geniusbee asked: I'm sorry was I not supposed to share that on the internet??
I would be infinitely more dismayed were the pictures true, or if Sherlock were alive to see them. On the other hand, weight jokes aside, you are rather gifted with caricature. Were the picture a little kinder, I may even have applauded your eye for simplifying details.
MH
2 herbailiwick asked: What are some of your favorite ways to wind down after a hard day?
I enjoy a cup of tea and a dark room. On occasion, some music. But the silence, has my head running much slower than it would were I working.
Unfortunately, relaxation is a luxury which even I cannot always purchase.
MH
herbailiwick asked: Are you any good at dancing? Like, waltzing and the proper kinds.
Dancing, like language, is something that Mummy insisted upon. I am quite proficient in all classical styles of dancing. It has become a useful skill— every diplomat should know how to dance.
MH
Anonymous asked: I am incredibly plastered and you are incredibly attractive. I can see you handcuffed to my bed with a ball gag and leather straps in the most unimaginable places.
Anonymous asked: Est-ce votre mère qui vous a appris à parler français? Et Sherlock? Parle-t-il aussi français? By the way, DI Lestrade seems to be exactly your type. You should woo him.
Ma mère aurait été scandalisée si Sherlock et moi n’apprenions pas une autre langue, au moins. Elle a apprécié beaucoup le Français. Sherlock n’était jamais bon avec des langages. Son Français est ordinaire. Moi, j’ai excelé. Malheureusement, mon Français écrit est médiocre. Je ne l’utilise pas souvent.
And I do beg your pardon? You are suggesting I woo… Detective Inspector Lestrade? I hardly know the man, outside of our associations concerning Sherlock.
I hardly have time to woo anyone, in any case.
MH
thelondonblogger asked: I must say, sir, that I regret very deeply the loss of your brother, and sympathize with you. I know how it feels to lose a loved one. I can only imagine how you are taking this, though you maintain a "closed-book" disposition. I hope Moriarty suffers in whatever pit he's been cast into.
I very much appreciate your concerns and sympathies. I quite regret it being my most unfortunate duty to inform you that the pit Moriarty was cast into is called ‘London.’ He has yet to deliver penance as he so rightfully deserves.
But I am working on it.
MH
Anonymous asked: Good evening, sir. Hope all is well on your end. Looks like you're having a grand time this evening. At least on the monitors anyway. Have a lovely night!
Are you attempting to intimidate me?
MH
Anonymous asked: What does one do with a brilliant younger sibling who throws things at one's head? He's sixteen now, and his piano playing can bring one to tears, but really, throwing shoes at the back of one's head is too much.
Glue his shoes to his feet. It may not stop him, but it will certainly slow his progress.
MH
Anonymous asked: Your suspicions are more than correct, Mr. Holmes. I apologize if I'm being too forward here, but I simply can't help myself. You're more appealing to certain people than you'd like to believe. Very appealing.
That’s quite enough of that, thank you.
MH
Anonymous asked: Do you have any advice for elder sibling who find themselves taking care of tiny geniuses? I consider myself to be a very intelligent woman, but I'm rather at a loss as to how to keep my youngest sibling entertained. He's so far ahead of his age group (he's only 5) and he becomes bored and distracted easily, which gets him into trouble. How does one handle a mischievous little genius?
Children like Sherlock and your younger brother are very difficult to handle, even for the most intelligent of people.
Sherlock was frequently excitable and distracted because his mind never stopped working— when idle, his senses became destructively overwhelming. The scientific method was the best lesson I had taught Sherlock. Experiments frequently combined mental exercise with quite a lot of legwork. Experiments, both social and scientific, also satisfied his thirst for knowledge about the world in a way that reading textbooks could not.
So. For your brother, I suggest you attempt many activities in all range of interest (the internet will be quite a tool for you.) Try things which are at different levels above what is considered normal range of comprehension in a child of five years. Try things which will occupy his body and his mind. Replace idleness with physical activity, when necessary. (Sherlock wanted to be a pirate— a dream which he took very seriously. His pretend play was both historically accurate and exhausting. When he wasn’t running around with wooden swords, he occupied his mind with history books on pirates.)
Change activities frequently. Brilliant minds rarely find much occupation in repetition. See about moving him ahead in classes.
Most importantly— do not forget to think of yourself, at least every once in a while. You have in your hands the potential of caring for your brother becoming a full time occupation. He will never learn independence, how to occupy his own mind without your help, if you are constantly involved. Learn balance. It is invaluable.
I hope this has been helpful.
MH
Anonymous asked: It honestly couldn't have been that much typing. You could have just said "No, thank you." I know bribes are useless, but you should know I do run a bakery. Anything can be arranged, Mr. Holmes.
Oh, you are an impertinent one, aren’t you?
MH
Anonymous asked: My dear, handsome, wonderfully mysterious Mr. Holmes, I apologize in advance for what I'm about to say, however, I feel it must be said, regardless of the obvious answer I know I'll receive. I'd like you to occupy a 'minor' position in my 'British government'. xx
I am thankful that my reply is so obvious. Think of the typing you’ve saved me!
MH
Anonymous asked: What was your relationship with Sherlock like as a kid?
We were actually quite close. As you can imagine, he was an endlessly infuriating child. But it took him time to grow into himself, and for most of his childhood he was an endearing black mop of hair on a pale, uncoordinated body. He was precocious, much like myself, and so I was always teaching him things, reading him things, helping him with his amateur experiments… Playing pirates. It was not until we were much older that our relationship became what it was in the few years leading up to his death.
MH
hedgehogjawn asked: Mr. Holmes, are you adept at any instruments?
I play the cello, but not nearly as masterfully or as naturally as Sherlock.
You did not hear me admit to this.
MH
Anonymous asked: How about the color of your pants? ;)
My my, aren’t we impertinent today.
MH
