We had, as L said, a lovely ride to Cambridge. I had the key to Mary's mum's flat, which was basically in the same condition she'd left it in when she went to France three months ago. It certainly didn't look like she had any particular plans to be away long, although I suppose if she hadn't planned to come back at all, there would've been no reason to empty the fridge.
I did wonder at first if someone had searched the placed in the way you see it done in films, everything tossed about everywhere, but Mary did warn me it would be messy. We did find an old map that very likely has nothing to do with anything, and then we found a chip shop and ate lunch. Sherlock's been pouring over the map today in between glaring at us and eating cake.
The motorcycle lesson went well. I rode something gold and Italian this time, and I think L is going to have some sort of seizure if I don't start remembering the exact make and model so I can tell him later. He listed about forty different ones it could've been and I gave him a blank look, and he said how could I remember what all the bones in the hand are called and not the company that made one bike. I told him my brain's already full of bones and so on, but I don't think he bought it.
I got this from Mycroft today, 'for the internet', he said. Here you go, internet:
I did wonder at first if someone had searched the placed in the way you see it done in films, everything tossed about everywhere, but Mary did warn me it would be messy. We did find an old map that very likely has nothing to do with anything, and then we found a chip shop and ate lunch. Sherlock's been pouring over the map today in between glaring at us and eating cake.
The motorcycle lesson went well. I rode something gold and Italian this time, and I think L is going to have some sort of seizure if I don't start remembering the exact make and model so I can tell him later. He listed about forty different ones it could've been and I gave him a blank look, and he said how could I remember what all the bones in the hand are called and not the company that made one bike. I told him my brain's already full of bones and so on, but I don't think he bought it.
I got this from Mycroft today, 'for the internet', he said. Here you go, internet:
49 comments:
Thank you Mycroft, that is brilliant.
I suppose you could always pick a bike name at random.
Just remember, it's knowing bike innards that'll help you when it's pissing down with rain and you've broken down in the middle of nowhere, not metacarpals or whatever! Sweep aside some of the boring bits of medicine - ingrown toenails and alarming tropical bugs - and think about bikes! You seem to have a penchant for the classics, and if you like them, you'll need to like bike maintenance :)
I can't just delete bits of my brain, I'm not a hard disk! Anyway, what it's called has nothing to do with how to fix it, and I don't think that's included in the lessons anyway. You'll have to show me all that.
Hmm, unfair. Bits of my brain delete itself, without me wanting it to!
Let's see...you, a motorbike, some grease... I can probably fit that into my schedule!
*has a gigglefit* Love the joke, Mycroft!
I can probably fit that into my schedule!
Ha, excellent. Just don't let me do any horrible to yours. I'd never forgive myself.
I promise not to let you do any horrible to mine. Anything of mine :), including the bike.
I'd say that anything you did I could undo...but then I remember just how wildly distracting you are...
John, side of the road maintenance is easy. Like all internal combustion engines it boils down to "is it fuel or is it spark".
If the reaction is "I don't know but it makes a really horrible noise" then the answer is a trailer...
Unless it is a proper bike. I have ridden a Guzzi from Melbourne to Sydney after it seized. Waited for it to cool down and free up then chuntered along at 80kmh until I could hitch a ride in the slipstream of a passing truck. I then truckhopped the rest of the way. I have also seen a Ural happily chugging along with a bit of coke can plugging up the hole in the left side piston.
However, agricultural motorcycles have drawbacks you may not be prepared to live with... the modern bikes are not very fixable by the side of the road but have other advantages like brakes.
I would not be surprised if Lestrade could find all sorts of uses for chain lube but if he comes near you with the circlip pliers run!
If I get one, I'll get something used, and you can show me on that. I think I'll be less distracting swearing at bits of metal and covered in grease though. Although given how much you like your bike, who knows...
If the reaction is "I don't know but it makes a really horrible noise" then the answer is a trailer...
Ha, right.
Agricultural motorcycles?
I do enjoy brakes on most of my vehicles.
So you're saying Lestrade finds you less distracting when you're slicked up and swearing? Really? 0_o
Nameless, what can I say? He's sweet and innocent and clueless sometimes.
Danger, we'll have to have a trip to the Speedway, you, me and Sherlock.
Nameless - he has been known to point and laugh (in a kind way...) when I'm trying to cook. I don't know why he thinks this will be that much different!
L - isn't that race of yours coming up again in the spring? Do you still want to go?
Oh, how I wish it were mine...I assume you're referring to the Isle of Man TT?
We could really go, couldn't we? That's...really quite exciting.
And I point and laugh when you're covered in dough and standing there with hands that look like the belong to the swamp thing, or are grumbling at a saucepan.
This will be entirely different. I assure you.
That is what I'm referring to, and yeah, I don't see why not. You could bring your bike, go round the course on Deathrace Sunday 2000 or whatever it was called.
Olive oil or engine grease - I'll still be slippery and angry at inanimate objects just the same!
I'm fairly sure I've never laughed at you covered in olive oil. Just sort of smiled in a slightly spaced-out way. Slippery is a good look for you.
Mad Sunday, I think you mean. Would you come around with me, two-up? I would promise to do my best not to knock your head on any lamp posts or garden walls.
I'd love to.
You're the greatest.
Want to swim tomorrow? Sherlock wouldn't tell me if he wanted to or not when I put him to bed. It would be pretty stunning, running today, swimming tomorrow...olympics here we come?
Speedway? I onced raced sidecar in speedway, never again! I think I burnt out my adrenal glands.
I have scraped my bum along the tarmac at 150mph holding on with one hand and one foot, I have helped to balance a trials outfit climing a sheer rockface, I have pulled my head out of the way of roadside poles during three wheel drifts racing on closed roads, but speedway? Never again, I found my limits there.
Yeah, sounds good. Maybe we could go to see that bombed out church you posted about afterward?
I've never seen sidecar in speedway live, just the regular ones, and the ice speedway once. Not the same now they don't use two-strokes, that Castrol R smell was amazing. But it's still a good night out.
Danger, because you might not know, Speedway is bike racing, usually on a shale track, four bikes, four laps...no brakes.
Yeah, that'd be nice, Danger.
Then on Sunday Sherlock can have you all to himself. I might come home to find he's cloned you!
Literally no brakes?
Literally none.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyukusgs-CI
...I'd be happy to go and watch it with you, but if you ever decide to do it, you're on your own.
Nah, I'm far too old and breakable these days. Nice bit of off roading through the countryside will do me. Fast or slow as you like, covered in mud and wearing full body armour :)
But we could go and watch sometime. Used to like it when I was a kid. Bloke in the village used to take us boys (Sorry, Nicky, I know you never forgave us...).
That'd be nice. Looks like the sort of thing Sherlock would love.
Where do you go off roading? Are there places nearby?
Speed and dirt and the chance of a horrible accident, yeah...
And yes, there are a few places around the home counties we could go. Turn up, ride out for a day - normally four of you and a couple of guides, ride from about 9-4 with a break for lubch, dirt tracks, grass, water, all sorts of fun.
Sounds like fun.
...And now I can only hope he doesn't grow up to race professionally or something. His mum would kill me, to start.
She'd have to kill me first!....wait, why am I thinking that would be a problem for her?
zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance??????
Aw, Mycroft! As a former chemistry student, I both salute you and say "Boooooooooooooooo!"
I've never seen ice racing although I've seen video.
Considering one of the more disturbing things about regular speedway sidecar was having someone's front wheel in my back, I think I'll give the ice version a miss!
Sherlock wouldn't like to race speedway - it's mostly just raw courage and experience, there's not a lot of time or need for brains.
Observed trials might be more his thing. Very slow and precise and you have to have a good eye for ground and do a lot of forward planning. It's a game of balance, control, and intelligence.
The idea is to take a bike over some of the roughest most difficult ground via a twisty marked course with lots of tight turns without touching a foot down or touching the marker tape.
eg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8Gorn5FpWo
Kira - zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance
I will need some zen, I'm sure. I did always mean to read that. Had a friend who was positively obsessed with it. Odd, given she'd never ridden a motorcycle in her life.
Rider - that looks...incredibly difficult.
Yeah, you wouldn't have much back left, Rider.
You're Zen enough, Danger.
Going to help Sherlock and me make biscuits?
Oh, yes. Unless you're done? I think I fell asleep for a minute. Or...almost an hour.
You can be chief taster.
And we may now be making some bacon and avocado sandwiches for a late lunch, if you want in.
That sounds like the best idea I have ever heard. I'm ravenous.
That's what Sherlock said, inbetween hoovering up raw biscuit mix and then bits of cooked biscuits and an apple...
luncheon is served, M'lud.
This is the best sandwich in the history of the world.
Not sure about that, but thanks.
You looked too peaceful to wake up for baking. Does all this exercise mean you need to nap lots more :)
I've been staying up too late thinking, probably. The exercise is more fun.
Always knew thinking was bad for you. :)
I LOVE that joke, Mycroft--I laughed for a solid minute. Well, giggled. :)
And as a thank you, here are a couple of science/math cartoons that are my favorites:
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq340/rereader3/math07.gif
http://i461.photobucket.com/albums/qq340/rereader3/physics04.gif
You can find more wonderful ones by the same cartoonist, Sidney Harris, under this link--have fun!
*groans at the joke*
The races sound slightly terrifying. I like my sport with a bit less chance of fiery death...
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