Sherlock FEVER!

So from a regular scan of my facebook newsfeed it's clear to see that I am not the only one to be diagnosed with Sherlock FEVER! And I'm talking about the double dose - BBC and Hollywood versions! Both wonderful in their own special ways. I like the film version because of the whole style of production - makes London seem so exciting and mysterious! But can't beat the Cumberbatch-Freeman duo also.

So who's got a good theory about how (BBC) Sherlock cheats death? I've been doing some research and the main lines of thought seem to be...

1) Lots of theories involving S jumping into a rubbish (or similar squishy material) truck

2) Significance of W's distraction re: bike - and possible use of the misleading drug used in the Hounds of the Baskerville episode. May not have seen what he thought he saw - or mistook body for Sherlock when it wasn't..

3) Body may have been Moriaty OR dummy used to simulate hanging at beginning of episode

4) Involvement of Molly (fake postmortem/place a fake corpse)

5) Was Watson looking at Sherlock - he could have been looking at a different building???

So many questions! Any other thoughts?

Sherlock Tools

So anyway, I've put together a few items just incase you - like me - aspire to be a little more Sherlock.

Perfect book for studying other people and their wiley ways

Visit this site and memorise every map ever in the world. It might be useful.

Get yourself a trademark hat. This is a nice modern take on the classic deerstalker.

Spend free time completing SceneIt? challenges to help improve observance-y. You must learn to see EVERYTHING.

Keep hydrated for optimum brain functioning. Get a bit funky with this "Barnyard Fun" flask (fun AND will distract people from your secret sleuth powers)

Find a compliant bachelor to accompany you on missions. Here's a list of Britain's top 50 most eligible. Prince Harry is number one - I would also recommend him in this role due to his useful connections, and wealth (your detective business may take some time to get going, so it's always good to have some extra income).

Elementary. 

NYE in London

Happy 2012 Everyone!!

I spend mine at Ted's abode in Chiswick seeing some old Uni friends, felt just like old times!

Needless to say the Ripstone boys require little excuse to go black tie, and this was a prime occasion. So we all got suited and frocked to wave off 2011!

The fun started with a few games. My highlight was seeing Ted crawling along the floor in Tails trying to flap a paper fish along the ground.

We then trekked to a bar "down the road" and hit "the only way is Chiswick" party, congregating in the garden for a while before hitting the dance floor.

Welcomed in 2012 to the beat of Jackson 5!

Mikey and Dave looking very proper

Cam going mental!

Resting after some intensive dancing with Loren, Camilla and Dave

My feet were certainly suffering by the end of the night, and Rach and I ended up walking back barefoot across the treacherous London streets. Rachel also undressed (/took off tights) out of sight (/right in front of a homeless man on a bench).

The next day we emerged at midday, refuelled with some bacon sandwiches (great first breakfast of 2012) and ventured for a sojourn around the grounds of Chiswick House.

Flocks of escaped Parakeets!

Standard children's area hooligan behaviour from Jones

Alas our fun was spoiled by the rain, so we wandered home for a spot of Balderdash board game, and also watched the central London firework display - incredible! iplayer it right now. 

Getting home was a right bother because someone very wise had decided to do engineering works on the trainlines on New Years Day (GOOD ONE) so muddled around with replacement buses. Eventually got back and enjoyed my first proper meal of 2012 - Dad's roast pork. Winner.

Christmas in... Oxfordshire

It was lovely going back home for Christmas, spending some time with the family. And I enjoyed all the luxuries as well - home-cooked food made for me, warm house, washing done for me, no food shopping, use of a car, fully functioning TV... I could go on...

In all honesty the more I see of the UK the more I appreciate my hometown and region. Oxford is a beautiful city, as is my town Wantage. 

Oxford had similar Christmas lighting to Dublin actually (with addition to bike themed ones!). I forgot my camera so these photos are stolen, and the snowy one clearly isn't recent, but it's beautzy!

It is such a lovely place to do Christmas shopping, especially in the Oxford Covered Market. Stopping off for a coffee in this amazing Pret is also an essential.

My Christmas was slightly dampened by my work load - had about 8,000 words to write, half of which on Environmental Law (groan) plus exam revision. So socialising was at a low. But I did get to spend a little quality time with my cat, Fifa.

I was sad to miss the highlight of the Wantage calender, Dickensian Evening. But the town was still looking delightful, and I was happy to see the return of the TWO Christmas trees (prev scaled down to one in recent years)

I was also home in time to decorate the house Christmas tree. I know a lot of people are into their designer trees nowadays, and they do look stunning. But for me Christmas is all about digging out the same decorations we've had for the past two decades and making the tree look as colourful and mixmatch as possible! Feels more homely for me.

I also love a bit of variety in my present wrapping materials. This year I reused all paper that had been saved from previous years to create a bit of variety!

As well as Mum, Dad and my bro Sam, Connor and Nana stayed for Christmas which was lovely! Nana Fox was on top form, recently receiving the title of "full time legend" by a C.Mcaleer. 

After the excitement of Christmas day, we went to see the South Pacific musical on the 27th. Although some of the casting wasn't very convincing, I love the songs.

And this is where I am sat typing now.. in front of the fire with a side helping of Frozen Planet. This is the life!!

2011 Omnibus

So, 2011: The Year That Was
And wasn't it good!

It's strange to think that a year ago none of these things had happened, and so many things were different. I was still in Southampton living with the Holyrooders, Ruth wasn't engaged to a big black man (lol), I hadn't been accepted by Queens (not sure if I'd even applied yet?!), none of us had graduated, etc etc. I was feeling pretty down at the beginning of 2011 because Dad had spent Christmas and New Year's in hospital, my lovely old cat Freddy was put down on Christmas eve, I didn't know where I'd be by the end of the year, it was 3rd year (major stress!), I spent my whole life in the library, blah blah blah. And yet it's a wonderful feeling to look back and realise that despite all the worries and the bleak start to it, it really was a good year! And I have no doubt 2012 will be too.

This post has been in the pipeline for a while, but it was fun compiling it. Sorry the piccys are small (I've had some neg feedback on this..) but if you click them they get bigger.

It's good to look back at all the highlights and be thankful for all the riches of TwentyEleven.

1. Lozza's birthday party spent grooving to 80s tunes!

2. Conzo came over and we had a SNOG (frozen yoghurt) double date in London with Honor and Scott

3. Lovely group ride in the crisp and bright New Forest

1. Amazing all-day hack with the Riding Soc, stopping for a quick pub lunch half way! Pedro was playing waterfight here!

2. Ruthyroo came to visit us from Germany! 

3. Blurty's birthday, this was at the obligatory Official Holyrood Birthday Breakfast Club

4. Hiding people for Dave's surprise party... 

5. One of Holyrood's almighty houseparties

6. Loren was my valentine <3

1. 'In Bude' event with Newfrontiers Churches. It was great until my health made a run for it.

2. Meal in London for Honor and Nadine's birthday

3. Breakie in London with Honzy, Mazo, Nadzo and Nemi

4. Andy & Beccy's 22nd: accompied by two delightful racing plumbers

5. Gaymos blacked up to be a galaxy defender

6. HOUSEPARTYYY.. Camilla and Salmon's birthday hosted by Holyrood

1. Nighthike with Belcher, Kasim, Lois and the Dogs back in Wantage

2. Probably the best day of the year.. getting super patriotic back in London

3. BORIS BORIS BORIS live in Trafalgar Square

4. All my love xxx

1. CU Ball.. complete with retards (see rear of photo)

2. JOSH O'CLOCK i.e. JoshyMoshy's birthday

1. Graduation Ball, wonderful night made complete by Chezza Hawkes

2. Dodgems at the ball. I could spend my life in a dodgem.

3. Roadtrip to the almighty Splashdown. Nothing like a good waterslide to celebrate Uni finishing

4. Us third years decided to make a mark on CU by secretly all attending the last meeting of the year dressed as animals. The band was particularly Grrrrrreeat

5. Operation 2x2 deemed a full success

6. Leaving Uni and Holyrood forever! Really traumatic times. Serenaded off by Mikey on the Ukelele

7. Holiday near Barcelona with the boy! Sunny and Superb.

8. Casual day at Wimbledon with Connor

9. Toured the Fulham stadium (as requested by Conzo) in a thunder storm and accompanied by a gay couple.

10. Another double date with Rankin and Elliott, spent caressing goats at Millet's Farm

1. ChazzaRank's baptism in Newbs

2. Chilling with Mo and Co. at pre-bap party

3. IT'S GRADUATION TIME

4. It's still graduation time.

5. Spent the week at my friend Naomi's house, working with special need's kids at a Christian camp. Exhausting but great.

6. Andrew and Rachel's Wedding, frocked up with the good sir

1. Camilla's birthday party complete with bouncy castle...

2. ...and slip and slide!

3. Chilling with some Croquet banter at Ted's house in Chiswick

4. Sunbathing on a beach in Cornwall... bliss

5. Making friends with the Eden Project.. please let me live there amongst the trees

6. Galloping along a Cornish beach, yes please!

7. Bringing out the inner Surfer Babe

8. Leading Brandy at the RDA ridgeway ride

9. Met up for a meal with some old school friends. Didn't get a pic but here's us a few years back! Lovely to catch up.

1. More croquet please! This time with Church friends in Wantage

2. Week in Wales working at the Centre of Alternative Technologies and nurturing the hippy within

3. Weekend at Rach's house in Swindon with Holyrooders

4. Roadtrip up to Bracknell to see Morris with Honor and Chazzy

5. Braving the Maize Maze by torchlight with Hannah, Lois and co.

6. Relocated to NI! Spent the weekend covered in paint with the Church Youth

1. Mum and Dad visited my new abode

2. Lovely bible study times with the girls

3. Hello Queens!

1. Ruth's birthday at Frankie and Benny's - company was significantly better than the food!
2. Chippy and Cinema night with the Coolfin girls
3. Taking Connor's wee bro and sis to their (and my) first Rugby match. Go Ulster!

1. Bringing Christmas to Dublin! (or to be precise, Conzo's flat)
2. Lovely birthday weekend with good food, laser guns, and snigtastic friends
3. Birthday Party!! Mixing English and NI friends (a beautiful combination!)
4. Christmas time at Fox HQ!
5. South Pacific - Some Enchanted Evening!
6. New Years Eve Party times!


- Bring on 2012! -