We went to see Mycroft today and took him out for a while. There was a sporting even at his school that he was keen to avoid, so we rode the bikes for a while and got a late lunch and walked for a while. Saw a man walking a small pig, which led to questions from Sherlock about various animals bred to be smaller than they were originally and why couldn't anyone make a giraffe small enough to fit in the flat? Or tiny dinosaurs, or, for that matter, very large dogs? Mycroft pointed out that we had two very large dogs already.
He seems happy enough at school, although he says he would prefer the word 'resigned', or possibly 'plotting a coup'. He may or may not be joking about the last one; it's a bit hard to tell sometimes. He also says I'm not allowed to say I can't believe he'll be sixteen this year, because one year does follow the next and given my age I ought to be used to it by now. Which is a fair enough point, but... Well, I won't say it.
He'll be at university in no time, which I suppose won't be all that different from having him away at school. Except I hope he'll like it better. And/or plot a coup. Either one.
Lestrade asked what he was going to do for his requisite teenage rebellion, and he said he was planning to get a passage from Tacitus tattooed on his back. Which also may or may not have been a joke. Anyhow, he's home next weekend, and we'll be very glad to have him. Tattoo or no.
He seems happy enough at school, although he says he would prefer the word 'resigned', or possibly 'plotting a coup'. He may or may not be joking about the last one; it's a bit hard to tell sometimes. He also says I'm not allowed to say I can't believe he'll be sixteen this year, because one year does follow the next and given my age I ought to be used to it by now. Which is a fair enough point, but... Well, I won't say it.
He'll be at university in no time, which I suppose won't be all that different from having him away at school. Except I hope he'll like it better. And/or plot a coup. Either one.
Lestrade asked what he was going to do for his requisite teenage rebellion, and he said he was planning to get a passage from Tacitus tattooed on his back. Which also may or may not have been a joke. Anyhow, he's home next weekend, and we'll be very glad to have him. Tattoo or no.
102 comments:
No tattoos until he's 18. Or...well, there will be Trouble for whoever tattooed him.
To be fair, it must be terrifying to be his teacher. I mean, I'd just have surrendered already.
Can I say that I can't believe he'll be 16 this year?
There would be Trouble. Although it would pale in comparison to whatever his mum did to them, I'm sure.
I think teaching him must be an education.
Ha. I think you can. He should've told both of us and Mrs Hudson if he wanted to be thorough.
Thank-you for a report on Mycroft. His combination (as I perceive it) of having a deeply sweet, loyal and brave heart behind his dry-as-dust wit makes his occasional contributions to the blogs a favorite of mine.
I hope to hear reports, afterward, on any coup.
(I apologize, Mycroft, for making you the subject of comments from Internet strangers. My only excuse is that I have children older than you and am used to sticking my nose in. I will endeavor to restrain myself henceforth.)
formerlyAnon
It's not that I can't believe he's going to be 16, it's that... whatever his mannerisms, given that he's always been very mature, he was a child when we met. And now he's a young man. And the difference has been both a joy to watch, and terrifying, because it'll be so soon that he's really out in the world forging his own path, away from us and school and well...it's a time that I wouldn't want to go through again, but at the same time, it was an amazing stage of life. One minute you have to ask an adult if you want to leave the room and go for a piss, the next you're making decisions that will shape your whole life and no one can really help you beyond giving you support in your choices.
Terrifying to go through and terrifying to watch.
Ha, I have more faith in Mycroft than I did in myself, and I ended up....just about okay. After a while. :)
Heh. Yeah, same here, more or less.
And I know we'll be here for him whether he heads off, gets a first from Oxbridge and lands some plum job that pays millions, or if he wants to sit behind the till at the local pound shop.
If he decides to hide in his room programming computers I will insist he goes outside just enough to get vitamin D though.
Can I offer, being almost on the other side of that transition with my kids, that it's also the most GLORIOUS time, when you see them coming into their own, developing in ways you could never have predicted, despite knowing them intimately through their childhood. It absolutely casts the fearing for them and cringing when you have to watch them struggle into the shade. It is AMAZING sometimes, seeing them become their adult selves, young and flawed as they are (as all of us are.)
Though I will say that y'all's professions probably make all the dreadful things that *could* happen more real and immediate than they are for most of us.
[the unusually chatty] formerlyAnon
I'm certain watching them both grow up and choose their paths in life will be...yeah, completely glorious.
You're welcome to be chatty! John and Sherlock are in pizza-comas on the sofa.
You should make bigger pizzas so we can fit more olives and cheese on
No, we should all eat more vegetables, without the bread underneath and the cheese on top... but where's the fun in that ;)
Nearly bedtime, olive monster, so go and get changed.
Broccoli and aubergine pizza?
broccoli and aubergine... other things. With bacon. And lentils? Or something.
"other things" .... Well, can't be too bad with bacon.
Bacon is the secret ingredient to make anything more palatable :)
I'm glad we got to see Mycroft. I really miss having him around. I hope he can bear to still visit us in holidays from Uni.
Me too. I'm glad he's coming home next week.
He'd only be about two hours or so away by train, if Mycroft went to either of his likeliest choices for university, do I have that right? That's not so bad, but I realize that college life is often even busier than what Mycroft is doing now.
Are there any historic college associations in your family that you'd like to continue, Mycroft, or... oh dear, Churchill went to Sandhurst, I can't imagine that's something you're considering? Perhaps I'm wrong, and I am of course sure you would be _brilliant_ at it if you went the military academy road, but that doesn't sound like it would be your cup of tea....
A peaceful night to all!
AftSO
Apparently there's a special tour under Tower Bridge to celebrate it's...150yrs or something? You actually get to go into all the workings. Maybe the boys would like it. But we might be too late to get tickets...
I'd like it.
L - that sounds great!
AftSO - he certainly hasn't mentioned Sandhurst. The last we heard from him on the subject was Oxford, but I suppose he could go just about anywhere.
Depends what he decides to study, really. Everywhere has its own specialities. He could end up going abroad, for all we know.
Danger, you even get to go in the huge chambers under the river where the back end of the bridge swings to counterweight the roadways... it must be amazing. Being underwater, but hearing all the vehicles going overhead.
Here's an article
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-25761608
Those levers...we might literally need to put Sherlock on a leash. It does look amazing though.
I can just imagine the News at Ten. "And finally...there was traffic chaos in our capital today as Tower Bridge opened and closed 89 times, at the hands of one small boy..."
It's a real possibility...
we could...cable tie his hands to ours? Or...I don't know. I fear all would be well, or so it appeared...and then when we left and got home suddenly he'd be able to control the bridge from our laptops or something.
Ha. I feel like his life is going to be adapted for film some day.
Who's going to play you? Daniel Craig? Jeremy Renner?
They'll be too old by then, and so will I... How do people who have babies at our age keep up?
I wouldn't be utterly shocked if Mycroft chose to do a gap year of specialized study in something. Or travel. Perhaps not, but I can see the idea of going into University having further narrowed his focus appealing. Especially since here in the States he would already able, given the qualifications he'll have taken, be in a position to shorten his undergraduate program and to graduate in the regular time with both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees. I don't know how these things work in the British system though. (The Bridge tour looks extremely cool. And like something you could use Mrs. Holmes' connections to get into even if it is sold out.)
formerlyAnon
I have no idea. Or people of any age, especially if there's more than one child or fewer than...three or four adults!
People who have babies at your age have help or are tired all the time or both. I do know people *older* than you two when they had a baby. Only one of the couples has gone on to have a second.
I found it exhausting in my 30s. Wouldn't choose to repeat it now.
formerlyAnon
It should be noted that I don't think all children require quite the . . . focus that Sherlock does.
formerlyAnon
I don't really know either, about the Uni thing. But I think he can do a Master in 4 years, at the least? I might be wrong. I know 3 is normal, unless you're doing something like medicine, or architecture... but yeah, we'll support him whatever he'd like to do.
Mycroft is a fortunate young man--as is Sherlock--having that kind of support behind him.
Babies are easy! Everyone accepts that you're tired and need help (and expects you to be on the internet at this time of night) its when they're 'all grown up' and still not sleeping until proper times of the day that the real work starts ;-)
I'm glad you had a fun day together and that you had time with Mycroft :-)
Just wait until Mycroft shows up on your doorstep with a kid of his own. That's when you'll really feel those birthdays. I've been a librarian long enough that I now have people coming to me asking for the books that I recommended to them when they were children so they can read them to children of their own!
Oh hey, I just saw--happy birthday, piplover!
oh, I think we deputize you guys to go on the Tower Bridge tour for us and give a full report! :)
A gap year is brilliant. I took mine after I'd started college, so it was a bit awkward, but still a good idea. as my dad said, "you've been going to school since you were 4 years old, it's good to go do something else for a bit!" and I did come back much more focused and ready to finish.
RSF, you have it right... I've adjusted to being "auntie" to my friends' little ones, but I'm not ready to be "granny" just yet, yikes. I got to hold a 4 month old baby at the house concert earlier this evening, that was fun.
S
AnonyBob - the older I get...the more I probably wish we could have kids of our own. I mean, I feel like it's something I could handle...except for the age thing. And the whole no-womb-in-the-relationship thing...
So if either of the boys do ever decide to have kids, I shall hope we get to be honourary grandparents a lot! But they might not, so...
I have to say that given some of the people who send their genes out into the world to cause trouble it doesn't seem quite right that you two aren't doing.
I really wish there was a way for you two to have a child of your own because good people should raise as many children as possible :-)
(and you aren't that old you know!)
I hope you have another good day and that the weather is slightly less grey with you :-)
Anon - I kind of imagine that I once was those genes being sent into the world to cause trouble.
AnonyBob - thanks. Hope you and your clan are having fun together too!
Well, you know, there are always surrogates... (And you have all this practical experience!) ;)
Greg's been very good, not telling a soul, but with this conversation going on, and given how Lisa and I were introduced to you all, well-
I'm very happy to tell you all that Lisa and I are expecting a baby. I'm just over 13 weeks now. We're both very excited. And we know exactly who'll be getting the call to babysit, too!
What lovely news--mazel tov, congratulations!
That is fantastic news Jo :-) congratulations to you both and good luck with it all :-)
And it's definitely nothing to do with me!
Jo, Lisa, you'll have to come over for dinner. Sherlock will question you as a scientific curiosity :) John must know it all already and I'll try not to go green ;)
I'm so happy for you both. :)
Thank you all - and thank you, John, for being so lovely through all of this. I'm sure it wasn't quite the way you thought you'd meet Greg's friends.
We will definitely come over. But John may be better able to answer some of Sherlock's questions. We're just novices, learning as we go.
Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?
Congratulations Jo and Lisa, how exciting for you both and to have built in babysitters ready to go sounds perfect. I'm sure Sherlock would be the ideal candidate to catalogue the whole thing for you, both before and after the baby is born.
I'm glad you all had such a lovely day with Mycroft yesterday and that his mocks are all going so well. What have you been doing with yourselves today, did you have the choice of activities, Sherlock, seeing as you were the lucky one with the treats for the weekend. :)
Hey Sherlock, no, we don't know. We've decided we don't want to know until the baby is born. We'll be very happy either way.
congrats, Jo and Lisa (and to other recent arrivals!). I didn't know the gender till mine was born either. I was pretty sure it would be either a boy or a girl, and in either case I'd be keeping it, so.... what was the point of testing ahead of time? :D I look forward to Sherlock's reports on baby progress, when you guys get your babysitting duties. :)
S
Okay.
We didn't go up the Shard because it was a bit hard to see a long way and I want it to be a really really good day. A bit ago we went and saw a big Navy ship leaving London and now we're having hot chocolate and ice cream and tonight we're having a roast dinner. This morning I had to do homework and we did some cleaning because otherwise I might have had to do it next weekend and next weekend I want to go to a museum with Mycroft but we don't know which one yet.
In theory I kind of agree with Pandabob that you two *should* be passing on your genes if possible, but it's even more important that you teach what you've learned and set the example you set to another generation - which you're doing with your boys (legally & genetically or not, they are yours in all the ways that matter & as far as I can tell their mum approves).
Congratulations to Jo & Lisa! I liked leaving the gender of my babies as a surprise - it might sound childish but it added to the feeling of excitement and celebration when they were born for me.
formerlyAnon
Sorry, Pandabob, I see it wasn't you who talked about sending one's genes out into the world but one of us anons. Didn't mean to put words in your mouth.
formerlyAnon
That's a good way to spend an afternoon, Sherlock--and very intelligent, to think ahead and clear your time for next week. It's great living in a city like London, with so many cool museum choices, isn't it?
Well, thanks to all of you, for thinking our genes would be a gift to the world ;)
But we have sort of talked about it in the past. And at the moment, it's not something we're planning on. We've got our hands full with the Boy Wonder and the Wunderkind.
Genes or not, you two are doing a wonderful job of sending your values out into the world. :)
ReReader, you have the right of it!
fomerlyAnon
Yes there are loads and lots are free which is even better because you don't have to see it all at once and I liked living at the big house but it's more fun here and John takes me places after school too and it's really easy to get anywhere on the tube or a bus or a taxi.
That's important, not having to see it all at once--my mother always made it a rule that when we got tired, it was time to leave a museum, because when you're tired it's not fun any more, and it's a very good rule when you can come back any time!
It's good you're happy, Sherlock. :) (I like living in a big city, too.)
It would still be boring except John and sometimes Lestrade makes it not boring. But I still want to be old enough to do things on my own too like Mycroft can.
That's a very nice thing about John and Lestrade (sometimes). :)
And you will be. (I know, you want to be NOW, and why wouldn't you want that? But it took Mycroft a long time to do things by himself, too. And how much even he can do is an ongoing struggle--and you won't have to do that part, because he is already doing it, so that's convenient.)
I want to do the thing where you slide down the ice on a sledge really fast!
Another thing to add to the list... professional Skeleton Bob slider... you're going to have a busy career, kiddo.
Something for you, Lestrade.
(It's a sound file, for anyone who may wish to turn their speakers on, or down, before clicking the link.)
Mycroft, you're a gem for bringing that to our attention.
formerlyAnon
Ha, thanks, Mycroft!
Hee hee hee--thanks, Mycroft! (And I didn't even understand the bulk of it... :D)
You are quite welcome.
I thought it might improve Lestrade's mood. He has taught me the value in finding humour in things which may otherwise seem humourless.
There are so many ways to leave a legacy; having biological children is a marvelous one but by no means the best or only choice for anyone. Mentoring, volunteering with youth organizations, teaching at any level...it's all a wonderful way to leave your mark.
Jo and Lisa, congrats on the exciting news! I found out all three of mine beforehand, which in our case worked out great because it gave us lots of time to decide on names (and half as many choices). Otherwise they'd probably all still be "baby girl (surname)".
He has taught me the value in finding humour in things which may otherwise seem humourless.
A particularly valuable mark to leave. :)
We've got a programme on TV that's about young guys hanging by one arm off very tall buildings/cranes/towers/masts ... this is probably the sort of thing we shouldn't let Sherlock watch.
Completely mad.
Yup.
And Sherlock brushed his teeth while standing on the edge of the bathtub.
Until he fell on me.
We'll find him hanging from the ceiling in the morning.
he's probably dangling out of the window as we speak.
Let's just not look.
(This is one of the guys' websites, if you want to look...just...don't blame me if you don't like heights! http://www.mustang-wanted.com )
John, I believe you are more likely to find him squashed until a large sparkly purple bone. It is the only thing he could hang from in his room - and I am certain the fixings will not take his weight.
It's the way he would have wanted though, an improbably death, covered in glitter.
You tired, Mycroft? Unlike you to allow autocorrects to slip through the net... go to bed ;)
But you're right...
Oh wow, that was marvelous. That's going to make me giggle when I listen to the real Shipping Forecast, in future.
AftSO
Morning all.
Hope you enjoyed your lovely weekend off together, now back to it, unfortunately. Never mind, you've got the prospect of a fabulous weekend with Mycroft home to look forward to and sustain you all through the week.
Have a good day everyone. :)
Yes, have a good week everyone.
And I need to get on as it looks like I shall have to defrost my windscreen before I go anywhere :(
Yeah, it's a bit on the cold side here! Think it'll be a lovely day though, once the sun burns off the mist and frost.
Have a good one, everyone!
Danger, I'm off Weds again, and the weekend. I'm trying for Friday afternoon too!
Congratulations, Jo and Lisa! And a thank you to the anonymous person who mentioned Airbnb. I found a place to stay near Regent's Park. Just a room with a bed but that's all I need.
Now I'm going to start making myself a map of all the museums you've visited with Sherlock. Most of them sound amazing! (And I've already visited places like the Tower of London, years ago. I can't imagine the crown jewels have changed that much.)
Was Sherlock hanging from the ceiling this morning?
He got more rules in his book. No parkour in the kitchen, on the way to school, in the classroom and no using other people's bodies for parkour without asking first.
You have to admire his inventiveness. :)
Congratulations, Jo and Lisa!
Sherlock, I don't know enough about it to be able to talk about it intelligently, but if you're curious, you should look at the evolutionary effects of islands (or environmental conditions generally) on animals. Small animals tend to get bigger (like the Galapagos tortoise), and big animals tend to get smaller (I believe there used to be tiny elephants in the Phillipines). So, the short answer is, giraffes never got tiny because they've always been on the African savannah and had all the space in the world. If you want a small one, I think you'd need to capture a herd and let it loose on the Isle of Man and wait several thousand years.
Ella
Ella - you know he'll be wanting a giraffe herd and breeding programme for his birthday now ;)
RR - you don't have to, when he tries to backflip off you while you're cooking him pancakes, I can assure you.
...Not a good combo with an open flame, I have to agree...
I imagine you in later years pulling out Sherlock's rule book to spark family stories, the way others use photo albums.
formerlyAnon
I was being a pancake
You will turn into a pancake soon, the number of them you eat.
I'll be a bit late home, found a suspect a short time ago, and once he's booked in I want words with him.
I was being a pancake
You know what? That makes sense to me. Yes, I can see that. (But unfortunately still not a great combination with an open flame--or wet batter.)
Ella - you know he'll be wanting a giraffe herd and breeding programme for his birthday now ;)
Ahh...yes, I thought I might be setting you up for something like that. ;)
Ella
Seeing as a giraffe is pregnant for about 15 months (!), that would be a very, very slow program... (And wouldn't miniature giraffe legs be awfully spindly and fragile?)
Possibly, they might also get more chunky and stable as they get smaller, like Shetland Ponies. ;)
(Other option, Sherlock--learn how to splice genes and combine giraffe and Shetland Ponie DNA.)
Ella, Mad Scientist Enabler
*Pony
Ella
I hope everyone's day lived up to the pancake start. :)
Yeah, only got home a bit ago.
That's a very long day. I hope what's left of the evening is relaxing, at least.
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