Right, first things first. That mystery red powder...
Here's the end result:
It's a drugs destruction kit. That red stuff is denaturing powder. You log all the drugs, cross check the pharmacy log, sign them off, the pharmacist or responsible person signs them off, then you pour a bit of water into the kit, give it a good hard shake and the contents set harder than concrete - rendering the drugs unobtainable, and ruined. It's a time consuming job, but it has to be done. Every force - and quite a few areas, for big forces, have a controlled drugs liason officers to do things like this.
So you definitely wouldn't want to drink it! And if you did, you'd hope the drugs took effect before your insides set solid!
So there you go. Another little job the force does that few people seem to realise.
Today's been lovely. Went shopping, where Mycroft and I talked about cuts of meat, and Sherlock tried to stuff as many Christmas decorations as he could into the trolley without John noticing. Walked a bit, cooked a lot, generally had a nice time.
Am currently debating with Sherlock whether Santa is a criminal...
And Nicky sent me this, with the simple message 'Saw this. Thought of you and John.' Hmmm...
129 comments:
Nicky, that's hilarious!
Don't encourage her. I'm sure she was entirely too pleased with herself for that. ;)
Your sister is brilliant Greg :-)
I have to admit I'd given the picture no thought at all but that is kind of interesting to know :-)
She clearly realises how hard it is to fit the wool off several large sheep into a suitcase - so with the number of jumpers you own....
I don't take that many! I may own that many, but it's not necessary to travel with all of them...
He even looks a bit like you.
I rather worry she thinks they both look a bit like us. Although I admit the earring and stubble is a bit too perfect.
I'm not that blond anymore. But...yes, possibly.
You do go about the house in your green shorts and big white socks a lot though...
There is nothing wrong with white socks.
....no. Not if you're...err....wearing white trousers?
Uh huh. You can buy me appropriate socks for Christmas.
I would never in a million years have thought of a drugs denaturing powder. Doesn't that make the evidence hard to produce for a trial?
It sounds like you had a lovely day. Has Sherlock decided if Santa needs to be arrested or not?
And Nicky, that's a wonderful comic. I already know who I'm going to share it with!
rsf
RSF - those are drugs from a pharmacy - either ones given back by people who don't need them, or ones which are out of date. They're not for evidence.
Drugs we need for evidence are either kept until trial or recorded and destroyed, depending what they are.
I've explained to Sherlock that I don't think I could arrest Santa for anything.
'The policeman who arrested Santa' I'm sure there's a film in that, probably with a less good looking policeman though ;-)
Ah, I see. That makes more sense then. Does the powder keep the drugs from ending up in the water supply as well?
rsf
Don't know, RSF. I imagine so. They might be incinerated...not sure.
There was an article in today's New York Times about California trying to get a law passed so that drug manufacturers will have to take back and dispose of unused prescription drugs safely--right now, everyone is on their own in the US and a lot of them end up stolen, experimented with by teenagers, or--mostly--flushed into our water supply. (I wonder if burning them would also leavevus with active ingredients in our air and water? It's a growing problem, for sure.)
On a happier note--Happy Chanukah, everyone!
yeah, most that are prescribed here probably never end up in the right places - I can't imagine many people actually heed the warnings and take unused ones back to their pharmacy. But still, the bulk of them that are in the pharmacist's hands still do get disposed of properly, so it's got to help.
Happy Chanukah.
Happy Chanukah, RR!
I'm pretty careful about taking unused meds back to the pharmacy. I'll have to ask if they'll take over the counter meds, though. I've got some of those that need to go away.
rsf
Our neighborhood pharmacies (chain included) won't take them back--certainly when I had some painkillers left after surgery, no one would take 'em and the only advice I got (from my doctor, the drug company, the city) was to flush them down the toilet. :/
And thanks, L & rsf!
I always keep them. Never know when they'll come in handy.
Well--these were in the news as addictive, so I was afraid I would take them. Or that someone else would. (And I don't have a doctor on hand to ask if leftover pills are okay to take! :))
I hope you don't see this 'til morning, but if you want some company--or some boring--just say so...
I've got hot feet... but I don't suppose you can help with that ;)
Is that slang for something? /nervous
Lestrade says no his feet just get hot and he'd rather they were cold but John says he wouldn't.
We're going to see Nicky and have lunch there.
Happy Chanuka, ReRe :-) Is it bad and wrong that I'm giggling a little bit about "hot feet"? It's true, though, you never can tell with Lestrade...
I hope you all have a lovely visit to Nicky and her family. Lestrade, I'm guessing this means you'll be seeing your Mum? I hope that goes well.
Yeah, John and I are going to see Mum. cheers.
Happy Chanuka RR
Yes, hope it goes well with the visit to your Mum, L.
Solution to hot feet: stick them out of the bed until they get cold, stick them on John to warm them up again.
Thank you, Sherlock!
If it's just too-hot feet, same solution as too-cold feet (for those of us without someone to kiss)--run a couple of inches of water the temperature you want your feet to be, sit down on the edge of the tub and soAk 'em for ten minutes or so. (It's not at all wrong, Nameless! I actually wrote out the above answer and then had second thoughts... :))
Have fun visiting Nicky and family, all of you! And I hope the visit with your mother goes well, L.
Thanks, Nameless and SH!
Well... I don't suppose it went badly.
Sherlock, hope you've been good for Nicky. Mycroft, Carla, I look forward to lunch.
Sir Patrick Moore has died.
I saw that Mycroft; such a great enthusiast, my Twitter timeline is full of scientists talking about how he inspired them. Something of a Renaissance man too, with his music. Slightly dodgy politics at times, but we're all shaped by our experiences. They'll be a lot of people looking at the stars tonight and thinking of him.
Lestrade - "not badly" is probably about as good as can be expected, under the circumstances.
I hope you're all enjoying family lunch.
Did you get to see the baby while you're there?
I don't suppose many people can claim to have inspired quite so many generations as he managed in his lifetime, Mycroft. He was such a great character, as well as being so knowledgable.
Nameless - Yeah. I don't know, she seemed worse. Like, last time she sort of...engaged a bit, at least, even if she finds it a bit hard to talk. This time it was like she barely understood us.
Lunch is lovely.
Anon - Not this time, no.
I don't know... I'm not sure I got the impression that she wasn't understanding what we were saying.
She's definitely improving. I'm surprised, I thought you'd really see it, given you don't see her as often as I do.
Lunch was lovely, Mycroft and Carla, thank you. And I think by now the two of you have plotted enough activities for a week, not just a weekend!
I think plotted is the right word. You two looked quite devious muttering over the sauce...
Sherlock just informed me he's going to abseil off the Shard....
It would be fun! Mycroft and Carla won't tell me what they're planning and it's not fair.
Well...you know, sometimes older kids just want to plan things they want to do, kiddo. We can plan other things to do.
Abseiling IS planning other things.
So, apologies for the insensitive question, but if Nicky's seeing an improvement in your Mum's condition, and John doesn't think that she wasn't understanding you... does that mean that she didn't particularly want to speak to you today? Maybe she's just having a bad day? Or something else? (Recovery from a stroke can be difficult, and can really affect people's moods - as can prolonged stays in hospital - so a bad day seems the most likely explnation)
Yeah, I guess. I was meant to help her with her lunch and stuff and she just wasn't interested. But if she's got some issue with me right now then I don't know what it is.
Can't blame her if she's just having a bad day though. I mean, that place isn't anyone's idea of fun.
Could be she's grumpy with you because you don't see her as often as Nicky does. There's good reasons, but she's not in the best place to see things objectively.
L - could be me, too. You might've had better luck on your own.
Yeah, I don't know - and she's not going to tell me, is she? So... well, not a whole lot we can do about it.
Sherlock, other things that aren't abseiling off tall buildings...
being ill never makes people nicer than they were before Greg, their recovery does sometimes though so you never know what will happen in as time passes :-)
I'm glad you went to see her Greg and that you took John with you, he'll be in a much better position to understand what you're saying now he's seen her and he probably has more idea of information you'll find useful as well now.
Enjoy the rest of your day all of you :-)
We're on the way home because I've got stupid school. Lestrade isn't singing. He always sings with the radio. His mum is mean.
Hi Sherlock,
I could say that she's being mean because she's ill, but we know that sometimes she's mean when she isn't ill, but the being ill won't be helping much it's awful being in hospital for a long time. The best thing you can do is to try and be as cheerful as you can for Lestrade, it might not seem like much but I'm sure that it will help an amazing amount.
I love that you worry about Lestrade Sherlock but try not to say bad things about his mum right now. Its a difficult time and lots of emotions are flying around. I'm not saying you're wrong but you getting cross and saying not nice things about her won't help anyone will it?
Have a safe trip home :-)
She wasn't mean today, Sherlock. Just very quiet. And anon's right, all we can do is try to help Lestrade feel better. Or leave him time to think if that's what he needs. Sometimes people need that too.
No but it's a long way from our house and if someone makes effort for you you should be polite and say thank you even if you don't like it Mrs N and John say because that's the right thing to do to be polite.
I showed Lestrade this video because it's funny and he laughed and said I should show you. You need to have the sound on to make it funnier.
http://youtu.be/nFAK8Vj62WM
thanks for that Sherlock it was very funny :-)
Following John and Mrs N's rules on being polite means that you will grow up to be a man who people want to see all the time and who makes people happy just as they make you happy. It is a good rule but adults don't always follow good rules because they get it wrong.
That is a seriously excellent video!
That video is hilarious. I do like penguins.
Sherlock, that is a brilliant video, thank you. And don't worry yourself about my Mum. It's not very nice being stuck in a hospital when you know Christmas is coming up. She's probably just having a bad day. At least we had a nice time with Nicky, right?
That video is kind of perfect. Thanks for making us all laugh Sherlock.
Perfect video for today, we've gotten six inches of heavy, wet slippery stuff out there.
I'm sorry visiting didn't turn out as well as you'd hoped.
Sherlock and Mycroft, two young men who care about the people around them, are a credit both to themselves and to you and John.
Hmm. Power of Love back at number one, 28 years after Frankie Goes To Hollywood got it there... nice version, but for me the Frankie version will always be the best. Got a special place in my heart.
The power of advertising :-) It's a gorgeous, powerful song; hearing the original always takes me back. Is it really 28 years?
The internet tells me so! Doesn't feel like it, that's for sure. Anyone would think we're getting old ;)
21 years before Sherlock was born certainly makes me FEEL old! Unbelievable.
That's a really long time ago.
It is. I shudder to think that it 28yrs time someone might cover 'Gangnam Style'... hah.
You ready for school tomorrow, Shortstuff? Done your homework?
I did it foreverrrr ago. Can we do something fun?
You've got...an hour, tops, for fun, then you need to calm down for bed.
Can we play Cluedo?
Cluedo? really? I wouldn't have thought you'd like it. But yeah, if you can get John and Mycroft or Mrs Hudson to play, we can.
You know it's not like there are...actual clues, really, don't you?
But it's about solving murders! How can there not be clues?
well...it's like...elimination. More like when we've already arrested a load of suspects, and found things that were possible weapons, and we have to wait for forensics to work out who/which one it was.
Except they don't tell us...we have to work on elimination. So not really like what we do at all...
I don't really know, to be honest. I haven't played it for years. But there aren't any clues.
I want to try anyway.
Okay. We will.
(I'd just like to go on record as saying I have a bad feeling about this...)
hey, I tried to explain...
Still, board games in our house traditionally ended with someone storming off, or overturning the board or refusing to play, or starting a fight about cheating... I feel prepared.
In fact...keep the dogs out. Most of the money from our Monopoly set ended up in a dog, along with the boot and the top hat.
I'll put them in my room.
....for a moment there I thought you meant the boot and the top hat. Then I remembered this game has lead piping and a spanner or whatever, and got confused.
Sherlock has read the first paragraph of the rules and declared he is Miss Scarlett.... not quite how it works, but I won't argue.
I hope you all have fun playing, however the rules end up being rewritten!
Thank you for that penguin video, Sherlock, it brightened my afternoon no end. :)
See that man up there, that John Watson guy? He has good instincts. Trust him on them.
Sherlock has gone to do his teeth. John has gone to supervise. Mycroft and I are searching for tiny murder weapons in the far reaches of the sitting room.
Oh, well. Next time you can try Monopoly! :D
At least the dogs can't eat them. That was not conducive to calming down before bedtime though.
oh dear :-(
its a shame when fun doesn't turn out well.
I feel Waddingtons may be getting a strongly worded letter from Sherlock about misrepresentation...
AnonyBob - it honestly wasn't anything we weren't expecting, I don't think! Until they bring out a version with a full forensics lab, I fear Sherlock will not be satisfied.
I think he'd have a point, its a very funny idea for a game really!
do you think Sherlock could design himself a game? it might be an interesting thing AND he'd be able to make up his own rules ;-)
I'd worry you'd need a degree to understand the rules of anything he invented...
You're assuming he'd tell other people the rules at all.
that's a point and you'd have to make sure he wrote them down or they'd be those strange rules that are never the same for you as they are for him ;-)
I hope he's settled now and a peaceful bit of evening can be had :-)
Well...he's in bed. Not asleep, but at least reading his bee book quietly.
Whereas Lestrade seems to be acting out a very long mock-Shakesperian death-scene with a tiny dagger on the sitting room floor.
Would you like some tea, John?
just a normal evening in the Lestrade/Holmes/Watson household then ;-)
Are you enjoying being home Mycroft? do you miss the crazy when you're at school or enjoy the peace?
Tea would be lovely, thank you, Mycroft.
don't mind me, just dying here....
Should someone play taps?
http://youtu.be/Sh8mNjeuyV4
I think it might be difficult to concentrate on studying if I were here all the time, Pandabob. But I do miss it, yes.
Lestrade, saying 'thou' and 'doth' and adding 'eth' to the end of words doesn't actually make it sound Shakespearian.
L - I've got a cup for you too if you're done there. No hurry though. We'll just sit here and applaud.
...I'll sit here and applaud. I'm an easier audience than Mycroft is. ;)
Yeth is doeth, Mycroftius. Forsooth and woe, I hath lived well, but now is my time to meet the Angels on high...I see the light, it beckons...I goeth, I goeth.......
Actually, some tea might revive me, Johnus of Watsoneth.
I don't know, I'm not sure I want to hand it over now. This is pretty entertaining.
Hmm. I think it will actually take me a very long time to die from this 10mm long dagger. I may need refreshment.
I think there's actually more crazy goes on when you're home than when you're at school Mycroft so maybe you bring it with you ;-)
L - I'll get you a biscuit.
Anonybob - I think there may be something in what you say...
It's Mycroft's fault. Playing up to John gets me one raised eyebrow-and-eyeroll.... with Mycroft as well I get a matching set! Double the fun...
Although lying on the floor makes me realise just how stupidly tall Mycroft is becoming. I know what John feels like now.
I think he's going to be taller than you, too. And I'm going to laugh when he calls you shortstuff.
(You will, right, Mycroft? For me? I will provide bribes if necessary...)
I'm sure he is, yeah. I think they make him sleep in a growbag at school.
(Mycroft is, of course, above bribery.) (I Hope.)
What makes either of you think I can't come up with anything better than that of my volition?
I have no doubt you can.
And anyway, I only call Sherlock Shortstuff, not you, Danger.
You've thought it before, don't deny it.
Never! You're my little bundle of snuggle-wuggle. And 103 weeks ago today, I nearly lost you under a cushion on this very sofa... ;)
Ye Gods, how time does bat on!
Indeed. We might have to celebrate in some way next Sunday...
Snuggle wuggle... I'm trying so hard to be irritated, and failing.
Isn't your sister going to be here next Sunday?
Some of it. They'll have to go after lunch.
I'm highly tempted to get Monday off work, book a hotel for Sunday night and err...celebrate. With a lie in.
We could bribe Mrs H to do the school run... Mycroft would prevent the destruction of the flat...
It's good to have lots of anniversaries to celebrate 9we celebrate two a year). It's easier when they're anniversaries you can explain without blushing, mind :-p
Does that mean that you should be getting the Christmas tree on Sunday too?
That'd be really nice...
Can you manage another day off work? It's all right if you can't.
Nameless - don't know what you mean. It's the anniversary of John finding an urgent need to....express his gratitude for me untangling Sherlock from his first brush with the law ;)
Danger - I can do Sat-Sun-Mon as my three days off. I am getting better at having all three of them actually off work! We'll have to check with Mrs H and Mycroft though.
I was very grateful, it's true.
L - I'll ask them in the morning. And find a hotel if you like, unless you want to do it.
Have anywhere in mind?
How do you feel about beds suspended from the ceiling by chains?? ;)
...Is there somewhere that really does that?
...the website claims it. But they don't look like chains to me. Still, it says it's sturdy...
http://www.britainmarkt.com/images/Boutique-Lioness-Den-Bedroom-Interior-Design-of-The-Hempel-Hotel-London.jpg
As far as I can tell Lestrade always wants to do it.
Doesn't look like chains, no. It is impressive though.
Slightly scarier when you see it from below...
http://www.infotel.co.uk/images/brochure/102577/main/Lioness%20Den.jpg
Rider - I think I rather talk myself up, to be honest.
Even more impressive. How do you get up into it though? Is it a ladder? Stairs?
I don't know! Want to find out? ;)
Yes.
You can book it in the morning, once you've checked with Mrs H etc.
Right now, you better take me to bed...
Happy to.
Which part? ;)
And it's IGLTA, which...makes me feel somewhat better, although it's no guarantee.
All of the above. Now put your computer down and come along quietly...
Have a good night, gentlemen! (Tonight and next week. ;))
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