good day!

Greg Lestrade said...

Am I the only person who feels like these Easter holidays are lasting FOREVER?

Sherlock wants to go camping...what do we do??

REReader said...

"what do we do??"

Make plans to go camping during summer hoidays, when you can go too?

Greg Lestrade said...

Well, in Sherlock-years the summer holidays are approximately a billion light years away, you know?

(And I'm well aware that to John this is probably exactly how long all holidays seem. I'm just usually at work.)

REReader said...

...There's a point. Well, I leave the camping question to you, then! :D

Speaking of Sherlock, has he expressed any preference to where he'd like to go after he's gone as far as he can in the school he's in? Or is that still a dead zone?

Greg Lestrade said...

errr, well, he's admitted he will have to leave. He's said he definitely doesn't want to go to Mycroft's school....and we haven't got a lot further than that. His teachers are very helpful though, about where might be good for him.

REReader said...

Well, that's a big step. And I'm sure his teachers have some good ideas as to where he'd be happiest!

Greg Lestrade said...

I'm out of my big boot! Just got a small ankle thingy on now so I don't 'over-extend' anything.

And I'm very pleased to say Mycroft has been offered his summer job. We're so, so proud of him. He set his sights on something, worked hard, and got there, entirely under his own steam! SO PROUD.

Joolz said...

That's brilliant on both fronts then. :)

Well done, Mycroft, excellent to have done it all on your own, hope you enjoy it. :)

Good news on being only half-booted, Greg, the thing to do now is to listen to that lovely medical man you're married to and don't push it too far too fast. ;)

REReader said...

All sorts of congratulations to the both of you!

Yay for more freedom of movement, L!

Is your summer job still private, Mycroft, or is there something you can tell us about? Either way, well done (on their part, of course!) and I hope you enjoy the job thoroughly.

Greg Lestrade said...

I'm being careful, Joolz, don't want this nonsense going on a moment longer than necessary.

I have just made a delicious salad for lunch...the weather isn't really living up to the salad, to be honest.

Mycroft said...

I applied for, and subsequently gained, a place at GCHQ, where I hope to learn a lot about what they do, with a particular slant toward cyber security.

Although I will be attending a 'Summer School' in name, and it is residential, it does also pay a small wage.

I will not, however much Lestrade may imply it, be a spy, or drive an Aston Martin, or, indeed, sit in a large office stroking a white cat. I will not become a 'double O', be issued with any gadgetry or answer to M. Nor, I hope, will inaccurate films be made about my life in the future.

pandabob said...

That sounds amazing Mycroft, congratulations and well done for having the drive and guts to go for what you want :-)

John H. D. Watson said...

Are you sure we can't call you M?

REReader said...

Cyber security is such a very major issue now, we can definitely use all the top-flight brains in the world working on it. Well done, indeed, Mycroft!

Mycroft said...

Entirely sure.

And if Lestrade refers to Anthea as 'Miss Moneypenny' again then I fear your future will be attempting to find any trace that he ever existed at all.

Becca said...

That's excellent Mycroft, how wonderful for you!

Greg, the weather is terrible here too, single digits of Celsius all week long, threats of snow on the horizon. I have a moral objection to lodge. Our poor forsythia has turned orange from the cold.

Anon Without A Name said...

Congratulations, Mycroft! Are you quite sure about the cat, though?

Joolz said...

You're right, Nameless, I think the cat angle is worth revisiting - after all, there is a prime candidate ready & waiting in the wings & she already has plans to take over the world. ;) Plus, we've already seen her beetroot pink so I'm sure she wouldn't mind being floured white. ;) (Sorry, Mycroft. It is wonderful news though & can only lead on to bigger & better things for your future so congratulations.)

Hope everyone has a great day. :)

Small Hobbit said...

Congratulations Mycroft. And while you're down there could you do something about the traffic - find a way to vanish the additional vehicles which appear during school terms?

I'm fully in agreement about the cat - maybe you could begin a trend for different coloured cats.

Lancs. Anon said...

Congratulations Mycroft, that sounds like an amazingly interesting way to spend the summer. It's impossible to overstate the importance of cyber security at the national level.

Greg Lestrade said...

Anth loves me calling her Miss Moneypenny, I'm sure of it!

John, would you be up for lending Maf to Mycroft to create a world ruling power-couple?

Anonymous said...

I suspect Maf already rules that portion of the world in which she is interested.

Congratulations Mycroft! Sounds like an interesting summer - and that it must be pretty competitive to land a place!

I confess I find the Miss Moneypenny joke hilarious, so good my life does not bring me into contact with Anthea.

Good luck with the last days of the holidays. Keep on being careful Greg!

-fA

Greg Lestrade said...

Sad day for the force. I've just got home after being called in this afternoon.

Very glad to have my brilliant boys to come home to though :)

fA - if Anthea removes all trace of me from the world that means all you lot are either for the chop or she's got one of those things from Men in Black to make you all forget me ;)

Small Hobbit said...

Lestrade - don't think I know anybody of that name.

Anonymous said...

SH - I don't know, I think I get one of those deja vu echoes when you say Lestrade - was it Gavin Lestrade? or Geoffrey? Or maybe it wasn't Lestrade, maybe it was something else? Oh well, probably I'm mistaken . . .

-fA

Anon Without A Name said...

Godfrey Lester?

Greg Lestrade said...

You lot know how to make a bloke feel loved :)

REReader said...

George?

Greg Lestrade said...

It's funny, I'm having a terrible day at work, but you lot joking about my potential murder/disappearance is cheering me right up! The things my husband has led me into....

Mycroft said...

Thank you everyone. There was indeed stiff competition for places. But I got there, with support from John, Mummy, Anthea, Mrs Hudson and Sherlock.

Anonymous said...

Hmmm . . . Mycroft you're very gracious. But are you trying to let us know that the family headcount is down one?

Damn. I'm going to miss ol' whatshisname.

-fA

pandabob said...

Mycroft you are awesome :-D

Mycroft said...

No, I believe I have accounted for everyone fA?

Thank you, Pandabob. I am sure you are awesome yourself.

REReader said...

Consider my day brightened... :D

Anonymous said...

I'm grinning.

Mycroft, you're a joy.

-fA

Greg Lestrade said...

I know no one's even reading these posts now I don't exist, but I've got Goonyella in the National in the sweepstake. I hope that's a good omen.

Anonymous said...

I thought for SURE Goonyella had to be a 'barn name' so I googled to find the horse's real name & lo & behold discovered that yet again the Australians rival the Americans for improbably named points of interest.

I don't know if it's the fact that both nations were settled largely by riff raff and malcontents or if it's the misappropriation of native language. But surely no other English-speaking nations are in the running.

To return to the point, I'm all for rooting for improbably named Irish-trained equines. Guess it's o.k. your horse didn't win though - since ghost-like echos of a man seem unlikely to be able to collect.

-fA

Small Hobbit said...

I wonder whether there's any significance that Rule The World was the winning horse?

Lancs. Anon said...

It's snowing here, what's that about, I was getting a slight sunburn six hours ago! Don't think the snow will in anyway stick, though.

Anonymous said...

SH - Hmmm. Interesting point. On the one hand, it seems a bit too obvious. OTOH, maybe that's what we're meant to think!

-fA

REReader said...

We were supposed to get snow here too, Lancs--but it just rained. I think I'm relieved!

An awful lot of owners do give their horses odd names, don't they...

Joolz said...

There could indeed be a double bluff going on, fA. If only we knew a helpful Copper we could have asked about these things...

They do have bizarre names, don't they, RR. My sweepstake pick was 'shutthefrontdoor' which was just as weird. I always like it when they do mickey take jokes on horse race commentaries:... and in the final straight it's 'beanpole' coming up behind 'myarse'... It would be so funny if they really did something like that, but I wonder if there's some kind of restriction on horse names for that very reason.

Greg Lestrade said...

Is almost worth stabbing myself in the leg to be back spending my time with John. Is this how people decide to retire??

REReader said...

Well, that and companies that won't let them stay on any longer. :)

Anonymous said...

Short answer: yes.

-fA

Greg Lestrade said...

Rode my bike around the car park this morning. Made me happy.

pandabob said...

That's great news Greg :-)

REReader said...

Yay!

Anonymous said...

Excellent news. Have you started physical therapy (other than that prescribed by your doctor-at-home)? If not, sounds like when you go in they'll evaluate you, give you a tear sheet of exercises and say "don't see why they sent you in, you don't need us!"

Hope springs eternal, anyway.

-fA

Greg Lestrade said...

Yeah, started physio, got an hour a week with them until they decide I'm good to go. Got another scan coming up too to check everything that should be sticking together is, and everything that shouldn't be isn't. I think they said they used a bit of bone to pin in some ligaments or tendons or something so they want to keep an eye on it to check is doing what it should. I dunno, these doctors are clever people, eh?

REReader said...

Quite a few of them are! ;)

Greg Lestrade said...

Had another little ride on my bike. Sal says I'm like a kid at the park. Not quite ready for London traffic, that's for sure.

REReader said...

I imagine it's harder without the mobility you're used to?

Small Hobbit said...

Maybe Sal could get you some stabilisers?

Greg Lestrade said...

RR - I'm just nervous about braking. It puts strain through everything the surgeons rebuilt for me. So whilst I'd like to pretend riding in London is all smooth and no panic-braking...it's not. And I don't want to damage either my leg or the rest of me if it all goes wrong in a hurry.

REReader said...

That seems eminently sensible to me.

Anonymous said...

You just need to get rid of your reflexes that date to back when you learned on old bikes that had terrible brakes and never use the back - none of the young lads do.

I still ride a bike with a drum brake at the front so always use the back even on the modern bike with the massive front disks. My mechanic says no one else wears their back brake pads like I do.

Break the habit of a lifetime, yeah easy.

Rider

Greg Lestrade said...

Even John is less back-brake happy than I am. When I ride pillion with him I always get the fear when we dip and I know he hasn't rear-braked at all (even though I know with me on the back it's not like it's going to go too light!) Should get him to give me lessons :)

Anonymous said...

A few weeks of caution seem sensible to me. Muscle memory is a very hard thing to overcome. But as I was saying in another context lately, "I am old. And know how to be sensible. And sooo boooring."

-fA

Greg Lestrade said...

At least Sherlock understands a little bit now - after his arm.

Anyway, the weekend, and I'm off!

REReader said...

Nothing like relatable experience.

Woo hoo for the weekend!

Greg Lestrade said...

I'm feeling like I got off quite lightly at the moment - yesterday one officer was run over by a 4x4, smashing his leg, and another was attacked with an axe, resulting in some horrific injuries. Best wishes to them both for a full and speedy recovery. And a big thanks to the members of the public who helped treat them at the scenes.

Greg Lestrade said...

We lose Mycroft back to school for THE LAST TIME on Monday. I just can't believe where the time has gone.

pandabob said...

Time moves scarily quickly from the moment kids start school, one day it's all new and exciting and they look so small going in and the next day they're all grown and on their way out!!

I hope the last term isn't too crazy for you Mycroft :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

Well, I don't want to bring politics into this blog too much...but those of you interested in 'Brexit' (The UK referendum on whether we should stay part of the EU or not) should check out the 'voteleave' campaign. This is the OFFICIAL campaign for us to leave the EU.

Just look on voteleave.com, voteleave.co.uk, voteleave.org or voteleave.net and check out their well organised, well thought out official campaign messages on why we'd be better off out of the EU...........

REReader said...

*sigh*

Anonymous said...

I hope Mycroft has time to enjoy the people he may not see as often once he's left school or anything else that's unique to it. I'm sure he's looking forward to embarking on the next thing though.

I'll be attending my youngest's graduation from university in a few weeks which seems an official end date to the "kids" chapter of my life (though they've really been young adults for years now)- it seems half as long as the 27-ish years it's been!

-fA

Greg Lestrade said...

I think his entire life now is exams exams exams :) we'll be proud of him no matter what, because he puts in the hard graft.

REReader said...

Ugh, exams. Best of luck with them, Mycroft--but of course, you don't really need luck when you study like that!

Greg Lestrade said...

Well, I am feeling like seven kinds of shit today, so...I hope all you lot are having fa better days than I am!

REReader said...

Ill or unhappy? Either way I hope you feel better soon.

(Other than a weather-shift migraine that I think I caught in time, it's a lovely spring day here--and we don't get many of those, let me tell you!)

Greg Lestrade said...

For a bug or something. And work isn't helping.


It's a nice day here too.

REReader said...

Ugh. Get well fast!


It's presidential primary day in New York today, and it's so rare that the race isn't decided before we get to vote. I hope there is a LOT of turnout! (I get to choose between Hillary and Bernie, New York has closed primaries--you can only vote in your party's primary. Trump's children, as it happens, are not registered Republicans so they can't vote for him. Same for his lawyer. They CLAIM they didn't know they had to register back in October...)

Becca said...

I am just getting over a horrid stomach flu type thing. Finally slept - got 15 hours yesterday - and am feeling much more human today. Hope this passes you quickly Greg!

And RR, I shall be voting later tonight, as I am registered!

Greg Lestrade said...

cheers. Home to be pathetic and grumpy here instead now.

Anonymous said...

I hope you took your pathetic & grumpy self to bed for the rest it needs if you're ailing. I trust your family support to provide you with fluids, if only tea & tepid tap water.

RR, I can't believe we have over 6 more months of this.

-fA

Greg Lestrade said...

Happy birthday, your Majness. Thanks for the job.

REReader said...

I hope your bug's all gone, L.

IKR, fA? I've already had too much of all of them!

Passover starts tomorrow night, so happy Passover all! Have some matzo. ;)

Anonymous said...

A good Passover to you, RR. It's the only holiday celebration I've shared with Jewish friends (& thanks for the invitations over the years, Sandy & Rachel,) so this one I have a (no doubt secularized) frame of reference for.

-fA

Kestrel337 said...

I've just learned that we've lost another one. Prince died this morning. I was never one of the cool kids who got to see him live, but his music figured large in my life. Feels a bit like High School is just gone.

Greg Lestrade said...

I just heard, Kestrel. Gutted. I was never a huge fan, but the man was a genius.

As was Victoria Wood yesterday. Absolute genius.

Anonymous said...

in other news: This fucking year! Prince Rogers Nelson.

His work made my life immeasurably more fun, and wasn't he the fucking standard-bearer for one kind of stylish panache that the early '80s was sometimes lacking?

It's not like folks aren't dying too soon all the time, all around us. Some people are part of the foreground - the ones you actually know & care about. Others are more distant, but you chose them deliberately? The mental backdrop of your existence - the ones you used to furnish the inside of your head. You chose them to set the tone at certain times of your life, and you carry that with you always. Sometimes the distant ones are more of a shock, somehow.

-fA


Lancs. Anon said...

The BBC's number/stats programme 'More or Less' actually did some analysis as to whether it really is a bad year or not. This was about a fortnight ago and yes, it is a more than averagely dead-guy filled year. I'm tired of crying, that's for sure.

REReader said...

Someone in the afterlife is organizing one hell of a concert.

Greg Lestrade said...

The weather is horrible, and why oh why are people incapable of moving over for blue lights?? (is far more frustrating when it's not me driving, I'll be honest.)

REReader said...

" why oh why are people incapable of moving over for blue lights??"

Because they all go, "That's for everyone else, not ME."

Greg Lestrade said...

to be fair, Sal was drowning out the siren with her shouting.

Small Hobbit said...

We're not bad in the Shires - once we've worked out which direction the sirens coming from.

Joolz said...

I always think the same, SH; it takes longer to see where it's coming from than it does for everyone to move over.

I'm going to hope you mean inside the car there and not outside, Greg. ;) I don't think even Sally would let you get away with that otherwise, regardless of how injured you still are. ;)

Greg Lestrade said...

I think people here have no idea of the size of their vehicles and don't realise they only have to pull in a bit and we can get through the middle.

And don't get me started on people who then try and follow in our wake...

Joolz - I meant outside. Sal is...vocal in her criticism of other drivers. As am I. But...more quietly.

Sally said...

'more quietly' RIGHT.

Don't listen to him, guys. I learnt words I'd never heard before in my life driving around London with him.

Anonymous said...

Ha! The pot calls the kettle black, I think! & no, not saying which I'd guess is worse.

Of course my kids mock me for my one-sided conversations with other drivers. Which are far more satisfying now that they're old enough that I don't have to worry about a little bad language in the mix.

-fA

Greg Lestrade said...

We've got coffee and are cheering on some marathon runners - very impressive, all of them.

And John has uttered the immortal words "I'm definitely running this next year".....

Kestrel337 said...

I hope you're able to do it!

Anonymous said...

So, I have to ask, you were being skitful as regards to the leave campaign, right?

Anonymous said...

Well good for John! It's a daunting training commitment (in my never-"run"-more-than a half marathon distance view) but he seems the type to conquer anything he's truly set on accomplishing.

Hope your leg recovers in time that you can share at least some of his training with him. I imagine it'd make getting in the mileage more interesting.

-fA

Greg Lestrade said...

Anon -sorry, not sure what 'skitful' means? Did you go to any of the websites?

REReader said...

Oh, good--if you're running a marathon, John, then you'll be able to tell me why someone would run a marathon! ;)

Kestrel337 said...

Maybe for the same reason I'm working toward 5k, RR: To prove that I can.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, Kestrel, that's pretty much why I trained till I could cover ("run" would be an overstatement) 14-15 miles - I never even entered an actual half marathon. The process was intermittently satisfying, but I have to say I found the longer training runs incredibly boring. I always thought that sometime I'd participate in an actual event, but I don't know if I'll ever get in that kind of shape again.

-fA

REReader said...

I don't even run for a train (there will be a next one, after all!) so I bow to your superior knowledge. :)

Greg Lestrade said...

I was going to say I was caught out by it being so sunny but so cold this morning.

But now it's started to snow, which is, frankly, ridiculous.

REReader said...

...Did it stick?

Greg Lestrade said...

No, just chucked it down for a bit.

REReader said...

*whew*

(That would have really been alarming.)

Sherlock said...

It snowed in the way home from school and John said it was ridiculous but I liked it

REReader said...

The snow had good timing, then, Sherlock!

Kestrel337 said...

I sometimes wish I lived in a place where snow on the 26th of April was legit ridiculous.

Greg Lestrade said...

Just wanted to say well done to the Hillsborough families. They waved their loved ones off to watch a footy match and ended up with a 27 year fight for justice on their hands. I don't know how they found the strength to carry on sometimes. Justice for the 96.

Joolz said...

Has it really been that long, blimey, but only fair in the end.

More sun & rain today but no snow here so far unlike yesterday which is a shame, isn't it Sherlock. Is there anywhere else that goes from sun to rain to hail to sleet to snow in one day like we do? :)

Greg Lestrade said...

I have received 2 texts from the husband today. 1. My hands are so cold I need to stick them up your shirt. 2. Sherlock wants to go camping this weekend, shall we?

Now.... Can anyone else see the problem here?? Or is it just me...

REReader said...

Only if shopping for cold-weather camping gear is a problem... ;)

Greg Lestrade said...

Our flat has a finite amount of space. Which we filled about 4 years ago...

REReader said...

You need a Tardis-sized storeroom. :)

REReader said...

(Come to think of it, I need a Tardis-sized storeroom...)

John H. D. Watson said...

L - I don't see the problem here as long as I have you along to warm up my hands.

Greg Lestrade said...

I've got a feeling I've lost this vote....

Sherlock said...

Yes you lost because not going is BORING and going is FUN

Anon Without A Name said...

You can't argue with logic like that :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

Sadly it seems I can't. Although by the end of the weekend if John wants me to warm him he'll have to melt me down to use as lamp oil, I think.

REReader said...

"If you haven't done these things you should/These things are fun and fun is good."

(Which Dr. Seuss quote is not meant to reference melting down people for lamp oil as fun!)

Greg Lestrade said...

Mycroft, can I pop by and borrow the dogs as portable heating devices??

Anonymous said...

Have fun on the camping trip!

-fA

Greg Lestrade said...

Well it's blowing a gale and pouring with rain... But because John has made camping stick in my memory as a great thing, by making me the happiest man alive on a past camping trip... Im sort of looking forward to it. I'll admit it.

pandabob said...

Tents can't blow away once you're led in them :-D. Also cold weather means finding ways to keep warm ;-)

Anonymous said...

It may not compare to that trip, but this one will be a great memory as well. Or at least a really, really good story to tell later, if it turns into a saga of man vs. the elements!

-fA

Greg Lestrade said...

...am I reading right that a weasel had shut down the large garden collided? (I know, I know, it's my autocorrect...honest)

Greg Lestrade said...

Haha I say that and my autocorrect really does kick in!! I wrote hardon collider!!

Small Hobbit said...

Yes, it would appear to be the case. Sadly the weasel didn't live to see the effect.

Although I'm not entirely sure we want to hear about a hardon collider - doesn't that go under "if Lestrade says it, don't google it" category?

Greg Lestrade said...

I'm certain, with my extensive working knowledge of hardon collisions, that a weasel wouldn't shut it down.

A beaver, on the other hand....game over.

Anonymous said...

Call me boring, but I feel the intervention of any furred wildlife of any sort would interfere with my, um, collisions . . .

Some of us just don't have the intensity of focus that the Met requires or instills.

-fA

Anonymous said...

p.s. don't think we missed that you admitted you blame autocorrect for your own doings, btw.

*heavy sigh* who can you trust nowadays?

-fA

Greg Lestrade said...

Well....despite all my misgivings. We have arrived. We have pitched a tent. Animals are not yet gathering two-by-two before some biblical storms. In fact, it's sunny.

So. Now we're going to find wood for a camp fire.

REReader said...

So the camping trip is being successful, then?

Joolz said...

We have decided to follow your good example so we are on our way to the coast for the day in drizzling rain, but hey, it's only a bit of water, right. :)

Hope the camping is going well. Are you off out adventuring today? Have fun whatever.

Have a great day everyone. :)

Greg Lestrade said...

We are indeed taking some adventures by the scruff of the neck and showing them a good time...

Anonymous said...

Excellent. Hope the adventures are up to standard for Sherlock!

-fA

Desert Wanderer said...

All this talk of weasels and pitching tents and taking things by the scruff of the neck makes me want a spot of...camping, too. Hope the weather's not being too bad for y'all.

Greg Lestrade said...

It has, actually, been fine. Which defies the natural laws of both camping and Bank Holidays. Expect the apocalypse any moment now.

We have walked, we have made dens, we have climbed trees (some of us rather more successfully than others - some of us weren't allowed) we have attempted to creep up on wild horses (none of us at all successfully). We have leant into the wind on cliff tops (some of us have fallen over) and we have watched huge cargo ships leaving port for who-knows-where and invented stories about their voyages (some of us have stated intentions to stow away. Others of us have stated intentions to fit satellite trackers to those ones.)

It has been lovely, and fun, and not at all boring, and I was just plain wrong in ever doubting it.

(but it has been bloody cold sometimes)

REReader said...

Yay for what sounds like a very lovely and successful camping trip. :) (You are clearly a superior holiday planner, Sherlock!)

Hey, DW, long time no see! How have you been?

Anonymous said...

Dang, that's a WONDERFUL holiday report. I hate being cold with a passion, so I do extend some sympathy, but obviously the good times overrode any discomfort.

I often feel the lack of your contributions, DW, but choose to believe you're happily too busy these days with other things. Hope that is correct.

-fA

Desert Wanderer said...

So, horse rustling doesn't fall into the Doc's considerable list of former smuggling successes: camels, cattle, etc. Maybe it's only animals that start with a c? Children, coppers...

Vertical and ventilated, thanks guys. Anything else is bonus. :)

Greg Lestrade said...

Well.

Bloody well done to Leicester.

We couldn't pull our fingers out our arses and win it, but I'm glad they did.

pandabob said...

Leicester are deserved winners and it will be a pleasure to watch my lot play them (and your lot) next season :-D

I hope you're all having a good for day week :-)

Greg Lestrade said...

Yeah, congratulations to your lot! Hope we beat you though ;)

I'm having a good week - started riding my bike again, which is great. The weather is lovely.

Only downside is trying to explain voting tomorrow to Sherlock.... he rather astutely thinks everyone is a bit rubbish! And then he started asking about the US elections..........

pandabob said...

Everyone will beat us Greg but right now I don't care :-D

Yay for the bike! nice to get your freedom back I guess, not that you need it but still nice to have it :-)

Voting is being taken so seriously up here that I haven't had anything at all from anyone trying to convince me to vote for them!! The US thing is just confusing!!!!!

Greg Lestrade said...

We haven't had anything either - the only political thing through the door has been that bloody EU leaflet that cost God knows how much. Even Mrs Hudson asked why they didn't make it a web page!

Sherlock is deeply confused by Europe. As he keeps pointing out, we are part of Europe, and unless there's a big earthquake and we float off across the atlantic, we'll always be a part of Europe..... he's taking it all a bit literally ;)

pandabob said...

The EU leaflet was a joke but Mini has had great fun colouring it in ;-)

I do like the idea of actually being able to cut Europe off and float off somewhere. I vote for somewhere warmer if we do ;-)

REReader said...

DO NOT ASK ME TO EXPLAIN THE US ELECTIONS! So far as I can tell, it can only be explained by assuming that the Republican Party has been taken over network executives. (I grew up in the sixties and seventies, so for me Bernie needs no explanation. :))

REReader said...

Actually, I do understand how the Republican Party fell apart: It's been a very loose coalition of completely unrelated "Anything but the Democrats" groups since...well, it's been going that way since Nixon, really. They were only held together by the party organization and big donors throwing financial and legislative sops to the religious right and Tea Party right and other extremists groups, herded by equally well-funded radio and cable hosts. The internet has been undermining that by letting extremists listen to only their own little slice of the world, so each group felt they had more power within the Party than they really did, and it all finally fell apart when the primaries began with too large a field of candidates.

My guess as to why Trump is their last man standing is that because he's so out of left field that people can project their own ideologies on him--and that by spewing hate-filled rhetoric as a major party candidate, he's made it acceptable for people to say things that no one should think, much less say.

(This analysis brought to you courtesy of too many years of graduate work in government and politics. It is limited in accuracy by the fact that nothing that has happened in this campaign season was supposed to be able to happen according to the theories of American Government that I studied.)

Small Hobbit said...

Yep, I had to google who was standing for the elections locally - we have one leaflet. And I didn't even realise there were the police thingy elections until Monday. Only thing I'd really noticed was that we have to go somewhere else to vote this time.

Joolz said...

I'm doing my Presiding Officer bit again today for these Police Elections & we are currently at a 5% turn out with 5 hours left to go so I don't think we're even going to hit the 10% mark let alone the predicted 15%. We're making the most of our quiet time for this election as I'm sure the EU Referendum election will be fairly manic with everyone wanting to have their say.

Hope everyone is enjoying their day. :)

Anonymous said...

Swords, RR. Specifically those handed out by dubiously-sourced women lying in ponds. That's the path I'm rooting for.

I am fairly convinced by your theory of the Current Republican Something That Purports to be a Political Party, but I think (as I'm sure you could agree) there's a several more contributing factors that played a role in leading both parties where they are. I am more of a pessimist than most, but I do allow as how it could be worse, given that we have now PROVEN that a statistically unlikely combination of trends and events can bring the unthinkable into being.

I also imagine it would be hard to adequately explain to anyone in most other places in the world the current Democrats, as it's hard for folks in other places to understand how the mere word "socialist," however modified, can stampede a significant number of Americans into a panic that cannot be assuaged.

-fA

Greg Lestrade said...

Well, we've done our civic duty. We were the only ones there when we went in.

Sherlock is easily bored by politics (he wandered off to find a banana to eat before I'd even started explaining what little I know about US politics) whereas Mycroft probably knows more then everyone else in our street added together.

REReader said...

Oh, it's for sure far more complicated, fA! I was just talking about a few long-term trends that jumped out at me--but this election cycle is going to produce a whole raft of new academic literature. (It's a boon to doctoral candidates in American Government, if to no one else!)

And I'm thinking about sharpening my practice swords. :D


Since Mycroft is looking from our circus at a distance he probably has a clearer view of it than I do, L!

One result of our crazy politics this time around was that the polling places were a good deal more busy than they usually are for the primaries--I think it was the first time I ever had to wait in line to vote in a national primary! I think that's a good thing to come out of it--at least people are engaged.

Greg Lestrade said...

I think they're saying there was an overall turnout of about 45% here. Not so bad. Just waiting to hear who's our new mayor....

It's such a lovely day!! Long may this weather continue.

Anonymous said...

Well congratulations on your new mayor! I don't know anything about the governance of the City of London, so I don't know how good or bad he'll be, but [unlike American politics mumble mumble grumble] at least it gives us outsiders a positive impression of your electorate.

-fA

Greg Lestrade said...

Well, we're all hoping for the best, expecting the worst, as usual with politicians ;)

Post a Comment