But, keep it up, honey, You're the best time I've ever had

I got a score right! It's been a while ;)

Tennis..not so good.

Baking, very good!! Tried a new recipe out, after Sherlock said he wanted banoffee pie, and this was the result...

Not that there's that much left now! And rightfully so, all that fresh cream...anyway, it has fruit in it, so it's healthy, right?

Work's been busy, and I've got some time off at the end of this week - Thurs-Sunday, so I can spend some time with John, and be around for Mycroft's return!

I managed to get to the gym in my 'lunchbreak' today - we've got one at the yard. Of course, the result of that was just being completely starving for the rest of the afternoon, so...well, that wasn't the intention.


Last night Maf was pouncing on one of her toys and attached herself to the carpet - she does that often enough, but this time she struggled free and ripped a claw. She then shot off, limping, to hide under the kitchen cupboards. John, being cat-extractor in chief, went into action.

I gave helpful advice. Like 'grab her!'.

He managed to get her out, and I tried to hold her while he had a look at her paw, but she's like a greasy eel, and in the end we had to cocoon her in a towel. She didn't take kindly to it, and bit me. But John did finally manage to get most of her in the towel, with the paw in question out of the towel, and removed a scraggly bit of nail, stopped the bleeding and then taped one of Sherlock's socks to her leg (not to her fur, obviously) so she couldn't lick it. Anyway, she seems okay today, just limping about, but John says there's no swelling or infection, so we're just going to try and keep her claws a bit shorter to stop it happening again. She generally doesn't mind being held and stuff.

Spring was never waiting for us 'til it ran one step ahead

First, public service announcement - Please Vote! Or live with the consequences of other people choosing who represents you. And I remind you, other people are sometimes morons.


Anyway, that done, Sherlock's absolutely outraged that he's been stuck at home, not allowed to the polls with either of us. The ballot paper for the European elections was actually taller than him, I think. And full of horrible parties! Anyway, seeing the number of people who can't tell the difference between white and yellow who were out voting, I'm glad I went ;)

Here's the recipe I'm going to make in a bit for Mycroft - in time for it to mature into it's flavours and be perfect for eating.

Work's been busy, paperwork central, meetings, various levels of outrage at current politics, more meetings... I don't know, it's a funny old job sometimes, being caught between an office and a crimescene. Funny old weather at the moment, too. Big thunderstorms today, interspersed with beautiful sunshine.


Still, next week is half term, we'll get Mycroft back, Sherlock will have yet more time off...but hopefully time he can enjoy, and I'm having half the week off, at least, to spend with everyone, and hopefully give John a bit of a break.



Speaking of, here is John, courtesy of Murray, this time.

Now I've found a real love, you'll never fool me again.

Today's been nice. If a bit busy. All kicked off by pancakes, which Sherlock somehow managed to have chocolate on. I'm fairly sure there's some sort of minimum-sleep-quantity that one should have before being allowed to care for children.

Still, won't kill him.

My Christmas shift had highs and lows...

Lows: finding out I'd have to work New Years too.
Having to talk to a family who'd been woken up Christmas morning to be told their son was dead.

Highs: One of my officers being proposed to, via an elaborate ruse involving a cell, a custody sergeant and her boyfriend (also an officer, but who should have been off-duty and far away with his family). She said yes. The radio was a-buzz for the rest of the day with congratulatory messages.

John coming to visit me at the Yard. He said he was tempted to take the long way back home, the roads were so quiet, and biking was so nice! I didn't ask if he did or not...I suspect he might have, if just to keep away from the card games which were becoming very high-stakes!

And this story.

Anyway, here's a (small part) of our Christmas tree, becuase...well, because you have to see it to believe any tree could support the sheer amount of tinsel.

What comes is better than what came before

Went for a nice ride this morning.

I say nice...it was fun. It wasn't 'nice' it was freezing and wet and horrible! But in that good way, when you know that all you have to do at the end of it is come home and get warm and dry again :)

I made us proper hot chocolate, complete with melted chocolate, hot milk, cream and rum, when we got in. And we and our gear steamed gently in the warm :)

This evening we went to a sort of community firework thingy at the allotment. Lots of people bought cakes and toffee apples and things to sell. There was also hot Ribena for the kids (blackcurrant cordial) and mulled wine or cider for the adults. Delicious!!

I did have to warm my hands on John a few times - not my fault he's naturally hot stuff!! But I think he paid Sherlock to get me back...

We're now at home, with pizza.

John has the 'Gunpowder Plot Special' - somewhere under the chillies and pepperami and other deadly items there's pizza crust. Even the cheese is jalapeno cheese.

I may sleep on the sofa tonight...his breath will be like a dragon.

Anyway, back to work tomorrow - boooo.

have a pic John took:

I know I’d never be me

Once I've done this, I'm getting up and getting Sherlock some ice cream with chocolate sauce.

I'm going to have ice cream with a shot of espresso and a shot of amaretto poured over it. John might just join me... Mycroft can have whatever he wants ;)

We all went swimming this morning, which was lovely. The pool  have these little weighted sticks that stand up on the bottom of the pool when you drop them in. So we were dropping a little 'course' of them, and standing in the middle of it all, so Sherlock had to duck under, swim along, picking them up, through my legs, pick up more, through John's legs and then come up for air. He did really well - we got him going further and further. Although I worry he'd actually pass out from oxygen deprivation before failing to pick them all up!

This afternoon was all domestic, homework, quiet things. Well, quiet after Sherlock long and vocal protests. This despite the fact none of us where doing anything he was interested in. And better to get it out the way now, so he doesn't miss out on doing anything fun later in the week, right?

It was nice.

Here's some MASSIVE chard from our allotment.

And here are some wet Autumn leaves.

Thick as thieves us, we'd stick together for all time

We're making jam. John is salivating. It's a glorious colour, I just hope it tastes good!

We went out picking fruit yesterday morning, so have loads for all sorts of cooking.

He can drool over this picture now, not into the pan...

The weekend was lovely. Even stupid little things made it amazing - like turning up at the carriage, and being greeted by the owners... I introduced myself and the lady said "And you must be Greg's husband" to John. I know it's silly, but...not everyone does that. I mean, ah, I don't know what I mean. But anyway, it was nice. And they leant us cake pans, and were just generally very nice people. Who own a very nice railway carriage. It even has two small bedrooms for the boys, so they didn't have to share. Although Mycroft took the bunk beds, and slept on the top one, so the dogs could have the bottom.

We cycled along the coastal paths, ate our lunch on the beach, and got to go to the pub for a nice leisurely pint, too. Perfect weekend!

Today was all about John washing socks while I tried to distract him...

Sherlock got quite a few presents...including these:

Because who doesn't want to eat a milk chocolate colon??

He was very grateful and charming, anyway. He is a fantastic young man.

Another evening just flew past tonight

Right. Waiting for my rolls do to their second rise. Stopping Sherlock prodding them. Putting up with his protestations that white ones are better than wholemeal. Eating Smarties. I don't even know why we have Smarties in the flat... probably cake decoration?

There is also a degu cleaning itself as close to my keyboard as I allow it. It is obsessed with sitting just where I'm trying to type and stuffing it's shed fur into my keys, I think. As we need more fur around, now the dogs are gone. It also tries to steal my Smarties. I think that would kill it, so it's failing.

Had a nice day today, although the weather's been a bit crap.

Just nice spending time in the flat, sometimes.

And one day off now means...oh yes, two days off in the week!!

For those of you who didn't spot the answer to the paperwork question - 11 forms, plus prepping interviews for transcribing, doing interviews, doing disclosure, charging, fingerprinting, etc. ... paperwork takes 4-6 hours (I can do it faster these days!) and the rest takes a good 5 hours...


Here's a pic of the GLORY that is a mushy pea fritter and chips. All smothered in vinegar and salt, with ketchup on the side. Look at the lovely gorgeous fresh green tones. And then ponder why on earth John doesn't like them. Delicious.

John is reading a book. He's slid so far down into the sofa I can only see one foot. Maybe the sofa's turned sentient and has eaten him. I wouldn't be surprised. It's probably in league with the wallpaper.

There's some reality TV programme about Harrow going to start soon. We asked Mycroft about it. The reaction was such that we won't be asked again!

Sherlock is still trying to prod the dough. I might go and prod Danger....

Don't leave me stranded here

Dinner has been made and devoured. Scones have been made and protected from thieving little fingers, attached to bodies which can't possibly still be hungry! Honestly, I actually think Sherlock is the first person to have a black hole inside them.

Sherlock seems a lot better today, after yesterday. He was...oh, I don't know. It's a lot to take in, given his uncertain start in life, with people coming and going all the time.

We made scones this evening - well, he made them, I just reached things from high shelves.

Spot the odd one out...

Despite the heat it'll be alright

Yesterday was a lovely day. John didn't get called in until the afternoon, so Mycroft accompanied us to see about suits in the morning. We've chosen! They measured us, so those are being adjusted now. We need to go back for a second fitting in a week or so.

Sherlock needs to come in too, if he wants a suit. He's a bit unsure.

Then in the afternoon Mycroft and I went to the park with the dogs and our guitars and we jammed :) He's a very good player. Very precise, meticulous. I'm not. He called me a 'fingering slob'. But we had a lot of fun. Then we headed off to fetch Sherlock from school, and all came home to cook John a nice dinner.

Today was sports day! John was on-call for medical emergencies, and also got roped into to 'running'...well...briskly walking....a race where you had to balance more and more hats on your head. It's the adult equivalent to the kids one where they have to stop and put on more and more clothing.

I completely failed in the sack race, got caught up in a pile-up! Involved far too much laughing and not enough racing for coach Sherlock, who said I 'didn't even TRY'.

Anyway, he'd also told me that I had apparently agreed to bake 'millions' of cakes for the school fete tomorrow.

They won't fight back. I'm sure they know how. Beings that love are too proud.

Bumped into a mate yesterday. We knew each other in our twenties - just friendly faces in the crowd, but still, we both recognised each other as we were waiting for coffee. So we had lunch. Nice meeting up with people from back and then and finding out they're all grown up too. Sometimes you sort of feel like somehow you got old and boring and everyone else stayed fun. Or maybe I just feel like that because Bry told me it was true... Anyway. Jason's a butler. And a really nice guy. Who undoubtedly knows a lot of people's secrets :)

Murray and John came and met us for lunch. Murray had escaped being made into fertiliser, and was carrying a bunch of chard as if he was strangling it. I'm 99% sure he won't have eaten it... Murray?

I had to go and see a family today, talk about going to court soon. It's hard, watching people being so brave, trying to hold it all together. You want to tell them it's okay if they want to cry and scream and tell you how unfair it is. But you know, saying that would probably make them lose it. Stiff upper lip and all. People often tell us that they don't know how we do it. I always make a point of telling my new team members that it's fine to be emotional about a case - but there's a time and a place. They can cry on my shoulder, on their own in the bogs, at home - anything. But other times you hold it together no matter what, because it's not about you. Some take to it better than others.

Love forever love is free, Let's turn forever you and me

We've had a lovely day today. Haven't done much, just explored, walked, eaten, had a nice time together. Exactly what holidays are for.

Sherlock hasn't finished tearing around the mill. I have no idea where he gets the energy from. He's up and down the stairs like a ferret up a trouser leg. Occasionally followed by the dogs. Like a ten-legged avalanche.

Waking up with John in a four-poster bed, on top of the world, was wonderful. Our room's split level, and the bath is on the lower level. John had a soak this morning while I made breakfast.

Last night we all piled into the hot tub. Why doesn't every house have one of those? It's so relaxing. Well, it has potential to be, if you don't have a seven year old at the controls ;) We got out to put Sherlock to bed, and then John and I got back in for a last bit of relaxation. Figure it's good for both of us, all that warmth.

So here's our current abode:

Doctor Doctor

We were sort of going to save this for Valentine's (for 'we', read 'I'), but Sherlock insisted he's rehearsed enough, and wanted to perform to John tonight.

So this was our surprise for the good Doc - me playing the guitar and singing, Sherlock dancing and SHOUTING the chorus:

If You Fall I Will Catch You

Don't want to put up another post - it's too nice seeing Danger's smile every time I click on my blog.

Maybe I should start every post with that picture?

Anyway, quiet-ish so far. But who thinks that will last? Busiest night of the year in custody...

I hope Sherlock gives in and goes to bed at some point during tonight. He tried his hardest not to last night! Went to extraordinary lengths to stay awake.

He's generally been very good though. He does as he's told when he's on the back of the bike - he's still getting used to it, though. Hasn't managed to stop headbutting me yet. But that'll come, in time. He holds on tight, just about manages not to clamber about too much, although he doesn't like that he can't see where we're going. I think if we did any long rides I'd want a proper restraint belt to strap him to me, in case he got bored/fell asleep/got tired from holding on.

I left John, Mycroft and Sherlock with some homemade burgers to have. Not that I'm jealous, much. Lovely juicy home made burgers with salad and a big wedge of really ripe Stilton, chips... yeah, I'd much rather be here. Honestly.

Also, here's an interesting look into the British psyche.


Anyway, Happy New Year to all of you, whenever the clock strikes twelve in your part of the world (sorry I'm late, if any of you are Down Under.)

And Happy New Year to John, who makes every moment of my life so much better. To Mycroft, who brightens my days with his wit and kindness, and to Sherlock, who ensures there's never a dull moment. I love you all.

Fast away the old year passes

Merry Christmas, everyone!

I hope you all had a fun/peaceful/nice day (delete as applicable), whether you celebrated or not.

I had a lovely day. Everyone was very kind about the food, and seemed to enjoy it (there is barely anything left.)

We made two Christmas cakes - Sherlock helped ice ours, Mycroft helped ice Mrs Hudson's.

I think they...differ in style in a pleasing way.

Ravi Shankar - RIP

I was going to post a video here. But really, you should just go to YouTube and watch them all. Hours of them.

An amazing talent. He was generous enough to share his skill and passion with us all.




I've...well, we've made a light up halo. Sherlock seems happy enough. I think it's reasonably  Sherlock-proof, and can easily have all the glowsticks changed when those ones run out of glow.

Tis the season to kill people at the moment, so work is busy.

I've taken New Years night as my 'shit shift' as they're known.

And now, I need to go and tuck Sherlock in, and pretty soon, tuck myself in. I'm knackered.

And the load, Doesn't weigh me down at all

Post title from another song I have to 'learn' for Sherlock. (His response was an accusatory glare at Mycroft, a scowl and the insistence that 'He is heavy though!')

Right, first things first. That mystery red powder...


Here's the end result:

And your mind, your tiny mind

After breakfast today we walked through the city a bit, discussing the killing room sat Smithfield (used to talk to a bloke who worked there - he said when it was new the killing rooms were 15' square. When he worked there they were 10' square because of all the blood and gore that was never cleaned off the walls - they only sluiced the floors.) Discussed when they used to drive the animals down to the market, through London, alive.

Then ended up near Monument - which none of us had ever climbed before, so we did.

You know your stripper from your paint

Well, lunch seemed successful. Which is nice :)

We're all now lazing about looking stuffed and wondering if we can ever move again.

As you all appreciated the last picture I got from the 'sky cops' (India99/98/97) I thought you might like another one. Not fireworks this time - but hopefully just as interesting?

Knowing you're there every day, Makes me high in my own special way

Right, recipe time! Sorry, it's all in UK measures, so anyone in a part of the world where you don't use proper weights and measures, you'll have to convert :) It's a Dan Lepard recipe.

It should be a really rich, reddish brown, moist cake.

1 tsp vegetable oil
3 tbsp dark cocoa powder
100ml boiling water
50g dark chocolate, broken into little pieces
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
100g unsalted butter, softened
175g soft muscovado sugar
125g condensed milk

1 large egg
150g superfine self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder

Rub the oil inside a deep oblong cake tin (about 22cm x 11cm, or a 2lb loaf tin), and line the base and sides with baking parchment.

Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/gas mark 4. Stir three tablespoons of cold water into the cocoa until you have a smooth paste, then whisk in the boiling water. Straight away stir in the chocolate and the bicarb, and leave to melt and fizz.

In another bowl, beat the butter, sugar, condensed milk and the egg until very smooth (use an electric mixer). Sift together the flour and baking powder, beat half of this into the egg mix, fold in the chocolate mixture, then beat in the remaining flour until smooth.

Scrape evenly into the tin and bake for 40-45 minutes. Stick in a skewer: if it comes out with a few crumbs sticking, the cake is ready. Remove from the oven, leave to cool in the tin, then turn out once cold. You can have it as it is, but it's nicer with icing on top - this recipe for icing makes a LOT. You possibly could manage to fit it all on the cake, but it's more fun to find a willing partner and spread it on them. (I jest. John would kill me with his laser eyes if I got chocolate on the bedsheets.)


2 tbsp treacle
150g light soft brown sugar
3 egg yolks
4 level tbsp cocoa
4 level tbsp cornflour
300ml milk
250g dark chocolate (or half milk and half dark), finely chopped
75-100ml boiling water
50g unsalted butter, softened
2 tsp vanilla extract

In a saucepan, beat together the treacle, sugar, yolks, cocoa, cornflour and milk until the mixture is smooth. Then bring it to the boil, whisking often so it doesn't scald on the base. Remove from the heat, beat in the chocolate and enough boiling water to make it smooth and creamy. When just warm, beat in the vanilla and softened butter, a knob at a time. Use immediately, as it will firm quickly.

And there you go. In our flat, it didn't last a day. But then we do have Mrs H, security, John and a Sherlock.


I'll let John tell you about our day today. It was lovely. :) Bikes, boyfriend, baking. Doesn't get much better!

And the sugar that dripped from the violin's bow made the children go crazy

Ahh, lovely day.

Was woken at an ungodly hour by Shortstuff, who was far too lively for someone who'd been up in the night after a nightmare.

Removed him from our bed because John was still valiantly trying to sleep. Made porridge. Didn't have a hangover.

John and I had a gloriously lazy morning after dropping Sherlock at school, coffee, picked up my bike, more coffee, until John went off to see Dr E. So, to fill the time while he was gone, I decided to bake a brown sugar choccy cake with chocolate treacle icing. Which turned out very well - but the icing was way too much to fit on the cake! John helped me dispose of some of it though ;)

Sherlock thoroughly enjoyed having a slice after school - we ran to the school, because a. I need more exercise and b. it meant we could cool down by walking home. Neat.

So, the other day, Anon asked: "Do you have any advice on how to mentally physically and emotionally prepare for a new relationship having left one that was far from good?"