I got to see Sherlock's chicks yesterday - that is, the chicks that belong to his entire class, although he refers to them as his and wants to take them home so they can live in his room. He's not alone. I had four other children tell me they wanted a pet chicken while I was there. One little girl showed me a chicken harness she'd made so she could take it for walks. She plans to name it Dog, because 'no one's dog is ever called Dog so when I call him in the park he'll know I mean him.' You can't argue with logic like that.
Read about an exhibition just now...
'Horrible Histories: Spies'. Based on the popular childrens book series by Terry Deary, the display will immerse visitors into the world of World War Two espionage, including codes and ciphers, disguises, camouflage, forgeries and gadgets. The spy theme will continue in 'Secret War', an ongoing IWM London exhibition exploring the clandestine world of espionage, covert operations and the work of Britains Special Forces.
Read about an exhibition just now...
'Horrible Histories: Spies'. Based on the popular childrens book series by Terry Deary, the display will immerse visitors into the world of World War Two espionage, including codes and ciphers, disguises, camouflage, forgeries and gadgets. The spy theme will continue in 'Secret War', an ongoing IWM London exhibition exploring the clandestine world of espionage, covert operations and the work of Britains Special Forces.
So I think the odds are quite good we'll be going to see that. Or Sherlock and I will anyway. Mycroft might be too old for it...but then again, I'm not, so perhaps he isn't either. I have a feeling one of you mention a spy exhibition and then I forgot to look it up, so if this is it...sorry, and thanks. Some days I feel I should be grateful my head is firmly attached so I don't wander off without it. And some days I wish I could wander off without it.
Well, I'm awake, and that's clearly not going to change, and I think I hear Sherlock stirring in his lair. Might as well see if he wants to help with breakfast.
79 comments:
Those sound like great exhibits. Isn't it fun when you and Sherlock can share an interest? I got interested in secret (and not so secret) codes and ciphers when I was a kid, and I still know how to construct a scytale from a broomstick.
If you've got a duck named Dog, would you want a dog named Duck?
Happy breakfasting!
rsf (who needs to go back to bed, even if I can't sleep.)
I think tonight is the night of insomnia. Zombies, assemble!
Hope you get some sleep today, love. There's a chance I might get off early enough to pick up Sherlock - just say if you want me to.
YES YOU SHOULD COME AND SEE MY CHICKS.
John put the milk in the cupboard when he meant to put it in the fridge.
I fear the day you're old enough for that to have a different meaning...
I can't promise to get to you. I might be too busy. Be good for John, won't you?
I remember coming home to find my housemate's handbag in the fridge.
Sure enough, the new carton of milk was on her dressing table.
It was, apparently, a very bad week
(Right there with you, Pip...)
sorry you struggled with sleep John and good luck with getting through the day :-)
I hope works treats you well Greg and that the chicks are suitably entertaining today Sherlock :-)
Hope you're sleeping, Danger. Or enjoying the sun.
At the allotment, enjoying the sun, not actually doing much. How are you?
you know Greg, you're doing a great job of sounding a little bit like a dick right now but I assume that some conversation happened this morning that gives basis for your feeling that John could sleep all day because he struggled to sleep last night where as you'd have had to power through with the help of coffee.
I hope you're having a good day John :-)
Er...didn't notice if you were.
I don't think I follow, Anony. I mean, Sherlock is in school, and the laundry and dust and shopping and dishes and weeds and all aren't go to run off and hide if they're left alone for an hour (more's the pity!), so why shouldn't John catch a nap if he wants to? *confoozled*
For the partner who is at 'work' during the day to suggest that the partner who is at home is in a position to not do the things they do during the day and sleep instead, as if it doesn't matter if it gets done or not, can give the impression that the working partner doesn't understand the value of what gets done while they are out.
I didn't say Greg was being a dick just that it sounded a little like it. Greg and John have hundreds of conversations we know nothing about but what he said in the black and grey of the blog sounded less than brilliant.
I'm sorry if I offended you Greg.
I knew what you meant. I guess I hoped I've never given the impression that I think John's job is less important than mine. But I do think his job is less constrained by a strict time schedule, apart from the obvious.
Anony, I have a full-time freelance business which I run from home--AND I am, in all but pay, housekeeper for my parents. I do the laundry, cleaning, most of the cooking, the whole deal, plus I keep an eye on my father while mother is teaching, and on both of them when she's not. (Not including going to appointments with my father so he doesn't get confused and wander off, or lose his balance and fall.) But the plain truth is I AM at home, and if I want/need to take a nap I can, because while it matters very much IF all the work gets done, it doesn't matter as much WHEN it gets done. (Always assuming I can fall asleep, of course.) It's not a matter of whether it's an important job or a necessary job, just that the hours are more flexible.
(Ha! Great minds--only you said it a lot more succinctly, L.)
I hoped I've never given the impression that I think John's job is less important than mine
You haven't. I think, generally speaking, I'm the only one who does that.
you don't Greg, I'm really sorry I said anything.
RR I get your point but when you're a partnership and one of you is at home and the other at work the major advantage of the situation is that you get evening and weekends together to have fun and enjoy the kids and stuff which you really don't get if the one at home is doing their jobs all evening because they didn't do them during the day.
Anyway sorry again.
I do totally understand what you mean, and I'm sorry if I sounded like that. And sorry to anyone I offended.
John - glad you were at the allotment. Assume you didn't want me to pick up Sherlock? Bit late if you did...
poor rereader you work so hard! not quite the same as being a family with children and balancing it all though.
Actually I would say it's very much the same. Looking after the older members of a family is hard, hard work and unlike looking after children they don't get better at caring for themselves.
L - no, thanks, I've got him. And another tour of the chicks, who have been weighed and measured and examined and so far appear to still be sane.
Anon - Looking after the older members of a family is hard, hard work and unlike looking after children they don't get better at caring for themselves.
Quite right. More difficult in some cases, especially if they're your parents.
The only thing you could possibly be right about Anon1 is that RR doesn't have anyone to balance it with because she's on her own so yeah that's 'not quite the same' but being the one person responsible for a house and its workings isn't easy!
Have the chicks grown since last time you saw them John? ;-)
Good. Not sure when I'll be home. I'll try not to be late again
Thank you, Anon2, John, and Anony.
(And I think we were just looking at different sides of the coin, Anony, rather than really disagreeing. :))
Yeah, how are the chicks? And any pond life visible yet, Sherlock?
Anonybob - Sherlock swears a few of them are heavier by some minute amount...I don't even know how he's telling them apart! And it's not just him; they all have names, and all the kids seem perfectly able to tell one from another. Hours of staring, probably...
L - all right. Still busy I take it? Let me know if there's anything I can do?
how parental of them, I guess parents of identical twins/triplets/quads can tell them apart so why not chickens ;-)
I'm glad he's enjoying them so much now they're here after waiting so nicely for them :-)
Busy, yeah. Lots of panic from on high about the community resolutions in the news today.
I googled the community resolutions thing out of curiosity. Sounds like someone didn't get the message that when you ask people to do more with less, they're going to have to do some of that more by less-than-optimal means.
I doubt any politicians will realize that, though.
Crap, sorry, late again - on the way home.
Anon - thing is, sometimes they're brilliant things. Cautions are just a signature on a bit of paper, maybe ruin some kid's life with a criminal record, giving them little to lose? Whereas facing their victim gives them a real life lesson, sometimes changes their behaviour for good. Once again the powers that be see the crime, not the person.
I can see you
I like the idea of the face to face apology, actually, but I'm a little concerned that the article I looked at said that no record was kept. It's the sort of tool I want to see used with some care that it isn't used repeatedly for someone who thinks they're just going to keep getting a pass.
But if a record is kept, doesn't that sort of negate the purpose of not giving someone a criminal record? (These things are never simple, are they.)
Are you okay, Sherlock? You sound a little...subdued.
I think my concern would be in cases of domestic violence, where I can imagine there could be quite a bit of pressure for the victim to agree to the community resolution.
Snon - a record is kept, by the police. Just as any arrest has a record kept of it. So someone wouldn't just keep getting RJs (plus it's entirely dependent on the victim agreeing to it each time, which they may not do!)
RR - no, criminal record is a public record, which potential employers etc. could demand from the person - it could and does lead to people not being employed. An arrest record is for the police, and no one can look into it, apart from us, because you could have been arrested for something which you were never convicted for, so it would be unfair to have that seen by anyone else.
I don't suppose you have any advice on what to do when one child is keeping the other awake do you John?
I hope the evening is relaxed for you all :-)
Ah, I see--thanks for explaining, L.
Anonybob - you could try reading to them both, if they like that? And then maybe the one who's meant to be sleeping can drop off while the other's entertained. I think that's all I've got though, sorry. I think it must be much harder with younger kids like yours. Good luck. :)
thanks John, I'll give it a go :-)
Sh - yeah. I'm...unsure of the value of it in DV cases, just because of the general nature of them. But I hope no one would ever feel pressured to agree.
I'm okay John said that I didn't need to type everything in capitals because Lestrade could read it just as well in little letters.
Pandabob when Mycroft used to keep me awake I would tell him to shut up but he didn't do it very often and when I kept him awake he would threaten to tell on me or gag me but he never did.
I think I probably have that to look forward to Sherlock but for tonight I followed John's advice and all is quiet now. He's a good one that John isn't he? ;-)
Oh, that's good, Sherlock. (And it is true, too. :))
John is THE BEST and Lestrade said I could use capitals to say that because he is.
We're all pretty lucky to have John, huh?
yep that is definitely a capitals statement Sherlock :-D
(And that's the advantage to not always using capitals--when you do use them, they matter more!)
(And that was a very good choice of words to use capitals for, too. :))
Yes but he is rubbish at telling which chick is which even though it's obvious but when they grow up and get feathers I bet it will be easier.
I only used capital letters before when it was important but John said maybe sometimes what I think it important right then isn't very important in all the world just to me but John being the best is important to all the world.
John being the best is important to all the world.
Excellent point!
L, I think I could see some value to an apology even in a domestic violence case, even with with the victim's agreement as long as it's very clear to everyone that this is a one time only deal. But that's probably because my father scared the bejasus out of himself the one time he ever hit my mother and he never did it again.
rsf
Thanks, Sherlock - that's really kind of you, and I think you're pretty great too, you know. :)
I know.
RSF - I...well, like I said, every case is different, but in my experience, the police aren't called the first time there's an incident of domestic abuse. Often not the second time. It can be after months or years of abuse, and believe me, that person will have had their abuser apologise to them hundreds of times. Every time, maybe. And promise to change, promise it won't happen again. That person apologising again - and not even of their own volition, but because they've been told to? Won't mean a single thing. In fact, for many, it would feel worse, because it would feel like that should be 'enough' - as if something's been done by the authorities and they should be happy with that.
Ha! You tell him Sherlock ;)
Sherlock - good.
L - hey, you. I also think you're pretty great.
(and you too, Mycroft - I know, don't be soppy. ;)
He won't be soppy with you if you forget to close your brackets...parentheses, whatever I should call them.
But I do think you're great too, Mycroft. Looking forward to having you home again. Do you want us all to come and pick you up on Friday?
But they look weird after smiley faces...which I know will be know excuse as far as he's concerned.
John: If you didn't use emoticons, you wouldn't have that issue. And yes, I know.
Lestrade: Yes, please. You have the weekend off?
...
which I know will be know excuse
It's getting worse, Mycroft! Although that one might have been because he's being distracted by Sherlock and an argument about the colour of socks...
(Danger, he'd probably frown at the use of smiley faces >:( )
Mycroft - I think so...well, I think I'll be on call. I might have to work a night...sorry, I'm trying to work it all out.
It's all right. I was only curious.
I'm curious too! Just got a couple of team members who might need time off...and with other people with court commitments and stuff it's proving a bit hard to sort out.
John - sometimes I substitute square brackets for round ones to avoid emoticons looking too weird [sort of like this :-) ].
Still looks weird, but less... double-chinned.
Whose socks are they arguing about?
I think Sherlock wanted to wear green socks tomorrow, but his are in the wash... I have no idea why green socks are sudenly so important.
Not just any green socks, but the dark green ones... I don't know why either.
I was wondering--when are those big exams Mycroft was studying for?
(Green socks...nope, nothing comes to mind. :?)
has he given in, or are we about to hand wash dark green socks?
I told him he could wash them in the sink if he really wanted to and they'd probably be dry by morning. He didn't want them that badly.
You're a genius of unrivalled proportions.
Ha.
Just a guess...there are (breeds? species? types?) chickens with green feet. Araucuna, I think they are called. No, I don't know why I know that.
L, you're right -- I don't think my mom did call the police that time, although she would have if he ever did it twice. I do kind of wish some people were forced to make a public apology though. Maybe as they were being hauled off to jail...
Green socks ring no bells with me, although I expect they wouldn't show pond slime as easily as white ones. Or it could just be that they're comfy. I have a pair of blue socks that are mysteriously better than any other pair in the drawer.
Mycroft, did you there's a coffee emoticon?
c[_]
rsf
I just think being forced to apologise, in some cases, is meaningless. And with so much DA it's very calculated to achieve exactly what the abusers wants that confronting them and having the person who was abused explaining how it felt would just be a power trip.
Why would the victim have to say anything? No, no, I'm going to stop now, because I am theorizing without data or braincells. I hope the fuss in the news dies down or at least accomplishes something better -- like rehiring more policemen.
rsf
Sorry, never answered.
I just said that because that's how it works right now, and that's all I was thinking about.
Right now, the victim explains how the crime has impacted their life, to make the criminal understand the wider implications of their actions. Like an impact statement in court, but more of a discussion.
I honestly don't think a lot of people would actually know what they were apologising for without it.
Post a Comment