Monday, March 26, 2012

a day out

Lovely day out on Saturday. Perfect weather, L relaxed, Sherlock at his most curious, turning over every rock and bringing us bugs and odd plant life and throwing rocks and sticks in the water. We are, as L mentioned in his post, getting bikes of the non-motor variety, and I'm hoping I can still ride one. I'm sure the phrase 'like riding a bike' exists for a reason, but it's been about twenty years.

I suspect no matter how old I get, it'll still be odd to think I could've done anything as an adult twenty years ago. Well. Semi-adult. I'm not sure being in medical school actually counts.

In other news, L is enjoying my slow death due to curiosity about this weekend and isn't helping by claiming one of my presents has certain characteristics in common with bagpipes. I'm not sure I want to know.

We're getting Mycroft back on Thursday. I know he was just home for a visit not that long ago, but it seems like ages. I'll try to keep Sherlock from spontaneously combusting with excitement before he gets here, but I'm afraid the cards are stacked against me. 

56 comments:

Sherlock said...

Are we going camping? I bet it's camping because you said we'd take bikes next time we went camping! It'll be the best ever! I hope it's by the sea again.

John H. D. Watson said...

I don't know! Camping would be nice. I'm sure whatever he's come up with will be, indeed, the best ever.

Greg Lestrade said...

Sherlock, I am confident you'll enjoy it more than even camping.

And I hope John will too.

Cranky Bookwyrm said...

Whatever it is, it sounds like it's going to be boatloads of fun!

REReader said...

I'll try to keep Sherlock from spontaneously combusting with excitement

This has to be even more difficult when you yourself are slowly dying of curiosity... :D (I wanna know tooooo!)

It sounds like your outing yesterday was wonderful--L's photos were beautiful indeed.

That "like riding a bike" thing? I have been told I'm the only person in the history of mankind who actually forgot how. I hope you don't break my record!

Sherlock said...

I'll show him how if he forgot, I'm really good at it now!

REReader said...

Excellent, Sherlock! I bet you'd be a really good teacher, too, especially since you still know how it feels to learn that.

There, now you're covered, John.

Small Hobbit said...

I hadn't ridden a bike for years when I accompanied a scout trip to Amsterdam. I managed perfectly well and only fell off once! And if I can do it, you should have no problem.

Greg Lestrade said...

You working Thursday morning, Danger? If not we could have a practice. Otherwise, don't worry, there'll be no one but us three to watch you wobble about. And the entire internet to hear about it.

John H. D. Watson said...

Ha. And you're completely confident in your own abilities I assume? When's the last time you rode something without an engine?

John H. D. Watson said...

...You know what I meant.

Anonymous said...

you can rest assured John we all know what you mean ;-)

Anony

Greg Lestrade said...

Yes, we do. Although if you were referring to that I'd be upset that you had deemed the act so fforgetable!

And I can always borrow one here and practice in the car park :) but I'm going to be confident. Until I try to change gear instead of pedal and fall off...

John H. D. Watson said...

I was speaking solely of bicycles, I assure you. And yes, I am off work Thursday, but if I'm going to wobble about, you have to, too.

Greg Lestrade said...

I will be more than happy to wobble about with you.

And go for a bike ride.

Mazarin said...

Hah, you'll remember, John. I managed it after almost 15 years, and did an 8 mile trip around an island a couple of years ago.

It's funny, how close you and L are in experience with your 6 yo as hubs and I are with ours - we're buying bikes, too, so we can keep up with him. These: http://www.electrabike.com/Bikes/amsterdam-royal8i-bikes-ladies-192035

Well, that's mine, husbands looks the same, but is, of course, the men's version.

Enjoy your weekend - can't wait to see what all the surprises are. Well, the publicly available ones, that is! :D

Piplover said...

It sounds like yesterday was a great day for all of you! I can't wait to find out Lestrade's present for you, either, John!

Also, good luck with keeping Sherlock from spontaneous combustion. Perhaps more jumping is in order?

Greg Lestrade said...

I like this one, I think, Maz. Has everything I want in a bike, and it matches my hair...

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/neon-two-hybrid-bike-ec027468#select

Greg Lestrade said...

Oh, and Maz, the non-publicly available ones are causing me a lot more trouble ;)

mazarin said...

Causing you trouble, or getting you into trouble? ;)

And I do like that bike - nice and sleek and sturdy. We talked about getting some hybrid road/mountain bike instead of one that looks like it's more suited to a pensioner on a Sunday cruise, but quickly realized that in reality, we're not going to be doing a lot of off-road biking around where we live. You guys are more likely to need some definite speed and maybe a little off-roading stability!

REReader said...

the non-publicly available ones are causing me a lot more trouble

That is no way to make us less curious, L!

Anonymous said...

there are some things RR that however curious you are about them it is safer not to know ;-)

It sounds like John is going to be a very lucky man Greg, I hope you get enough private time to give him all his non-publicly avaliable surprises ;-)

Anony

Greg Lestrade said...

That, Anony, is the problem. John might have to wait a bit. Or get an early present ;)

Anonymous said...

You can't make him wait Greg that's just cruel it will have to be early :-) not that I was ever the type of person who opened presents before my birthday or anything ;-)

Anony

REReader said...

I vote for spreading them out--some early, some late... :)

Greg Lestrade said...

Does a bike count as a present? If not... might have to think up something else to give him on Thursday morning too ;)

Anonymous said...

Are you getting one too? if you are then no ;-)

I'm sure there are things John would like more in an empty house on thursday morning, not that I'm suggesting you should feel you have to do anything simply because you can ;-)

Anony

Greg Lestrade said...

Problem is, Anony, a nice hard ride can lead to a slightly...delicate bum. So I've heard.

So which to do first? A ride, or a ride... either way might lead to a touch of discomfort! :)

Anonymous said...

I'm not getting involved in that decision Mr ;-)

either way I'm sure you'll enjoy both and so will John :-) riding is what birthdays are made for!!

Anony

Greg Lestrade said...

I should probably take the Doc's advice on it, huh? ;)

John H. D. Watson said...

Indeed you should.

Anonymous said...

That would certainly keep it more of a 'non-publicly avaliable surprise' ;-)

Anony

Greg Lestrade said...

I voted 'other' in your poll. I pick you.

We could ride out along the canal, the way I ran the other day if you wanted. And didn't think you'd fall in. It's nice. And flat. Or around the park, if you do think you'll fall in.

Small Hobbit said...

I may have completed the poll wrong: I've voted for Federer, Nadal and Tennis? Again? I'm sure it didn't say "pick one" earlier.

How wide's the tow path or are you expecting the Doc to be very wobbly?

John H. D. Watson said...

I'm reasonably sure I won't fall in.

Greg Lestrade said...

I also picked 'tennis again', but didn't want to admit it...


It varies in width. I would dive in and save the bike if he fell in. And him, of course.

I'm experienced in rescuing things from bodies of water, as you know...

John H. D. Watson said...

Things like Sherlock?

Greg Lestrade said...

Sherlock, cows, bodies... yeah.

Bed? I'm shattered. Need a holiday or something.

John H. D. Watson said...

Bed, yes.

Anonymous said...

I picked "other" too. Stephan Edberg was my first tennis crush. I fear I'm showing my age.

REReader said...

What age? My tennis choice is John McEnroe. THAT's showing age. :)

Greg Lestrade said...

I think that's showing other things, RR...

I don't have a 'first tennis crush'. That's showing my lack of interest in tennis... I'll go for John the ex tennis pro from Greg's flower shop.

REReader said...

Other things?

(Sorry for being slow--bit of insomnia, caused by being jerked awake by a noise just as I was dropping off.)

Small Hobbit said...

In the extremely dim and distant past I liked Adriano Panatta (an Italian) briefly - probably because I refused to like anyone who was really popular on principle.

innie said...

kholly, Edberg was a cutie-pie! I remember seeing him play at the US Open MANY years ago.

One of my cousins, who played tennis professionally, got a kiss after a tournament from Patrick Rafter and was all, "I'll never wash this cheek again" for about a week.

L, you are making John's birthday weekend sound awesome! Dangerously awesome, one might even say!

CzechReader said...

"Tennis again" for me... I don't get it - although it is relaxing to fall asleep to...

Hi guys, sorry for being silent. Some stuff happened, not really good. Dealing. Will be better.

Greg Lestrade said...

Hey CR. Sorry stuff's happening. Hope you're okay. You know where we are if you need us.

Small Hobbit said...

As the Boss says, CR, sorry to hear that. And we are always ready to listen.

CzechReader said...

Thanks for that. Just this first day of spring was bad - one of my best friends ever suddenly died. Looks like there was something wrong with his heart and nobody knew - he was gone within 2 hours. He left a little son and a pregnant wife behind and I feel like a bastard, because we've seen each other about 2 years ago and were joking that we haven't met for the last time, right? Wrong.

He took me to my first concert (Deep Purple with Prague Symphonic Orchestra), talked me through my ups and downs, whenever I had a question I knew I could ask him (like when I was 15 and asked him about condoms - in our country 15 is the age of consent), caused and talked me through my first hangover ever, we've called each other brother and sister despite each having their own sibling(s), he introduced me to my husband... So yeah, he was pretty important to me.

Yesterday was the funeral. Today we're getting together with some of my friends who haven't met him, we'll drink rum and I will tell them all the stories about him. And that will be that.

Greg Lestrade said...

I'm so sorry to hear that, CR. I hope his memory lives on through you and others who knew him - he sounds like a great person.

My thoughts are with you, his friends, and of course his family. I'm sure he'll leave a hole in all your lives.

Small Hobbit said...

No words, CR, but thinking of you.

Anonymous said...

Thinking of you CR

Anony

CzechReader said...

Thanks, guys.

Cranky Bookwyrm said...

CR - my thoughts are with you and his family.

REReader said...

I'm so sorry, CR--losing a friend like that leaves a hole your life.

John H. D. Watson said...

I'm so sorry, CR. He sounds like a wonderful person.

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