Still, we did some...most? Of the final Christmas shop. Just need to pick up the meat from the butcher...and...errr...well, I need to buy John a present. What do you get the Nanny in your life? Answers on a postcard...or a comment.
We bought baubles.
I got a ceramic snowflake shape, because John said getting a black one with 'Ho Bloody Ho' on it wasn't 'in the spirit'. But my snowflake is nice, I like it a lot (it's the one on the left.). I'll let the others choose if they want to tell you what they got.
Oh, Sherlock does. He said it's a ball made of sequins with more sequins and spikes. Which...well, it is, sort of. The sequins are pinned on, with little beads. It's nice. Sparkly. Purple and pink.
We also found edible dog-biscuit baubles...which haven't really made it as far as the tree, because the dogs would probably eat the lot.
Sherlock's presents may be removed from under the tree because he is almost literally beside himself with the need to know what they are...I fear an episode of sleep-present-opening, or the like.
Now, onto other subject, I'm sure some of us here have discussed the pros and cons of bees and wasps. And I know more about bee anatomy than I've ever wished to, thanks to Sherlock's project (coming along nicely). So he's an interesting anatomy of a wasp - we can compare and contrast to bees.
80 comments:
That wasp diagram is 100% accurate. And 'indignation' and 'arse dagger' both made me laugh out loud.
I know! I found it looking up bees for Sherlock, then forgot about it until I just lost the picture of my baubles...so to speak.
Should've left it to me...I'd never lose a picture of your baubles!
I'll post one of mine tomorrow.
Will you now. Just say if you need a hand taking the pic. Wouldn't want you to take a bad one because it's an awkward angle or something...
Couldn't have that. Perhaps you could help me later tonight...
The way I'm losing phones left right and centre recently, you better hope any pictures I take stay where they're meant to be, and don't escape onto the streets of London (or the world wide web.)
I always have that hope regarding your phones. Pictures, texts...everything needs to stay safely stowed away in their innards.
Oh, come on, it's not as if you ever say anything that could possibly be held against you in a court of law...or is this an admission, Doc, in front of all these readers? (granted, there aren't any readers yet...but there will be!)
Or are you just embarrassed at thinking the criminal underclass might know you sign your texts 'Forever yours, Doc Hotson'?
Does finding you criminally hot count?
I'm only saying, private texts should remain private! That's all.
That may just get you a nice holiday with the men in white coats (and ladies, I'm sure.)
And don't worry, private texts are private. Just between you, me, Sherlock and your employer, I'm certain. And Mrs H will already know you call me your 'snugglepuff' from the hidden microphones, she doesn't need to read it in a text.
Tis the season to be paranoid...
Snugglepuff? Don't be ridiculous, snookums.
Snugglepuff?
Right.
The snowflakes are pretty. And Sherlock's bauble sounds rather glorious. I like sparkly ornaments.
Sounds like you need a baby pen to keep the dogs away from the tree. Or would they just reach over it and nosh anyway?
rsf (who shouldn't be ready to tip over with exhaustion this early in the evening, but is.)
It's not paranoia when it's really happening...
Need a baby pen the size of the flat to keep those dogs in...
Maybe a prison themed Christmas...Sherlock could have the police tape he wanted and we could put steel bars around the tree, thus keeping it safe from dogs and the presents safe from Sherlocks.
Sherlocks? He really is beside himself then.
Heh. Indeed he is.
you going to join in beside me in bed?
And we should get the cage for us...like Monday. Leave the rest on the outside.
As soon as I get my foot out from under Phobos's head, yes.
Good plan. More efficient that way.
Mmm, comfy Dangerfoot as a pillow.
I think Phobos ate some lemon earlier. doesn't seem to have done him any harm though. The internet, as usual, gave completely conflicting info on whether it was okay or not.
Did find this though - I know it's not the same as our two, who are, essentially crossbreeds between Huge and Terrifying with a past heritage of Lazy and Soft thrown in...but this one probably isn't far off, height-wise...
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/s480x480/559126_410715228996805_875365000_n.jpg
Snugglepuff? Don't be ridiculous, snookums.
This irresistibly brought this song to mind: http://youtu.be/IIADuG8OM9s... :D
It sounds like you all had a very nice, if very exhausting day--I hope the rest of your holiday just keeps getting better!
L--Hee hee hee hee!
L - yeah, that's about their attitude too. Watching Phobos try to hide behind Mycroft during thunder storms is hilarious.
Especially as he's bigger than Mycroft...
RR - well, I'm back at work tomorrow and Monday, but I hope the boys keep having fun.
Oh. :( (Not sad for everyone else having fun, which I hope they do, just saddd for you.)
Do you have Monday night and Tuesday off, at least?
Sort of. Monday night I think I'll go and see Mum. Doesn't feel right, her being stuck in hospital. Tuesday's off unless something really serious happens.
Monday night I think I'll go and see Mum. Doesn't feel right, her being stuck in hospital.
That is--and I say this without any irony whatsoever--very good of you.
Well..I won't know if it's the right thing to do or not until I try it.
Although the way the weather's going it sounds like the Westcountry might sink before Monday night.
Whether she appreciates it or not (and I have to think that she will), it is the right thing and the good thing, I'd say. But don't drown!
I have reservations about it being the right thing. A very large part of me would rather stay in London and begin the celebrations with people who've made it quite clear they'd appreciate me being here.
As for 'good'...I suppose that rather depends on your definitions.
Anyway, should probably sleep now instead of staying up and being in a foul mood when I get up in 4 hours.
I guess "right" depends on your definition, too. It's putting someone else you care about ahead of yourself, but of course the difficulty always is knowing which someone else to put ahead of yourself when--and when it's better to put yourself first. But you'll do what you feel is what you should be doing, and that's all anyone can ask.
Sleep well!
I kind of feel I should put an "unsolicited advice label" in front of my post...
re visiting your mother - if you do it, because you'd feel bad otherwise, you should go. If you visit, because 'tis the season and you'll feel bad if you don't, you should go. If you go, because you hope (someplace deep down inside) that now is the moment she'll appreciate you for it - go, but be prepared that she might not.
I think it's important that you go -or don't go -because you want to, not because of some kind of obligation. And if you visit 'cause she's family - well I do the same with my family. It's difficult doing different.
And on a happier note: I've got a snowflake-shaped bauble, too, made of wood. And Westcounty might not be the only place trying to drown. We have a forecast warning of too much rain on the motorway...
Have a quiet day at work, if at all possible.
Tina
Good luck with work Greg, I hope it stays indoors as much as possible or you have more than a paper suit to keep you warm/dry
You're a good man going to see your mum and there is a lot to be said for 'getting it out of the way' before Christmas with your wonderful family begins :-)
John, mycroft, Sherlock enjoy not quite Christmas eve and whatever you decide to get up to :-)
Tina - a mix of 2 and 3. I'm going because 'tis the season, and it must be fairly miserable spending Christmas in hospital. I'd like to think she might appreciate it. I'm prepared for her not to.
Well, I very much hope she does and all goes well. Spending time in hospital is miserable, no matter the season, I think.
Tina
Great analysis of the situation Tina - it sums up the whole visiting relatives situation brilliantly. Which is why OH and I are visiting our own sides of the family on the same day.
Just make sure to pack your waterwings L!
I hope work stays quiet for you, Lestrade. And I hope that your Mum appreciates you visiting tomorrow. I think you're going way above and beyond what I'd do, although I'd probably be wracked with guilt instead. Swings, roundabouts.
Hopefully the Westcountry will stay afloat long enough for you to get there and back safely (I'm surprised Cornwall hasn't cut the Tamar Bridge and floated happily off into the Atlantic yet).
John - saw this, thought of you: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-20804249
Nameless - exactly. I think I'd rather she resented me for what I did do than for what I didn't, if you see what I mean.
And although I'd rather be with John and the boys, on the night before Christmas, Sherlock has been told that if his bedroom is very tidy, and all his presents have remained wrapped and un-shaken, weighed, prodded, or otherwise investigated, he can stay up late until I'm home.
As for Cornwall, well, I think they're harnessing up all their tugs as we speak, surely?
Nameless - what about knitting those jumpers with black wool only? Stylish, warm and not just wearable in December...
Tina
Nameless, that's a neat article. Although I must be old, because I don't see the traditional Scandinavian sweater patterns as either ugly or Christmas -- then again, my grandmother knit pattern mittens Norwegian style, so my taste was formed early.
L-Good luck with the visit to your mum. I think it's the right thing to do, for many of the reasons people have given already, but also because if you get it over with on Christmas Eve it won't be niggling at you for the rest of the holiday. I hope the roads aren't too bad, though! Your weather sounds like it's been dreadful of late.
rsf
I don't know whether to use that article as proof I'm a fashion trend setter or give up Christmas jumpers entirely...
I've seen several articles this year that say Christmas jumpers are now a hipster holiday must-have--definitely fashion forward! (Now, if you'd just add a narrow-brimmed fedora...well, maybe not. :))
I hope everyone is having a good day!
(And ha! I said that before I went and read the article!)
Tina - black jumpers, yeah, that would work :-) I daresay John would look like some kind of ninja though (not necessarily a bad thing).
John - I couldn't possibly comment :-p Hope you and the boys are having a good day.
Lestrade - With Mebyon Kernow leading the way? :-)
Sweaters are too warm and comfy to give up no matter what the fashion of the moment is.
rsf
The doc is indeed a hipster. retro chique. Or nostalgic. Or something
I just need some heavy black framed glasses with no lenses in.
And some very tight jeans, that only come halfway up your bum. And a flat in Shoreditch.
How ypu three doing today?
Pretty well. Sherlock and I took the dogs out so Mycroft was blissfully alone for a while, and now he and Sherlock are with Mrs Hudson, making something for her book club Christmas party tonight. I'm lying on the sofa, reading HMS Surprise.
How's work?
I'm in a world of paperwork.
Chief sup asked me if I wanted to go on a training course. I thought I said no, but he's 'left me to think about it', which seems like no isn't the answer he wanted.
What sort of training course?
Hostage and crisis negotiation.
You'd be good at the Greg, I'm not saying you should want to do it but I think you'd be good at it :-)
I'm glad you and the boys are having a relaxing day John
Is there some reason he wants you to do that? I mean...do you encounter situations where it would be useful often?
The force encounters them often. He's just trying to spread tge skills as wide as possible, i guess. And he laid it on thick that i's be good at it.
One of those "would you like to do xyz?" when the answer is clearly "yes". It's a step up from "you've been booked on a course for xyz" which is what I got.
Welllll...if you really don't want to do it, that should be the end of it (if you can make it stick), but I think you would be very good at it.
Do you not want to because of the time it would take or because it just doesn't appeal to you?
I dont want the extra work.
Yeah, can't blame you. I was just wondering.
Sorry, answered before I saw your post. Is 'de on call about 2 weeks at a time, 24 hours a day.
Is that on top of whatever other hours ypu're working?
that sound like yet another way for you to feel guilty about how work effects your family :-( I hope there's a way for you to successfully say no if you really want to.
Yes, rr.
Yeah, i dont want to be called out in the middle of the night all the time.
If theyd asked me a few years ago I'd have been all over it.
It's also being called out for an exceptionally high-stress situation, which has to be factored in.
Maybe he thinks you'd have some insights into the situation for the hostages? Given what happened to you, I mean.
A very difficult but vital job - and not one I suspect many people want. (Not that I mean that you should do it.)
I wouldnt mind doing it, except I dont see John and the boys enough already.
You sound to be in the sort of mood about this that makes me want to wish hugs on you Greg. I hope you're having a nice evening with John and the boys.
That sounds like an awful lot of extra work and stress for you, L. Whatever you feel is right will be the right decision for you.
Like i say, a few years and many miles ago...
I can't remember exactly, but don't you already have to deal with that since you took the firearms course? Couldn't they schedule the "on call" routine to be the same times, so you knew you weren't on call all the time?
rsf
There'd be a lot more calls for h&c than firearms.
Danger is sulking as Mrs H and i are beating him and Sherlock at cribbage.
...Sherlock is playing incredibly slowly, as it's bedtime after this game.
*tsk tsk* Is Sherlock sulking as well, or are they merely demanding a rematch?
rsf
Neither of them really sulked. But I do fear Christmas will descend into a series of grudge matches.
Mrs Hudson was rather gleeful at winning, however. Though I think that was perhaps more to do with the Sherry than the cards.
When my family gets together we play Shanghai Run, so I know much of rematches and gleefulness at cards, no Sherry required.
How did you manage to keep from getting rooked into the game, Mycroft?
rsf
Cribbage is really a game for 2 or 4 people. I didn't particularly want to play. However, now I understand the rules and scoring I wouldn't mind joining in next time.
It is awkward to have a game that needs an even number of players with an odd number of people in the house. I hope you do get a chance to join in next time.
Sleep well. Christmas is almost upon us!
rsf
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