Tonight is Moose Night (actual title of the play is Fire and Pirates, which I think you'll agree is much more exciting than Hamlet), and yesterday was sports day. I started out with a bang early on by falling over during the sack race and coating myself in mud from the neck up. I thought I got most of it off, but I found a great deal more in and around my ears when we got home.
L's cakes were very popular, as they should have been. Both were delicious, but the chocolate-lavender one was the best, or maybe I just think that because it was chocolate. It was interesting to watch him making it too, with soaking the flowers and all that. I always like watching him cook.
Sherlock entered just about every race, and entered L and I and Mycroft into every race as well. L and I did a few of them, and Mycroft declined in order to keep an eye on the dogs. Just as well, since the other dogs there were mostly of a size that ours would regard them as snacks.
I told L he should've gone in uniform and impressed everyone, but he declined and attributed my helpful suggestion to impure motives. I still think it would've got him out of that conversation about parking tickets.
Mrs Hudson and hopefully Mrs Holmes are coming along to the play tomorrow evening. I hope it all goes well. The moosercycle looks great, but I'm a little concerned about Sherlock's ability to ride it. And about his willingness to stop riding it when the scene in question is over.
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Also, I got a comment last night...
I need some romance advice any chance of you running a dating/Romance column some time? You seem to know exactly what to do to turn your man to jelly and I'm sure a few of us could do with that!
L's cakes were very popular, as they should have been. Both were delicious, but the chocolate-lavender one was the best, or maybe I just think that because it was chocolate. It was interesting to watch him making it too, with soaking the flowers and all that. I always like watching him cook.
Sherlock entered just about every race, and entered L and I and Mycroft into every race as well. L and I did a few of them, and Mycroft declined in order to keep an eye on the dogs. Just as well, since the other dogs there were mostly of a size that ours would regard them as snacks.
I told L he should've gone in uniform and impressed everyone, but he declined and attributed my helpful suggestion to impure motives. I still think it would've got him out of that conversation about parking tickets.
Mrs Hudson and hopefully Mrs Holmes are coming along to the play tomorrow evening. I hope it all goes well. The moosercycle looks great, but I'm a little concerned about Sherlock's ability to ride it. And about his willingness to stop riding it when the scene in question is over.
-
Also, I got a comment last night...
I need some romance advice any chance of you running a dating/Romance column some time? You seem to know exactly what to do to turn your man to jelly and I'm sure a few of us could do with that!
So...yes, sure, ask away. I cannot promise to be any help whatsoever, but I'm certainly willing to try.
92 comments:
Your very kind John I was really being very cheeky to ask so don't feel you have to answer
How do you date someone and plan romantic treats for each other without it turning into some sort of competition? I don't mean in a bad way just that feeling of having to do more than last time.
I'm not even sure that makes sense so don't worry about answering if it doesn't and don't feel you have to answer at all I.
Very cheeky anon
I definitely have to agree that Fire and Pirates is a far more exciting title than Hamlet, John! (I was going to say that Hamlet would be a more exciting play if it had either fire or pirates in it, but on second thought, I'm not sure that a play that opens with a ghost and ends with a stage littered with dead bodies necessarily needs more excitement. *considers* Maybe in the middle. :D) In any case, I'm sure you're all looking forward to seeing it--I know I'm really looking forward to hearing about it, fire, pirates, moose, Sherlock-with-curvy-sword, and all!
It sounds like yesterday was happy and successful (mud and sprained ankles notwithstanding!), and I hope today is every bit as fun for all of you. :)
Fire and Pirates is an excellent name for a play. And I'm sure Sherlock will hit all his marks perfectly, even if it means getting off the moose.
In celebration of moose day, here are some moose facts for Sherlock.
"Moose" means "twig eater" in one of the Algonquin Indian languages.
Only male moose have antlers. They knock them off against trees every November or December when mating season is done and then grow a bigger pair the next year. The antlers can have a span of nearly 6 feet!
When a bull moose wants to attract a female moose, it digs a shallow pit with its hooves, fills it with urine and then rolls around in it, and the female moose act like it's perfume. But I think that's why bull moose get very bad tempered during the mating season, don't you?
rsf
Hee, rsf--that would definitely explain it!
So what do the designated audience members of the Holmes-Watson-Lestrade household have planned between now and show time?
I'm mainly trying to think up a question about dating and romance to ask the Doc.
:D
Dear Dangerous Doc
Can I sneak in and pick your brains please this couldn’t have been a better timed offer for me! It’s my wedding anniversary in a couple of months and I want to try and bring some romance back into our lives. 15 years of always together has taken its toll on our collective romance knowledge so do you have any tips on where to start?
Thank you.
Fire and Pirates is the greatest name for a play I've ever heard. I want to see it, and I know my son would!
I like the idea of the occasional advice column. I think I've completely gone sour on romance, so maybe a few Q&As will remind me that there is still something left of the sweet sort of love in the world.
Anon - How do you date someone and plan romantic treats for each other without it turning into some sort of competition?
Hmm. That's a tricky one, and I think in some ways L and I have that issue in regard to birthday celebrations, because it's going to be rather hard to top a canal boat trip, but...I think that perhaps the most important romantic gestures aren't the big ones, if you see what I mean.
They're the smaller, more every day ones, like looking for a restaurant (or museum, or anything really) that you know your partner will really love, or little gifts for no reason if you see something you know they'd really enjoy, which sounds cheesy, but I think the point I'm trying to make is about things that are specific to the person you love, even if they're little things. I hope that makes sense. I still feel like one of the least qualified people on Earth to write about romance.
(Anon #2 - I will answer, it just might be a while, sorry. This day is very full of moose-related things and isn't leaving a lot of time to think seriously about romance.)
Friends of mine are doing a production of Hamlet in a couple of weeks. In the marketing they're calling it Hamlet: The Bad-@** Quarto. Apparently the first printing of Hamlet is quite different and a version no one ever does. It's referred to as the Bad Quarto by scholars. I'm fairly certain there will be no moose in this version though, so it probably won't be as good as Sherlock's.
Have fun tonight.
Making one of your boyfriend's wards a moose is very romantic.
Just remember it's not the size of your antlers... it's the smell of your urine. Or something...
You jest, L--but going to all that trouble to make Sherlock happy shows what a loving person you are, and that is very romantic. :)
I think if you're wearing fascist ones, it might be the size of your antlers that counts.
cardboard...not fascist.
How in the world do you get fascist when you mean cardboard?? Crazy. :)
Since the show is called Fire and Pirates will there be fire on stage? I've always wanted to be in a show with fire on stage. Hopefully this doesn't make me sound like a pyro, but I like fire. :)
ryo
A assureyou my antlers aren't fascist. However, I take that as a sign I should get out of this mud-and-urine-filled-hole...
Ryo - there was no real fire. Much to Sherlock's disappointment, I'm sure. Just some blowy silky flames.
RR - all good jests are built on truth. Making Sherlock happier makes John happier, I know that.
I, too, am wondering how autocorrect managed to morph "cardboard" into "fascist"!
Blowy silky flames sound like a much better stage effect than a real flame, considering how many things on a stage can catch fire!
Making Sherlock happier makes John happier, I know that.
Yeah, but that's not why you do it--and that's why it's romantic. (And also just lovely. :))
I think it is pretty much why I do it - to make them both happy...
Both, yes! But making Sherlock happy is an end in itself, too. (Which he well knows. :))
thank you very much John, that makes sense and I see what you mean about the small things being important, everyday romance I guess.
You really are very kind answering my question, and perfectly qualified!!
very cheeky anon
right... now I'm completely lost.
Danger - I do hope you know there is absolutely no need to 'top' anything. Well...when I say anything... what I mean is, if we spent my birthday at home, doing nothing special, maybe in a blanket fortress, it would still be fantastic, because I'd be with you lot.
I'm definitely with you on just buying/doing things you know your partner will enjoy at any time of the year though, not waiting for special occasions. Or, indeed, just buying things for special occasions for the sake of it, even though they don't really speak to you, but just because you feel you need to buy something.
(L--Just saying that you aren't being nice to Sherlock only to make John happy, even though it does. You love Sherlock and want him to be happy, which shows what a loving person you are, by going to such lengths--which is actually very romantic.)
So what time is the play? Are you there now, or on your way?
Right. I didn't mean to imply I was only being nice to Sherlock for John. Just that the knock on effect of Sherlock being happy is that John has an easier ride and is also happy.
Play is over and done with. Was very good. Now we're out in the sunshine. Sherlock has retained his sword.
A two-fer! :)
Yay for a successful play! I hope we'll get a fuller account later--don't want to waste sunshine!
Of course Sherlock has retained his sword. Swords are COOL! :) (But they are also things to be treated with respect and care, even stage and practice swords--don't want to instill bad habits, after all. Right, Sherlock? )
L - I do hope you know there is absolutely no need to 'top' anything.
I know, love. I feel the same. Anything we do together is good. And besides, how could I do better than that Silver Foxes book...
the one you keep under your pillow when I'm on nights...yeah, fairly sure you bought that more for you than for me.
RR - play was entertaining in the way school plays are - chaotic, some kids forgetting lines, other determined to say every one of theirs no matter what else is happening. Tears and confusion and some clearly unstable parental figures spoiling kids with motorised mooses to ride around and cause havoc on...
I've basically got no idea what the story was, but it was a lot of fun to watch.
Don't look at me, Mrs Hudson has it now...
....
......
there's got to be a law against that sort of thing. You're some sort of...smutty-silver-fox-pusher.
If you hadn't so forcefully rejected it, it wouldn't have been lying around for her to find!
Lestraaaade, what's for dinnerrrrrr?
why on earth would I want to read about old blokes like me!
And I don't knnnooowwwww, what are you cooookkiiinnggg usss? ;)
Briefly interjecting--Sherlock, maybe you'd like to tell us a bit about the play from the actor's point of view. Not now, of course, since it's dinnertime, but sometime this weekend perhaps? (I'd love a picture of the moose and your sword--maybe you could draw us one?)
As you were, gents!
(as we're out, it's sunny, and it is the end of term... we could go and have pizza? I'll have extra garlic if you do...)
Ha! So next time I should get you Hot Young Doctors or something?
I could make curry...possibly.
Yes, pizza, that sounds much better.
Anon 2 - It’s my wedding anniversary in a couple of months and I want to try and bring some romance back into our lives. 15 years of always together has taken its toll on our collective romance knowledge so do you have any tips on where to start?
Congratulations, to start with. Fifteen years is a long time; I'm very happy for you both. :) Maybe one night at a nice hotel near where you live? In some ways, it can be more romantic than a trip because it requires hardly any of the planning and stress that can go with travel. Or maybe (and this may sound mad but I will make lists for anything) you could both do a list of things you've always wanted to do or places to see (that are reasonably nearby I mean, not trips to Siberia) (unless you live in Siberia), and setting aside time every week to do/visit one of them together?
One of the things L has shown me is that planning to spend time together, and discovering things together, even when you live together already, makes it feel like a special occasion. I think that will still be true, even fifteen years from now, so I hope it's true for you too.
I completely loved it when you kidnapped me across London to that pub restaurant hotel place. It was amazing, and very surprising, because we were so close to home.
I'm glad sports day and moose play went so well, a great end of term for Sherlock. Does he already have plans in place for the next few weeks or is he still too excited about his moosercycle?
It's very nice of you to share your romantic advice with us all John :-)
oh, and definitely turn your socks the right way in before putting them in the wash - that's the most romantic gesture you can make. Fact.
;)
(The boys have eaten and entire onion's worth of onion rings between them, I think...)
I think we may have eaten an entire bulb of garlic between us on that pizza...dare you to kiss me.
...can you seriously think of anything that would prevent me from kissing you, ever? It is one of my favourite ways of passing the time.
No, not really. :)
Can we have another sword fight please? kissing is so boring.
DW are you around? have you been messing with poll results? tea at 69% ;)
...well, it is hot, wet and to be enjoyed all day long...
(Although I didn't vote for it.)
L - one could say the same of coffee in your case. And it's thick, strong, and gets one ready to go.
Mmm.. could do with one now.
Sherlock, one more sword fight and it is definitely time to calm down for bed.
Sword fights at bedtime! Wow. Sherlock is really one lucky kid.
And how you two manage to get coffee and tea to be so laden with with innuendo... well, that's pretty romantic, actually, joking together, isn't it?
rsf
that's pretty romantic, actually, joking together, isn't it?
It's definitely a very good thing in a relationship, at the least.
I love making John roll his eyes and groan at a terrible pun. A million times better than being told to grow up, orless polite things.
The dogs like swords, it seems. And will probably have eaten them by the morning.
Sword swallowing dogs? (What ARE those swords made of, and should you be removing them to higher ground before you buy a vet visit?)
Between the fire and the pirates and the moose and all, it sounds like a very exciting way to end a school year. Will Sherlock be able to visit the pond during the summer to check on his crop of newts and frogs? And did Mrs H or Mrs H get a chance to see the play too?
rsf
RSF, do you have a direct line to my brain? Because I was JUST wondering if Sherlock had thought to get permission to visit the pond during the summer break!
they're just cardboard, with a bit of tinfoil, same as swords have been for generations of kids!
I'd like to see someone try to keep Sherlock away from the pond.
Both Mrs H's were present for the play, yes.
L -- cake question. I'm not terribly partial to chocolate, but the lavender idea sounds intriguing. Do you think it would work with a white cake?
ryo
It definitely would. You can try it with orange, lemon, or just on its own. It'll be a delicate flavour if you just go for plain cake, but you can make the icing as lavender-y as you want, if you like icing :)
If growing up involves no longer making terrible puns, please never grow up! ;)
All right, Tinkerbell. Just call me Peter and I won't...
Bed?
Bed, definitely. Peter.
tuck your wings in or I'll squash them :) And don't get your fairy dust up my nose.
Good night, gentlemen--and a Shabbat shalom to you all. Have a Saturday!
I was thinking about the tinfoil part. Never did the dog we had when I was a kid any good to eat the tinfoil. But he was smaller.
Maybe I'll just make lavender icing to put on whatever cupcakes I can freeze. I can cut the recipe down to "not enough to get sick on" more easily that way.
Goodnight, everyone! "Tinkerbell", have fun getting "Peter" flying!
rsf
*reads rsf's comment*
*chokes on hot chocolate*
Ahem. I'm never going to look at Peter Pan, tea, or coffee the same way again. ;)
John - Glad to hear the play went well, and I can't wait to hear a plot summary of Fire and Pirates. (Amongst other things, I'm wondering where the moose came into play.) Or perhaps Sherlock would like to tell us what happened?
As for Greg being in uniform for sports day... you do realize that the mothers might have never let him go, if your reaction is anything to judge by? *cheeky grin*
I hope you have a wonderful Saturday together!
~A from NW
A bit random, but I'm a bit surprised that Mycroft at least hasn't pointed out that ther ARE pirates in Hamlet. Hamlet's ship gets attacked by them and he gets separated from the shop because in the middle of the sea battle, when he has boarded the other ship, there is a storm that pulls the ships apart. It just happens off-stage. But it is in Act 3/4 (depending on how it gets divided) so, there is excitement in the middle....
If no one cares, sorry to pipe up, but since I just read Hamlet 2 weeks ago and is fresh in my mind, I thought I might as well say something...
~Cylendelmar
I hope the day is as sunny with you as it is here :-) what's the plan for the first day of the holidays Sherlock?
Are you working at some point Greg?
John I've got a question I hope you an Greg don't mind.
How do you know what to do when you're with someone who's been a victim of sexual abuse in the past (sorry if that's not the right way to say It I don't know) to make sure you don't make them feel uncomfortable or something?
Sorry you don't have to answer if you don't want.
Anon, try a safeword. Have your person choose something to say when they'd like the conversation or activity to stop or take a different direction, and then always respect that word no matter how curious you are until the trust comes naturally.
Cylendelmar - you're right - so we can conclude that Sherlock's play was Hamlet, the missing bits.
I still don't remember a moose though, but it was in Denmark, so I imagine it would be possible.
It's a bit sunny, and we are having a LOT of fun. No work for me today. :)
Anon 3 - How do you know what to do when you're with someone who's been a victim of sexual abuse in the past (sorry if that's not the right way to say It I don't know) to make sure you don't make them feel uncomfortable or something?
I think the other anon's idea of a safe word could be useful. Also, probably the most important thing is to talk to your partner about it - not necessarily what happened to them, unless they want to, but what they're comfortable with now, or not comfortable with, if they can tell you and are willing to discuss it. Everyone's different. Past trauma of all kinds can affect people in unexpected ways. So...I can tell you what I'm sure you already know, that love and patience (from both of you) will help, because that helps almost any situation, but I think the only person who's qualified to tell you what you need to know is your partner. Sorry. I hope that's a bit helpful at least.
It is sort of helpful thanks. I think I meant more like, if they say it is okay, but you think their just saying it because they don't want to disappoint you or something maybe. But then it feels like you're trying to say you know how they feel better than they do. I don't suppose it's something you can ever know for sure maybe. Do you ever get that feeling with Greg if you don't mind saying?
Don't answer if either of you don't want obviously.
I went on a real quad bike with a proper engine on my own and had a helmet and a real riding suit and went really fast and there was mud and it was brilliant and I want to do it again!
Wow, Sherlock! That sounds exciting! I'm jealous. I can't wait to more about your adventure. Where did you go, and did Mycroft go riding, too?
That's brilliant Sherlock :-) how exciting :-)
We all went to an off road quad/bike school. Mycroft's done so well at school and Sherlock's behaviour about the moosercycle and changing classes we thought was good enough in the end to deserve a treat.
They each got their own quad bike for the day, with an instructor. And by the sizes of smiles, i think we all enjoyed it.
What a great way to celebrate both boys achievements. I hope they're both very proud of themselves as well as exhausted from there fun :-)
Anon - I think everyone in a relationship has that feeling sooner or later, about something, even if it's only something little like thinking your partner doesn't really want to see the film you want to see but is only doing it to make you happy. But whether it's something little or something very big...I think it has to be their choice. Which isn't always easy for me, as I do tend to be a bossy bastard and think I know what's best for everyone, but I'm working on it.
And by the sizes of smiles, i think we all enjoyed it.
Definitely did. :)
...Sherlock is still riding a (now imaginery) quad bike around the flat. COmplete with loud engine noises. And running people over.
We've created a monster...
You're lucky I'm not doing the same...
I shall send the two of you to the park soon...
Anon...you didn't ask me, so feel free to ignore this, but I agree with John's last comment. Have I done things that I didn't exactly want to do with him? Yes. But exactly as he says - it was my choice. And sometimes I've surprised myself by being fine with it, and other times I've learnt that perhaps I wasn't ready, but it was still my choice. It isn't always easy saying you don't want to do something, but I think when you know and trust someone, you can live with the choice you make, even if it's wrong in the end. If that makes sense.
Mycroft rode a bike on his own! And I wasn't allowed which isn't fair but Lestrade took me on his and we went really really fast much faster than Mycroft
L - To run off our excess energy and vrooming noises?
Sherlock - I think you went faster than any of us today.
Yes. Honestly, in a minute I'll be threatening you with a rolling pin and yelling at you, like my Nonna used to...Fuori di qui! :)
If you do, I'm taking a picture. Please arrange to have flour in your hair if at all possible, I think it would complete the image.
If we go to Italy this summer, do you want to see your family there?
anon please feel free to ignore this but I only told my partner about previous bad experiences a very short while ago (thanks to a discussion here) one of the reasons I hadn't said anything before was that I worried he would question everything and wonder if i really ment yes when I said it. I know it must be hard for him even now but he really does try and take my word for it when I say something is OK.
there is a power in saying yes just as much as saying no and if your partner has said yes as hard as it is you need to try and go with it, as much as you feel comfortable with anyway, but they are very lucky to have someone who worries about them.
I don't know how you can even see flour in my hair, seeing as it's mainly flour-coloured.
Mmm. Maybe. I don't know. Don't know if they'd be particularly interested in seeing me, either.
Thought we were mainly aiming at not seeing anyone at all, apart from a friendly local shopkeeper, perhaps...
All right, just thought I'd ask.
It's not mainly flour coloured! It's silver, that's completely different.
It's not really silver, that's just because his other hair is dark still so it looks grey really it's got no colour and is sort of seethrough because he's old and yours is going the same but different because your other hair isn't as dark so it doesn't look the same and yours is just near your ears and Lestrade's is all over everywhere.
Is it really see-through? Am I going to go entirely see-through when I get old? I hope so, Invisibility would definitely be my choice of super power.
(Will now get told off by six year old for being silly in three...two...one...)
Remind me never to go to Sherlock for a bit of moral support!
Anyway, it's just your ears that are going invisible, I'm going invisible all over everywhere. You'll be forced to find me by touch alone... better start mapping my body with your hands quickly!
What makes you think I haven't! I have a contour map of you on my wall at work.
Well I hope it's one of those that when you move from side to side the picture changes, because I assure you my contours don't stay the same all the time. There's one in particular that...oh, hang on, it's looking at you, at work, with your stethoscope around your neck and pens and that little light thing in your pocket, with your sincere concerned open 'talk to me' face on... yeah, that contour is probably at it's highest most of the time, then. As you were.
Ha. Yes, my patients do occasionally ask me about that, but I tell them it's perfectly natural and nothing to be concerned about.
Thanks for the advice John, the list of things might be a good start for us. I hope you and Greg do a better job of keeping the romance alive than we did, I think it might be eaiser to keep it alive than to try and resucitate it later.
anon2
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