Monday, December 16, 2013

it distresses us to return work which is not perfect

“Many years ago I sent an old, beloved jacket to a cleaner, the Sycamore Cleaners. It was a leather jacket covered in Guinness and blood and marmalade, one of those jobs … and it came back with a little note pinned to it, and on the note it said, ‘It distresses us to return work which is not perfect.’ So that will do for me. That can go on my tombstone.”

--Peter O’Toole

Apart from being a wonderful quote and a rather wonderful thing to potentially have on one's tombstone, his description of the jacket reminds me very much of L's. Blood and Guinness and marmalade... He'd probably blame me for the marmalade. 

Well. That was a very full weekend. Seems like it's been about a week since Friday. Sherlock's play was...sort of a cross between Noah's ark, minus Noah...and minus the ark...with something about the environment and climate change thrown in? I think. There was definitely a flood, at any rate. And at the end when the crops were growing properly again and not flooded out or dried up, all the carrots got up and danced around. As they do. It was great. 

Nicky and her family came to visit, and Mycroft and Carla got to go off by themselves for a while, so I assume Mycroft is currently winning the battle he's waging with his mum. Either that or she's told the security people to especially sneaky, but I think Mycroft would spot them. He's had a lot of practice. The dogs went with them. I'm not sure how much good they'd actually be if something happened, but they're certainly intimidating. 

He and Carla each got one tree decoration while they were out, and now Sherlock is mad for all of us to go out and get ours as well. We're behind on his Christmas schedule, apparently....

59 comments:

REReader said...

I imagine his schedule reads something like:

DO EVERYTHING NOW RIGHT AWAY! (Because, holidays!)

Rider said...

I think intimidating is usually enough. When I was young I used to go out for evening walks with Mum's bull terrier (he allowed it because I belonged to her too) through a fairly rough area.

He just had to look at the men hanging about and drunk or no they steered clear. All those teeth.

Anyone trying to take Mycroft in a crowd would have to assume the dogs would use their teeth so it would hardly be a quick clean job.

Even if the dogs just tried to lick them to death it would still be hard to get past them.

Greg Lestrade said...

I think the dogs would be pretty protective of Mycroft.

We are making pizza... without yeast. I hope they turn out okay!

Sherlock is indeed a whirling frenzy of wishing his life away right now.

John H. D. Watson said...

Licking someone to death is a definitely possibility with those dogs.

Greg Lestrade said...

You could drown in the slobber alone...

Rider said...

Having tried to get past a Rottweiler determined to show me just how much she loved me, I dunno any kidnappers would stand a chance. That T-shirt was never the same again.

Greg Lestrade said...

pizza based without yeast surprisingly fine. If a touch crumbly. But that might have more to do with lack of kneading, given Sherlock's imminent death if he didn't get fed.

John H. D. Watson said...

I think Fast Pizza might become a popular dish around here.

Greg Lestrade said...

You don't have to wait for me to get home, y'know? You guys can eat earlier.

John H. D. Watson said...

We want to. And he does get snacks. He's not actually dying of hunger, he just does a good impression of it.

Greg Lestrade said...

I know, he's far too noisy to be dying

And thanks. It's nice that you wait.

Greg Lestrade said...

Also...my jacket has no marmalade on it.

Jam, possibly... definitely your fault.

Marmite, undoubtedly ;)

John H. D. Watson said...

And don't forget dog slobber...

Greg Lestrade said...

And Sherlock-slobber, the times he's fallen asleep in my arms.

Sherlock said...

I don't slobber!

Joolz said...

Ok, much as he'd hate to hear it, that actually sounds really cute. I always loved having one of my two falling asleep on me.

It's great that Mycroft had a chance to get out on his own and it's brilliant that you both provide him such a strong, nurturing environment that he feels confident enough to do so.

Greg Lestrade said...

He is now spluttering at the indignity of being called cute.

I have found a 'woolly whale' bauble. What could be more Christmassy than a blue whale??

REReader said...

(Sherlock, lots of times people--especially, but not exclusively, women--use the word "cute" to mean something they really, really like, but not necessarily cutesy, if you see what I mean.)

Joolz said...

Sorry, Sherlock, I did think you'd hate it and I meant it in a very manly way of course and not in a cutesy way (as RR said) and I'm absolutely sure you certainly wouldn't slobber at all anyway. ;)

John H. D. Watson said...

(It is cute. Especially when they're both asleep.)

Greg Lestrade said...

Ha, not as cute as you ;)

Speaking of sleep, though...Sherlock, bed!

Joolz said...

Well now you're just doubling the image of cuteness, John, having them both being asleep. ;)

And now they'll both be spluttering and indignant :)

Greg Lestrade said...

You should see Danger asleep with a degu or two curled up on him. Adorbs, as my niece would say. In fact - OMG totally adorbs!

John H. D. Watson said...

I always worry I'll squish them somehow, but it hasn't happened yet.

Greg Lestrade said...

I'm always afraid they'll sneak off never to be seen again! I do try not to fall asleep with them...

However, I understand why you do.. small mammals with pack instincts, who enjoy piling together to share warmth and sleep ;)

(Even if you get dead stingy with your warmth when it comes to my feet...)

John H. D. Watson said...

You could curl up with a degu on each foot...

Greg Lestrade said...

...but curled up with both feet on a Dangergu is so much nicer... your whiskers don't tickle quite as much, or your tail...

John H. D. Watson said...

Ha. Should hope not. I don't mind your feet, really, I just mind them suddenly on my stomach.

Greg Lestrade said...

I know that I curl up in bed...but I'm never quite sure how you manage to slide down the bed so far my feet meet your bum/stomach.

Not that I'm discouraging you journeying south ;)

John H. D. Watson said...

Heh. The mystery to me is how I'm still surprised every time.

Greg Lestrade said...

I shall try to tempt a dog to come and sit on my feet before I head to bed tonight. Although the shock of me having warm feet could be enough to do you in ;) you'd think there was someone else in the bed!

John H. D. Watson said...

ha. A kind thought... The tree looks nice, doesn't it?

Greg Lestrade said...

Yeah, it does. Very festive, when it's sparkling away, the main lights down low. It's nice.

rsf said...

Are the main lights down low because Sherlock placed them, or was that the general plan?

And if you can't get a dog to cooperate, maybe you can find some good warm socks to keep John from flying out of the bed.

Anonymous said...

I interpreted L to mean that the room lights were low, which makes the tree seem more sparkly and glowy?

Ella

Small Hobbit said...

Did you get a dog to co-operate L or did it just fall asleep and drool on your feet?

Greg Lestrade said...

Ella - you interpreted correctly.

RSF - I hate wearing socks. Danger survives ;)


SH - I just had to warm them on Danger. To be honest, I don't try to warm them on him. I just try to get entwined in him, and feet touching him is a result.

Greg Lestrade said...

Hope you're doing okay today, Ella.

Danger, do you and the boys want to meet me after work? I'm out with the team for Christmas drinks tomorrow night, and I know Sherlock will explode if we wait much longer to get baubles.

Also, I hear a whisper of what Molly calls 'drinks for the undead' - meaning you FMEs, mortuary folk, maybe some of socco.... You going?

John H. D. Watson said...

Yeah, we can do that. Go and drown in the Christmas crowds...should be fun!

Shh, that's a secret. I'm expecting dark robes and chanting. (No, Sherlock, not really, and no, I'm afraid you can't come.)

Greg Lestrade said...

She referred to my team's do as 'drinks for the braindead'...

John H. D. Watson said...

Careful ours doesn't invade yours looking for experimental subjects then.

rsf said...

Someday Sherlock may want to visit Bronner's in Michigan, which is, as far as I know, the largest Christmas store in the world. I was there once, and it kind of redefines the idea of huge. But in the meantime they have a virtual tour of the store here:

http://www.bronners.com/category/virtual-tour.do#.UrBtd8RDuSo

rsf said...

Oh, gosh, they've got glitter bubble lights. I think I'm doomed.

Greg Lestrade said...

Maybe the pissing rain will keep people away. Or not, unless they cancel Christmas , given it doesn't seem to ever stop.

Someone just tried to punch me in the head.

REReader said...

How rude of them. (I hope that means they failed! You okay?)

John H. D. Watson said...

Are you all right?

Greg Lestrade said...

I'm fine, he got put in an arm lock and a festive pair of handcuffs to wear.

Anonymous said...

So nice of you to hand out free jewelry, lestrade. Tis the season and all. ;)

I'm not as sore today as I feared, but am not doing super fantastically, either. Mostly moody. Not being able to ride my bike doesn't help.

Onward and upward, though, and all that.

Ella

Sally said...

The Boss was too fast, John. Must be all that chasing after Sherlock he does!

Enjoy the crowds.

John H. D. Watson said...

Well, as long as they were festive...

REReader said...

They jingle, right? That's festive enough. ;)

Greg Lestrade said...

Sadly they don't jingle, no...

Danger, find somewhere warm, dry and full of decorations. Text me. I will find you. Just getting changed.

REReader said...

Shiny, then? (Although I'm not sure he deserves festive...)

John H. D. Watson said...

Will do, see you soon love :)

Greg Lestrade said...

Sherlock is taking the longest to choose an ornament, and is hungry, and wants us to go to Soho or Chinatown for dinner... Come on, kiddo!

REReader said...

On the one hand, it's an important decision...on the other, those desires are not compatible with taking a long time. A dilemma!

Sherlock said...

John is the best at ordering the nicest food and we're going home on the underground and I like it and I can hang off the handrail if Lestrade lifts me up.

REReader said...

That sounds like you've been having a wonderful time, Sherlock! What sort of bauble did you end up choosing?

Greg Lestrade said...

The british army clearly does excellent training on picking the best food from any available take-away options. He does indeed pick the best things - and in the right quantities!

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