All four of us went riding today, Mycroft with me and Sherlock with Lestrade. Sherlock kept up a running monologue for nearly the whole time, punctuated by singing We Will Rock You at the top of his lungs. Even over the singing, I could hear Mycroft rolling his eyes.
Came back home and found a late Christmas card from Murray, mailed from Australia. Citizens of Australia, beware: if you see a manic looking Englishman with a terrible beard coming toward you, do not engage, or you'll spend the next three hours paying for his beer and wondering why you're doing it. He has a talent.
He says he's coming back home soon, which he'd better be, because his mum has called me five times so far to ask when that's happening. He either didn't come home after Afghanistan or didn't tell anyone and left again immediately. Neither would surprise me.
Came back home and found a late Christmas card from Murray, mailed from Australia. Citizens of Australia, beware: if you see a manic looking Englishman with a terrible beard coming toward you, do not engage, or you'll spend the next three hours paying for his beer and wondering why you're doing it. He has a talent.
He says he's coming back home soon, which he'd better be, because his mum has called me five times so far to ask when that's happening. He either didn't come home after Afghanistan or didn't tell anyone and left again immediately. Neither would surprise me.
134 comments:
There probably isn't a better song for expressing that feeling of exhilaration, an excellent choice Sherlock!
Lancs. Anon
you could go on a tour of the world now, four boys and their bikes ;-)
Murray sounds a real character, I hope he comes home soon so he can lead you a little bit astray :-)
I fully concur, Lancs--an excellent song choice indeed!
(It does sound like a great day. :))
Since I'm not sleeping I thought I may as well drop in and say good morning. :) Have you any plans for today?
And a good morning from me, too. Back at work, unfortunately, but quiet. A lot of people are still on holiday here.
Sherlock, how about 'we are the champions'? Or is that too slow?
Have a nice day, Tina
I'll try to teach him 'ride the wild wind'.
Best wishes to all, like me, who are back at work today. And of course to any like L who had a much shorter break.
If I say that I'm hoping for a quiet day to get on with things will that put a kibosh on it?
Definitely tempting fate.
I'm sorting out that murder from the New year. Terrible way to start the year for that family.
Good luck to all of you back at work :-)
Sorry your year is starting as the last one ended Greg. How you keep your positive attitude to the world I don't know.
Have a good day with the boys John :-)
Just got to think about getting them off the streets, stopping anyone else losing anyone, Anonybob.
Only in for 2 days, then the last 3 days of the holidays with all my boys :) which I'm very much looking forward to!
I suppose that's something to focus on Greg :-)
Hows the day going?
I hope you make rapid progress with your case, L, both for your sake and the family's.
So far it's reasonably quiet here although I still managed to start my lunch break late. On the plus side I've been fed cheese straws and Christmas cake.
Now to see if the bank is inclined to give me some money ...
Day's okay. Trying to track down a suspect from some good forensics.
How does Murray finagle people into giving him beer? Or is that a mystery for the ages, only to be described in a sheepish voice and a story that starts out "You see, it was like this..."
I'm delighted at the mental image of Sherlock being so happy riding that he has to burst out into song. I hope his repertoire expands, though, for your sakes. And that he can carry a tune bucket or no, but I'm hoping that his talents on the violin guarantee that one.
Good luck catching the murderer, L.
Good luck with boys and dogs and degus, John! Vacations always seem too short when you get to this end of them.
rsf
What a wonderful image: the 4 of you heading out on the bikes, Sherlock singing at the top of his lungs ... I hope it was as much fun as it sounds! As for the song choice, I've always been partial to "Born to be Wild" ;)
Happy New Year (a little late) John, L., Mycroft and Sherlock. I hope it bring lots of love, laughter and good times.
Lyrical Singer
Lancs. Anon - it is a good song, but he really needs to expand his repertoire. It got a bit wearing after the fourth time.
Anonybob - ha. He is good at that.
RSF - magic. Or a really specific psychic power? Fortunately I've developed some resistance over the years.
Sherlock's trying to play We Will Rock You on the violin now.
L - do you want to get lunch or coffee or something if you're not too busy?
Lyrical Singer - Born to Be Wild would be a good one. Happy New Year to you too!
Born to be wild would be brilliant. I'm not allowed to use the motorway while listening to that song any more, by the way...
Tina
With ypu, or with you and the boys?
I'm sort of free, sort of doing surveillance. If Sherlock comes he is not to pursue any suspects!
Tina - ha! Was there a specific incident or just general...enthusiasm?
L - me and the boys. I have, with difficulty, got Sherlock to promise not to attempt any arrests.
You've got to promise too...
I'll send you the address where I am. It's a coffee shop. Don't judge me, it's the only one with a view of the address.
You didn't say anything about me not pursuing suspects...
Gregory MF Lestrade, are you in a Starbucks?
....
...
...
...yes.
I'm drinking tea, and they've even made that horrible.
I'm laughing. A lot. We'll be there shortly.
Well, more general enthusiasm and the fact that my then-car was incredibly slow and me trying to push the pedal through the floor made my passengers nervous (very, very afraid that I'd try to pass another one of those stupid lorries congesting the motorway!) Well, enthusiasm, I'd say.
There was another incident with me singing that song while it was playing on the radio. Unfortunately I'd forgotten that it was summer, I'd rolled down the window and was waiting at a traffic light. I am most emphatically NOT able to carry a tune.
Tina
Tina - sounds like perfectly reasonable levels of enthusiasm to me.
Just got here...in time to watch L dash across the street to talk to someone who doesn't look as if she wants to be talked to. I'm holding on tight to Sherlock so he doesn't try to help...
Anyone got suggestions of a drink fit for human consumption in here? Might just get a bottle of juice...
That just posted while he was talking to her. I honestly sometimes think his phone is possessed. (I supposed it being slow is a more likely explanation, but not as entertaining.)
I could HELP.
He's helped pick out a drink for L instead...
Sherlock, I'm sure you could, but you don't have all the facts, so it would perhaps be better to wait.
Tina
...my drink has a lot of cream and chocolate powder and caramel or something on it...
It was almost a green tea frozen drink thing. How did it go with that woman? Was she your suspect?
John, thanks for understanding my levels of enthusiasm. I certainly thought they were quite fitting :-)
By the way, I do think there are some drinks you can get there that include some kind of coffee and are not that evil. I mean, I'd never get a plain coffee there, but I've been known to buy some coffee-mix-drink, preferably cold. They do always taste the same, which can be preferable to anonymos train-station-coffee, I'm just saying
Tina
... like what Sherlock chose. Very well done ;-)
Tina
I like their lattes and most of the ones with chocolate in. Lestrade... does not. He has strong feelings on the subject.
Good luck with Starbucks et al, Greg.
My preferred cruising songs are "Can't Break Away" by Big Pig and "Oh Yeah" by Yello (giving away my demographic there). I'm not allowed to 'groove' or sing along, but the family does permit me to drum on the steering wheel. I CAN carry a tune, but am classically trained and I guess the mismatch hurts their heads.
This drink is a shot of espresso, maybe two, with chocolate, every sort of syrup, hot milk and cream. I think. It's making my teeth hurt. Sherlock says it's delicious.
It sounds delicious to me! (But then, I'm not a coffee drinker. :))
Er, woman was suspect's mum. I was explaining to her how much trouble he's in and that he'll be in more if he doesn't surrender himself
I hope he listens.
Well, the drink sounds very interesting to me, too. Not as a coffee, but as a caffeinated beverage used instead of dinner :-)
Tina
Tina, that's my sort of singing. I play classical music, preferably loud, so in the summer at traffic lights other road users get treated to me singing happily out of tune to something that they weren't expecting outside a concert hall.
SH- and it´s fun, isn´t it? I tend to keep the windows closed now (at least when I´m in a part of town where it´s possible someone knows me), and I prefer singing when I´m alone in the car, but I truly like singing with the radio (or tape or CD or MP3 or whatever). I mean, "they" don´t have to listen, do they? ;-)
Tina
Tina - great fun. I'm normally on my own when I'm driving. I should have added that my daughter has banned me from singing when I'm in the car with her.
SH - :-)
Tina
I'm all for singing in cars. But I should defer to my audience for whether it's any good.
Isn't "good" irrelevant in car singing? It's good BECAUSE it's car singing!
(Or so I always told my fellow passengers... :D)
Tiny shouts as loud as she can 'shut up mammy' over and over again until I stop if I try singing in the car :-(
I think I'm going to have to restrict myself to singing in the shower, that's perfectly ok whether you can sing or not isn't it?
I hope you've had a successful day Greg and that you are heading home somewhere close to on time tonight :-)
You should come to London and belt out a tune in the Greenwich tunnel - great acoustics.
Mrs H told me once that Mycroft's first words were 'Mummy no sing'...
Leaving now. Should I be glad Mycroft is now very diplomatic?
Probably we all should. I like your singing though, even in the car.
She didn't listen anyway. She and Father used to sing together.
Tunefulness aside, that must be a good memory, Mycroft.
It is.
Thank you for sharing it.
I come from a very musical family but being able to sing is not a skill I inherited sadly
Have a lovely evening all of you :-)
Mum used to sing to us. It's one of my fondest memories of her.
I'm glad you've got nice memories like that, Mycroft.
Sorry for the quiet, folks, John and I went for a jog - I had to do something after that drink. It must've had calories and fat for the whole family in it.
Yeah, but it also gives a lot of energy ;-)
Tina
We always sang in the car because if we didn't my mom would turn on the radio to the station SHE liked. Funny thing is now I listen to a lot of her music and like it just fine.
rsf
run more was one of last years resolutions wasn't it so not a bad things to start the new year with a jog even if it was sugar induced ;-)
has it killed the sugar rush or are you still competing with Sherlock for the most hyperactive award?
I don't think I'm quite as bad as Sherlock. But John would need to be the judge.
Sherlock was air guitaring with me on the sofa earlier. I mean, I was really guitaring....he was air guitaring.
Sherlock definitely wins. And he only had hot chocolate and a bit of L's coffee drink.
He's trying to teach Mycroft how to air violin...
Surely for pop or folk that would be air fiddle? ;D
Thanks for the assessment John, can I suggest more Chocolate syrup next time he dares to visit such an establishment ;-)
How's Mycroft taking the lesson?
I think he's slightly relieved it's Sherlock's bedtime now.
I think we've rather failed on our calm-down hour tonight.
Although it goes to show Sherlock plus caffeine is a bad idea. I'm amazed he hadn't made himself coffee when he was trying to stay awake all night.
I've gone all shivery. Don't know if it's excess energy or what.
Good luck with bedtime I don't envy you that job ;-)
Cuddles Greg, whatever the cause cuddles are good for shivery people :-)
AnonyBob - are you suggesting John needs a vibrating version of me? ;)
you never know it might be an interesting addition ;-)
But then he might want me to vibrate all the time...
Only on select occasions, I think.
I can't imagine what John would do with a vibrating copper. Another vibrating copper.
Actually, maybe I can...
Ha, I think one is quite enough, surely! Anything more would be greedy ;)
(Just carried Sherlock to bed over my shoulder. Guesses for how long he'll stay there??)
Are you taking bets?
You talking to me, regarding the Boy Wonder, or Nameless, and what people think you'd do with two vibrating coppers?? ;)
Let's just hope no-one's been teaching you how to fiddle...
You. Can't bet on something I already know the answer to, can I? That's cheating.
You should tell me more. Whilst hugging me. And not taking advantage of my vibrations.
I'm thinking he'll make a reappearance in a couple of minutes, to ask for something.
Mm. All right.
Yeah. Glass of water. Or banana milk.
... or to tell us he thinks there's a bat in his room. Despite the window being closed...
...Yeah. Wasn't expecting that one.
I used to have bats in my bedroom fairly often, and sometimes I really wasn't sure how they'd gotten in.
rsf
Still, John's either warmed me up/calmed me down...or he's run my batteries flat. No more shivers.
And Sherlock is re-installed in a certified bat-free bedroom.
you see, cuddles work :-)
A bat in my bedroom is about the scariest thing that could ever happen ever!
Nah, anony, they're tiny and timid. Just open a window and turn off the light and sit tight and they'll usually go away pretty quickly.
rsf
Happily for all bats of London, Sherlock's room contained no bats - they were just in his mind. But, of course, meant we had to check for one, and that he got an extra few minutes of being awake with us.
I'd rather play with a lion than have a bat in my bedroom RSF however bloody tiny and timid they may be!
I hope Sherlock is asleep now and you get some peaceful grown up people time :-)
Once had one come down the chimney in a holiday let in Wales. It hung upside down under one of the kitchen cabinets and then flew away when we turned the lights off and opened the back door.
I used to be able to hear them when I was very small. These days if something's higher pitched than a tuba I struggle to hear it, it's hell getting old!
Lancs. Anon
I hope Sherlock is asleep now and you get some peaceful grown up people time :-)
Was that directed at John? He's just told me I'll be sent to my room if I don't stop 'being annoying'*
*Includes, but is not limited to, kissing him, breathing in his ear, licking his ear, tickling, putting cold body parts on him, attempting to backcomb his hair, seeing how many things withint reach I can balance on him and trying to train the dogs to remove his trousers.
Have you ever seen Stuff on My Cat? It was like that. He was piling random cushions and empty glasses and I don't even know what on me.
Well, I wouldn't blame John for taking you to your room for 'being annoying' ;-)
The best thing is, he's so endlessly patient and careful, he attempts to remove each item and put it somewhere safe, but he just can't do that as fast as I can pile things on him. Never-ending fun!
I can't just knock it all on the floor, things would break!
you'll get yours one day Mr I'm sure ;-)
AnonyBob - Ha, I'm sure I will!
Danger - But everything you remove I just put back on you again...it's a never ending cycle of enjoyment. If only the degus were here, they could join in...
No degus! Bed, right now.
Before this escalates and I end up with a chair on my head.
You're still hopped up on sugar aren't you?
John, sounds like you're in for an interesting night :-)
You can't be mean to me. I have a fabulous photo of you to post. Harry said it was my xmas present.
Oh god... You'll post it anyway, I know you. But I'm not going to be mean. I'm going to be very very nice.
But only if you move that plant off my bum!
Does being nice involve the lavender oil? That sometimes makes me sleepy, when applied correctly.
And yeah, I probably will post it anyway. It's glorious
It's a succulent by the way. The plant formerly on your bum. And, indeed, you bum is succulent too.
You called it Mr Cactus.
It could involve lavender oil, yes. If someone were to remove the succulent that has now marched halfway up my back... Do you want another jog before bed time?
Mm...jog might wake me up more, worryingly. Think you should give me an enforced quiet time. I have every faith you'll manage to wear me out. I mean, calm me down...
Did you know there's still a sock on your head? You seem to be either ignoring it, or forgotten it's there. It's black and purple. A sockhawk.
It can stay there. Come on. I'll do my best.
Don't suppose you'd like to tell me what the picture is?
Nope.
You look...triumphant in it, though. Not 100% sure why.
You can tell us all about it when I've posted it.
I shall live in fear until then. Me and my sock.
it's my sock...
c'mon, take me to bed.
My head, my sock.
Happy to.
been on my foot all day...
...I feel I should've realised that.
Why do I have this image in my head of Mycroft sat in an arm chair in the corner of the room rolling his eyes at you both?
enjoy bedtime guys ;-)
I was also going to suggest "Born to be Wild" for Sherlock to sing. Also, I'm new here, hello.
If Sherlock is interested in "We Will Rock You" on violin (or other rock songs), he could do worse than checking out the Vitamin String Quartet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iz97cMJ7duU
-Ella
I spent all day in a car today, but didn't do much singing. When riding down a mountain on my bicycle I've been known to sing "I feel good!!! Na na na na na na na!!" Fortunately no one can hear me on the bike because I can't carry a tune in a bucket.
Hi Ella, welcome - and happy new year!
L - did you go to sleep last night when Nanny!John told you or were you in Serious Trouble?
Hope your day goes smoothly - and that applies to everyone.
I went to sleep eventually, after he tucked me in and told me a story. Knackered today though! Fourth mug of coffee already.
Still, think I'm closing in on my suspect, which is good.
fourth mug?!! John might by in for another 'annoying' night if you keep going at that rate ;-)
Glad you're making progress with the suspect, that always sounds like a step towards a decent work day.
Yu never know how it'll go - sometimes people really close ranks, other times people think that murder is a bad enough crime that usual loyalties don't apply. This seems to be more of the katter. Plus we know there were a lot of people there. Some are eager to let us know it wasnt them...at the expense of their mate.
All this talk about coffee and staying awake just reminded me that I absolutely forgot to post the coffe chocolate chip cookie recipe for Sherlock (Does having the best weekend of 2012 wiping it from my memory count as an excuse?) Anyway, the recipe:
130g butter
80g powdered sugar
100g chocolate chips (or nuts)
2 egg yolks
1 tablespoon cream
1/2 packet of baking powder
1 tablespoon instant coffee (though I used 4 ^^)
250g flour
Knead all ingredients until the dough is smooth. Let it rest for a few hours. Roll out the dough until thin and use whatever cookie cutters you prefer. Bake for 10 minutes at 160°c
For the icing just mix 2 tablespoons of hot water, one tablespoon of instant coffee and as much powdered sugar as you need for whatever consistency you want.
I hope that all makes sense. I hate translating recipes (Studying English does prepare you to analyse Shakespeare but universties kind of ignore the more useful stuff xD)
zeph
Thank you, I want to make them RIGHT NOW and I told John we should because if the dough has to rest we should start them earlier so they'll be ready in time!
You are very welcome ;)
Did you make the cookies? And if yes, do you like them?
I still have some left over but since my fridge is full of cake at the moment I can't stand thinking about eating any more sweets xD
John, I hope Sherlock didn't bother you too much about the cookies.
zeph
Thanks for the welcome, Lestrade, and happy new year to all y'all as well. :) I've actually been reading for quite awhile, but Chrome would never let me comment for some reason. Last night I finally had the bright idea to switch browsers.
ella
*waves at Ella* Thanks for the link to the Vitamin String Quartet. I have a feeling I'll be hunting them out a lot.
And reading this again I'm wondering if Lestrade will ever be allowed to drink anything from Starbucks ever again. (Or was that his clever plan?)
rsf
Ella - just listened to that finally. I think Sherlock will really like it, thanks.
rsf - he won't drink anything from Starbucks willingly as it is, but I wouldn't stop him. He's really very sweet when he's being that silly. Although I would prefer unworn socks...
Clean socks are definitely better anywhere near the vicinity of a nose, in my experience. Although Lestrade must have sweeter feet than most if you didn't notice the sock straight away.
And silliness is lovely, I must agree.
rsf
I have fond memories of singing in the car as a kid on trips. (some of those included the Great Dane I grew up with, so I love hearing about your big dogs too.) More recently, with the longsword team I used to dance with. We'd rent a van to get most of us to the Sword Ale in NYC, and sing on the drive down and back.
S
Sword Ale? Is that a sword dancing...club or something? Sorry, I'm not really familiar with the concept of sword dancing.
Longsword comes from, I'm told, the north of England, but like Cotswold and other kinds of Morris, there are lots of sides in the US now too. It's a form of traditional ritual dance... which I associate with winter, although I'm not sure whether that's part of the actual history, or just the way it's often done here.
The team I was on (in western Mass.) usually went to the Ale (gathering of teams, in this case about a dozen) in New York that is held every year on President's Day weekend. In mid-February, there's a Monday holiday so we take advantage of the long weekend. It's hosted by a team in NYC that started it as a community building event for sword dancers.
here's a recent video of my side (long after I stopped dancing with them) at the ale a couple years ago
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajgVew2HrX0
in the side bar, there are tons of other related videos, of other long sword and rapper teams that were there that year. It's a living tradition, which means some of the dances are straight traditional, others are more innovative.
S
That was a lovely video, S--I'd never heard of longsword dancing before. (And it's pretty clear that those are practice swords--not very safe to hold the pointy end of a sharpened sword!) Is there a meaning to the costumes?
ReRe, they are metal swords, but not sharpened. There is a wood handle at one end with a little bit of a "waist" so you can hold it gently and allow it to turn in your hand. The point end is cut at about a 45 degree angle, and you hold that a little more firmly. They have to be made of spring steel in order to form the lock (star shape) at the end of the dance. I think that is the connection to the north, where Sheffield Steel would have been the desired material. Nowadays new swords are much harder to get, I only know of one maker.
The rag tunics that TLTS uses are because we generally do the dance in the context of a mummer's play (death & resurrection theme, traditional short play). At the big mass stands at the ale, there isn't time for one team to take up 15-20 minutes, so we just did the dance. I'll keep hunting and see if anyone got a video of the whole thing. As you can see in the side bar links, most teams wear kit that is pretty much just matching clothes, often based on what we know from old photos, teams were wearing in the early 20th century, when the serious collecting began.
The other thing the rags do is to help lift the dancers out of ordinary life (I'm not sure really how to say this, since I'm not the interlocutor usually!!) and puts them in a ceremonial role... TLTS started with all dancers over 6 feet tall, and the bulky rags made them into giants at least in the eyes of small children. In a way, we knew we were doing it right if a 2 year old had to be carried out screaming when we came on. (no permanent harm done, I promise!)
The masks are a challenge to dance in, it's almost like being blindfolded. Not such a big deal in the single unders and double unders, but single overs... you can see how hard it is not to lose that beat between one gate and the next.
Well, not to write a book on John's blog...! But, if you are in NYC next February, look for the posters, or search on Half Moon Sword Ale for info.
S
I think you said it just fine, it makes sense to me.
It's hard enough to make a sword go where you want it to, and harder yet to coordinate them like that. To do it basically blindfolded... I'll definitely be looking for it come winter!
Very interesting, and thank you for the explanation. The video was more than slightly hypnotising.
The dance is more than slightly hypnotizing too, being in it. You have to think just hard enough but not too hard. Very be-here-now. Also the idea is, the swords are doing the dance, and we are just along for the ride. That's the part I miss, the actual dancing.... The foreman (the tall guy in the yellow rags) is an amazing master teacher, it was such a treat to dance with him. But... there was the calcifying tendonitis in the shoulder, which was no good for a short person trying to dance in a tall set, and various other factors, so... I had to let it go. Still dancing Garland and being a groupie with my Morris lads though, and singing. :)
S
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