News, news, news... and a drabble
Random question: Why is the English translation of the synopsis to any opera always right at the back of the bloody big thick booklet, once you've waded through the libretto, cast bios, introduction from arranger... I know it's because us English are shit with other languages but...*wah*
Regarding other languages, well my French co-worker has loaned me a language course so... we'll see. I'm not too bad with learning languages (although the spoken I always struggle with), my ability to read bits of Dutch is okay, same with my German and Spanish (studied it at school). Can't speak any of 'em (I think that could be the dyslexia, I have difficulty getting sounds of letters in the right order).
Got a free CD from HMV when I did my shop there yesterday, it's their February Playlist and I can honesty say I have never heard of any of the songs or singers... Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised and inspired to get some ;-) (although I doubt that very much, saving cash).
Got a letter through from energrywatch, did you know that if an electricity company makes a massive error/oversight with your bill (ie not getting the meter reading from the company for two years and then landing you with a massive bill because of it) then they are under no legal obligation to reduce the amount, admit fault or even compensate?
RE: HMV freebie... Jeez, I'm glad I spend most of my time listening to musicals/audiobooks/Johnny Cash... New music is all the same! It's all... flat! There's nothing...*shrug*. Don't get me wrong, I do like some new stuff (I love 'The Zutons') but it all sounds the same :-(. Everyone is doing the jarring-vocal, random instrument stuff. You know, I can't even remember what the last CD was I bought! Maybe it's just the selection on this freebie that's crap. Send me music suggestions :-) (Amusingly, all the swearing is edited out some of these songs... There's a strange rap track that sounds really disjointed because of all the editing... not very good editing either!) Ooh, I've found a track I like! It's 'Love You I Do' from the Dreamgirls soundtrack... lol. Oh, surprised, I've found a rap track I like! This is rare... it's called 'Writers Block' by Just Jack
Anyhow...
Still not happy with it, but I can't quite figure out why. I suck at third person. Bleh. Perhaps I should have just posted it in note format and you could have filled in the blanks.
Title: A Small Matter
Rating: PG
Synopsis: Watson finds out why Holmes gets him to do all the reading.
A Small Matter
Inspector Lestrade followed Sherlock Holmes into the house. As usual Holmes was in a state of nervous tension, it amused Lestrade that he criticised Watson for 'romanticising' the detective, when not only did Holmes clearly have a romantic nature he was more prey to his emotions than he perhaps realised. It was strange; nervous and Sherlock Holmes were words that should never appear together but the sad truth of it all was that Holmes was quite a nervous fellow.
The young constable Lestrade had brought along, new to the force looking barely old enough to shave, followed a little cautiously behind Dr Watson. He'd been told that working with Sherlock Holmes was an interesting experience and he had initially been very keen to go along with his superior, but now his interest had turned to a strange sort of fear. You never quite knew what was going to happen with Mr Holmes around.
They entered a very untidy study, and Lestrade scanned the room with his hands on his hips. "So what's this document we're looking for Mr Holmes?"
Ignoring the apparent irritation of the Inspector, Holmes began to search through the piles of paper. "Three pages, typed on cream watermarked foolscap. Probably on monogrammed paper, torn on one corner. Once we find it, you'll not only have your man but the solution."
He sighed and joined the hunt, "will it be enough to hold him though, Mr Holmes?"
"Let's just say it's enough to start a greater conflict."
Watson smiled to himself and moved a large pile of books off the table. "He seems to have a similar filing system to you, Holmes."
Holmes was prone to certain amount of selective hearing, and lost in his thoughts he hardly glanced in the direction of his friend. "Um? You said something Watson?"
Watson exchanged amused looks with the Inspector. "Nothing." He turned and headed out into the next room.
"Hello, what's this..." Holmes pulled out a envelope from under a pile of large leather covered books, opening it he scanned the contents with a tell-tale glint in his eye. "Capital."
Lestrade put down the papers he was searching through and glanced over at the detective, "you've found it."
"Yes. Watson, read it aloud, there's a good fellow." There was no response and Holmes glanced up, "Watson?"
"Sorry sir, he's in the other room, sir." The constable replied.
"Oh." He coughed.
"Well, Mr Holmes? What does it say?" Lestrade moved around the table, "Mr Holmes I've been on this case for months now..."
Holmes glared at Lestrade and his apparent impatience. With a slight shrug he began to read the document aloud, running a finger under the text and reading somewhat hesitantly at first. Feeling slightly embarrassed the constable retreated to stand in the doorway. Holmes stumbled over a word and had to repeat himself, Lestrade tried not to notice the decided pink colour that the detective had turned. Struggling more so, Holmes stumbled over a pronunciation, the constable laughed nervously from the doorway and Lestrade shot him a warning look. Furrowing his brows in concentration, Holmes's eyes flickered in Lestrade's direction before back to the document. He tried again with the pronunciation and this time was somewhat more successful.
Watson had entered the room just as his friend had started to read the document, he stood quietly at the back of the room watching Holmes quietly. Holmes's voice caught in his throat as he continued to struggle, clearly determined to continue either out of sheer bloodymindedness or embarrassment. Watson, feeling for his friend, crossed the room and placed a gentle hand upon his arm. He looked up, his eyes shone slightly and he thrust the papers at Watson before leaving the room, pausing only to glare harshly at the constable.
Watson glanced at the papers in his hand, "Holmes?" He moved to follow him out of the room, but Lestrade placed a restraining hand upon his shoulder.
"Leave him, doctor." Watson glanced up at the inspector and saw the gentle look in his eyes. He nodded and took a step back. "Davidson, come here."
The constable stepped nervously out of his hiding place in the doorway. The inspector took a step towards him. "Constable Davidson, Mr Holmes has more brains than you or I put together. He is smart, proud and he'll help when no one else will. You'll do well to remember that."
The constable stepped back into the doorway and Lestrade began to collect his evidence. Watson took his leave and headed out to find Holmes.
He soon found his friend sitting on a low wall in the garden, smoking a cigarette. Watson approached slowly, giving Holmes time to realise that he was no longer alone. He stepped over the wall, Holmes looked up at him and Watson was alarmed to see that his eyes were suspiciously red.
"I'm sorry." He said quietly.
Watson gave him a puzzling look. "For what? Oh surely you're not sorry... Oh Holmes." He sat down on the wall. "You've got nothing to be sorry for."
Holmes jabbed at the ground with a stick. "It's ridiculous." He looked at Watson and continued in a bitter tone. "I can understand advanced mathematical theorems, I can perform the most intricate chemical analysis. I can deduce a man's occupation from the state of shirt cuff and yet... I can't do a simple thing like..." He petered into silence.
Watson lit a cigarette and shrugged. "So, you're not a strong reader." He leaned towards his friend, "you shouldn't let it bother you, one can't be good at everything." He sighed. "Why have you never told me?" Holmes looked away. "Don't tell me you're ashamed."
"Wouldn't you be?" He answered quietly.
Watson didn't quite know how to answer. "I don't know." He admitted. "Look, no one is... judging you. Lestrade doesn't care, I don't care... there's no reason for you to be ashamed." He put his free hand into Holmes's and gave him a reassuring squeeze. "Come on, let's get back before Scotland Yard trample all over your evidence."
Holmes smiled at him and said a quiet thank you. Watson smiled back.
This is shocking - a 31yr old man married a 69yr old heiress, cleaned out her bank account and sold her flat... She's schizophrenic and met the guy when she was receiving treatment at a psychiatric hospital. He's only been jailed for three and a half years, and I bet he'll be out before then. He took advantage of a person in a vulnerable position, major advantage. The sad thing is the woman pleaded at his trial for the judge not to jail him because she loved him. He never spent any time with her, giving excuses to avoid her company...
If you're visiting the UK on a visa you might get a text message reminding you not to over-stay...
France is giving Eurovision a good go as they've 'had enough of being humiliated by the Ukraine'. Eurovision amuses me *grin*.
Quote of the Day by Michael Portillo: "Politicians should stop behaving like hysterical virgins."
What's the logic in jailing a 68yr old granny for possessing cannabis? Surely there are more serious things to prosecute! If a 68yr old granny wants to get high, then I think she's earned the right too. Maybe the law should be changed to "once you hit 65, go nuts."
A man who stole women's underwear from a shop, did so because at the time he believed he was a female elf...
Regarding other languages, well my French co-worker has loaned me a language course so... we'll see. I'm not too bad with learning languages (although the spoken I always struggle with), my ability to read bits of Dutch is okay, same with my German and Spanish (studied it at school). Can't speak any of 'em (I think that could be the dyslexia, I have difficulty getting sounds of letters in the right order).
Got a free CD from HMV when I did my shop there yesterday, it's their February Playlist and I can honesty say I have never heard of any of the songs or singers... Maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised and inspired to get some ;-) (although I doubt that very much, saving cash).
Got a letter through from energrywatch, did you know that if an electricity company makes a massive error/oversight with your bill (ie not getting the meter reading from the company for two years and then landing you with a massive bill because of it) then they are under no legal obligation to reduce the amount, admit fault or even compensate?
RE: HMV freebie... Jeez, I'm glad I spend most of my time listening to musicals/audiobooks/Johnny Cash... New music is all the same! It's all... flat! There's nothing...*shrug*. Don't get me wrong, I do like some new stuff (I love 'The Zutons') but it all sounds the same :-(. Everyone is doing the jarring-vocal, random instrument stuff. You know, I can't even remember what the last CD was I bought! Maybe it's just the selection on this freebie that's crap. Send me music suggestions :-) (Amusingly, all the swearing is edited out some of these songs... There's a strange rap track that sounds really disjointed because of all the editing... not very good editing either!) Ooh, I've found a track I like! It's 'Love You I Do' from the Dreamgirls soundtrack... lol. Oh, surprised, I've found a rap track I like! This is rare... it's called 'Writers Block' by Just Jack
Anyhow...
Still not happy with it, but I can't quite figure out why. I suck at third person. Bleh. Perhaps I should have just posted it in note format and you could have filled in the blanks.
Title: A Small Matter
Rating: PG
Synopsis: Watson finds out why Holmes gets him to do all the reading.
A Small Matter
Inspector Lestrade followed Sherlock Holmes into the house. As usual Holmes was in a state of nervous tension, it amused Lestrade that he criticised Watson for 'romanticising' the detective, when not only did Holmes clearly have a romantic nature he was more prey to his emotions than he perhaps realised. It was strange; nervous and Sherlock Holmes were words that should never appear together but the sad truth of it all was that Holmes was quite a nervous fellow.
The young constable Lestrade had brought along, new to the force looking barely old enough to shave, followed a little cautiously behind Dr Watson. He'd been told that working with Sherlock Holmes was an interesting experience and he had initially been very keen to go along with his superior, but now his interest had turned to a strange sort of fear. You never quite knew what was going to happen with Mr Holmes around.
They entered a very untidy study, and Lestrade scanned the room with his hands on his hips. "So what's this document we're looking for Mr Holmes?"
Ignoring the apparent irritation of the Inspector, Holmes began to search through the piles of paper. "Three pages, typed on cream watermarked foolscap. Probably on monogrammed paper, torn on one corner. Once we find it, you'll not only have your man but the solution."
He sighed and joined the hunt, "will it be enough to hold him though, Mr Holmes?"
"Let's just say it's enough to start a greater conflict."
Watson smiled to himself and moved a large pile of books off the table. "He seems to have a similar filing system to you, Holmes."
Holmes was prone to certain amount of selective hearing, and lost in his thoughts he hardly glanced in the direction of his friend. "Um? You said something Watson?"
Watson exchanged amused looks with the Inspector. "Nothing." He turned and headed out into the next room.
"Hello, what's this..." Holmes pulled out a envelope from under a pile of large leather covered books, opening it he scanned the contents with a tell-tale glint in his eye. "Capital."
Lestrade put down the papers he was searching through and glanced over at the detective, "you've found it."
"Yes. Watson, read it aloud, there's a good fellow." There was no response and Holmes glanced up, "Watson?"
"Sorry sir, he's in the other room, sir." The constable replied.
"Oh." He coughed.
"Well, Mr Holmes? What does it say?" Lestrade moved around the table, "Mr Holmes I've been on this case for months now..."
Holmes glared at Lestrade and his apparent impatience. With a slight shrug he began to read the document aloud, running a finger under the text and reading somewhat hesitantly at first. Feeling slightly embarrassed the constable retreated to stand in the doorway. Holmes stumbled over a word and had to repeat himself, Lestrade tried not to notice the decided pink colour that the detective had turned. Struggling more so, Holmes stumbled over a pronunciation, the constable laughed nervously from the doorway and Lestrade shot him a warning look. Furrowing his brows in concentration, Holmes's eyes flickered in Lestrade's direction before back to the document. He tried again with the pronunciation and this time was somewhat more successful.
Watson had entered the room just as his friend had started to read the document, he stood quietly at the back of the room watching Holmes quietly. Holmes's voice caught in his throat as he continued to struggle, clearly determined to continue either out of sheer bloodymindedness or embarrassment. Watson, feeling for his friend, crossed the room and placed a gentle hand upon his arm. He looked up, his eyes shone slightly and he thrust the papers at Watson before leaving the room, pausing only to glare harshly at the constable.
Watson glanced at the papers in his hand, "Holmes?" He moved to follow him out of the room, but Lestrade placed a restraining hand upon his shoulder.
"Leave him, doctor." Watson glanced up at the inspector and saw the gentle look in his eyes. He nodded and took a step back. "Davidson, come here."
The constable stepped nervously out of his hiding place in the doorway. The inspector took a step towards him. "Constable Davidson, Mr Holmes has more brains than you or I put together. He is smart, proud and he'll help when no one else will. You'll do well to remember that."
The constable stepped back into the doorway and Lestrade began to collect his evidence. Watson took his leave and headed out to find Holmes.
He soon found his friend sitting on a low wall in the garden, smoking a cigarette. Watson approached slowly, giving Holmes time to realise that he was no longer alone. He stepped over the wall, Holmes looked up at him and Watson was alarmed to see that his eyes were suspiciously red.
"I'm sorry." He said quietly.
Watson gave him a puzzling look. "For what? Oh surely you're not sorry... Oh Holmes." He sat down on the wall. "You've got nothing to be sorry for."
Holmes jabbed at the ground with a stick. "It's ridiculous." He looked at Watson and continued in a bitter tone. "I can understand advanced mathematical theorems, I can perform the most intricate chemical analysis. I can deduce a man's occupation from the state of shirt cuff and yet... I can't do a simple thing like..." He petered into silence.
Watson lit a cigarette and shrugged. "So, you're not a strong reader." He leaned towards his friend, "you shouldn't let it bother you, one can't be good at everything." He sighed. "Why have you never told me?" Holmes looked away. "Don't tell me you're ashamed."
"Wouldn't you be?" He answered quietly.
Watson didn't quite know how to answer. "I don't know." He admitted. "Look, no one is... judging you. Lestrade doesn't care, I don't care... there's no reason for you to be ashamed." He put his free hand into Holmes's and gave him a reassuring squeeze. "Come on, let's get back before Scotland Yard trample all over your evidence."
Holmes smiled at him and said a quiet thank you. Watson smiled back.
This is shocking - a 31yr old man married a 69yr old heiress, cleaned out her bank account and sold her flat... She's schizophrenic and met the guy when she was receiving treatment at a psychiatric hospital. He's only been jailed for three and a half years, and I bet he'll be out before then. He took advantage of a person in a vulnerable position, major advantage. The sad thing is the woman pleaded at his trial for the judge not to jail him because she loved him. He never spent any time with her, giving excuses to avoid her company...
If you're visiting the UK on a visa you might get a text message reminding you not to over-stay...
France is giving Eurovision a good go as they've 'had enough of being humiliated by the Ukraine'. Eurovision amuses me *grin*.
Quote of the Day by Michael Portillo: "Politicians should stop behaving like hysterical virgins."
What's the logic in jailing a 68yr old granny for possessing cannabis? Surely there are more serious things to prosecute! If a 68yr old granny wants to get high, then I think she's earned the right too. Maybe the law should be changed to "once you hit 65, go nuts."
A man who stole women's underwear from a shop, did so because at the time he believed he was a female elf...