Yesterday, it was weird fruit; today it was weird cheese. I see a weird cheese and fruit platter in our future, since there was a limit to how much weird fruit the weird fruit salad would absorb before overflowing the edges of the bowl.
We have a stout cheese that's sort of geometrically patterned with little triangles and diamonds (my choice). We have a vampire cheese, which is crumbly and inundated with garlic (Sherlock's). And we have Stilton ice cream, which is of course not a cheese, but Mycroft insisted it was close enough. I'm not entirely sure I want to eat that one, but Mycroft says if I don't at least try it, I'm setting a bad example for Sherlock. Unfortunately, I think he's right.
We'd meant to go to the aquarium as well, but there were so many people when we got there that even Sherlock said maybe he could wait for another day. I think we'll have better luck going early. Thanks, incidentally, to everyone who gave us suggestions - I've got them written down. Might save Kew Gardens for when L can come with us. It sounds like something he'd enjoy, though I'm sure he's been before.
L's done for today and on his way home. I'm glad it seems to be going well for him. I suppose I'm also somewhat ambivalent about him going on this course. For reasons I can't seem to pin down. Anyway, it's done now, no sense dwelling on it.
We have a stout cheese that's sort of geometrically patterned with little triangles and diamonds (my choice). We have a vampire cheese, which is crumbly and inundated with garlic (Sherlock's). And we have Stilton ice cream, which is of course not a cheese, but Mycroft insisted it was close enough. I'm not entirely sure I want to eat that one, but Mycroft says if I don't at least try it, I'm setting a bad example for Sherlock. Unfortunately, I think he's right.
We'd meant to go to the aquarium as well, but there were so many people when we got there that even Sherlock said maybe he could wait for another day. I think we'll have better luck going early. Thanks, incidentally, to everyone who gave us suggestions - I've got them written down. Might save Kew Gardens for when L can come with us. It sounds like something he'd enjoy, though I'm sure he's been before.
L's done for today and on his way home. I'm glad it seems to be going well for him. I suppose I'm also somewhat ambivalent about him going on this course. For reasons I can't seem to pin down. Anyway, it's done now, no sense dwelling on it.
117 comments:
Fruit-and-cheese is a classic combo, so I'd think weird-fruit-and-weird-cheese would, logically work!
Cheese ice cream sounds maybe okay. I'd try that. Fish ice cream--ANY kind of fish ice cream--is definitely where I'd draw the line! (It's shown up on Iron Chef America. O_O)
I'm sorry the aquarium didn't work out for you today--it makes sense that family-friendly places will get crowded during school holidays, and I'd guess you're right about having better luck early in the day. Hope you all managed to have fun anyway!
Weird cheese sounds wonderful but stilton ice cream might just be a bit far!!
Glad you and the boys have had a good day and that L is on his way home, weird maybe is the theme of the week, weird food and weird feelings ;-) (on that note sorry if I said to much to L earlier I won't mention it again if you would rather I didn't :-) )
I hope you have a great evening once you're all together :-)
Anonybob
RR - it was good fun, yeah. Getting them out of the house is the main thing. I still constantly underestimate how much energy they both have.
Anonybob - it's all right, don't worry. Whatever he wants to talk about is good, I just want him to be happy.
I kind of knew that John but every now and then I say something and then think ooops maybe shouldn't have done that.
Happy John = Happy Greg = Happy John = Happy Greg etc I'm guessing ;-)
I took my two shopping today, or should I say to walk around a shopping centre so we weren't in the house, they have never been anywhere like it before and it kept them entertained for hours eventhough we didn't actually buy anything ;-)
Anonybob
Getting them out of the house is the main thing.
This was always my mother's philosophy for school holidays! :D
That garlic cheese sounds interesting. And combining that with Stilton ice cream - woah. I've had garlic ice cream before, and I've had Stilton, but Stilton ice cream may be a bridge too far. Gorgonzola or maytag blue is about the line for me on blue cheese, which I adore.
Glad you're finding interesting things to do to keep everyone occupied! Those long school holidays can be difficult to keep everyone busy!
So true. Sherlock is already agitating to break into the school grounds again and visit the tadpoles. Other, publicly available tadpoles just aren't the same, you know...
And the NEWTS!
Oh yes, can't forget the newts.
Newts are nice. :)
And public tadpoles aren't personal tadpoles. (But if you wait a bit longer, Sherlock, you'll have a better shot at getting a good picture of them, since they'll be bigger.)
Possibly better to trespass with a police officer in tow? Maybe? Maybe not...
Possibly. Although Sherlock points out that he does have his ID if we get in trouble...
Just tell them you can't be arrested, Sherlock, not for that sort of trespass.
The value of the officer in tow is that he woudl know that and probably communicate it better than an agitated Sherlock ;-)
Or maybe just offer to show them the tadpoles. And newts. :)
We just have to be careful getting in and out. Once we're inside, you can't really see over the wall.
I'm sure you and Sherlock can come up with a plan not to get caught Mycroft, I think you would both be good at that :-)
Post a sentry! (Just when you're going in and out, of course.)
As long as you don't damage anything it's not against the law! Trespass on land is a civil offence, not a criminal one. And I can't imagine Mrs T would let anyone press charges if you were just newt wrangling and tadpole spotting.
You're taking the adventure out of it, L. :D
Yeah, probably
isn't the adventure the climing the wall and looking at the newts and tadpoles? Mycroft and Sherlock don't strike me as people who only see adventure if it's breaking the law although that does add another edge I suppose ;-)
(Deliberately? :))
(Did I say that wrong, L? I was just joking...)
I didn't really understand.
I'm tired, don't think i'm entirely with it.
A three-hour (round trip) commute will do that to you, never mind trying to master a new area. Sorry anyway.
too much work or too little sleep Greg?
If you meant was I deliberately taking the fun out of it, then what AnonyBob said - I don't see adventure as breaking the law. If they want to go to the pond then great, I'd hope the fact they weren't breaking the law was better than if they were.
Bit of both, AnonyBob. Like RR said, new stuff to learn is more tiring than doing the work you know, plus the commute's not exactly relaxing in busy traffic.
I'm going to ask because I know I can get away with it. (I hope anyway) would it really have been better to stay and avoid the commute or would that just have led to less sleep because you were away?
(I was meaning making it less exciting, not less fun. Because I would think it would be obvious you wouldn't have let them do it the first time if it were illegal--but it's more of an adventure when you think you might be stopped. And as I said, I wasn't being serious--hence all the smiley faces.)
AnonyBob - better in terms of time spent commuting, obviously, but not better for me. I need to talk to John about this stuff to feel comfortable with it in my head, so I didn't want to stay away and only have other people from the course to talk to.
I thought that would be the answer Greg (one day I'm going to write hunny there instead of Greg i keep having to stop myself ;-) I apologise in advance! )
Better for you is what matters and at home with John is most certainly where you should be, I'm thinking it's a lot better for john too if he's having weird feelings about it all aswell.
Anonybob
L, I've had longer (time-wise) commutes than that--it was 2+ hours each way when I taught at Brooklyn College--so I know how exhausting it can be...but being able to get comfortable with what you're learning is far more important, IMO.
John - I'm intrigued by your geometric cheese. What's it taste like? I like ice cream, and I like Stilton, but I'm a badger of simple tastes, and I prefer to keep the two separate. However, now it's been bought, I think I'd have to agree with Mycroft about you setting a good example to Sherlock :-p
Lestrade - I think, given your general ambivalence about the course, I think being able to get your head into the right place about it all is as important as being there in the first place. I don't envy you - concentrating on new stuff is so tiring, let alone all the travelling. But, it's Hump Day Wednesday already, so only two more days this week.
Sherlock, Mycroft - perhaps you could ask John to text Mrs T to let her know that you're going to look at the tadpoles and NEWTS, so you don't need to sneak into the school grounds?
Nameless - I think that's probably what we'll go for if we do go back. It's just easier than sneaking in. The cheese is...like vaguely malty cheddar. I don't know what makes the pattern. It's brown and cream coloured.
The patterns are actually in the cheese John?
I assumed it was some sort of packaging but in the cheese is rather impressive.
Anonybob
Actually in the cheese! All the way through it. Don't know how they did it.
That's one of those mysteries I want to solve, I am amazed that somehow they can do that!
Might have to keep an eye out for some of that :-)
Some sort of crystallization, maybe?
Is it something like this? http://www.gourmet-food.com/gourmet-cheese/cahills-porter-cheese-1000300.aspx Because that both sounds and looks good, and I'm very tempted to find a local supplier (or at least, more local than that website).
I like the look of that nameless
I found this one which is guiness apprently, I'm really going to find some to try :-)
http://z.about.com/d/cheese/1/0/V/0/-/-/guinness_cheese.JPG
Yeah, very much like those!
I want to know who cuts the white cheese into shapes and puts them all in just the right place ;-) They all look very tasty but Guiness chesse is just too amazing not to track down and try :-)
BTW, John, I forgot to say yesterday - I think it's understandable that you're feeling a bit ambivalent about Lestrade being on this course, for all sorts of reasons. Does it help at all, when he's talking it through with you of an evening?
Anyway, it's done now, no sense dwelling on it.
This is so perfectly you, John, I smiled when I read it :-)
Does it help at all, when he's talking it through with you of an evening?
Well...not really, no. I think the only thing that would've helped would have been for the question not to be raised at all. I can't help feeling that there are more than enough of us in this household with that sort of knowledge. He shouldn't have to have it too, shouldn't ever be required to potentially make that sort of choice.
Logically, that argument doesn't work at all, of course, but there you are. Emotions don't usually win in these situations.
I'm sorry, John. There never seems to be a winner when logic and emotions run head-on into each other.
I hope you and the boys had better luck getting into wherever you wanted to go to today! (Although apparently yesterday worked out well enough, so... :))
Not a situation you can govern with logic I don't think John, people feel what they feel and that's life. Your feelings are fully understandable and how you are keeping it all under control I don't know.
Situations that weird out both people in a relationship are probably the worst because everyone spends their time trying not the upset the other and therefore no one says anything.
I hope, probably with no real hope at all, that the course is the end of it and by next weekend all this is done and dusted.
Did you see fish today? or something more exciting? :-)
Anonybob
Fish ARE exciting! You need to visit a good aquarium someday soon, Anony. :)
I tend to see my fish in there natural habitat, while I'm dressed in a head to toe rubber suit, with a rubber hose in my mouth and a very heavy weight on my back, they certainly are exciting that way!!
You mentioned you'd like to try scuba diving didn't you John? ;-)
I would, yeah. Not sure there's much I wouldn't want to try, if I get the chance.
We did get to the aquarium today, right about when they opened. We weren't the only ones who had that idea, but it still wasn't too crowded.
That's the way to look at the world :-)
Glad you got to the aquarium and were able to actually see something rather than the back of other peoples heads ;-)
You really should give scuba diving a go, fish are so much more exciting when they aren't stuck behind glass :-)
I think we can add firearms training to the list of things Mrs Hudson says is better to have and not need, rather than need and not have. Like clean pants and umbrellas.
Was fun had at the aquarium? What were your favorite bits? (John? Mycroft? Sherlock? :))
My brother has done some scuba diving--he was studying marine archaeology, it was a course requirement (!). He liked it fine.
Mrs. Hudson is a very sensible woman.
what an odd selection of things Greg but you're probably right :-)
L - I'm sure you're right.
Can't speak for the boys, but I liked the stingrays the best.
Stingrays are very cool! I always liked their cousins, the manta rays best. And the penguins. :)
AnonyBob - her list obviously goes on a lot longer, but you got the gist.
Bloke teaching us today keeps calling me Hotshot. In a minute I'm going to tell him to eff off.
Any particular reason he's calling you that, or is it just your dashing good looks?
Or you could smile condescendingly and call him kiddo...or just imagine doing it... ;)
(In case I was unclear--because that's very childish of him. :))
the list of things Mrs Hudson says is better to have and not need, rather than need and not have. Like clean pants and umbrellas.
I have managed for years without an umbrella ;)
might be too late to stop you but seriously don't, he's a prat whatever his reasons for saying it but don't give him the pleasure.
Sorry its a bit random but I just wanted to say a HUGE thanks to Sherlock for the extra-special recommendation of Chin Chin Labs, their icecream is a) INSANELY delicious and b) hugely cool to watch being made.
Hope the fishes were good, I'm going to go down to the aquarium this summer I think, my boyfriend's doing some work experience there, so I'll watch the penguins for hours:)
I have managed for years without an umbrella ;)
Heh heh, SH!
Once in grad school, the Poltical Philosophy prof was giving a lecture, and to explain the ideas of moderately risk-aversive and risk-taking behaviors, he said, "On a cloudy day, most people, not wanting to get wet, will carry an umbrella. But on a nice sunny day like today, people don't generally carry one," and I pulled an umbrella out of my bag and held it up.
(Fortunately, we were friends by that point, and he was highly amused instead of being annoyed. And I bet no one forgot the difference!)
Jaws, sounds like both your boyfriend and you are going to have a great summer!
Lestrade calls me kiddo and I'm not childish!
Jaws it's the best ice cream and John says we can go back soon what flavours did you have?
I stand corrected, Sherlock! Kiddo is out. What name do you think Lestrade should mentally call an adult who's behaving childishly?
What did you like best at the aquarium?
My little brother (well not so little, he's taller than me!) had the chocolate, and I had the apple pie. After my exam I'm going to take my boyfriend there and have other flavours, but that chocolate was delicious, best ice cream indeed! Maybe ask John if you can go to Cyberdog store near there, it has some very interesting things, such as a mug you can graffiti, UV light body paint, and glow in the dark clothing.
Aren't we lucky to live in such a great city?
I hope silence means your home safe and sound, having dinner and fun with your boys :-) (and not anything else)
Glad you enjoyed the ice cream Jaws the place sounds amazing :-)
Anonybob
Pausing in my packing to say that I'm heading over to my sister's house for the last two days of Passover in a couple of hours, so, being that I won't have internet access from the time we leave, I want to wish you all a good evening and a fun and relaxing Friday and Saturday! I hope you make the most of the last of your school holidays... :)
Home now. Dinner on the way. And he was calling me Hotshot because I work on some high profile cases.
Should have told him it would get confusing, DI Hotshot and Doc Hotson.
Not a bad reason that I guess but confusing that would be ;-) hope you have a nice evening now you're home :-)
Enjoy your time away RR.
Anonybob
That sounds like jealousy, L--very childish. :(
DI Hotshot and Doc Hotson.
Hee!
Thanks, Anony!
I can't help feeling that there are more than enough of us in this household with that sort of knowledge. He shouldn't have to have it too, shouldn't ever be required to potentially make that sort of choice
It's absolutely no consolation at all, I know, but I would completely agree with you there. And you're allowed to have an emotional rather than logical reaction, you know :-)
Not sure there's much I wouldn't want to try, if I get the chance.
Why do I imagine Lestrade getting a big grin on his face when he read that?
SH - "I have managed for years without an umbrella ;)" I LOL'ed :-)
ReRe - have a good couple of days with your sister and family.
DI Hotshot and Doc Hotson
I may swoon :-)
Thanks, Nameless!
Nameless - he won't try nipple piercings, or anything further south. And he says he won't try marmite ice cream... Terrible example to the boys ;)
I hope you're having a lovely evening boys. Silence is golden and all that ;-)
Anonybob
I tried marmite, and I tried marmite nuts, I feel no need to try it in ice cream form as well!
If you make marmite ice cream, I might consider it. Maybe.
We could compromise on Guinness ice cream?
AnonyBob - silence is homework and exhaustion! One day until the glorious weekend though.
Guinness ice cream sounds delicious.
Still not getting my nipples pierced though.
bit weird that! it was silent when I hit send I'm sure. sorry you have more homework but yes friday tomorrow :-)
Making Guiness ice cream is not fair :-(
Nameless - It's absolutely no consolation at all
It is actually, in some ways. Thanks.
Why do I imagine Lestrade getting a big grin on his face when he read that?
Ha. He sent me a text a few minutes after that - it just said 'anything??' and he has yet to elaborate...
Other than having things pierced is there anything (legal) you wouldn't try John?
I've always wished I was a little braver but I just can't pull it off :-(
Anonybob
I've yet to elaborate and you've yet to answer...
I'm sure there must be plenty of things I'm just not thinking of - like marmite ice cream and nipple piercing - but I think I'd try most things. Not that completely mental bike race where they don't have brakes. I'd like to climb a mountain, but I don't think I'd climb Everest, seems like a lot of fuss and frostbite to not much purpose. Just nothing too extreme, I suppose.
I've yet to elaborate and you've yet to answer...
I asked what you had in mind! That's an answer, of a sort.
'seems like a lot of fuss and frostbite to not much purpose'
brilliant ;-)
Its the bodies i couldn't cope with on Everest. All that 'turn left by the dead guy with the green boots'. I mean, I deal with bodies all the time, I understand why it's putting other lives at risk to fetch down a body. But I just couldn't do it.
I heard they've been talking about an expedition to get them down and buried properly. I hope they manage it. It can't be easy to know the body of someone you loved is just...lying there.
It would be good to think they could get the bodies down. losing people but having nowhere to go is not good :-( we lost someone at sea and it leave a very strange feeling!!
Yeah. I know some families are okay with the thought they died doing something they loved. But just being used like a signpost... That's not right.
And the whole commercial aspect, that most climbers have paid loads to get to the top, so don't or won't help others in need...it's disgusting. How is getting up there more important than Someone else's life? I'd rather say I saved a life than stood on top of a bit of rock.
Anonybob - I'm sorry, that must be difficult, yes.
L - I'd rather say I saved a life than stood on top of a bit of rock.
I know you would, love. I'd hope most people feel that way, but sadly that doesn't seem to be the case.
It's weird John but at least we know we couldn't do anything, you can't fight the sea. Not that alot of people didn't spend days searching for him.
How people on mountains can chose to reach the top rather than save a life I don't know!! I'm with you and Greg on that one!
AnonyBob - I think the absolute worst thing is never knowing what happened - I mean, not even being sure the person is dead (there are families I've dealt with through work who still, twenty years on, hope for the knock of the door, or the voice on the phone. Who won't move house, or change numbers, because they're waiting). Then it's not knowing how/where they died, or having no body to bury, for instance. I'm really sorry for your loss.
I think I'd have to assign a place, in that instance, that had a special meaning to me - a place to go to remember them.
Danger - not even the case in rush hour London, let alone a mountain in dangerous conditions.
I think the sea is the place Greg, wherever any of us see the sea it jumps into peoples heads but he died doing something he loved so it could be worse in many ways! I'd say your experience of people suffering like that is probably worse as someone lost to crime is different to someone lost to their idea of the best fun in the world.
Anonybob
Possibly it's too late for this, but I wanted to tell you about a fantastic cheese I just discovered the existence of - gjetost. It's hard to describe, but it's got a cheese texture but tastes sweet, like butterscotch or caramel or peanut butter. It is phenomenal with fruit.
(Hi, everybody!)
hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii innie. :DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
Hi innie and DW
Apropos of nothing, but because I'm a proud mum (again): my daughter's currently on placement in the neo-natal ward and one of the mothers, a sister in the cardiac unit, was full of praise for her, saying that she acted like a third-year student (she's a second year) and that she was sure that any mother would be happy to leave their baby in my daughter's care.
*waves good morning to all*
SH - that's wonderful; no wonder you're so proud :-)
Hi Innie! I shall look out for that cheese, sounds amazing.
SH - you should definitely be proud :)
AnonyBob - yeah, you're probably right. But I still think never knowing is the worst of all, whatever the circumstances. Missing people are always so difficult to deal with and leave so many questions and no answers.
Hi innie :-) Hi DW :-) Good morning Nameless :-)
SH you should be very proud of your Daughter she sounds brilliant :-)
Greg - having to fight to get someone declared legally dead, so you can action the things you need to, while still holding out hope they'll turn up makes things such a mess :-(
On a happier note today is Friday :-) last day before weekend :-) I hope today is swift and painless and weekend comes very quickly.
Anonybob
I read that as "I hope today is swift and pantless" but I have no idea why....
Or indeed what such a day would be like.
Rider - clearly you haven't taken not of things Mrs Hudson says you need ;)
Ahh.. but are no pants better than not-clean pants?
(and does speed matter?)
I suppose it depends how cold it is whether speed matters.
you know, I just had to come and check I hadn't said pantless I was quite worried for a second ;-)
Anonybob
it might be pantless, not telling.
It's certainly.not painless. I'm sorry, John.
If he rode all the way there pantless, I imagine it wasn't painless...
Innie - that cheese does sound amazing! I imagine it would've improved our weird fruit salad no end.
SH - that's wonderful, and very impressive. :)
If he rode all that way pantless we'd have seen it on the news by now John ;-) Half naked DI arrested for gross stupidity ;-)
Anonybob
I dunno, Anonybob. I think the story would be about all the traffic accidents caused by people stunned at the sight. And a sudden spike in swapping pictures of a certain silver fox...
Rider - "Or indeed what such a day would be like." - Draughty, I imagine.
(A mate rode his motorbike to his wedding, whilst kilted and pantless. He was slightly concerned that he'd flashed the whole village en route).
Anonybob, DW - I can just imagine... *ahem*
Can I point out that to me, pantless means 'without underwear' not 'without trousers'.
And that of course you do a lot ;-)
One does not preclude the other...
Double pantless is presumably like double espresso... guaranteed to wake people up.
I think it's entirely in the spirit of the international readership of these blogs that we have to consider "pantless" in this context to mean both...
... at the same time
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