Alone on a platform, the wind and the rain On a sad and lonely face

Ahhhh, the heatwave is currently not waving. But the Tube is on strike as of now, so everyone is still hot and annoyed anyway.

Yesterday was quite moving, really. Ten years since 4 bombs were set off on the London transport systems. Three on the underground, one on a bus.

At the time the first bombs went off the stations/place the bus blew up stopped and had a minute's silence. The nation held a minute's silence at 11.30.

It does feel like yesterday, really. Or last week, maybe. We heard, at first, there had been a massive electrical fault and the underground was suspended. Then we began to hear the rumours, around the yard, that it had been a bomb - and not just one, but a few, at least. As it became clear that there had definitely been fatalities, from those first responders, we geared up to go, because it doesn't matter if you've been stabbed or killed in a bomb attack - murder is murder. And I remember being on the way out, and my phone ringing. And I almost ignored it, just to get going, but something made me stop, and run back to answer it. And it was telling us to wait, not because they were worried there were more bombs - they were, everyone was, there was no need to say it. But because they were worried they had been dirty bombs.

So then we sat, and waited, and watched the news and tried to get on with out work until we finally were sent in.

Right now we're trying to catch a man who is wanted because he stabbed another man in the back because he thought that man was a police officer (he was a barman)...so we really want to meet him.


Anyway, onto far happier things - here's a picture of Mycroft's bike!!

We'll dance until we die, Wanna go out every night

I'm writing this, lying on the bed, with a glass of champagne on one side of me, and my husband on the other, in Paris.

Yup. Paris.

A short bike ride, a short train ride, a short bike ride....and we've gone from London to Paris!

On the way down from Calais we stopped at some war graves. Had some quiet time to think.

Also stopped near a little village and ate our lunch on a bench overlooking a stream - idyllic! Got bothered by some French ducks (they seem to speak the same language as English ducks. But prefer a better quality of bread.)

We did some of the journey on main roads, some on smaller roads that run parallel. It was great - and there was no rush. Then managed to get lost a few times in Paris itself, but it's quite nice getting lost - you find some lovely parts of the city! And you can generally see enough of a landmark to re-orientate yourselves, anyway.

We called home - Mrs Holmes was there with the boys. Mycroft commented that Paris had a very interesting sewage/water system. Sherlock then asked what was interesting about it... we suggested they could talk to each other instead of using us as intermediateries! So sorry, Mrs Holmes, if your dinner conversation was entirely about foreign sewer systems.

So...we've got so much we could do and see! We've both agreed that we have to go up the Eiffel Tower. Probably late one afternoon, and stay up until it's dark. Or we'll just go up twice, as it's open until Midnight... but tomorrow there might be lightning, apparently...so maybe not then ;)

I'd also like to take John up the Pompidou :) (there's a bar at the top!). And there's other things, but you'll hear about them, no doubt, as we go. Anyone has any very particular recommendations, don't keep them to yourselves.

Here's a picture of our room, and one from the top of the hotel, n the little roof terrace.

Our very Parisian view from our room.

Our very Parisian view from our roof.

Merci, John. J'adore tu!

Bonne Nuit tout le monde!*

*there is no guarantee anything written in Franglais for the next few days is vaguely correct, or even what I intended to say.

I'm a man child, I'm a rollin' stone

Today feels like it's been about a million hours long.

Started, and I really wish it hadn't, by a discussion about poo transplants, courtesy of Sherlock (subject banned for the duration of breakfast.) Then a lovely breakfast of pancakes and fruit. A quick tidy up, last load of laundry on, and rooms clean and tidy, everything put away etc... fresh clean clothes (including underwear) packed, and we headed out.

Sky was very grey, but there were only a few spots of rain on our way out of town. Definitely no sun to be baking dry our mudbaths we were heading for :)

We had a small snack, because our session wasn't until after lunch, got all our gear together...and went for it!

To say it was muddy is an understatement. It was completely glorious. You couldn't see anything apart from mud, mud, muddy trees, muddy fences, mud, mud, mud and mud.

Generally brilliant. Occasionally hilarious.

Because the going is, you could generously say, 'soft', I like going fast. We all do!

So when I was half a wheel deep in a puddle, barrelling along... and my front tyre caught in one rut, my back tyre wedged in a different rut... John described the splash I made as I did a front flip over the bars and into the water as 'blotting out the entire landscape'.

That was the point, as liquid mud washed around in my boxers, that my first conversation of the day came back to me...

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.

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:

He Came To My Window

Had a lazy day today, apart from a bit of shopping.

This afternoon I was playing guitar on the sofa, and I could see out of the doors onto our deck.

Across the way there was a little boy - maybe three or four? He was pressed against the railings on their deck, staring at our bikes.

I went out after a bit, and asked if he'd like to sit on them - providing his parents didn't mind (they were right there.) His face just lit up - and now his mum's got lots of pictures of him, beaming, sitting on our bikes.

Nice to share a little happiness :)

We had a nice dinner tonight, big fresh tuna steaks.

Sherlock's hopefully home by now, having had dinner with Murray - we're phoning in a minute.

I hope London's still standing, and everyone survived!


We're watching the first episode of Peaky Blinders - anyone else watched it? Not 100% sure yet, but it looks quite interesting.

Two fools in love, So beautiful and strong

Last night I got called back into work at...well, let's just say John and I were celebrating his newly errr...doubly-employed-status. And the timing could barely have been worse. But sadly I can't ignore the phone on night like that.

So...John waited up for me, which was very very sweet of him. Or desperate ;) but I'm going with sweet...

This morning, I fully expected him to want to crawl right back into bed after we dropped Sherlock off at school. But no, my amazing boyfriend had other ideas... And he took me to the Chelsea Flower Show! It was amazing. Busy, but, just...fantastic. And we stayed all day. Got caught in a torrential hailstorm which had everyone running for cover, but it was sort of romantic, sheltering in the most beautiful surroundings, with John...

But if you’re feeling alone and afraid and you can’t breathe

In case any of you were wondering, it takes about three days and two cycles for a dishwasher to stop producing bubbles once it's been filled with washing up liquid.

Had a dream last night. Trying to get over the moors, where we all met, on a bike. Kept getting stuck in the bogs. Just...you know when you think 'why's it so important to stay with the bike'? I mean, once I woke up. But in the dream I had to stay with it, and...ran out of time...yeah, not much fun.

The bloke who hit me is almost certainly going to lose his licence - he was already chocka with points, he said so when he ran around to me, where I was busy lying in a puddle and checking I still had all my limbs.

He did the classic - "I didn't see you, mate, you come out of nowhere!". His face pretty much fell through the floor when I pulled my warrant card out.

A few brave souls tried to do first aid on me, which was kind of them. And, it being a busy road junction, lots of people offered to be a witness for me that he was on his phone just before pulling out.

Anyway, Mrs Holmes seems to have whipped the insurance company into shape, and they've already said the bike's a write-off, so...well, I can start choosing a new one, knowing that I won't be getting the old one back.

So...

Who will make the first last mistake.

Well, as you all probably know, yesterday I came off the bike. Again. Happily, I'm mainly fine. Lots of witnesses to say the other guy was in the wrong - he was doing something on his phone, glanced around and pull out of a side turning, right into my path. I'm pretty lucky, a few seconds longer and he'd have gone into the side of me, not the other way around, and I'd've been lucky to get away with a broken leg.

As it was, I saw, half-swerved, hit him and my bike went right while I went up and over the windscreen/roof. So most damage to me was the sudden deceleration of my legs clipping the car, and the further deceleration of the rest of me hitting the road once I'd gone over the car.

Most of the damage to the bike was hitting his car, then glancing off to be hit by a 4x4 coming the other way. It ended up wedged under the front of that one. Fuel tank was gone, entire front end...I've seen enough bike crashes in my time to think that's a write-off. Just glad I'd parted company with it before it ended up like that. Helmet's all scraped and the visor's messed up, hanging off. Jacket survived with only some more scrapes and scuffs, so I'll sort it out.

Sherlock's fascinated by my bruises, so he's fairly happy, and was very gentle when he clambered onto the bed this morning (over John, not over me!) Although he does wish there was something more interesting wrong with me (some would argue there is...)

And...Mycroft will be sitting his first exam in about an hour and a half. Feels very grown up.

...and I didn't hit post when I wrote this, so now he'll be halfway through his exam...

They tell you not to hang around and learn what life's about

Sherlock was, predictably, up at the crack of dawn. He leapt on us, burrowed between us, and talked. Just about non-stop, for quite a long time. Mainly about chickens, butterflies/moths, trousers/shorts, degus, the allotment and motorbikes.

Once I'd woken up enough to stand, we got up and went to have breakfast and bake some biscuits. John managed to appear shortly after breakfast and sort of...drape himself over me in a very sleepy hug while I was mixing up biscuit dough. He also managed to drink tea, taste dough and eat toast.

Sherlock was ready to go, in full biking gear, on the sofa, about half an hour before we were leaving. But he wasn't excited or anything. Naaaah.

We headed to meet Mycroft, who was just getting back from taking the dogs out when we arrived. He decided we should go for a ride, and get lunch out somewhere, so we did exactly that. Sherlock probably didn't stop talking the entire ride. I'm not sure if Mycroft kept his headset on or not...

So, basically, we had a lovely day together. We get him back for the Bank Holiday weekend next weekend, too. He wants to go allotmenting - we showed him pics of what we've done.

And I wondered if Sherlock thought we should have this for our wedding cake...what do you think, Kiddo?

And as the sunset faded I spoke to the faintest first starlight

It's quiet.

We've gone from having Mycroft, Carla, Paul, Sherlock and two dogs to just Sherlock, all in a couple of hours. The flat seems very still.

We had a fantastic day today. Motorbikes, mud, the six of us...it was chaotic, crazy, but just loads of fun. The weather was perfect - recent rain, but beautiful today. We were with a good group to get out on the trails - everyone was fairly experienced. We got some real speed on. Got some good air off some kickers, it was just...yeah, great. I only fell of twice. One of them was a landing that I got all sorts of wrong - and the source of my (extra) painful bum.

Yesterday all the kids behaved impeccably. And ensured their greater freedom in the future, by being so responsible.

So, firstly, Sherlock and Paul said I had to post this:

You can make me do right or you can make me do wrong

John pointed out earlier that Jo and Lisa's wedding is only 2 weeks away... so just writing this inbetween practicing like mad.

Definitely fish and chips for dinner tonight. I think Sherlock's mum is taking him out somewhere to eat, so we get to slob out and not feel guilty :) Fish, chips and mushy peas...heaven.

Went to see Mum - the weather was a bit awkward. High winds, rain showers, really got a beating on the motorway, but got there fine. Had a coffee and 'prepared', mentally speaking. Then found the home.

It is quite nice. Mum's one of the youngest in there, though. Not sure she's really made any friends yet. But the garden is nice, if she's there for long enough for the weather to get better. It's all very...well, you know, it's geared up for everything she needs. Proper rooms for physio as well as places to relax.

John said it all seemed okay. The staff seemed nice enough - efficient. Her room's only small, but she's not supposed to be spending loads of time in there, so it's fine.

She seems a bit more like my Mum again. Suppose I've accepted we'll never get along, exactly, but...well, we're back to how we used to be, a bit more. She even asked about our wedding, which is good on two fronts - one that she brought it up, and two that she remembered about it in the first place. She was fairly...dismissive, I suppose, about it all. But then she's done it four times, so... yeah, well, sometimes we really are too alike.

And make believe it's wonderland

We went and saw Mycroft today - in the snow. Snow came even earlier than predicted. So it was a cold and slightly slippery ride up there. But we were all fine.

Mycroft helped me do this - by which I mean, put a picture on my phone, and then provide evidence of this...I don't even know.

I do know that I immediately fell prey to some autocorrect. I emailed myself this image, to use in this blog, using the subject 'Jmob' - makes sense, right? J on my mobile?

Yeah, so when a photo of my lovely boyfriend arrived in my inbox with the title 'Knob'...well, it wasn't intended!

When the metal is hot and the engine is hungry

There was a bat in Sherlock's school today. I think they found it fairly early. He was still talking about it when we picked him up... I don't know how Mrs N survived the day.

John and I had a fairly lazy morning - Sherlock was so well behaved this morning. He just sat in our bed, occasionally showing us things on the computer, so we got a lie in with a nice cuddle together.

Of course, we were then nearly late for the school run...but it wasn't a problem, as we just went on the bikes :) Sherlock was so proud to show people the bike, and his jacket, his boots, his helmet. He put them all very neatly on his hook/bench space in their cloakroom. Honestly, I was so proud of him, he was actually fairly patient when people asked him about it all.

I don't think he's posted about his jacket yet? He was so excited when he got it at Christmas. It's like this, but his Mum had one made in his size:

It's not perfect but it's getting closer

Had a fairly good day today.

Did the long ride to Bristol with the boys - Sherlock was so determined he'd be fine on the back that John and I decided we'd just stop along the way anyway, because we were fairly sure he'd refuse to ask if he did want to stop because he was getting tired.

So it was a slow, but very enjoyable, ride down.

Sherlock is now the owner of a harness, which goes around him, then around my waist - just in case he did slip, lose concentration or fall asleep.

It was great to see Nicky, and then John and I headed off to see Mum.

She's doing a lot better. Can walk with a frame, for short distances. Sits up most of the day, her speech is a bit clearer and she just seems more...alert. More aware of what's going on.

Nicky's being an angel - not only visiting Mum, but also checking on her house, taking her clothes and things, washing. She's just...being brilliant.

Anyway, tomorrow is all the chaos that getting two boys back to school can bring...

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.

Put on a ragged sweatshirt, I'll take you anywhere you want me to

Got over to see Mum today. Don't particularly feel like talking about it.

Saw a lot of flooding on the way. I hope everyone who reads this is okay, and the worst is over now.

It was quite nice, to open the bike up all the way there and back, even if it was just motorway riding. Freezing cold, but apart form that, couldn't have asked for better riding conditions. Really good.

Who was asking about Christmas lists? Obviously the first things I'd want would be world peace and everything...but after that, an amazing adventure bike, and a few months to travel the world on a lovely big bike...BMW? KTM? Something like that...

I know, I know, it's a BMW... Danger will never let me hear the end of this...

Anyway, I've got the next two days off, and tomorrow I intend to spend all of it with John, doing nice things.

Hold on tight, cause I like the sense, of speed, and I like the sense of you.

Had a lovely day today. Bit of a lazy morning, then off to the off-road bike place.

It was pretty muddy, so there wasn't much chance for doing jumps and stuff - our bikes weighed about three times as much by the end of the ride with all the mud stuck to them!

But it was brilliant - we were filthy, from the spray, puddles, falling off, landing in puddles, pushing each other in puddles, riding along a stream...yeah, just fantastic.

Sherlock and Mycroft had fun too, and at the end Mycroft had a go on the bikes again and Sherlock rode pillion with me, just on the practice track. He is nearly big enough...

But he's also very excited about getting the next size up of violin - we should try and do that in the week, I need to go to the music shop anyway, so we should go and see if he's ready for a 1/2 size yet.

He declared my book 'boring' once I'd read a bit of it to him. I think he thought it would tell him how to solve murders, not just how to deal with the press, paperwork, court papers and all that... obviously there are a few things that would help you...but it's mainly how to comply with the rules and build a strong case, not how to track down the murderer and grab them.

Today was just one of those days were...I can't believe that I'm this lucky. I can't believe the person I was 5 years ago was really me. Things have changed so much, so dramatically. Things I could never have hoped for have happened to me. It's just amazing. My life is amazing.

Fences, we put up our defences.

Well. This will be a slow enty and probably not very long because typing with one hand is slow.

John pretty much said what happened. heading to ~Richmond, bloke swerved and cut us up and headed off. I don't know if it was planned or what. could have just been bad riding, really. No idea.

Anyway, I don't know what i did I think I sort of rtied to reach and grab John, but just ended up landing on my hand on the kerb and  bending my fingers up or something. And John's now massaging my bruises with ice cubes


My bike's in the garage, getting fixed and checked. I've got my spare helmet...and actually need to ask John if his is all right (I'd suggest not, actually.) I know I cracked mine on the same kerb.

we werent going very fast, but even not fast is fast enough when you hit the road.

Last night was nice. Mrs N seems like she'll cope with Sherlock, and he's warmed to her a bit.

And it's about a year since I moved in with John and the boys. So we should celebrate and have a date...when I don't need John to cut up my food for me... and after he's let me buy him a new suit..

Nice shirt, Danger? To go with a lovely suit?