I hardly know where to start. It was a very busy weekend, and with the boys home from school it's been an equally busy week. The week has mainly involved laundry and cooking and running about in the park. The weekend mainly involved...
...Locks. Lots of locks. Loads of locks. Legions of locks. A dubious birthday present perhaps, but made up for by the sight of L vaguely sweaty and breathless with his sleeves rolled up after the seventeenth one. Or occasionally sans shirt. I'll ignore the part where he took an involuntary swim with a decomposing rabbit. Although I do now wish that I'd thought to rinse his jeans and all Sherlock's clothes out at the time rather than stuffing them in a plastic bag to marinate.
It was lovely, actually. Even the locks. The boys were doing them on their own by the end - with the help of the dogs, of course - while L and I lounged about and tried to make sure Sherlock didn't go overboard, either literally or in his interrogation of strangers.
Sample questions:
"Why do you have so many rings in your lip? Doesn't that make it hard to eat? What happens to your nose ring if you get a cold, doesn't it go all snotty?"
"Why is your moustache so big?"
"Why is your flute so tiny?" (It was a piccolo.)
"Why are you wearing slippers outside?"
And, perhaps most potentially awkward, "Why are there three of you and only one bed in your boat?"
Everyone answered kindly and to the best of their ability.
It was a perfect trip. I may have to start looking forward to my birthdays again if they're going to be like this.
And after we got home, I got the most surprising of my presents - a birthday card from L's mum.
202 comments:
1 – 200 of 202 Newer› Newest»Those locks look almost unreal. A definite feat of engineering.
I'm going to be uncharacteristically good and not comment on the mental image of a slightly sweaty and breathless (and occasionally shirtless) DI :-p
You had a good one last year, too, right? Didn't Lestrade whisk you all away to Brighton for a weekend for your fortieth? Not that I'm jealous or anything, of course... It sounds like you had a wonderful birthday weekend, which is nothing less than you deserve :-D
Does the birthday card signal a renewed intent from Lestrade's Mum to take more of a healthy interest in her extended family, do you think? Nicky said she was going to have words after Mother's Day, maybe this is the result?
Hmm. I'm not quite sure what went wrong there, but the missing bit in the middle of that comment is quoting your line "I may have to start looking forward to my birthdays again if they're going to be like this".
*frowns at Blogspot*
I had an excellent one last year, thanks, again, to Lestrade. Just not used to yet, I suppose. It's been years since most people around me even knew when it was.
Yeah, maybe Nicky? I don't know. Whatever her reason, it was really kind of her.
Oh, John, a card from L's mother? That's a good sign.
I'm sure you'll have many future opportunities to use that "rinse first, bag after" insight, all things considered. :)
And Sherlock asks very good (if awkward!) questions--I've wondered that about nose rings myself. :D
And that photo is amazing--locks forever indeed!!
I love Sherlock and his questions but I would not ever want to be questioned by him, my life is far too weird for that!!! (I have to pretend not to ask but, did he get an answer to three people one bed?)
The card from L's mother explains a few things I'm guessing.
L is lucky to have you John but I think he forgets (far too often) that you're lucky to have him too.
I'm glad you all enjoyed your weekend, I wish it could have lasted the whole of the Easter holidays (and far beyond because you all seemed so happy and relaxed) because stressed L is not nice for any of you and somehow he always feels guilty for it, :-(
I hope you all have a great day together tomorrow
Anonybob
I am very lucky indeed, yes.
The initial answer was that they were all in a relationship together. Sherlock didn't know that was an option. They bore the following cross examination well (and I led him away before it got too intense).
That was a tactful response. :)
Anything particular keeping you up, John? Or just the holiday hours? (Or in other words--everything okay?)
Brilliant ;-) that is so the correct answer :-)
Neither you or L are luckier that you deserve and you just both need to realise it :-)
You are both very very lucky to have found the perfect person though (not jealous at all I swear ;-) )
Anonybob
(When I said tactful, I was referring to the answer Sherlock got from the threesome, btw. Just to be clear!)
I am sorry John. I realise now and again that I appear to be well on the side of you are lucky to have Greg and that is in no way how I want it to come across.
Greg is more open here (about some things not all things!!!) than you seem to feel able to be so it is easy to work out what to say where as all I feel able to say to you most of me the time is 'omg aren't you're three boys lucky to have you' which I don't feel really communicates properly what I mean.
Anyway late night and lots of babbling ;-)
Hope you sleep well and have a great day the four of you tomorrow :-)
Anonybob
It's all right - I understood what both of you meant. No worries.
Greg is more open here than you seem to feel able to be so it is easy to work out what to say
Yeah, sorry. I know. For someone who's managed to write a blog for a year and a half, I'm pretty crap at talking about myself. Other people are easier - and more interesting.
No apologies needed, at all! You're meant to be as private or as open as you're comfortable with, after all--we have no claim on your internal life. (Not to say we have no interest, just that we are not entitled to know. :))
Other people are not more interesting at all Mr! Easier to talk about though I'd agree. :-)
The amount of stuff you are willing to talk about is amazing and we all have the brain box marked 'only family' and most people have a huge one marked 'no one ever unless they get the thumb screws out' so you aren't alone in keeping things private :-)
Hope you got some sleep and that you all have fun today :-)
It was surprising. And I'm glad she sent it - I do suspect a heavy influence from Nicky, but still.
I'll call her later.
:-) glad you're happy she sent it Greg it is a step in the right direction even if Nicky had a 'suggest' it :-)
Hope she's ok and has lots of nice things to tell you when you call :-) have good day with your boys
As someone with a few nose rings herself, yes they do get snotty! Haha :D Always best to check in a mirror after blowing your nose :)
Phew all those locks look like hard work! I've always wanted to go on a canal boat. My grandpappy used to be a lock keeper many, many years ago, he once told me he used to get paid extra if he found any dead farm animals floating about in the water, depending on what it was would depend on how much he got!
Anyway, I'm glad you had a nice birthday John :D and it's nice that there was a card from L's mum waiting for you! :)
We went to the park with the pond with the frogspawn and there's tadpoles now! So we had to go to school because when we left there wasn't but now THERE ARE TADPOLES in the pond and we'll get frogs millions and millions of frogs!
Yes...we have just broken in to Sherlock's school.
Luckily John has Mrs T's number so could text her to explain, in case anyone reported us climbing over the fence.
And indeed, there are tadpoles.
What's a little bit of break and enter between friends when it comes to seeing tadpoles hey Sherlock? ;-)
Millions of frogs sounds like some kind of weird nightmare though.
Anonybob
He is a bit grumpy that the chose to hatch/emerge just when he wasn't at school.
And I think (hope) 'millions' will prove to be an exaggeration. Tadpoles do eat each other, as well as get eaten by other things. So I think the survivors will be limited in numbers.
Just think of all the other children Sherlock who didn't have someone to take them over the fence to look! They won't for days!!!!
I never knew they ate each other Greg but I did wonder why there weren't millions of frogs around given how many tadpoles you get so thanks for the education :-)
Whoa, Sherlock! Millions of tadpoles is SO EXCITING!!! And very appropriate for the right now, with Passover about to begin!! (Look up the second plague. :))
And breaking into the school to check for tadpoles does add to the excitement factor, after all!
Mycroft, art is one of my favorite things, akthiugh I've no formal training in it. So if you feel like continuing the conversation I'd be well pleased--but if you don't, that's fine too. I left a comment/question on L's blog, not realizing we had passed 200 comments; shall I copy it here or have you said all you want to say on the subjwct?
My first thought on the millions of tadpoles was plagues of frogs. But I'm sure Mrs T would have something to say on the subject.
Glad to see you're making good use of your day off.
RR - he and I had a chat about artists who make their own work and artists who don't and whether it matters. I'm not sure he's decided his position yet.
AnonyBob - they eat each other and everything eats them too - they're just tasty defenceless swimming meals.
There are good arguments on both sides of that question, and no need to come to a conclusion about it, really, L. Interesting to discuss and consider, though.
I had asked about whether it was the intensity of the effort or the success of the results that appealed to him in Constable's clouds and Van Gogh's haystacks, if he knew. (There was a bit more, but no point in boring folks if he's said all he wants to for now. :))
Wow, Sherlock! That's wonderful! I can't wait to see what sorts of species of frogs you end up with!
Those locks look really intimidating - and heavy! But you said the boys were doing it on their own by the end, so it must not have been too bad, yet still...wow.
Yeah, I saw your comments, RR. He seemed to be leaning toward it not mattering who made it if the art was 'good'. But less so when it was paintings.
Maz - Sherlock had to have Mycroft's help getting the gate moving. He was just too light. But they were very good at it. Efficient.
"Found" art has always been a fraught subject--as has been defining what makes art good, if it comes to that. Which then leads to the whole question of misattributed and forged art--is a painting less moving or beautiful or important if scholars decide it can't have been by Rembrandt after all? Is it more moving or beautiful or important if further research suggests it's actually by Michaelangelo?
I bet the boys found it very satisfying to operate the locks by themselves--not to mention fingering out the best way to go about it. :)
Figuring out...
stupid autocorrect.
We didn't get as far as found art. Started with the sharks and modern art, then chatted about Old Masters who didn't do their own paintings much, although people seem to forget that when levelling the same accusation at modern art. My knowledge is fairly shaky, to be honest, all gleaned from long hours at art shows with Bryan.
Mycroft - thank you for answering my question last night about your artistic preferences, very interesting choices. Sounds like you and Lestrade had a good conversation about art afterwards, as well. I'm very envious of you, living in the centre of London with so many wonderful and varied art galleries, especially since most of them are free. I quite often pop into the National Gallery, or the national Portrait Gallery, or one of the Tates if I have a free hour or two when I'm there.
Hope everyone's having a good day; we've got lots of Hot Cross Buns :-)
Wasn't there someone who signed a urinal and got it in a museum, or is that an urban legend?
That's not a legend, that's "Fountain" by Duchamp, John! Here's the Wikipedia entry. But that's Dadaism for you. :)
L, as I said, I have exactly zero formal training--never took an art history class or anything. But my mother started taking my sister and me to museums in a stroller (she was bored with two very young children in the house for company, can you imagine? :D), and I've kept up the habit...and then read everything I could get my hands on, plus gone to lectures at the Met, and bought DVD courses. I don't know much, but I'm fascinated.
And indeed--art as an individual enterprise is a modern development. It used to be all studios for the successful artists--workshops, where the artist would plan a work, and paint the main elements, but assign the rest to apprentices. They've picked out (or think they have) Leonardo's contributions to his master's works, for example. And Rubens is well known for having a sliding scale for his paintings, depending on how much of a work he painted personally. :)
You might be thinking of The Fountain? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain_%28Duchamp%29
Apparently that is what I was thinking, yeah. Hmm.
Yep, hmm. :)
That's the work that leapt to my mind when I said "found art", actually--it's the most famous of Duchamp's "readymades". (It's also the first work of "conceptual art", or so it's been called, IIRC.)
I don't mind it. Eye of the beholder and all that.
Sherlock has persuaded me to make hot-skull-and-crossbuns. Apparently...
"Hmm" isn't necessarily "ick", just "hmm"! (My question about conceptual art is what you're left with after you get the idea, and I haven't an answer for that one way or the other.)
hot-skull-and-crossbuns
Ha--I love that!
This is for Mycroft: http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq340/rereader3/Grammar.jpg
(Or with this link.)
:)
Sherlock has persuaded me to make hot-skull-and-crossbuns.
That's perfect.
I'm quite a fan of the sculptural art works that are appearing in towns, things like the angel of the north or the brick train I came across once. I saw one today on my way to a football match that is all metal curves and prisms and it looked lovely :-) apparently when the Sun shines the right way the prisms in it paint rainbows on the floor :-)
Galleries are lovely but things that anyone can see every day make me smile :-)
Hope you're all having a good day
anonybob
I didn't mean to imply 'hmmm' was 'ick'. I just meant that if one person thought it art and another didn't, it didn't matter.
*nods* Exactly so, IMO.
AnonBob - Sherlock says 'Can you climb on it?' His preference for public art is apparently dependent on if you can interact with it or not. And by 'interact' I probably mean 'test it to destruction', knowing him.
RR - sorry, it seemed as if you thought I'd got the wrong idea about John's and your 'hmm' and were correcting me. And I'm a bi unsure about your next bit, about 'getting' an idea...which idea? I'm lost.
I saw one today on my way to a football match that is all metal curves and prisms
That does sound like a nice one.
There's a sculpture of bears in a playground in Central Park right next to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and being in a playground, obviously anyone who can climb on it may climb on it--it's not fenced off or anything. Same thing with the Alice in Wonderland and Hans Christian Anderson statues by the model boat pond--not that they're in a playground, but they are for climbing on and interacting with. You very often see a kid sitting in Anderson's lap, reading out the beginning of "The Ugly Duckling", which is what's the open book has carved in it.
L- It just seemed as thought it could have been taken the wrong way, and I wanted to make sure it wasn't--should have said so. And well, conceptual art is all about the idea, isn't it? Let's say I look at a piece of conceptual art and think about it and get the idea, and go, "Oh, clever" or interesting or whatever--then what? There is rarely a strong aesthetic or emotional component to the work, and an idea doesn't seem to encourage revisiting or living with a piece to me. But that's me.
Sorry Sherlock the sign said 'do not climb, climbing on this sculpture could cause injury' although there were lots of walls and stairs that you could walk on and it all looked lovely.
John - I think it would be even more beautiful when the sun is shining so I'm hoping that next weekend we will get sun and I can have another look and hopefully see the rainbows :-) It's strange I've never seen in before but I guess taking a new route somewhere is good sometimes :-)
Anonybob
The Indianapolis Museum of Art has an interactive sculpture garden called "100 Acres," and the entire point of it is for children to climb and play and interact with the art, be outside, experience nature. I wish more art installations were more like this one - the snobbishness and stand-offish sort of "adults only and only cultured ones at that" attitude you can get from some museums/galleries always has put me off.
Maz, I know exactly what you mean! I was really lucky to have a mother who thought the perfect length of time for a museum visit was "until the children get bored", and who would remind us that while we couldn't touch the art inside, we could outside. My sister used to bring crayons and paper to museums so her kids could draw the art they saw--the guards at the Met were always particularly charmed by this, and a couple of times tourists took pictures of them (!). A whole interactive sculpture garden must be so much fun!
AnonyBob - Sherlock says he wouldn't mind injury.
It does sound nice. Is it big?
He might not and I guess if the signs are there, so the council are covered, then it would be up to you and John if you let him climb.
It's just about the right size to be really nice I think :-) you can walk through the arches and look underneath where I guess the rainbows are sometimes and apparently, according to people who live here and knew it was there all the time, students sit under it sometimes when it's sunny to have their lunch :-)
Anonybob
Who tells you you can make big things and put them places? I want to make one and put it in the park that everyone could climb on and it would have lights and water and be really tall and be brilliant.
I think it's the council Sherlock, they seem to come up with idea of having something and then people put in proposals for what they would like to build.
I think you should draw pictures and plans of what you want to build and then see if the council are interested or if you know someone who might have a bit of land you might be able to do it there :-)
I think art you can climb on is just a brilliant idea.
Anonybob
That's a lovely thought, Sherlock!
Usually a city or a big company decides they'd like a really big piece of public art and hires an artist to make one for them. Sometimes artists decide they want to do a big piece of art to sell after (like the CowParade project, which sells the cows for charity after) or to make, and take pictures and movies of like Christo and Jean-Claude, or sometimes they just want to give it to a city--but then they have to get permission from the city authorities. That's because whoever's land the art installation is on is going to not be able to use the land for anything else while the art is there, and they are going to have to provide protection to make sure it doesn't get stolen, and they are going to have pay to someone to keep it clean and not broken. And if it uses electricity, that is a cost as well. So they have to decide what is a good idea and worth all the costs of having it.
(It's not very easy to get permission, as you can imagine--but persistence can pay. It took Christo and Jean-Claude 30 years to get permission to do "The Gates" in Central Park, but they did get to do it eventually! It was a lot of fun to visit, and it was lovely to see the park all full of people doing the same thing and in the middle of the winter.)
How can I make a big piece and then sell it? John says I can't do it in the park or the sitting room.
that's why I suggested pictures first Sherlock then someone might give you a lovely piece of land to build it on and John wouldn't get annoyed about you using the livingroom ;-)
Well, of course not in the sitting room, Sherlock--how would you get it out the door and down the stairs once it was finished?! And it could get ruined or stolen in the park--and the city might give you a fine for using park land without permission, which would unfun.
When artists make really big pieces of art, they have to draw out their ideas, and sometimes make models, to show people how it will be when it is finished. And often they need engineers to look at their plans and help them change the design or the materials, because you don't want something that big falling down with people on it, or falling down on people!
...which would BE unfun...
(I think John might be okay with you making a small model, with clay or cardboard, or maybe balsa wood sticks and paper, of what you wanted to build. You could ask him. You could color or paint it the colors you want it to really be, and make a sheet explaining what materials--metal or stone or whatever--you wanted it to really be.)
I'd make it so it came apart and it would go out through the window because that's big. I wouldn't make something that would fall down.
Pandabob where did they make the one you're talking about? Did they do it all where it is? I could do that, but if it was outdoors it might be hard when it rained.
In case anyone is interested I found a picture of the sculpture, not a photo they've done some work on the picture, I think it might be promotional stuff or something.
http://www.artsmap.org.uk/public-arts/public-art/Rain-Bow-Gate%c2%a0-2011
I like it anyway :-)
I think they made it in bits somewhere Sherlock and then put it together on site but I don't know. I'll have a look into it and see if I can find out for you :-)
I think whoever buys a big, monumental piece of art is going want an engineer's report anyway, to feel safe--people are funny that way. And then if something happens, they have legal protection for court, too--they can spread the blame out, so to speak.
I think most artists that work in really large sizes have really large studios to work in, with big doors, like garage doors. And yes, you're right that they often do assembly onsite, but they still have to have models and drawings to show prospective clients and maybe city councils before they can get the money to buy the materials to build with.
I think I want a really big space anyway even if I'm not an artist so no one can tell me what I can and can't do.
Pandabob I like it does it really have rays of light coming out of it? How do you find out who the artist is, it doesn't say?
No no rays of light Sherlock but it does put rainbows on the floor I'm told when it's sunny :-)
http://www.burnley.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=1053&categoryID=200128&pageNumber=12
The link has some pictures of it being installed (I draw your attention to the safety harnesses!) so I think it was made in pieces somewhere and then put together on site. I think the article says who made it too. They seem to have done another thing too but I've not seen that.
Big private spaces are really nice but hard to come by, especially in cities. I hope you get one some day!
(Unfortunately, most of the time someone will find a way to tell you what you can and can't do anyway, even when you're an adult and have your own big space, like with zoning laws and various nuisance laws. :( )
I don't know what a zoning law is. Mrs Hudson says I'm a nuisance though, but only sometimes, usually when I've done something messy that I didn't mean to.
Don't worry, Sherlock, she says the same thing about me when I do that too.
We're all a nuisance sometimes Sherlock but it's not quite the same as nuisance law I don't think.
Do you think you could make something that would last years and years and would allow lots and lots of children to play on it? That wouldn't be a nuisance in any way at all that would be brilliant :-)
Zoning laws are rules that cities put on what can and can't be done in what parts of the city--like how high buildings can be built in which parts of town, or what type of businesses are allowed where. It can get very complicated and political, because there are always some things (like sewage plants) that everyone needs to have, but no one wants to have near them!
Nuisance laws aren't usually about exactly the kind of nuisance that Mrs. Hudson means--although my mom has called me a nuisance when I've done something messy, too--it seems to be a universal lady thing!
What I was meaning is a part of common law--the kind of law that isn't passed by legislatures but grows up through court decisions--and means you can't do things, even on your own land or in your own home, if it interferes with other people, like being very noisy or making things that are very smelly or dangerous.
We don't have zoning laws, which is why Sherlock hasn't heard of them.
I've no doubt he'll have lots of fun tomorrow with excessive questioning of John regarding building huge projects.
Sorry John, I didn't really think about the affect on Sherlock when I was so taken by the sculpture I'd seen today, Sorry.
Anonybob
AnonyBob - don't worry, if it hadn't been huge sculptures it would have been something else! It's not as if he's shy and retiring...
We don't have zoning laws
Really?!? That must be lovely for your developers. :) (We have TONS of 'em, all over the US, so far as I know.)
But the common law is very similar in the US and the UK, since we just adopted British common law 200 years ago mostly unchanged--and 200 years isn't all that long in the British legal system. So I'm thinking that the nuisance law definition should be correct for you too? :)
Sorry, John--I hope I didn't say anything that is going to cause problems for you. *hopeful smile*
Is he asleep? I really should have thought about it before i got to pictures though I know what he's like and encouraging him is not really a nice thing to do. It appears I get quite excited about things too sometimes ;-)
Well we have different laws, but they apply to each individual project, not 'you can't have that business in this area'. Every project has to go through planning.
If you wanted to knock down your house and rebuild it here you'd be looking at a year or two just to clear planning, before any works could be started. A big development, like a shopping centre or office block, maybe 2 or 3 years, minimum. So no, not really nice for developers.
Our nuisance laws aren't common laws, they're just plain laws. Although confiscating equipment is more common than arresting the people.
I don't mind. It's nice when he's excited about something new. And he might not be able to build something huge in the park (or our flat) but there might be room for it at school. Mrs T's always looking for something to keep them all busy and learning new things.
Not sure he's asleep, but he's in his room :)
It is nice when he's all enthusiastic. And Mycroft even helps him (or hinders, probably, in his view) with working out how things could be done.
School is a great idea John I'm sure Mrs T will manage to focus his enthusiasm into something really brilliant
If he's in his room then it counts as asleep didn't you know Greg ;-) I can only imagine what he and Mycroft could manage to design and make if they put their minds to it I think it would be brilliant.
I am so jealous of people who can actually make things and I get way over excited when I see things I like ;-)
Every project has to go through planning. [...]
It sounds almost like zoning laws would be easier! (Although, at least in New York, I think we have planning commissions too, and there are definitely all sorts of permits that need to be obtained for any sort of construction, even for doing renovation or repair work, let alone new construction.)
I think fines and injunctions are far more common than arrests for nuisance.
Building something HUGE is always fun to think about, even better to do--not that we got much chance to get that far in the city. But we did make drawings and models, and that was always pretty cool, too. Nicer if Mrs T decides to go with a real building project of some kind!
And now, because it's getting REALLY hectic here...Happy Passover/Easter/Spring, everyone! Since the first days of Passover (starting tonight) are Saturday and Sunday, I'll see you Sunday night--meanwhile have a wonderful holiday weekend!
Sherlock, have you managed to design something wonderful today or are you busy having fun with John? :-) hope you're having fun whatever you're doing :-)
Mycroft I hope you're having a good day :-) I asked you a question about music a few days ago (John's last post) but john said you'd been sent to bed and I should ask in the morning :-) I half forgot to ask again and half thought you probably wouldn't want to answer anyway ;-) but I'd still be interested in the answer if you want to have a look :-)
I hope you're having fun John and that you have decent weather to be out and about :-)
Anonybob
Hey Sherlock,
I'm a big fan of interactive art as well. There's a place in downtown Dallas called Fountain Place. It was designed by I.M. Pei and most of it's only for looking. Lots of amazing and gorgeous stuff.
The best part is this one fountain that's made up of a grid of holes in the ground that blast water upwards like firehoses in semi-random patterns. It's set flush to the ground so you can run through it and play in it. It's amazing. The only catch is you're not allowed to run around without a shirt and shoes, etc. in downtown, so you have to go through with all of your clothes on!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INkFtGXzJd0
I like to go there every couple of years and when my niece and nephew are big enough, I'll take them down there and let them run through it too.
Woo-hoo!
Bronwyn
I want to run through it too! If we come where you are will you take me??
Kiddo, we can go in the ones on the Southbank this summer. And you're allowed in without your shirt or shoes, which should help us...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kp96nVknWJE
But I want to do it with all my clothes and get really wet and can the dogs come too?
Provided we're prepared and take you a change of clothes you can go in in all your clothes.
I think it would take a stronger man than I to keep the dogs out.
What are we doing tomorrow, you lot? And what have you done today?
Hey Sherlock,
If you ever make it to Dallas, I will take you to ALL the good places. Fountain Place is only one.
There's the Museum of Osteology. www.museumofosteology.org
And Fossil Rim Safari Park. www.fossilrim.org
And to Murder Mystery Texas. http://www.murdermysterytexas.com/ So cool. And pretty awesome.
You can even come to my forensic science class if you want.
Let me know if you manage to talk John and Greg and your mother into it.
Toodles!
Bronwyn
Tomorrow we should do everything!!! Today I built a thing with books, John says I can wait till you get home before I have to take it apart, are you almost here?
No wait tomorrow we should go visit Bronwyn!!
LOL. I'd love to have you Sherlock. One slight problem. London to Dallas is roughly a fifteen hour flight. You might need a few more days off than just one weekend. You might need to make an American Tour on summer and see all the cool places. Not just those around Dallas.
But still, if you manage it, I'll be here!
Bronwyn
Any sort of definition of 'everything'? Shall we go for a bike ride if the weather's okay?
Is there something Mycroft would like to do?
I'll be home soon. Do we need food?
It shouldn't be so far away that's not fair.
Can we go to that other fountain you can run through?
What kind of thing did you build Sherlock? was is something the degus could climb on? they could be your model testers as you plan your giant work ;-)
It might be a bit cold, Sherlock.
God, I'm tired.
Has it been a long day Greg or a late night or not much sleep? Hope you get soem relaxing time now :-)
It's a shame the fountains don't use warm water really Sherlock isn't it then they could be fun all year round :-)
Bronwyn, I'm amazed at all those places you know. I never even heard of them when I lived there!
Long day. Not enough sleep.
I don't think the temperature is putting Sherlock off...
Oh dear that is not a good combination :-( were you late to bed/ up early or was it night time= wake time?
I wouldn't be put off by the temperature of the fountains either I swim in the sea in scotland on my February holidays!! I work on the basis you have to have sense to have feeling ;-)
Anonybob
Can I recommend that you cuddle up to your favourite Doc?
I don't mind if it's cold! And anyway I'd have my clothes on so it wouldn't be and then we could get hot chocolate.
I built a maze! And I tried to make the degus go through it but they wouldn't even when I put food at the end, they just climbed up over the books and went that way and knocked them over. And then I had to take it all down before dinner.
Can I recommend that you cuddle up to your favourite Doc?
I'd like to recommend that too. And not just because my feet are cold.
They did climb on it though Sherlock didn't they :-) if you build interactive art structures people will still use them the way they want not always how you want them to!!
I'm sorry you had to take it down but I'm sure you can have another go tomorrow :-) no one gets the perfect result first time so the more times you build things the better you will get, did you remember to take a picture, or draw it, before you took it down?
No but I'm going to draw a better one. Mycroft says there's a big maze on the floor of some church in France and people just walk it really slowly but that sounds boring. If I made one it would have walls and traps and ropes to climb and TRAPDOORS with tunnels and windows and fish.
Cuddle sounds good. Will probably fall asleep on you though.
But first, a certain maze architect needs to go to bed and stop planning mantraps.
When you make it Sherlock please can I come and try it out? it sound like it's going to be amazing :-)
I think it's time for you to go to bed and dream of what you're going to make now so sleep well :-)
Anonybob
L - I'll take him up and get him pyjama-ed. You look exhausted.
Sounds like you built a really good maze, Sherlock. N'night :-)
Lestrade - you're off tomorrow, aren't you? Or have I got mixed up?
Cuddles sound lovely. Falling asleep whilst cuddling sounds quite blissful. Maybe just try not to drool too much :-p
No promises on drooling. He's very comfy.
And yes, off. Except bought some work home. Shhh. Don't tell John.
As long as you sleep (peacefully) I think John will accept drooling :-)
Cuddled up with the man you love is the best way to sleep :-) You really sound tired today, I hope you weren't awake too much last night and that you're awake even less tonight :-)
Anonybob
he's not likely to be surprised is he Greg!! ;-)
Probably not. I feel bad about it though.
It doesn't bother me, love. Don't worry about it.
Some days Greg you feel bad about everything but you will notice John doesn't mind any of it :-)
I am sure that being able to wrap his arms around you an watch you sleep peacefully and happily will be more than fair compensation for a bit of drool ;-)
Love is being soaking wet in bed with the man you love isn't it John ;-)
I know. And thanks, Danger. Just feel like however much I try to stop working as much, I just don't seem to be able to.
But most of tomorrow will be spent not thinking about work, promise.
You work a lot less than you used to! More days off, more late lunches with us, nearly always home by eight or so. You're just having to play catch up right now, and being sent off next week for training isn't helping I'm sure.
Not really, no.
Think i just feel it more during the holidays. Like I'm missing out.
How does anyone cope with having a baby and going back to work? At least the boys can tell me what they've been doing. I can't imagine how much you must feel you miss out on with a new baby.
One of the reasons I was always a bit glad the marriage-and-children thing never worked out for me. Wouldn't seem fair to leave them for months at a time.
I knew people who it just about killed to do it, and people who seemed to be relieved to leave them behind.
It definitely wouldn't be fair for you to leave for months at a time. Anyone lucky enough to have you in their lives would say the same, i'm sure.
And yeah, I suppose Ive seen the same. No way I'd want to miss out on it all though.
leaving kids who can't talk Greg is weird BUT you can see what they are learning and doing when you pick them up at the end of the day just as your boys can tell you what they are doing.
If you enjoy your work AND you have someone to look after your kids who you trust then it isn't hard but you do have to make the most of your holidays.
I wish there was a way you could spend holidays with your boys or at least that you could not be sent on this ****** training when Mycroft is at home and Sherlock is on holiday.
Try not to feel it's down to you though, work has to be done you can't not do it so you need to try and switch off when you can and not feel guilty about it when you can't.
Anonybob
You're right.
Im just too tired and it's making me pessimistic. Off to bed for me, I think.
I'd try my luck with a back rub from John, but I think I'll be sleeping before I can fully appreciate it.
Heh. We'll try it and if you fall asleep I can finish tomorrow, how's that?
John please give Greg a back rub, he may fall asleep but it is not a sign he is not appreciating it it is a sign he could do with some comfort from someone who loves him :-)
Sleep well Greg :-) and enjoy every minute of tomorrow with your boys :-)
Anonybob
Danger - it's a deal.
Anonybob - I will, thank you :)
Have a good night, guys.
DW - thanks. He's asleep, as predicted, and I'm sure I will be too, shortly. You doing all right?
Glad he's asleep John :-) What we could all do with when we feel tired and rubbish is a lovely doc to make us feel better :-)
How are you? Easter holidays must be busy for you with both boys at home all day (and I know I probably shouldn't say it but you must miss doctor work a bit when you're full time nanny for a bit?) I hope you're having fun with the boys though :-)
Anonybob
I miss the work I used to do, but this isn't really the same. I mean, it's nice, meeting new people and all, but it's quite different.
It's good being home with them, especially having Mycroft around for a while. I do need to start organising our time better though, or they're going to get bored.
I guess life is very different than it used to be but good different in a lot of ways :-) I can understand you missing what you used to do though it's easy to start seeing yourself as nothing other than a childcarer!
I have never been able to organise myself and it is a disaster some days!! Bored kids are a pain and the worst bit is you know it's your own fault so you shouldn't get cross with them! I'm lucky because mine are close in age, trying to entertain two boys with so different interests much be a challenge ;-)
I'm glad you're enjoying Mycroft being home it must be strange having him away a lot but best for his education and future I guess :-)
Anonybob
I mean, it's nice, meeting new people and all, but it's quite different.
Of course it is. When was the last time you ever knew a soldier to listen to a doc? At least you have a chance with your boys (all three of them)! ;)
I'd say getting soldiers to listen to me was more of a challenge, but on the other hand they very rarely threw themselves down crying in the middle of Tesco because I wouldn't buy them sweets... :)
DW! *hugs* How are you? It feels like it's been forever since we've had your sparkling wit here. :)
~A from NW
strange image of half a dozen squaddies led on the floor kicking and screaming in my head now!! Thanks John ;-)
And did Lestrade eventually get his sweets, Doc? ;) You know what they about soldiers and complaining. If it's about food, don't worry 'cause they're happy. If it's about leadership, be concerned. If they're not complaining, be terrified.
Awww, AfNW. It's never been called "sparkling wit" before. Usually just "incessant sarcasm" or cynicism. Why aren't you getting enough sleep? :(
Happy belated birthday, John! What a fantastic birthday surprise! Sounds like you had a great trip. I had a nice one myself, to Tasmania, seeing friends and eating well! Hope you're both having a nice sleep right now.
If they're not complaining, be terrified.
Ha. I think this applies to Sherlock and Mycroft as well.
Ro - thanks! I'm glad you had a good time on yours as well; Tasmania sounds amazing.
And I'm going to sleep. Good night, internet, and if anyone wants to give me ideas for entertaining the boys when L goes back to work, feel free.
Not to add to the cliche of soldiers not listening to their docs, but I have to admit that the reason I have asthma now is because I had walking pneumonia for a month before I finally got ordered to go see the doc.
My bad.
I could mention some other things, but I think John would hurt himself rolling his eyes, so I'll just say I'm glad you have people who listen to you now, John, and let you take care of them.
As for entertainment ideas, have you taken the boys to Kew Gardens? They might enjoy seeing all the flowers starting to bloom, and they have some great interaction activities.
DW - I call it your sparkling wit because you always manage to make me laugh after a long day. Our senses of humor are compatible. :)
As for the not sleeping... I've been struggling with my 6:00am alarm time. (Yes, for those of you who are former/current military, feel free to laugh at me and call me a whimp. I'll still adore you in the morning. After 3 cups of coffee.)
Work has also been a new kind of stressful. The major project I'm working on requires that everything be done to strict industry standards. I keep screwing up on Friday mornings, and well...that's not exactly how anyone wants to end their work week. It's been a month, and I like my job, but I didn't study this field in school, so I am learning as I go and trying not to tick my boss off with stupid questions.
On top of all that, my father is ill and he is (half?) joking about how he might have brain and nerve damage, my mother is stressed out by her work, and then there's been family emotional f---ery/mind games where I end up as the emotional punching bag/scapegoat and...
Yeah, I'm. *takes a deep breath* I'm okay. I'm a talker, not a doer. I just won't be washing kitchen knives in the near future.
DW, sorry for unloading on you. I kind of hope that the bot deletes this comment. (Sorry John.)
AfNW, I'm really, really sorry to hear things are so terrible for you right now. There's not much I can say that won't sound trite, but you know where you are if you need us. :( keep your chin up.
You know where *we* are.
(i might have had a bit too much to drink...)
DW - Thanks. It's..not as bad as it sounds -- I've been through worse -- but it always helps to know that I have people to turn to if I need support, both online and in RL. This week, it's about surviving the moment, which is a massive improvement over seven, eight years ago.
You can always blame typos on your phone. We all know that Lestrade's has a dirty mind of its own. ;)
Surviving moment-by-moment is still surviving, which is all that matters. We're definitely here for you, though, as one big badger sett whether you need to vent or distractions. I think we've proven we're *excellent* at distractions.
Doc and Ro, I was completely and unforgivably rude in not wishing you happy (extremely belated) birthdays earlier. I apologize, and I'm glad they were both wonderful.
A - sorry to hear life's giving you a kicking from all sides right now. Like everyone else says, you know where we are.
DW - We are indeed one big sett who welcome everyone.
Piplover - I don't think soldiers have the monopoly on ignoring their docs - or just choosing not to consult them ;) When I finally went to the doc after coughing for...well, forever, and blaming it on everything under the sun (smoking, cold, etc.) they thought I had TB.
Of course I didn't, which didn't teach me a lesson at all!
Now I must go and stop Sherlock scaling the kitchen cupboards after more Colomba. He woke us up at a horrific hour to have breakfast. Serves me right for buying cake for breakfast, right? :)
DW - You're a month early, not late on my part! I just had a trip like John, not a birthday! Mine's in May. I've already booked myself a birthday present, though - bought myself a ticket to see Heston Blumenthal live here in Melbourne, doing experiments on stage!
He does ice cream like the place we went to with the liquid nitrogen but he does other flavours and probably not chocolate, Lestrade says. Do you get to eat his food?
Do you think if I went to the doc's I could get some help in trying to do that supposedly natural thing of sleeping? Doctors are far too busy with actually ill people I always think but TB Greg! You must have sounded awfu!
Sorry life's rubbish at the minute A I hope it improves quickly for you :-)
The ice cream you talk about Sherlock makes me tempted to get in the car and drive all the way down there just to try it ;-)
Hope everyone has a great day and Sherlock try not to make yourself too sick with cream eggs ;-)
Anonybob
I could prescribe you John for help sleeping. Otherwise, if you find the secret, share it with the rest of us. I only kknow the unhealthy ways.
And yeah, I didn't sound too good. But as a committed smoker, I never sounded that good when I got a bit of a chest infection, so I ignored it for...a few months.
Sherlock is having food rationed out to him. He could just eat chocolate until he was sick, and then eat some more, otherwise, I fear.
If you didn't need John's help with sleeping so much I might take you up on the offer ;-) I'm glad he worked his magic so well last night :-)
We have free chocolate day on Easter Sunday because a) I can't stand the constant asking and b) they seem to lose some of the interest once they know they can have it ;-) the amount of chocolate we have though is crazy!!!
I hope Sherlock doesn't drive you all too crazy wanting chocolate today
Anonybob
He's just full-on about everything. Easter, chocolate, cake, bike rides - we're caught up in hurricane Sherlock. It's not a bad place to be. :)
Think we should definitely go for a ride to work off some of this food!
Does the moratorium on time machines extend to cloning machines? Because you'd make a fortune cloning Doc, Lestrade. (or yourself, for that matter) :)
I asked John and he said it does and then Lestrade whispered something and John went bright red and it's rude to whisper Mrs Hudson says but they won't tell me what Lestrade said.
I'm not sure if we get to eat what he makes, Sherlock, but if it's liquid nitrogen ice cream I'm going to leap frog over everyone else to get up to the stage! Unless it's something gross, like squid flavour, or something. I've seen him on telly - he makes some strange things! I think it will be a lot of fun to watch!
If you tell Sherlock that for every mile he cycles he can have a cream egg I'm sure you can cycle all afternoon leaving him too tired to care about actually eating the eggs ;-)
Anonybob
I've eaten in his pub, Ro, and it was amazing.
AnonyBob, I think you underestimate Sherlock's capacity for keeping us to our promises...
You're probably right but it would be interesting to see how determined he was on the ride ;-)
people who blush at the idea of cloning machines can only be having one thought (or one thing sugested to them) ;-)
Happy Easter to all of the Badger Sett.
AfNW - sorry to hear that life is proving a trial at the moment - have some slightly chocolatey best wishes.
Don't know what you mean, AnonyBob.
We are going for a bike ride this afternoon, whatever the motivation. My motivation is a serious lack of running recently.
As I have promised to believe you more about things I will assume John just suddenly got very hot then ;-)
Enjoy the ride but don't push yourself till you hurt just because you haven't been running for a bit!!
Anonybob
You know what its like, at his age...probably hitting the male menopause or something ;) he does seem to have hot flushes.
The only thing I'll be pushing myself to do is keep up with Sherlock and Mycroft.
But all that afteer eating a proper Sunday Lunch, which I hope Mrs Hudson is joining us for, as we've got food to feed the five thousand.
Happy Sunday/Easter/Chocolate Egg day, all :-)
AfNW - I'm so sorry to hear that you're having a tough time of things right now. I'll just add to everyone's comments that you know we're here for you if you want to chat or vent or need distracting.
Lestrade - and do John's apparent hot flushes have anything to do with being around his favourite copper, by any chance?
Will be cheering on the Gunners this afternoon, them clobbering City would be very handy :-p
Nameless, are you imagining John reflecting the burnished copper?
I suspect your support for the Gunners is only temporary.
Well, Nameless, obviously I only witness them when I'm around. But I have it on good authority that they also happen when I text or phone him. See, inexplicable!
I've been banned from talking football by Mycroft, Sherlock and Mrs Hudson. And John didn't exactly look sad about it...
'Banned from talking football' did you tell them they are banned from breathing?!! ;-)
You sure John's not allergic to you Greg, hot rashes and feeling faint might be signs? I think you might need to ask a doctor see if there is any treatment for it ;-)
There's only one treatment I know of.
Pip - I probably would roll my eyes, but I'd also say someone ought to have noticed before it got to that point. And Kew Gardens is a lovely idea, thanks.
A - I'm sorry things are so hard for you right now. I hope they take a turn for the better soon and please let us know if we can do anything to help.
Continual exposure, Doc? In larger and larger doses?
"Apply Lestrade liberally to affected area. Some users have noticed significant swelling on initial contact, which usually recedes over time. Tell your doctor if you experience shortness of breath, white spots in your vision, trembling in your extremities, warmth in your chest, or any other effects, as these may be signs of a serious emotional condition."
I'm not a doctor, but I did watch Dr. Strangelove once...
I hope that repeated exposure doesn't lessen that initial swelling ever...
but I did watch Dr. Strangelove once...
I'm impressed you restrained yourself from saying anything about his precious bodily fluids.
SH - spot on, on both counts.
DW - sounds like anyone suffering like that had better retire to bed and stay there until the symptoms subside.
Lestrade - banned from talking about football? Oh, the inhumanity. So I shouldn't mention that Man U are currently 2-0 up against QPR? Or that I think QPR have some valid concerns about the sending off and penalty?
John - I'm not good at knowing what kids would like to do, and most of the things I can think of to do in London would be packed during the Easter holidays, but perhaps a walk around Whitechapel? A world of social, architectural and criminal history to explore? Or, given that most people don't do the tourist stuff in their own town, have you been on one of those Duck Tours, where the vehicle drives around the streets and goes into the Thames?
Have you been to Greenwich lately? You could get the ferry down there and there's plenty of Greenwich park for Sherlock to run around.
There are cars that can drive into the water?? Do they go under it and drive at the bottom like submarines? I want to do that!
I'm sure Greg will be happy to partake in any treatment regime you wish to prescribe for yourself John ;-) I'm also sure you both actually hope that there is no treatment for the condition and that repeated exposure only increases the reaction and results in mutual symptoms ;-)
Nameless - 'some' valid concerns?!! it was a joke and not a very funny one! man U will have it almost sewn-up when Arsenal win :-)
Sherlock, they're like buses on the road and boats in the water. You wouldn't want to see the bottom of the Thames.
Why what's down there? Is it bodies? Are there shipwrecks?
Mainly sticky mud and rubbish and maybe some dead things, but not too many human remains I hope. Just nasty dirty slimy mud, in my experience.
Anonybob - I was trying to be polite :-) I don't like slagging off refs and assistants, because it's a job I wouldn't be able to do.
Sherlock - like Lestrade said, they don't go under water (and although the Thames is cleaner now than it has been in the past, I really don't think it's clean enough for you to be able to see anything), but they do spend about half an hour or so going up and down the river around Westminster.
Mind you, I just checked the website and it's not exactly cheap :-(
I still think it would be fun to go in a car that was a boat even if it doesn't go underwater.
I really struggle to be nice about referees sorry :-( but you're right Nameless not a job I'd want to do!
I think you're right about the car that is also a boat Sherlock I think that would be really fun :-)
I'm sure it would be fun, Sherlock. You'll have to be good and see if John will take you.
Happy Easter/Sunday everyone! I hope you all have a great day, not matter what you're doing!
John, I think someone would have noticed my seal impression when I was sick if a lot people weren't suffering the same. I thought it was the common crud that was going around, but it just got worse and not better, and I think my Sgts were tired of me hacking and coughing at them.
Now, my broken foot, however... :-)
At the risk of incurring the wrath of Mycroft, Mrs Hudson, and Sherlock, and a glare from John - Arsenal won :-D
Brilliant! And commenting doesn't count as 'talking', right?
I think we should come with you to your training like we did to Manchester and then you'll get out early and can do fun things with us instead of driving for ages to get home and then you can come on the duck boat too. Is it shaped like a giant duck?
That would be lovely, but this isn't the same as the conference, I'll be sitting in class and things, just like you at school.
I don't think it looks exactly like a duck, but it's painted to look a bit like one.
You know, if it weighs the same as a duck, it might just be a witch!
Comments don't count as talking you are correct Greg :-) good result :-) hope you've had a fun afternoon
Anonybob
Lestrade put me on his shoulders and we did a happy dance so it made John laugh not roll his eyes because it was football.
That was me not Lestrade!
You do make me laugh Sherlock :-)
Anonybob
It was a pretty good dance.
Victory dance! Dead right it was good :)
Happy victory dance. It looked extremely happy.
it was happy! We're always happy when we dance, right Sherlock?
Good job you clarified that, Sherlock. I was beginning to think a cloning machine had materialized. ;)
Happy victory dances are the best :-)
It must be nice to support a football team that gives rise to happy victory dances more than once a season Greg ;-) It really was a good game not just a good result :-)
Anonybob
We are happy dancing! John says we're happy and dancing when we're full of chocolate and sugar too and he says it's best we dance so we're tired and not hyper all night and I can dance really well and air guitar.
Look at the time, Kiddo. 9pm, calm down time. One last dance, yeah? Queen - you be Freddy, I'll be Brian May.
It's such a shame you don't have a video camera Sherlock we could all do with seeing some happy dancing :-) I'm so glad you're working off the sugar and I hope it means you'll sleep well in a bit :-)
And I'll be over here recording it with my phone for blackmail purposes.
Sherlock, when Doc said it's best you dance so you're tired and not hyper all night, did he just say you or was Lestrade included in that, too?
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