Mrs Holmes told me a few days ago that, when L and I went to Bath, she'd take Sherlock to stay with her. It's a good thing all round, since Mrs Hudson finds him exhausting after more than a few hours, and with Anthea not here to help, it's really not fair to ask it of her - not that it was particularly fair before, since Anthea's security and it was never her job to make sure he brushed his teeth and went to bed on time.
Sherlock wants to bring his art things and his chemistry set and another peculiar fish to show her the skeleton and 'a real suitcase with wheels to take it all in' and his bike, and and and. The list grows ever longer.
I'm hoping I'll get to drop him off, as I've never seen her house before, not even from the street. I don't even know the address. That's strange, I suppose. Hadn't really thought about it until now.
Lestrade's doing much better. Still coughing a bit, but his breathing sounds a lot better. Sherlock looked quite disappointed when he listened with the stethoscope this morning and said they sounded almost normal. We did our best to convince him this was a good thing...
Sherlock wants to bring his art things and his chemistry set and another peculiar fish to show her the skeleton and 'a real suitcase with wheels to take it all in' and his bike, and and and. The list grows ever longer.
I'm hoping I'll get to drop him off, as I've never seen her house before, not even from the street. I don't even know the address. That's strange, I suppose. Hadn't really thought about it until now.
Lestrade's doing much better. Still coughing a bit, but his breathing sounds a lot better. Sherlock looked quite disappointed when he listened with the stethoscope this morning and said they sounded almost normal. We did our best to convince him this was a good thing...
190 comments:
I am glad Greg's feeling better! But you know between now and when you take your trip he's going to live at the station...
I'm also really glad that Sherlock and Mrs H get to spend time together. I think the cutest thing on that entire list is the 'real suitcase with wheels' honestly. Maybe he could put everything he needs to take and then wants to take in it, and when he can't pull it without it falling over on him a bunch he'll have to take stuff out from the 'want to take' pile? God knows I'm an adult and when I pack my suitcases too full I have difficulty lugging them around! My parents instilled on me from an early age that if I couldn't carry all my stuff by myself, I've packed too much.
Have you guys thought about possibly inviting a friend from school over at some point? I bet that would be fun too!
Anyway, I've realised that I am just as affectionate towards Sherlock as I am any of the kids at work. Minus the part where I get to hug them all the time of course. But I can send good thoughts his way! Six is such an exciting time in life.
(Not that 13 isn't, it's just exciting in all new and different sort of ways! :D)
Anyway, long winded post to finally wind up saying Happy Doctor Who Day! 9/10/11! I hope you and Greg have a great day and that Sherlock is somewhat able to come down from his cloud 9!
I am glad Greg's feeling better! But you know between now and when you take your trip he's going to live at the station...
I shall probably come home to feed them both, at the very least...
Ha! Yes, I suppose healthy lungs are not as interesting to listen to as infected lungs, but "interesting" is not the sole criteria for goodness! I'm very glad to hear you're is well on your way to "well", Lestrade! :)
I am very glad it isn't up to me to decide what Sherlock gets to take along to Mrs. Holmes' house! I suppose that you (John) and she will have to make that determination together. (BTW--typo on the first word of your post.)
Did you all get out and about today? It's a beautiful, warm sunny day here in NYC, and we have all the windows open. Unfortunately, it's supposed to start raining Wednesday night and continue nasty for several days. I say "unfortunately" because Wednesday night is the start of Sukkot (more info under the link), during which we are supposed to eat outdoors in little open-roofed huts. Which ranges from nasty to impossible in the rain. Ah, well!
Hey, it worked! (I nearly asked if you had links, but usually that puts it in spam, not refuses it entirely.)
Yeah, I'd prefer healthy to 'interesting'.
I think Tink's idea is good. We could get him a case, and he can only take what fits in AFTER all his clothes.
We got out to the park. Sherlock wanted to go to the demonstration - because he assumes they're all like Pride - but we persuaded him it wouldn't be that much fun. Am now going to read your link.
Yes, I think that suitcase idea is a very good one, too! I imagine he'll be happier with what he brings if it's his choice, and it makes for very clear limits.
(I think the problem was an extra bit of HTML code. At least, the post went through when I thought to take it out. That'll teach me to show off!)
I'm glad L is better and S is excited - I hope you have a wonderful time with that ridiculous man you love.
p.s. - I should have mentioned this earlier, but I was only reminded of it yesterday, when I saw my mom briefly. Next time anyone is sick, go to the nearest Indian restaurant and ask for jeera rasam, which you can drink like tea or poured over rice like a very thin soup. It's basically the ancient Indian equivalent of Harry Potter's PepperUp Potion.
Hmm. What demonstration was it that Sherlock wanted to go to? (Yes, delayed reaction.)
I'm not ridiculous!
RR - This one: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15234363
It's not that I don't support the cause, but it's not the same as Pride, however much Sherlock wants it to be.
Whoa. The very LAST thing you want is any movement toward a US-style sickness-care non-system. But no, quite right, not the same as Pride at all.
Yeah, the NHS is far from perfect, but I wouldn't want to lose it! It seems like it's the same as most things - too many people behind desks earning huge salaries and not enough money to pay the people doing the hard work on the ground.
Truth.
I'm mainly worried about the chemistry set - it's made of mostly glass and things that will blow up if combined the wrong (or as Sherlock insists right) way.
(Thanks for the typo catch. I don't think she would've liked that one.)
I'm not ridiculous! We have it on good authority that you are, Sweet Pea. John and Sherlock and Mycroft and Sally all make compelling cases.
I'm sure he'll be busy enough to get by without his chemistry set.
As for...Ridiculous - adjective - deserving or inviting derision or mockery.
I want a new adjective.
I think the chemistry set is a command decision to be made by Mrs. H.
(And no problem!)
New adjective...hmmmm. Adorable? Lovable?
maybe I don't want an adjective at all.
I hope the weather holds for you for Sukkot. It sounds like a far more fun time than the fasting!
During fasting, is it really annoying if people don't realise and offer you things? I mean, in this flat, John offers to make tea on average once every 5 minutes. Would you have to gag him with a tea-towel?
Once an hour at most...
the other day I got in from work, you offered me tea, I got changed, got back in the sitting room and you offered me tea, and then you went in the kitchen to make tea and stuck your head back out and said "Did I ask if you wanted tea?". Within 5 mins, three asks. Fact.
The last time I wasn't offering to make it, I was asking if I had.
you asked in an offering sounding way.
Ha! That's a lot of tea.
I don't know if it would be annoying because it's never happen. On Yom Kippur, I'm in synagogue (or at home alone, if I need a break) and everyone else is also fasting. It can be pretty annoying if someone brings their small child into the synagogue and FEEDS them there. (It's not annoying that they feed the kids, because they should, but not in front of everyone who's fasting! And yes, it has happened.)
The other fast days--well, I've never shared an apartment with someone who wouldn't also be fasting, because it would be really hard to keep a kosher kitchen that way. So it's never been an issue. But, theoretically, I don't think it would really be a problem. (Or at least not after I got annoyed and yelled a bit. :D)
And yes, Sukkot is a very nice holiday! It's happy, and it ends with the happiest holiday in the Jewish calendar, Simchat Torah. It's nicest in Israel, where the weather this time of year is perfect for sitting outside--not so hot as in the summer, but not cold yet, either. Here in North America it's nicest when the holidays fall early, rather than as late as they do this year. See, Jewish holidays follow the lunar, not the solar calendar, with leap months every few years to keep the holidays in the proper seasons, roughly. (Details here if you are curious.) We just had a leap year, so this is pretty much as late as Sukkot can fall.
It would really be nice if the rain waited a few more days to show up--or blew through a few days early. It could happen!
RR - right, I did wonder if you'd spend the day at a synagogue or something.
We'll all hope that the weather co-operates with you.
(Danger is giving me a glare. I may never be offered another cup of tea again.)
Heh heh. I would be happy to have someone making me tea--I generally make my own, and for my mom. (My father is not a tea drinker.) So if you'd like to come visit New York, John...
New York's clearly the place to go, what with the high concentration of cupcakes and blog readers.
Yeah! You'd have all of us battling to show you our favorite places. There's a lot to love here.
(The glare has perked up into an expectant look, since the mention of homemade custard creams on my blog...)
RR - He's got a lot to love here, too ;)
Oh! You should come to New York for Deepavali! It will be gorgeous!
(By "you" I mean you, John, those two kids you love so much, and your utterly non-ridiculous boyfriend who likes to write fanfiction of himself laden with innuendo.)
I didn't know you could make those at home...
RR - sounds lovely. I don't think I've ever been anywhere (outside of the UK) where I knew people to show me around.
Innie - when is it? Soon?
John, those two kids you love so much, and your utterly non-ridiculous boyfriend who likes to write fanfiction of himself laden with innuendo.
Ha! Yes, of course. Couldn't go without them.
It's a multi-day festival, and it looks like it's about a week after my birthday this year (sometimes they overlap, since the Hindu calendar is a lunar one) - the main festival date is October 26.
The utterly non-ridiculous part was to appease L, who won't let me say that the adjective I think best describes him is "good."
Glad to hear Lestrade's feeling better :-)
Like everyone else, I find Sherlock's determination to have his own "proper" suitacse utterly endearing.
Is this the first time that Mrs H will have had sole care of Sherlock overnight since you've been on the scene, John?
Custard creams would take about 15 mins. I'll do them whilst supervising Sherlock's baking. You can pick the shapes of the cutters...
Innie - we'll never make it so soon this year, but maybe next year. (I still feel sort of...conflicted...about taking Sherlock on that long a plane flight too, though I'm sure it'd be good for him to see other countries.)
Good is certainly the right adjective for him, though I can think of many more that would fit too.
Nameless - I think it is. Seems like that can't be right, but I can't remember another time.
He's got a lot to love here, too ;)
And he should bring you all along, obviously!
My favorite museum in the world is the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and it is INSIDE Central Park. One of the reasons I love it so much is that my mother used to bring me and my sisters there, and as soon as we got bored--out to the park! And then if we felt like it, back in. Museums are only fun until your feet/back start to hurt.
Custard creams would take about 15 mins
That's all? Really?
with regard to 'yiffing' (in the interests of my sanity, trying to only answer comments on one blog at a time) - RR, you try running a murder investigation when a border collie has been killed, and you suspect a goat had a hand...foot? in it. Descriptions of suspects were a nightmare.
And yes - about 15 mins prep, ten in the oven, five to cool before putting the custard mix for the middle, or it all melts. Done.
I'm sure it's not appropriate for me to be laughing quite this hard.
What are custard creams?
Custard Creams are a biscuit with two layers, stuck together with a custardy cream in the middle...google will undoubtedly give you a lot of pictures. they're squarish, and ornately embossed.
Looks sort of like a rectangle Oreo, yeah?
Um...well, paler, but I suppose, sort of. (Got very confused for a moment then. Oreo vs. Orio.)
Custard creams are delicious, that's what they are.
Everything you say about yiffing makes me that much more convinced that I do not want to know.
Don't pretend you haven't Googled it, Danger.
I don't see anything wrong with it. I've seen/know people do far more...well, worrying things.
RR, like those Girl Scout lemon cookies. But not lemony. You can get them in the States, but they're round. I can't remember who makes them.
ornately embossed
Seriously?! Too late at night for such big words. Have you been working on reports?
(Got very confused for a moment then. Oreo vs. Orio.)
We aim to confuse. :D
You do not want to know. Although as Lestrade says, it's more eyebrow raising than horrifying.
DW - I couldn't think of how else to describe them! (The ones I make will be plain. Danger needs to choose the shapes he wants, though. Out of my 'hundreds' of pastry cutters.)
That scallopy diamond one? That or the fish.
I don't think I've ever had Girl Scout cookies, DW. There aren't a whole lot of Girl Scouts in Manhattan, I don't think. (Are they even kosher?) But there are certainly all sorts of sandwich cookies around. How good they are mostly depends on how good the filling is. I have to imagine any homemade ones are about 50 times as good as store-bought.
Danger - you can pick whichever ones tomorrow. As long as we end up with even numbers of each shape!
RR - they are definitely biscuits, not 'cookies' ;)
Right, biscuits. What is a cookie, then, by your definition?
(I have to tell you, to me a biscuit is a flaky bready thing that they eat down South. Something like this.)
Tomorrow? I meant Tuesday. Wishing the time away.
A cookie is a soft-ish, slightly chewy, generally bigger, biscuity thing. Most often with chocolate chips or raisins or something in it. Usually about 3-4inches across.
Biscuits are dry and crunchy, can be covered in chocolate, sandwiched, etc. When they go stale, they go soft.
The things in that recipe you linked to look a bit like scones.
RR, they are kosher, but I don't think they're fit for Pesach.
I picked "other" on your poll, Lestrade. Jammy Dodgers are the way to go!
John, obviously "bacon" is always a correct answer. :D But good, streaky bacon, not ham-passed-off-as-bacon
Ah! Thank you for explaining the difference. We just call them all cookies. I like the softer, chewier kind best. And yes, I believe American "biscuits" are kind of like scones. I've never had scones, though, so that is just going by what I've been told.
I'm dead certain Girl Scout cookies are not kosher for Passover, DW!
Isn't it hard to read on bacon? (I've never eaten bacon either. Obviously.) I decided to let my personal biases dictate my vote, rather than hard facts, and voted no. But if someone gave me an iPad for my birthday, I would not throw it away in disgust.
I should go to bed. The hour and the enthusiasm with which Sherlock woke us this morning isn't going to do me any favours when I have to get up early tomorrow morning, when the entire universe would really rather I stayed in bed and had a lie in...instead of finding what chaos has occurred in my absence. (well, my small corner of the universe, anyway.)
It really was early, wasn't it? Felt like the middle of the night. Bed would be good.
Too true, especially as you most particularly want to avoid a relapse. Sweet dreams!
It was.
At least you persuaded him that Mrs Turner and Snoopy didn't need to be woken for a walk right then... I think we'd all have been in trouble.
Cheers RR
I suppose that is a valid reason to know what yiffing is, and a more... er... reliable account that what one gleans from CSI. Pretty sure that's not a good thing in this case, though. I probably shouldn't laugh, but I am. ;)
John, I voted bacon on your poll, because as I said in my lengthy comments on earlier posts, in some respects ereaders have the advantage, in some ways hardbound books do. But bacon is always appropriate. Always. :) (a new bakery just opened across from my office -- I'm looking forward to being done my travel season so I can try one of their already famous maple bacon cupcakes. Mmmmmm.
RR: of course you shouldn't throw away an iPad if given one. You can use it to read this blog while on the go, after all! Much more versatile than a straight up kindle or Sony. ;)
No, if I were given an iPad I would hug it and love it and probably end up with it perpetually attached to me--at least at home, since it is a little large for lugging around. It's what I do with my iPod Touch, after all. (Well, sans the hugging and loving bit.)
I always thought an iPad would be rather impractical as anything more than an oversized iPod touch, haha, but after getting one for work, I have become rather inordinately attached to it. I'm worse with my iPhone for sheer portability since the iPad of course is not pocket sized, but it is surprisingly purse-friendly.
Belatedly, I hope you have a lovely Sukkot, And that the weather remains gorgeous for you.
Any fellow Canadian readers, hope you're having a lovely Thanksgiving! And, er, happy Columbus Day tomorrow to the Americans. October is a surprisingly holiday-filled month...
(happy Sunday to you, John and Greg. ;) Hope you have a few minutes worth of a lie in tomorrow before you're pounced on by Sherlock)
X - I am indeed having a last few minutes of lie-in. Once I'm up and about Sherlock usually shows up expecting answers to those urgent questions he's thought up since yesterday, and breakfast...
And a good morning to you! I'm just heading to bed, myself, having spent an inordinate amount of my evening on the phone with tech support for a credit card payment site. Result: They know nothing. (No, that's not hyperbole, that's what they said.)
Have a nice day! (They said that, too. One must laugh.)
RR: May you have a blessed Sukkot! And hopefully not a rainy one!
Greg: You're up and I'm about to head to bed again. Ships passing in the time zones XD Anyway, I am refusing to google anything that may involve a dog and a goat and suspected anything. Just FYI. Probably good for my sanity right? :D Also, you better come home for more than just feeding your small omnivorous vacuum and your lovely boyfriend. There's planning to do! And packing! And paying proper attention to people (aka us of course ;D)! Also snagged an adjective for you: dishy!
John: You sir are made of win. Also FYI. And I would never reject a cuppa. I bet if Greg said yes to the first ask, the other two wouldn't have happened in the first place! You're just determined is all.
Night to both of you.
Tink - It's really nothing to be alarmed by. Anything between consenting adults is fine by me. Although I can't pretend to understand it all. (although yiffing I can actually see some attraction to, unlike heavy s&m, which just makes me wince) but wouldn't it be boring if we were all the same.
Greg: Oh, then it might not be so bad? I'm, uh, okay, so I'm pretty kink positive. Not into S&M though either personally, though I'm cool with people who are. Heavy or not. I just don't want to get trapped into googling something that is going to make me want to tear my eyeballs out :P Oh well. Here goes! (Bed? What is this bed you speak of?)
Oooooh! I didn't know that had an actual name! Okay! Yeah, that's totally cool. Not my thing again, but totally cool between consenting adults. But I have to admit, people in that lifestyle give some of the warmest fuzziest wonderful hugs! :D
(I forgot to edit to add that my captcha was 'Milne' which I snorted possibly in an altogether unladylike way due to appropriateness to the conversation.)
I definitely don't think it's 'tear your eyeballs out' material, no.
And yes, the reason I can see the attraction to it is the hugging side of things. Although some of the people I met, their costumes were so good it was sort of hard to remember there was a person inside. Your brain really believed you were talking to a big cartoony creature.
And I should point out that the majority of them weren't interested in a sexual side to it anyway. And were lovely. Apart from the murderer, obviously. (I can't help but think you'd get really hot in some of the outfits, during any sort of...vigourous activity.)
It really is sometimes so easy to forget. Especially during hugs. It's just bigger and warmer and stuff. I know two guys, who while hugging them normally is okay, gets exponentially more snuggly when they're all fuzzy. Most of the guys (and girls) I know who are interested in the scene are just in it for the fun of it, and you're right, they are really lovely for the most part (obviously excluding your murderer on that one...). I think it's because they get picked on by so much of the rest of the community/world.
...While this is in no way the oddest conversation I've had at this hour, it probably doesn't help search results picking up John's blog when people are looking for porn. :D
Hey, they were finding it anyway, before this conversation!
Danger - I'm confused. Is Sherlock going to his Mum's tomorrow night, so we can leave Weds morning? In which case, we should bake tonight. And get him packed. Otherwise he has to go to her after school weds or something, and you won't be able to see her house...
Tomorrow night, yeah. We're going to get him a little suitcase after school and will hopefully be semi-packed by the time you get home.
Right, I'll prepare for baking tonight, and tomorrow I'm showing that lad around my flat after work. If he likes it he can start moving in while we're away.
Oh, exciting you might have a renter already. That's good news. Fingers crossed.
A little suitcase
With wheels, don't forget the wheels!
Also don't forget the custard creams recipe, please. :)
Kholly - yeah, another rozzers. He wants to get a place with his girlfriend. I hope he likes it!
RR - I won't, I promise! (reckon S will try to get a big suitcase though. A trunk, probably.)
L - can you do dinner as well as the baking? Or I can get takeaway. I can't shake this headache and anything I tried to cook would be a disaster.
I can bake and do dinner, of course. You okay? Anything I can bring you/help with? Any idea where the headache's come from? If you need a break Mrs H might look after shortstuff. She said she was going to miss us all...
Thanks. Just one of those things. Mrs Hudson's going to help with the packing - we're almost home, and the suitcase does indeed have wheels - and I'll sit and supervise. And make sure he doesn't pack anything explosive.
I'm only doing paperwork. I can bring it home. I'll leave asap, so don't do anything you don't feel like, okay?
Thanks, love. I appreciate it.
I should get out in 20 mins or so.
Sherlock, can you do me a big favour and be really good for John? And very quiet and calm.
John--Oh, noes, that's not good! I'm not going to attempt to diagnose a doctor from three and a half thousand miles away, but...maybe a short nap? Hope it goes away quickly.
Sherlock, are you taking care of John until Lestrade comes home? And tell us about your suitcase! What color is it? I bet packing is fun--planning out what you'll need while you're at your Mum's means you get to think out what you'll be doing.
I'll go and lie down for a bit when L gets home. It's not so bad really.
I rather got the impression you'd call anything that doesn't require immediate hospitalization "not so bad really" (so long as it's you, that is).
Just locking the bike, I'll be there in a second. And RR, you are correct.
Ah, yes, you'd recognize that, wouldn't you? :)
No idea what you mean, RR.
John is now tucked up in bed.
Sherlock and I are locked in a battle of wills, which he will lose.
Uh huh, good, and yes he will if he wants to help you bake! (I'm guessing clothes are not his packing priority?)
Just found a bundle of school uniform which he'd unpacked and stuffed under his fnug...
And yes, he needs to be very good so we finish this and bake for John and his mum.
REReader why did you have to not eat for a day? That sounds horrible. I like eating.
... Wow, I didn't expect to sleep until 1:30 in the afternoon. I also woke up with a headache, go figure. They're everywhere!
Sherlock: Sorry kiddo. But you're going to have a great time at your mums! (And you have yet to tell us about your suitcase and the shopping trip involved!)
Greg: Good luck with him. Hopefully he doesn't get loud enough to wake John. How are you feeling this evening by the way?
RR: Has your post fast headache and general ughiness gone away? I've never paid so much attention to the Jewish calendar as I am now! :D
John Feel better soon!
Sherlock, I like eating too, and you're right, it's not fun to not eat or drink, and it can be pretty horrible. But in a way that's the idea.
Yom Kippur means "Day of Atonement". It's the last day of ten days during which Jewish people are supposed to think about everything they did in the past year, to really notice what they did that wasn't good, and to try to make up for that. If they did wrong things that hurt other people, they are supposed to go to those people and make it right, even if all they can do is sincerely apologize and promise--and mean it!--that they won't do it again. And if there are wrong things they did that only hurt themselves, or was something that was against Jewish religious law, they have to apologize to to God, and to promise--and mean it!--that they won't do it again. And not eating and drinking serves two main purposes. It is partly a way to put some muscle behind the apology to God--a kind of way to physically feel bad the way you are supposed to feel bad about wrong thing you've done. And it is partly a way to keep your mind focused on the things you are supposed to be thinking about. Because when you know you can eat, after a while of sitting in a synagogue and praying--say, around lunchtime--you start thinking about going home and eating, and then you are not thinking about the important things at all.
Does that make sense?
Tink, my post-fast headache went later Saturday night and all is well. However, I seem to have picked up some bug. It's very annoying. I don't really feel ill at all, just a teeny bit dizzy and "off", and I have a tai chi class tonight and I really want to go. But I'm running a low-grade fever and really shouldn't. *sigh*
John says I have to apologise straight away when I do something bad. But if I had to wait a whole year I don't think I could remember it all. You said some people feed their children when you're not eating, so how old do you have to be before you stop eating too? I think some of the people Lestrade arrests shouldn't be allowed to eat ever to think about what they did because it was so bad.
I like the sound of the other thing you said more, when you eat outdoors in special huts because that sounds more fun.
Lestrade won't let me eat biscuits now. I think he should not eat biscuits and think about why he's bad because I want to try them.
Thanks for a very good explanation, RR. Sorry, I'm madly busy so you might cop a few more Sherlock special questions before the night is out. If he's out of order just tell him. We've already had a conversation about him saying 'I don't like that religion' vs. 'I don't think I'd want to observe that religion's customs'.
I'm feeling okay, thanks, Tink - busy!
John is quite right--it's much, much better to apologize right away. It's best to be able to stop and think before doing things so that you don't do things that you need to apologize for. Everyone is supposed to do that, absolutely. And when people act that way, those are not things they need to worry about during the "Days of Awe", which is what we call the ten days leading up to Yom Kippur.
But the reality is that normal, good people get do careless and don't think, or get angry and hurt people and don't apologize, and that is what this time of year is for. And also to remember that there were times in the past year that they had to apologize and to remind themselves to try harder to not be let being careless or angry lead to hurting people in the future.
People are supposed to start fasting when they are old enough to be responsible for their own mistakes, and also when they are old enough that it won't be harmful to them physically. Under Jewish law, that is 12 years old for a girl, and 13 years old for a boy. (And if you've ever heard the terms "bat mitzvah" or "bar mitzvah", that is what it really means--that they are old enough to get credit for their own "mitzvot"--good things--and be responsible for their own mistakes.)
I'm quite agree that it would do criminals a great deal of good to have to think about their crimes in a serious way forever (or at least a good long time, until they really figure out how bad what they did was), but unfortunately, just taking away food doesn't make people think the right way. It's a way to help focus attention, but it only works if the person wants to do that.
Sukkot is a MUCH more fun holiday. Eating in a sukkah (the Hebrew word for the hut) is fun because it's like eating outside and inside at the same time (at least it's fun when it's not raining!). Also they are usually decorated by the children in a family, and that is fun too, and pretty to look at. We do it to remember that the Jews had to live in temporary homes in the 40 years that they wandered in the desert, and were protected by and fed by God. Which, to be honest, is a lot more fun than thinking about yourself and how to be a better person.
And Sukkot, which lasts 8 days, is immediately followed by two one-day holidays, the second of which is Simchat Torah, when we celebrate having been given the Torah--what you would call the Old Testament. For that we go to the synagogue, and sing and dance and give candy to the children who are too young to understand why we are celebrating so they will be happy too. (And really, children who are old enough to understand get candy too, because why not? Everyone should be happy on that kind of holiday :) )
Lestrade is, in fact, being good and taking care of you, because if you eat biscuits now you will end up with a stomach ache. If you don't complain now, maybe you can taste-test a few after dinner.
Lestrade, if there is a question I don't want to answer, I will just say so, and say why. (It's pretty unlikely, though.) Please make sure that if he doesn't really understand what I'm saying that he asks you or John or me or his Mum, because he's asking about some pretty advanced concepts, and I might not answer clearly enough.
About not wanting to follow a religions customs...well. Jews are forbidden to convert non-Jews, and in fact are required to actively discourage conversion. And I've heard a number of reasons for this prohibition, only one of which makes any sense to me (and this is not a mainstream Jewish belief, it is my personal belief, so take it for what it is worth)--that there are many, many good or correct paths through life, and each person has to follow the one path that is correct for them, whether it is a well-beaten path of an organized religion or the unmarked trail that only one person follows. And only each individual can identify the correct path for themselves.
...And I didn't finish that.
So...if you try to convert someone, you might be taking them off their right path to follow a path that would not work for them.
And did that make any sense?
You're doing a fantastic job. Think I'm learning as much as he is.
I'm afraid religion and I parted company very early in life (to the horror of my Nonno and Nonna), and I really don't know much about any of them.
Your belief on everyone having their own path sounds pretty spot on to me. Makes perfect sense. (Wish I could go back and find the Italian Priest my Zia took me to to 'cure' me and tell him that idea.)
Sorry, bit slow replying tonight!
You've got plenty on your plate tonight, including a young biscuit moralist.
I'm afraid most religious people are convinced that they have the only right path, so their attitudes, logically, solidify. But how can there be only one? Every person is different, so every person starts in a different "place', so they MUST be different paths.
(Are you sure your captcha is not alive? My word was "sinject". :D)
(And so far as I can tell, you are doing just fine. "Cure," indeed. Hmph.)
Hah, thanks. Not sure you'd think I was doing fine right now if you could see the state of Sherlock and the kitchen... ;)
They er...had some wild theories about whose 'fault' it was that I turned out gay. And a lot of guilt, because they mainly thought it was down to my Dad leaving us and not being a proper father figure. But they gave up fairly fast. And they always told me they'd love me no matter what, because whoever's fault it was, it wasn't mine!
Eh, kitchens and boys clean up. *flaps a dismissive hand* Hope you at least had fun making a mess! (Of course, if I were the one that had to clean it up, I might feel differently. :D)
"Fault." *shakes head* Oh, well, at least their hearts are in the right place.
He had fun, at least... No, it is nice to see him enjoying himself. It's just a bit difficult because all I want to do is go and give John a hug, but there's no way I really can until Sherlock's in bed.
Which is going to be any minute now.
Sherlock: I know it's hard to tell the difference between 'need' and 'want' right now, but I think maybe you could try to start thinking about it? I know it seems like you need everything you want, but you don't, and it's important to start learning that. It's part of growing up. Maybe you'll get a hold on it by the time you're 18 or so, but you can get a start on it!
RR: My sister by internet, you have explained what I try to explain to people ALL THE TIME. Thank you for giving me words I can use. Thank you.
Greg: Did the suitcase get packed okay? What are you baking right now? I've forgotten. Anyway, I'm glad you're feeling good! It's a good feeling to be well after being so miserable. Checked in on John lately?
Grargh, "curing". Talking to people who believe in that dreck is one of the very few things that makes me really, genuinely angry. I'm glad your family got over that idea, L.
You're an ambitious man to attempt biscuits and packing on the same evening! I admire your fortitude, and hope you have time to go and act as a warm compress/masseur to your lovely boyfriend.
And slightly off-topic: RR, do you have any recommendations for a good English translation of the Tanakh? My goal for this academic year is to read the holy books of the major world religions, and I'm having trouble finding a good translation that's from a Jewish perspective, probably because most prefer to read it in Hebrew (and as much as I'd love to learn Hebrew, I've got my hands full with Qur'anic Arabic).
Ria, Art Scroll has good translations of most Jewish religious books, including the Tanakh. (I use their Hebrew/English prayer books for major holidays--machzorim--because the poetic Hebrew used for many of the prayers is above my head, and the Aramaic is DEFINITELY above my head.)
Tink, you're welcome.
Lestrade...Good luck with that! :)
Tink - suitcase is packed and out of Sherlock's reach. He has some paper to write anything else he thinks of down on, so it isn't forgotten.
We baked custard creams, some chocolate filled biscuits for Sherlock's mum and some dinner. Although John's is still in the fridge. He's still asleep. So I daresay he'll be up in the early hours. But it doesn't matter much - we can both have a lie in on Wednesday and then it's holiday time.
Ria - most of them have given up, which is enough. And I thought Danger would be doing packing and I'd be doing baking - which he did, really, before he headed off to lie down. So it's not too ambitious.
Sherlock is in his room, at least. John's asleep with spider. I'm trying to clean up and then do some paperwork in our room, probably, to keep an eye on John.
Is Sherlock in his room... with his suitcase? I'm just imagining all of the imaginative repacking that could be going on even as we type.
Whoops, nevermind, didn't see your first comment. I should have know that you're smarter than that.
Ria - he would have arrived at his Mum's with...well, God knows what. She'd have seriously questioned our ability to look after him.
It would actually be a fascinating insight into his mind to see what he deemed "essential" for a brief stay with Mrs. H. Probably terrifying for everyone involved, but fascinating nonetheless.
RR: Those editions look like they're a bit out of my price range, but I'll see if I can find them locally and borrow from a friend or library. Thanks for the recommendation.
Ria - problem is, whenever I removed something non-essential and said something like "You need t-shirts, Sherlock." He'd just counter with "mummy will buy me new ones."
Which very much wasn't my point. But I think it might well have been what he's used to...so I don't know. Anyway, he has what I deem to be essential. John will doubtless check tomorrow whilst he's at school.
I hope that suitcase is not only up high, but somewhere he can't imagine he can climb up to. (I say this because when my brother was roughly that age, he did some frankly hair-raising climbing after things, not all of which ended well.)
Have a nice, quiet evening--and I hope John feels better when he wakes up!
High up, on top of our wardrobe. Sherlock is a very good climber - as discovered when he cause chaos in the kitchen by clambering around the worktops.
And he knows he can ask for other stuff to be included. He just can't remove anything in there.
And I hope so too. He looks very peaceful, all snuggled up.
Lestrade - baking two types of biscuit as well as dinner and packing? I'm definitely impressed.
I'm even more impressed that you managed to remain on good terms with your family if some of them took the attitude that you needed to be "cured". (I did wonder, when you were discussing attitudes towards homosexuality in Italy, whether you were out to your family there).
How's John doing?
RR - You have been informative and fascinating, thank you :-)
Nameless - the two types weren't wildly different. Sherlock's just had cocoa instead of custard.
I think I was too young and scared to do much at first. And I think they always thought I might change my mind... but their prejudice was based on ignorance more than anything, so I suppose when they saw I was 'normal', really, they sort of stopped worrying. (but did ask me never to let the neighbours know!)
John's still sleeping. Hope he'll be okay by tomorrow.
High up, on top of our wardrobe.
I should never have doubted you. :)
You're welcome, Nameless. I'm glad people were interested, I sort of felt like I was hijacking the comments, but they were important questions to answer fully.
Oh ye gods and little fishes, climbing children. They're one of the reasons that I think parenting probably isn't for me. My brother was a climber, and he spent about a year scaring the wits out of my parents on a regular bases when he was 3 or 4 years old. He managed to get stuck on top of the refrigerator more than once.
"...but their prejudice was based on ignorance more than anything, so I suppose when they saw I was 'normal', really, they sort of stopped worrying."
I find that that's usually the case. I come from a pretty small town, and people just didn't know how to react to the fact that someone they knew was gay. But then most of them realize that you're the same person you've always been, and that you go on walks and watch movies and eat pasta and have horrible, awkward dates just like everyone else. You just happen to love people of your own gender.
Of course, there's still that relatively small percentage of hidebound cretins who are too stubborn or scared to actually put some thought into it, but I generally just avoid those people whenever possible, and don't tell them when it's not.
My verification word was "scones", and I see no reason to disobey it. The only question that remains is that of flavor-- maybe chocolate-raspberry? Or pumpkin.
A regular basis, rather. Something about this blog just seems to encourage typos.
John's still sleeping. Hope he'll be okay by tomorrow.
And now something to worry about all evening. Maybe he's just really overtired?
We did have quite a busy weekend, and he has been looking after me and not sleeping too well, so maybe.
Danger, dinner's in the fridge if you wake up hungry. Custard creams are in the tin. Eat dinner for lunch tomorrow if you don't have it tonight. (this is a modern equivalent to a note...)
Sleep well Greg! Don't feel like you need to blog your entire adventure live either! Just enjoy yourselves and we'll be cheering you on ;D
Sherlock & Mycroft: That means it's guest post time! :D
John - hope you're feeling better this morning :-)
Seconding Nameless. Sounds like a day for the Endless Mug of Tea to me.
Try to keep sane today. I can only imagine the kind of energy Sherlock will have from excitement (and Lestrade as well...)
DW - by the time I see him again I doubt I'll have any energy left!
He did seem a bit better this morning. But Danger will be the first to admit he's not exactly a morning person...and he would have lied to me anyway, to stop me worrying all day.
I'm sure if he gets a minute between packing and sorting and checking Sherlock's case for sentient beings he'll be on here and then we'll get the truth.
Right. Okay. Are you saying that "seriously worried" is an overreaction? Because I am.
I'm confused - do you mean do I think anyone should be seriously worried?
Sorry, that was pretty incoherent, now that I read it over! I'm saying I'm seriously worried. (I'm not a morning person either.)
Right. Well...either I'm a pretty heartless boyfriend or you shouldn't be seriously worried. Because I'm not.
I mean, I hate seeing him hurting, but millions of people have headaches every day. I hope he'd admit it if he actually thought it was serious.
Well, as "heartless" is about the least appropriate adjective for you, I'll stop worrying. :). (It wsn't the headache that started me off so much as the crash.)
I think what I was trying to say was that I'm worried, but not seriously worried...if that makes sense?
Well, as the resident Danger-expert, you would know. :) How is the pre-trip prep going? Is Sally ready to fill in your boots?
I wouldn't say I'm an expert. Sometimes, because I hate fussing so much over me, I probably don't do it enough over others.
Pre trip prep is...ongoing. Sal and another DI are both going to be in a boot each. Although depending how John's feeling I've no idea when I'll escape.
Yep! You mean you're a sensible adult-type person who can assign appropriate levels of concern. (And then maybe add a bit for the people you love.)
Me, I'm a super-worrier. When I say I'll "stop worrying" about something, it means I'm downgrading from near-panic mode, not that I'll actually, you know, stop worrying. (Okay, that's an exaggeration, but only a bit of one! And yeah, I know it can be annoying. I'm workin on it.)
If he's still feeling bad tonight i'll officially be...pretty worried.
I think I'm probably glad (for your sake) you weren't around when I was getting flattened by cars...
Oh, God..Please do not get flattened by any more cars. It's not good for you.
I'm perfectly fine! Just a headache, honestly, which is gone today.
Good. Was it you who scoffed two biscuits in the night? Because if it was Sherlock he's in dead trouble.
Ha. It was me, yes, and dinner. Thank you, it was very good. And so were the biscuits.
Good :)
Hey, what time are you dropping Sherlock off? I've got to go to the flat, but could pick you up before/after? And I couldn't find his periodic table pyjamas, which nearly caused a 6yr old meltdown last night. If he hasn't already hassled you, could you see if Mrs Hudson noes where they are?
John! Oh, good. Now I really will stop worrying. (As I said before, it wasn't so much the headache but the crash. Glad you were able to sleep it off.)
Fussing discontinued. (Or, more accurately, suspended.)
We're coming back here after school, snack and final arguments over packing (pyjamas found, no worries), and then to his mum's. Can you meet us there? He wants to say goodbye, and then I could ride back with you.
RR - it wasn't that bad, honestly. I've worked 12 hours shifts feeling like that, but since I didn't have to, I decided lying down was more sensible.
Lying down was more sensible.
Indubitably!
Oh, I meant to say, if Sherlock has more questions for me, he's welcome to ask any time. Just..I'd imagine he'll be very much otherwise occupied for the next several days, so it shouldon't be a problem, but I'll be offline from Wednesday afternoon here (Wed. Night, your time) through to Saturday night, or Sunday morning for you. I wouldn't be ignoring him, I just can't use anything electronic on the holiday or Shabbat.
What sort of time will you get to his mum's? Text me the address or something so I can see how long it'll take me. You okay coming to mine for the guided tour then?
I've sent the address. What time were you going to give him the tour? I can get Sherlock to his mum's just a bit before that. She just said she wanted him there before dinner.
6.
I'm afraid I'll be bringing some work home. Which isn't how I'd planned to spend this evening at all.
And has Sherlock forgiven me for this morning, given he now wants to say goodbye?
He's forgiven everyone everything, I think. There's no room in his head for anything except wild excitement and determination to eat as many biscuits as possible before it's time to leave.
Biscuit eating was part of the disagreement - as in, they do not form part of breakfast.
So shall I get to Mrs H's for half five ish?
No they do not, quite right. Not for six year olds anyway...
Yeah, sounds good. I'll let her know.
Ha, you're old enough to know better and do it anyway.
Good. Could you drop my lightest suit off at the cleaners on your way, if it's not too much trouble?
Exactly. They're very good, especially with tea.
Sure, no problem.
How many are left?
...Some. You didn't make that many!
I made 22! And 22 for Sherlock to take to his mum. That's enough, isn't it? We were only going to be in the flat for a day!
Next time make some for the team too.
You could make them in the shape of policemen's helmets. I know you must a helmet shaped cutter somewhere.
It was a perfect amount! Probably.
...Depending on how many you wanted to eat yourself. There are definitely some left.
At least one. And I do not have a helmet shaped cutter.
And I was under the impression I was a DI for the MIT, not a pastry chef, Sergeant.
Sounds like you could do both, Boss.
Whichever one of you has time to read this blog better get in here and collect these files to go back downstairs. And don't think I can't find out. (i know a 13 year old who can).
Danger, I'm here. Or think I am. How do I get in? Is there a secret password?
I'll come and let you in, one second.
It'll be odd, letting this place go. Sort of go. Got a lot of memories in the few years I've been here.
It'll be a good place for him and his girlfriend though. He seemed to really like it.
Lestrade--I think you're trading up, though...
Yeah, definitely. I'm happy for them, too. I'm sure they'll be very glad to move in together at last.
Now...how do you feel about beef wellington? I feel like we're kids whose parents have gone out for the night. not virtually the other way around.
...I wonder what would happen if the MIT started getting shipments of biscuits and pastries from around the world?
RR: Happy Upcoming Holy Days! :D Make sure to take lots of notes, because Sherlock is undoubtedly going to ask how it went (and also I'm terribly curious!) :D
John: Glad you're feeling better :D Did the drop off go well?
Greg: *HUGS*
Tink - sadly it would never get past security.
RR - definitely! I'm very very happy be living with John. I just hope they're as happy as we are.
I feel good about beef Wellington. Shall I help? I'm trying to think when we were home alone last...and nothing is coming to me.
I feel like we're kids whose parents have gone out for the night
No wild parties, kids. :D
Greg: Yeah, I figured. But the mental image was amusing! XD (Also, any time you want to visit over here and borrow my kitchen, you are more than welcome :D )
John: Have fun, etc. ;D
Thanks, Tink! I and my parents are going to visit my sister--she and her family have a house in New Jersey with a big yard, so they have lots of room for a big sukkah, and it's right out the door, instead of down flights of stairs and around the side. It's always nice.
RR: Oh! Has anyone talked to you about the euphemisms? XD ... (by themselves, not attached to anything) and etc. are all about the wild parties ;D
I am too pure and innocent to understand your sneaky euphemisms. ;)
Danger, you can help. Just don't distract me too much.
And I have a very clear memory of the boys going off for tea with their mum after...Eton? (that's not the bit I remember!) Hah. If you don't remember it, I'm wounded!
No wild parties, RR. No Pfft either...just the two of us. Bliss.
Enjoy!
Of course I remember! That wasn't all night though.
No, sadly. But now there are 4 glorious nights, just the two of us. And I fully intend all of them to be very memorable (they need to be...to tide us over until next time. Which will be even further away, probably, now we can't sneak to my flat.)
Thanks RR.
Right, beef wellingtons with mushroom and sherry sauce in the oven...
No one tell Danger about the floury handprints on his bum. He deserved them for distracting the chef with his delicious body.
John, I don't see any handprints. I have no idea what he's going on about.
Ha, me neither. I could look again though, just to check...
;)
I don't see anything either! *nods solemnly*
Also, I am now very hungry. >_>
Beef wellington are easy. I'll put a recipe post in a bit, once I'm relaxing with wine and Danger.
And the custard cream recipe too please! Wine and Danger sounds like a film title...
I don't mind the hand prints. No one's going to see them but you.
I intend to get you out of your jeans asap, now they're all dirty...
There are recipes up on my blog, for those of you desperate to attempt my rather vague cookery examples.
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