No, really. Cabbages and Condoms. It's a restaurant in Bangkok, apparently. I was googling cabbage, thank you very much.
Sorry about yesterday. I tend to assume no one reads my tags but me. Which isn't really an excuse, since it's absurd to...express myself through tags anyway.
Do you see how absurd that sentence was? Even more than I'd feared, sadly.
Anyhow. If I'm going to say something, I ought to just say it, but I suppose I'm not, since I don't know what to say. I'm just restless. At loose ends. Not sure what to do with myself. It's nothing anyone should worry about.
Mycroft's home today, and we get to keep him until next Sunday, so that'll be nice. I've really missed him, and I never know how much of that to say when he phones. Don't want to accidentally make him feel guilty for going away to school, obviously. I'm probably silly for worrying about it - he's more sensible than that.
In theory, we're digging the pond at Sherlock's school next week, possibly with carnivorous plants, if anywhere around here sells them. No tiger pits though. Or quicksand. Or a selection of insects from the Amazon.
Oh, and this is my 203rd post. 200 was the drunken one. I'm glad, actually, even if it didn't make a lot of sense. It was, as L said, from the heart.
Sorry about yesterday. I tend to assume no one reads my tags but me. Which isn't really an excuse, since it's absurd to...express myself through tags anyway.
Do you see how absurd that sentence was? Even more than I'd feared, sadly.
Anyhow. If I'm going to say something, I ought to just say it, but I suppose I'm not, since I don't know what to say. I'm just restless. At loose ends. Not sure what to do with myself. It's nothing anyone should worry about.
Mycroft's home today, and we get to keep him until next Sunday, so that'll be nice. I've really missed him, and I never know how much of that to say when he phones. Don't want to accidentally make him feel guilty for going away to school, obviously. I'm probably silly for worrying about it - he's more sensible than that.
In theory, we're digging the pond at Sherlock's school next week, possibly with carnivorous plants, if anywhere around here sells them. No tiger pits though. Or quicksand. Or a selection of insects from the Amazon.
Oh, and this is my 203rd post. 200 was the drunken one. I'm glad, actually, even if it didn't make a lot of sense. It was, as L said, from the heart.
79 comments:
You're not absurd. Or maybe you are, given that I'm ridiculous, as you keep saying.
Whatever you want to do, I'll support you - you know that, right? And...oh, anyway, you know, after talking last night. And I know you don't know what you want to do, but...now I'm not making any sense either. Whatever you decide, it's good, basically. I understand you feeling at a loose end when you're on tour own all day.
Googling cabbages. Right. Should I even ask why??
John, I might be way off the mark here, but when my youngest brother was old enough to be at school all day my mum went a bit, well, batty...
She felt really guilty sitting around the house all day while my dad was at work so ended up cleaning the house to whithin an inch of it's life. We're talking OCD clean, everything in it's right place: my dad tells it like a horror story.
Anyway, dad eventually persuaded her it was OK to do something for herself so she started a course with the OU and hasn't looked back.
Not sure how much of that will apply to you, just consider it my 2 cents ;-)
Anon - something like that, partially at least. There wasn't really enough to do to make it feel like a proper job even with Mycroft home and two large dogs underfoot.
L - Should I even ask why??
To cook one!
Feel free to tell me be quiet and go away, John, but I bet part of the problem is that there are actually things you want to do and learn - you've said you want to learn to cook and to ride, and I wonder if you feel like they don't "count" in some way because the lessons come whenever L isn't busy with work, with a "real" job. (I'm not going to get into why your job is real and valid and valuable.) So maybe you could do some kind of structured background learning - get a simple cookbook that explains the science of why salt is an ingredient in fudge, and get a book that explains aerodynamics or something similar (I am an avid pedestrian, sorry, so I'm floundering a bit here). And I think there would be nothing bad about reminding yourself that there's plenty you're already good at - you could write, or find a local clinic that needs a sweetheart badass of a doctor with daytime availability.
a sweetheart badass of a doctor with daytime availability
Innie, that would be the best personal ad ever!
John, maybe the local veterans' agencies can help you find something?
Of course if we thought it would help we'd all be turning up to be treated by Doctor Danger - how could we resist that advert.
I just meant cabbage doesn't normally form much of our diet.
Innie's right. You are a sweetheart
If you were on my side of the pond I'd say you could write the Great American Novel. What do Brits do in similar circumstances?
Yours is an odd mix of on the job 24/7 while often feeling like you're not on the job at all. You love the boys and so caring for them isn't at all like other jobs you've had. But it's not like you want to quit that to try something else (which is my usual reaction to feeling restless).
As you're really the only one who can come up with the right answer I will just wish you luck in your search for something to round out your days that will make you feel good about yourself.
John, please feel free to tell me to mind my own business, but I think I can understand where you're coming from.
When I got out of the military I felt a bit adrift. I went from being useful and having a purpose and knowing I was doing something for a bigger cause to being just another civilian.
It didn't matter the reason I got out was because I had been injured. A little part of me still felt that I had let my buddies down by leaving, and that I no longer really did anything worthwhile because - well, I wasn't really making a difference anymore, was I?
It's taken me a bit of time to realize that, even though I'm not part of the big picture anymore, I can still make a difference by doing other things.
Have you considered volunteering, or maybe helping at the veteran's center, if you have one? Sometimes just doing something for someone else helps me remember that I still have ways to be useful.
Not that that's what's wrong! I'm just saying, if you are experiencing a bit of that, maybe something like volunteering may help, or maybe taking some classes?
Because what you do does matter, and is important.
Hey Dangerous, I'll be leaving in a bit to get Mycroft for 6. Anything you need? Any strong views on dinner?
Pip - yeah, that's about the shape of it. Thanks.
L - Let Mycroft pick? I can go to Tesco if you two have too much with you to stop on the way home.
On a different note, I actually just had a choice between pink, yellow, or green cupcakes for dessert. I chose pink.
Heh. Is it pink flavoured?
I'm lost in a sea of Chelsea tractors...I may not survive.
You could always ride over the top of them, although the housemaster just might not approve.
I may never find Mycroft...
Don't know how people who live around here cope.
Not seen his housemaster yet. Just hundreds of patents.
...Patents? Oh, right, parents. Well, the dogs are probably nearby, that ought to help.
We have found each other. Now I can't get back to the bike through the crowd of teenage boys listening to Mycroft tell them about it.
I swear he's grown up more in the past month or so than in the rest of the year we've known him.
We've stopped for Thai. Apparently Harrow provide all other foodstuffs.
Be back in ten mins, maybe?
Excellent. Sherlock is...very very excited.
The timing here is ridiculous. In ten minutes I get to see my little sister! Since I'm at university, she is the Sherlock to my Mycroft in exactly this situation.
And Thai is the best.
Have a wonderful visit!
I think Sherlock's almost eaten a mouthful of food, inbetween talking non stop. There won't be any left if he leaves it much longer, the way Danger's chowing down...
I can't believe they're both asleep (well, in bed), and it's not even ten.
I can't believe you're not, given Sherlock was like a small tornado when we got here, which you'd presumably put up with for some hours.
Nice being in a quite flat, on the sofa, relaxed, though.
I nearly am, though he wasn't so bad before you got here. Definitely winding himself up, the unwinding was more spectacular.
It was lovely though. Sherlock was so pleased to see Mycroft. And vice versa, but Mycroft manages to stay a bit calmer...
Did Mrs T have any further pond related info for us? Meant to be nice weather all next week.
It's lovely that the boys were so pleased to see each other.
Mycroft - welcome home, I hope you have a great half-term watching John and Lestrade digging a pond :-)
John - it's perfectly cromulent to express yourself through tags if you choose too. Maybe it's a bit easier that way? Sounds like you're feeling a bit less off-kilter today. Hope so, anyway.
L - I've got pond plans from her with official heights and depths and all that, and someone's father owns a landscaping company, and she said he'd get all the rocks we might need and have them dropped off - no word on whether he'll stay to dig.
Nameless - ...Cromulent? My dictionary doesn't have that one.
right. heights and depths...maybe widths and lengths?
And rocks... lucky she doesn't have my autocorrect on her phone, or someone's father might be dropping off altogether the wrong thing...
Your fans are all incredibly intelligent, aren't they?
Possibly those as well. You know what I meant!
Ha. I don't think you can drop those off.
They're yours as well. Just like Silver Foxes.
"Cromulent" is a made-up word from The Simpsons; see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisa_the_Iconoclast#Embiggen_and_cromulent. Sorry, I wasn't trying to be obscure or pretentious, it's just found it's way into my everyday speech.
Lestrade - clearly many of them are (and I suspect that they're all fans of yours, too), you only have to see some of the comments on this post for examples; certainly not me though.
Aha, thank you. I see I should've tried the internet before my dictionary. I'm trying cromulent on Mycroft tomorrow. Pity it's too long for Scrabble.
Silver Foxes are all yours. Fans are all yours, they just get me like a BOGOF.
Mrs H says you'll have to wait to get your book back. She says she hopes you're not missing it too much.
We're never playing Scrabble again in this house. Ever. Or I'm not, anyway. Leave me some shred of dignity.
That is not true, and if you're not careful I'll do a poll to prove it.
I don't want your book back!
Not even if we team up?
Fans are all yours, they just get me like a BOGOF.
Quite clearly absolute rubbish.
Speaking of bollocks, given your recent painful encounter with Sherlock trying to kill you, you might find this amusing: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01614w9/Frys_Planet_Word_Uses_and_Abuses/ (Sherlock, Mycroft, DO NOT follow that link unless John or Lestrade have watched it and given you permission). There's a whole section on the healing power of profanity.
You're very kind.
And you've reminded me - Danger, we should watch this and see if Sherlock would like it:
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/mummifying-alan-egypts-last-secret
(I think I know the answer...I think he'll be wildly upset they didn't invite him along to the filming...)
Just from the URL I suspect he'll love it.
It's a cab driver - he said when he died he wanted them to mummify him, for science. Amazing, huh?
That is pretty amazing, yeah. And not a bad way to go. They must've learned a lot from it.
Well we'll watch it, given it goes on 'til half ten, then he can watch it online. Although it's school holidays, so I suppose our chances of getting him to go to bed when he knows it's on are...slim. I still think we should watch it first, though. It seems the responsible thing to do. Or something.
Probably a good idea.
I'm sort of assuming I'll probably be more squeamish than he will...
You'll have to hold my hand.
Think they'll show them pulling the brains out?
no idea. But I've seen plenty of brain matter in my life, and don't ever really relish it...
still, if it makes him happy.
There are other ways of removing brains that sound much more pleasurable. ;)
Ha. Yes, if I must have my brains removed the nose would not be my first choice. It'd be interesting to watch though.
c'mon, bed. Given the nature of the boys' excitement tonight, I'm assuming we'll be getting an early morning wake up call.
Sherlock has announced a desperate need for eggy bread in the morning.
And everything will get approximately 800 times more chaotic when Anthea drops the dogs off in the morning...especially if there's baking going on.
That is the down side of them going to bed early. I mean on time.
All right. Bed sounds nice.
If you're good I'll let you err...rock my brains out...ha.
Ha!
(definitely not via the nose!!)
No noses, only woks, etc.
Innie, that would be the best personal ad ever! Desert Wanderer, if the jumper fits . . .
And Nameless, you're making me want to dig out my "Perfectly Cromulent" and "Boo-urns!" t-shirts just when I've put them away and gotten out all of my sweaters and sweatshirts instead!
I want a t shirt that says 'The Nanny can rock me anytime...' (although he's never rocked me to sleep, I don't think...) ha.
Innie: *steeples fingers* Excellent :-D
Lestrade: "The Nanny rocks my brains out"?
'the doc rocks my socks off'?
You guys are still adorable. Never lose that. Also, either one of you remember which blog Bronwyn posted her blog on? I'll go looking, I'd just like a place to start.
John: Volunteering or taking a class sounds like something you might want to look into. I know when I'm down for an extended period of time, I get stir crazy and have to do SOMETHING. I usually end up taking an online class that I can access from the hospital's (or my home's) wifi network. Maybe you could find a rugby group to join up with?
Greg: I think all of us would pitch in to buy you that shirt. Also, so how early did the kids get you up? Did Mycroft help with the pouncing?
Sherlock: So tell us all about your finalised pond plans!
Mycroft: I'm so excited to have you home where you can comment more regularly! You'll have to tell us all how this term has gone so far if you wouldn't mind too much. We've missed you!
Oh my God, you guys! I didn't realize how long I'd been off-grid! Well, until Pip's "are you dead" comment popped up in my email box. Whoops. Sorry.
I've been insanely busy with all the extracurricular activities I've been running and keeping up with classes that, well, anything else has just gone by the wayside.
The most recent and life-eating project is that I'm working on maybe setting up a podcast "radio station" thing for our school community. As such, I've been planning, researching and setting up a sample podcast to release to my students so the powers that be can decide if the demand warrants the bandwidth necessary to maintain it.
The first one - through a combination of my students and Sherlock (though I didn't tell them that - let them think it's all their idea) was mummification. It's pretty short since it's just a sample. I'm trying to work up to a 20 to 30 minute show. Well, I will if this all goes through like I hope.
So! After mad reading to see what I've missed, I can sum up with:
1) Yay! Vacation!
2) Oh my God, you guys, I want a Mrs. Holmes and new kitchen. Seriously.
3) Woo-hoo pink cupcakes! Though I like the rainbow ones better, personally.
4) MYCROFT! HI MYCROFT!
5) Boredom sucks John. It really does. Hence why I have approximately 3984373 extra curriculars.
AND
6) In abject apology, I've posted the transcript of the first podcast over on my dreamwidth.
http://bronwynferchdai.dreamwidth.org/37456.html
I made a few modifications of names, but otherwise, it's what I've recorded. I don't have the podcast file with me or I'd've posted that. Still could if y'all want. Just not until I get back into town.
And finally, thanks Pip. It probably would've taken FOREVER for me to realize I hadn't commented over here.
Love to all and sundry,
Bronwyn
Glad you're okay, Bronwyn.
Tink - we got up earlier than anyone ever should and made some choccy swirl shortbread. And eggybread. I'll post the shortbread recipe and Christmas cake recipe after dinner.
Thanks, Greg! Sorry I vanished. I'm a bit crap about that sometimes.
Toodles,
Bronwyn
So how did the four legged cleanup crew manage in the new kitchen? Lick clean cupboards and all?
I want the mummy podcast! I want to take it to school and play it for everyone.
John says I should say please and also thank you. Thank you, Bronwyn.
Trying to catch up on three days of what I've missed, and I just wanted to stick in my 2 unneeded cents.
John...first, what you are doing, caring for Sherlock (and yes, Mycroft too, even if he's not home very much just at present) may not feel like much to do, but that's because you love them and so it doesn't feel like "work". But given what you've said about the circumstances when Mrs. Holmes hired you...well, just sit down and think about what the situation would be if they didn't have you, okay? You have a rather unique set of qualifications and you not only love them, you like them and appreciate them. They need you. Loving a job--feeling as though you'd fight to keep doing it even if you won a lottery and didn't need to earn a living--doesn't make the job less valuable, or take less of your energy and attention. In fact, it probably means you give it MORE of your energy and attention. So, well, I just wanted to say that.
Also, if you don't feel as though you want to be doing volunteering just yet (or taking any of the other good suggestions you've been given)...have you heard of NaNoWriMo? Having read a lot of your blog in a big chunk--and having worked in publishing in one capacity or another for over 13 years--I can tell you that you can write, and more importantly (much more importantly) you can tell a story. And this is the sort of thing that can give you a good jumpstart. Maybe write up the (fictionalized, if you like) story of how you came to take care of Mycroft and Sherlock and met Lestrade and all? You never did tell us about in any detail and but even from the little you said it sounds like it would make quite a book. Or a collection of Lestrade's Sherlock Bedtime Stories. Or a collection of your Afghanistan experiences. Whatever. Anyway, just an idea.
Welcome home, Mycroft!
And hello, Sherlock--that was a very nice please and thank you!
RR - it's not even that I'd keep looking after them if I won the lottery - I'd do it if I had to work to support them. And I could, lots of people do, obviously. My mum didn't work most of the time when I was growing up, but things were a bit different then. So I suppose that's part of it too, that feeling that if I can work, I should.
I can tell you that you can write, and more importantly (much more importantly) you can tell a story.
That's amazingly kind of you, thank you. I'm touched, though I think you're overestimating me a bit. I just faff about here really, and L and the boys do provide me with an awful lot to write about. I've just looked at that link, and I...cannot imagine writing that much in just a month. I'm petty impressed with the people who do it.
I'd do it if I had to work to support them.
It shows, no question about it. And you're clearly right that you could work and also care for them, but of course the fact that caring for them IS your work limits your choices more than most--as the does the current job market. But a volunteer doctor, well, you could probably write your own schedule if that's what you wanted to do.
As for the writing--I'm one of the ones reading it, and I'm not overestimating your ability. (It's nice to be sure! :) ) The only question is if that is something you want to do, because make no mistake, it IS work! My brother has written several novels, and is only now starting to have agents ask for rewrites instead of sending encouraging rejections. He's used NaNoWriMo a few times, and he says the thing about it is that in order to churn out quantity it forces the writer to stop self-editing and just DUMP. It's a good way to start up--and no one knows or cares if you don't meet the goal, only if you do. It's just a goad that works for some people. Anyway, as I said, just a thought!
And whatever you decide to do--well, it can't hurt to have so many of us cheering you on... :)
Obviously I don't know ...well, anything, really, about the medical profession, but I've never heard of a volunteer doctor.
Which obviously isn't to say they don't exist, I just don't know where.
Just know we all support you in whatever you want to do, Danger.
Free clinics here use volunteer doctors--desperately need them, in fact. Mostly it's doctors who volunteer in their so-copious "free" time, especially in parts of the country without enough medical care (which includes inner cities), but of course you have the NHS so maybe you don't have such things?
And what Lestrade said.
I can imagine how seriously you need them, yes. But as you say, with the NHS here, all clinics are free at point of service, and even prescriptions are free for some people. So I really don't know if there's anywhere that would need volunteers.
But then again, John could perhaps still work as a GP, paid, on a part-time basis. Maybe a job-share? After all, plenty of docs must have kids to look after.
Or maybe volunteering at a veteran's center, as piplover suggested? (Unfortunately for me, I don't really know how a health care system works, only what we have here, which doesn't work at all.)
Again, very much not my area, but the only thing that could fit 'Veteran's Centre' that I know of are ex-servicemen's clubs and the Royal Legion. Which are sort of...well, pubs, but sort of club-like pubs. (If you say veteran here people will probably think you mean the person who treats your sick dog, not ex-military personnel!)
But then, John would know about all that far more than I do. I don't know what other things they might offer to do/be a part of.
Oh, that's definitely not what I was thinking of (or, I would say, pip either). This is more the sort of thing we had in mind, and they can ALWAYS use vets as counselors, because having, you know, been there can be far more useful than psychiatric training.
Ah. Never heard of anything like that here. Just doesn't happen, as far as I'm aware.
Obviously the army offer some counseling services, and there's a special bit of it to help resettle personnel who leave the forces, I think.
I imagine there might be charities who help with such things a bit.
I get the impression (perhaps incorrectly, given it's mainly from TV) that counseling is a much bigger 'thing' in America than it is here.
It would fit with the popular stereotypes of national characters for that to be the case, for sure! As to how accurate--I suspect it's right, but I've no idea, really.
John - RR's right, your writing is very good. Dunno if you could make a living out of it, but that's more to do with the vagaries of the writing industry than with your ability. I keep telling myself I'll do NaNoWriMo one year; I never do.
But RR's also right; being available for Sherlock and Mycroft at all times is a requirement of your job, and that might cause a complication with other jobs. The leeway that is given to parents to disappear at short notice for domestic issues is unlikely to be given to a Nanny. But you're a bloody good Nanny - pragmatic, calm, and with a fantastic moral compass. Would you ever consider expanding your childcare work? Your security guy's toddler seemed happy to spend time in the care of Nanny Danger.
And echoing everyone's sentiments that you'll have all the support you could ask for from this corner of the Interwebs, whatever you decide.
RR - Lestrade's right, we don't tend to have the same free clinics and veterans' services, because medical care is available free at the point of use. Which is not to say that there isn't a need for massively improved post-service mental health provision for ex service personnel (as per the US, a majority of homeless people here are ex military), but the requirements are a bit different.
Huh. I wrote a comment and it's disappeared. Hopefully not because I wrote something so tooth-grindingly stupid or offensive that one or other of you guys felt the need to delete it.
John, I'm sure you know that you'll have everyone's full support whatever you decide to do.
Lestrade - I managed to miss seeing the football today by dint of going to work for a few hours, but if you've heard the Manchester derby result and you want to mock, feel free...
Nameless - I got the message via email, so it must have fallen into Danger's spam filter.
I barely feel like I've got a leg to stand on when it comes to mocking teams at the moment.
But you lot were pasted.
We were, weren't we? *sadface*
I'm currently avoiding Match Of The Day.
Nameless - your comment was in spam, yeah. It's back now. The only comment I've deleted since I started the blog was my sister's. ;)
Thanks, everyone, for the support. It's really... It's amazing, actually. And very kind of you. And I appreciate it a lot.
Well, a lot of us have been in that place, or somewhere similar. We get it, even if it's not exactly the same.
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