I finally invited L properly to meet my parents yesterday. So we'll be doing that, at some point. I suppose over the summer, when Mycroft's home. I don't know, one box of china a frankly terse email and it seems like a good idea? Or less of a horrible one? Maybe it wasn't that at all. Maybe I just had to wait this long. I suppose a lot's changed in the last year. Inside my head, at least.
And Lestrade...I hope you know it wasn't anything to do with you. I can't even explain properly what it was, but if it had been you, or just that you're a man, any of that, I would've told myself to stop being an arse and dragged you up there immediately, but it was just...me. And I couldn't. Sorry.
It's hideous china, too. It's got a border of strawberries and it's sort of avocado green.
And instead of terrible china and my idiocy, let's close with this photo Mycroft sent me from school. I like it. Very peaceful.
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And Lestrade...I hope you know it wasn't anything to do with you. I can't even explain properly what it was, but if it had been you, or just that you're a man, any of that, I would've told myself to stop being an arse and dragged you up there immediately, but it was just...me. And I couldn't. Sorry.
It's hideous china, too. It's got a border of strawberries and it's sort of avocado green.
And instead of terrible china and my idiocy, let's close with this photo Mycroft sent me from school. I like it. Very peaceful.
.JPG)
74 comments:
All such china is hideous John I am beginning to think there is a law about it, L might know ;-)
Mycroft takes or finds the most wonderful photo's and videos :-) it's nice to see little bits of what he likes when he's off getting an education.
I hope you have a great trip when you decide on the right time to do it :-)
have a great day riding bikes.
If now feels like the right time and before didn't, then it is and it wasn't.
That's a lovely photo there! Is it a weeping willow?
Anony, I think you may be right about there being a statute mandating ugly wedding china be passed down! (Well, either it's that or the pretty china is used more and doesn't survive to be passed down. :D)
Don't want to brag or anything, but i do have the best boyfriend ever.
Albeit one with a terrible China collection. Never should my pastry cutter collection be mocked again.
And, John... I know. And I hope it goes well, for all of our sakes.
We don't have to actually use them, I promise.
It's fine. I'm sure I've made it sound worse than it'll actually be.
Don't want to brag or anything,
Yeah, you do. (And why shouldn't you? :D)
We don't have to actually use them
...except when your mom comes to visit. (Unless the dogs get to them first or something...)
Brag all you like Greg we all know he's amazing :-)
All kitchens come with a cupboard to store special things that people have passed down to you but you wouldn't be seen dead using unless they were actually in your house don't they? ;-)
Am I some ill mannered brat who's the only one that thinks if someone has given you something like that it signals that they want some poor sod to store it, but can't stand looking at it themselves? Is feel Jo need to use it when they visited.
Mum should have got a set every time she got married. We kids could have one each by now.
Mummy threw a lot of hers at the wall when she was pregnant with Sherlock. Sometimes she let me help.
Hey Mycroft. Enjoying the sun at school?
Are you sure she wasn't just possessed by Sherlock's spirit?
Being pregnant is a great excuse for breaking things Mycroft ;-)
do you think your mums would make good frisbees John? could be a great day in the sunshine ;-)
I think you're just braver than the rest of us Greg :-)
Yes, I'm avoiding playing football. And no, I'm not at all sure. She said it was that or invade France.
I think they'd make excellent frisbees, but I'm pretty sure I don't have the nerve. Maybe in a few years. We can stick them in a cupboard somewhere. Or give them to Harry.
I'm glad she chose breaking plates, Mycroft. Very sensible.
Avoiding football? What are you doing instead?
And yes, very sensible. Where would you put France if you invaded it. Hard to find a cupboard big enough, and hard to dust, id imagine.
Oh, England's invaded France lots of times already. I think breaking ugly dishes was a far better choice.
(Before you say it, Sherlock--nope, gotta agree, it is not at all fair that you didn't get to help break any dishes!)
Okay, I imagine I'm going to get jumped all over. I'm sorry. But really...am I the only one who doesn't think it's so bad to use ugly dishes maybe once a year to make a parent happy/keep the peace in a family? I mean, I know it's an annoyance to have to store them, especially in a flat...but it's not like you have to look at them all that often--and when you do use them, they're covered in food anyway.
RR - If I thought it would make her happy, I'd be glad to do it.
I wouldn't have the nerve either John which is why we have a cupboard ;-)
Mycroft I can only be glad I wouldn't ever have the power to invade somewhere because I would probably have taken that option in pregnant rage!!
Lestrade: sitting close enough that they can't claim I skipped it, but far enough away that no one's noticed me yet. It won't last forever, but it gives me a few minutes to read.
I don't know her, John, so I have no idea. It might just be manipulation. But..could it be that it was the only way she could think of to reach out that, well, suited her notions of dignity or whatever?
Mycroft--When I was in school I used to hide in the corner of the schoolyard (sheltered by a nice big pillar) to read during recess. I avoided getting caught until the day I got too absorbed in my book to notice everyone was going inside...oops!
RR - I know my thoughts may change as I get older but I would hate to think of my children doing things to keep me happy. I hate it now when I feel rubbish and they try and entertain me or hug me better to make me happy like somehow my happiness is their responsibility.
I will, however, pass on all the awful frisbees I can for any granchildren I may have to enjoy smashing up somewhere ;-)
At the risk of sounding like... well, a teacher, probably, they don't just get you boys playing football to torture you. It's supposed to be about teamwork and fitness, and probably lots of other important things.
Anony, I know this is the general feeling nowadays. I see why people feel that way. I certainly don't think that people should allow themselves to be used or manipulated and DEFINITELY should not allow themselves to be hurt by parents, and if a relationship, even with parents, is harmful, that should be the end of it (and isn't that a whole lot easier said than done). But I'm sorry--I think that short of that, yes, children should do things to make their parents happy, even if when it's things they don't like.
(Remember, I'm living with my parents because they need someone to help, and it's not a barrel of laughs. So while I am NOT saying anyone else should do that, I'm also not blowing smoke here.)
If they really wanted to teach us teamwork, I can think of several ways that would be more effective and would include everyone instead of only people who are good at sport. I think they do it because they've always done it.
I think they do it because they've always done it.
This is in fact the case in almost all the things they make you do during an academic career, Mycroft.
(Not that that addresses the fitness part of the equation, but I'm in no position to carp there, seeing as I was almost entirely sedentary until I started t'ai chi at age 35. :)
I asked on Lestrade's blog, but since you're here--are you going to be able to observe the transit of Venus on June 6, Mycroft? Or is your school not into last-time-this-century astronomical opportunities?
I think you're right Mycroft. Schools are run by people who were good at school (ie succeeded at school rather than behaved) and on the whole they perpetuate the thing that they were good at.
Fitness rather than sport and explicit teamwork exercises like the ones that people were discussing here a week or two back might very well work better without making at least a proportion of the student body feel miserable. As it is school sport often puts students off trying to improve their personal fitness and does little for the development of teamwork - it's hard for the team and the individual when they are constantly the one stuffing it up for everyone else.
(Not that I'm suggesting that it necessarily is making you miserable.)
Anon climbing of her hobby-horse
I think you're probably right Mycroft, sport has been used for team building for ever and it always seems to be the excuse for making you play sport when you really don't want to!!
RR - I would never say everyone should feel like I do about the relationship between parents and children but for me, I chose to have children so it's my job to make them happy they didn't chose to be born so they owe me nothing. :-) (I will probably end up lonely bitter and with only myself for company I know that ;-) )
can I have your plates John? pregnant plate smashing sounds like fun :) xx
You sound like a wonderful mum, Anonybob.
Anon - ha! Giving them to someone else to smash is a solution I hadn't considered...
If only I'd known there was crockery available for throwing I'd have had some for this morning's meeting, which was definitely of the "we don't like what you're saying so we aren't going to listen".
The trouble with using games as a team building exercise is that everyone has different skills and the whole idea about building a team is to make best use of each individual's strong points.
We have a china teaset, very pretty, that lives on top of the cupboard in whichever house we are in. The cat used to sleep on top of it, and occasionally be sick on the box. We don't use tea sets. Shall I pass it on to the newly weds?
I really think you should, SH. Although possibly in a different box if your son knows about the cat sick.
That's a very nice thing for you to say John thanks :-)
Yes SH you really should pass it on they may get some use out of it :-)
See, that's why we got plain white porcelain china for our wedding, and we use it every day. After 10 years we're missing a soup plate, 2 salad plates, and a dinner plate. Whoopsie! We can replace it, no big deal. Why get all that stuff if you'll never use it? It's not like I host a lot of dinner parties, and frankly, don't have time to drag it all in and out of the cabinets.
SH - I think that cat-sick box should find a new home. What better place than a newlywed's house? It's not like they have that much stuff anyway, right? :D
Also, thanks for the good wishes yesterday. But we can now add laproscopic abdominal surgery for the boy in late june, and antibiotics and subcutaneous fluids (administered by yours truly, egad, you wouldn't believe the arsenal of needles I now posess) for a hamster. Whee! (Where's the scotch?)
Oy, vey, maz, that all sounds more than a little overwhelming. Sending good vibes and prayers your son's way--and ditto for you (plus virtual hugs and scotch), especially in dealing with the needled hamster!
SH--They may well be very glad to have a pretty teaset! (You can always ask them first if you'd feel more comfortable that way--my sisters sometimes say yes and sometimes no when my mom wants to divest herself of "things". I'm guessing newlyweds would be more likely to say "Yes, please!" :))
I literally cannot imagine you as ever being bitter, Anony... :)
Having been a newlywed once, and way before that having already tried to condense two lives into one small flat, I can assure you that any catsick boxes that came my way would probably have swiftly gone to oxfam.
John and I did remarkably well to have very little overlap when I moved in here. And I just left my kettle, toaster etc for my tenants, which made life easier.
I wouldn't have minded someone giving me a tea set when we moved in here. Most of the kitchen stuff went to Mrs H's flat.
I had a mug. Went out and got a kettle the day we moved in.
Dork. :)
Dweebasaurus
Terribledactyl
Horribleraptor
Diplodocus (real dinosaur that already sounds vaguely insulting)
Barapasaurus (same deal.)
Burpasaurus (not a real dinosaur, merely inspired by one...)
Grunteratops. (Not real either.)
Fukuiraptor (astonishingly real!)
I told my mum I was planning a moving sale so I would have less stuff to move and maybe earn enough to pay for the truck rental. Her response was to want to send more stuff down from her place for me to sell. No!!!!! No more stuff coming into the house now, only going out. Though I think I will be giving my old dishes to my nephew for his first apartment. Seems appropriate since it was his parents who gave them to me for my first apartment.
Ha. It's amazing really how much stuff people end up needing to get rid of in the course of a lifetime. Often stuff we really wanted when we got it, too.
I do have the best boyfriend ever.
I believe we've established that you both do, Lestrade :-)
It's amazing really how much stuff people end up needing to get rid of in the course of a lifetime. Often stuff we really wanted when we got it, too.
One thing springs to mind, yeah...
Nameless - just because it's called 'self-loving', I don't think John is technically his own boyfriend... but maybe! ;)
somethings are made to last a lifetime and somethings are made to serve a purpose and be passed on to somewhere else :)
Lestrade - oh, hush, you know exactly what I mean. I haven't said "told you so" yet, but I have John's permission to do so...
Ok so someone just sent me this link and I instantly thought of everyone here :-)
http://www.elfrododo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Hi_Badger_Pic.jpg
made me smile at the cuteness.
Sleep well everyone :-)
That sort of reminds me of Sherlock in the morning when his head pops up into view beside our bed...
this is more like John:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/brockwatcher/3580224847/
very cute :-)
*makes cooing noises at cute badgers*
L - bed. before I imitate that badger right here on teh sofa
you already are...or at least, making little snuffly noises...
Come on, in your sett, nose stuck under your tail for sleep then. Or if you're not flexible enough, you can stick your nose under my tail instead ;)
When one of my cousins got married and moved from India to America, my mom and I bought her wedding china and tried to ship it to her new place (Kansas, I believe). But the box weighed 75 pounds, and the US Post Office's limit is 74 pounds. They suggested opening the box and dividing all of the china into two parcels, but that hardly seemed worth it, particularly since it had all been carefully packaged by the store for minimum breakage. So I ended up with it, and now I have wedding china without having the hassle of getting married!
Also, all this talk of smashing makes me wonder if you could use the plates as clay pigeons if you want to keep your shooting skills, John.
Heh. This crockery & dinosaur conversation has been very entertaining!
Now I'm considering buying the most hideous crockery I can find and shipping it to my tasteful brother, who rang on Monday to tell me he had eloped over the weekend with his girlfriend of 9 years! (I was very impressed. I dislike weddings and eloping is COOL.)
Maz, if you need barkeep!Badgers, you know where we are. Drinks trolley is always unlocked on the naughty porch. :)
Sherlock, as promised, here are pictures of a couple of spiders I saw this weekend and thought you'd like. I took them with my phone, so they're not spectacular, but you get the idea, I think. The red one here is a Jumping Spider and the yellow/black one here and there is a Black-and-Yellow Garden Spider. At least, those are the best matches I could find, not having made any serious study of Virginan spiders. Thanks for your help!
Cool spiders, DW! Are either of them dangerous to humans, do you know? (Just curious--I have the vague memory of reading that bright-colored insects often are, but I'm not at all certain and way too tired to look it up. :))
When I was in Korea this was the spider this was the spider that was everywhere!
http://nicoleb.org/mnblog/2011/08/joro-spider-nephila-clavata/
I don't know if it was poisonous, but they were literally everywhere, from hiding in the bathroom to hundreds of them spun up in the trees. I still shudder when I think of it.
Forgot to mention, that picture was taken in the same city I was stationed, Waegwan. I think you would love South Korea, Sherlock. Lots and lots of bugs!!
Pip, my virus programme just warned me there was a trojan at that address - just so you're aware.
Another scorching day.
Another day of idiots riding motorbikes wearing t shirts, shorts and flipflops.
Promise me you'l never do that, John.
It makes your skin crawl, doesn't it?
Lancs. Anon
Who could possibly think that was a good idea? Its a surprise that some people can actually manage to get dressed by themselves when they're that stupid!
Its super hero day at the little ones school today and one boy was covered head to toe in a spider man suit! I can only think he's going to have boiled by the end of today :-( the rather lacking in clothes bat girls (seriously some parents idea of appropriate clothes for 10 year olds worries me) will not have much of a problem though.
I hope the sunshine doesn't bring out too many criminals Greg.
What the sunshine has brought out today is a decomposing body, now reported to us as the stench has got seriously bad over the past few hot days...
Mmmm, my favourite way to start the day. hot rotting dead bodies.
that does not sound like a fun way to spend a day :-(
I hope the afternoon is less smelly than the morning :-)
Lovely, L. Here's hoping it doesn't take long to clear up.
Starting the day with a dead body just means things have to get better, right?
Here's another picture of the Korean spider, only this time without computer virus attached. Sorry!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:File-Joro_Spider_1_south_korea.jpg
Piplover - I can't really complain abut dead bodies, given that I chose this job...
Don't you ever wish you'd spent your life doing something else Greg?
Ro - I think that sounds like a very sisterly thing to do. And congratulations to your brother and his wife!
Innie - I think someone would object to me tossing plates in the air and shooting them, although it does sound like fun. Is your non-wedding china nice?
Ttid - Not really. I mean, sometimes, yeah. But not overall. Except maybe being a florist ;)
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