Various ramblings by the small hobbit

Copied from greerwatson 

From your AO3 Works page, look at the tags and find the answers to these questions.  I'm Small_Hobbit on AO3.

alexcat gave me the letter T:

Questions from annofowlshire 

1. Where in the UK have you not been that you would really like to visit?
Shrewsbury, Chester and the area around North Wales is one area I've not managed to visit.  I'd also like to see more of Scotland.

2. What is the crafting project you're most proud of?
Probably the Klimt garden cross stitch, which took about 20 months to complete






and Mini Hobbit's unicorn cardi:

   



3. What has been your enduring fandom?  Why?
Sherlock Holmes (ACD).  I began in BBC Sherlock, and from there read/re-read all the original Holmes stories.  I found there are so many possibilities and can either remain in Baker Street or retire to Sussex.  Plus it's the setting for the Ferret and the rest of the gang, which allows me to entertain myself in all sorts of ways.  I've also made some great friends through the fandom.

4. Which play that you've seen performed has had the most impact on you?  Why?
I'm not sure there is anything which stands out.  Plays have meant something at the time but looking back I wouldn't say there was anything in particular.  For me, it would be old style musicals, Top Hat, An American in Paris, 42nd Street, Singing in the Rain and White Christmas, all the feel good favourites, which do just that.  Plus Sir Matthew Bourne's productions, with their combination of story, dance and music.

5. What led you to help out with Brownies?
I began with Guides, when the Daughter's guide unit needed helpers and I volunteered.  I became a guider and then took over the unit at a later stage.  A change of job meant I could no longer run the unit, which had to close as no other volunteers came forward.  I took a short break, but then joined the local Brownie unit as an assistant, which was much less time consuming. When we moved to Gloucester I wanted to continue, because I enjoyed the activities with the girls, and was put in touch with the unit in Kingsway.  I was there for 11 years, before retiring in the summer.  I thought I might miss volunteering with the Brownies, but I'm now co-leading a family based group at the church one afternoon a week, so I still have involvement but in a different way.


Perpetuate the meme: I'll leave five questions for the first five who leave a comment asking!

Taken from ride_4ever 

1. First name: I am the Small Hobbit, which is all you need to know
2. Age: Retired, slightly early but that gives you some idea
3. Location: Gloucestershire - my local places tag will give you some idea
4. Occupation: See answer to 2 above
5. Significant other: Currently making a cup of tea
6. Kids: The Son, the Daughter, plus Mini Hobbit. Also Son's wife and Mini Hobbit's mummy (we communicate regularly and far more efficiently than via the Son)
7. Siblings: No
8. Pets: Have had cats in the past, plus the obligatory fish, gerbils and hamsters
9. List the 3 biggest things going on in your life: Gloucestershire Bundles (I'm speaking at a local concert tonight where the retiring collection will be for us); family (we're actually seeing them all of them over the Easter break); everything else
10. Where and for what did you go to school: Mostly in Basingstoke - education was compulsory
11. Parents: I did indeed have them
12. Who are some of your closest friends: While I am friendly with people I meet, my actual friends all live at a greater distance

A Yuletide Meme swiped from corvidology 

1) First year you signed up for Yuletide
2016

2) Last year you signed up for Yuletide (other than this one)
2020

3) Have you signed up this year?
Yes

4) Have you skipped signing up any years since you first took part?
No, but then I have only done five years before this year.

5) How many years have you defaulted by the default deadline?
None

6) How many years have you treated in addition to your assignment?
None - there's too many other things to write at this time of year

7) How many years have you treated but not signed up?
None - see answer to 6

8) How many different canons have you covered in your Yuletide stories?
Five:
Life on Mars (UK)
Whitechapel
Temeraire
The Red House Mystery
Agatha Christie's Poirot

9) What AO3 ratings have you covered in your Yuletide stories?
One T - due to subject matter, Life on Mars had a dead body.  The rest are G - no surprise there.

10) What AO3 categories have you covered in your Yuletide stories?
One M/M - Temeraire, the rest are all G, because the plot was the important part.

Various people have tried this, so I thought I'd have a go.  List the first lines of your last 20 stories.  See if there is any pattern.  Choose your favourite opening line. 

Shortly after Hopkins had departed, I looked out of the window and groaned.  Beresford & Drake (ACD Holmes) [Chap 3, which is where I picked up the WiP.]

"Dolly, are you up to a little walk before dinner?” Miss Marple asked.  Miss Marple's News

Adam Carter was driving back towards London, at the conclusion of a job, and discussing the probable fall out with Ros, who was in the passenger seat.  Smoke in the Mirror (Spooks)

He stood on the railway station platform.   No Going Back  (Hobbit AU)

"Hi," Adam Carter said, as Lucas North came in through the front door.  A Long Day in a Long Week (Spooks)

People used to ask Audrey why she had stayed friends with Addie, when there were so many easier people to be friends with.  We Don't Hold Hands (A Kind of Spark - Elle McNicoll)

“Come on,” Adam said, “it’s a beautiful day, we’re going for a walk!”  Snippets of Love (Spooks) [Chap 3 - this is a collection of ficlets, not one complete fic]

“Sheep!” Michael said.  For Reasons Thad Don't Need Exploring At This Junction (Staged)

“Get your snout out!” Adam said, tapping the werewolf on the muzzle.  Lucas' Birthday Cake (Spooks Werewolf AU)

Trixie Franklin looked critically at the outfits hanging up in Lucille Anderson’s wardrobe.  Yellow (Call the Midwife)

When Adam came into the bedroom, he found Lucas curled up in a tight ball.  Chocolate Biscuits (Spooks)

“Hudson’s Modelling Agency …  Could you repeat that, please?  …  A little slower … Hudson's Modelling Agency (BBC Sherlock AU)

"Excellent," Claudius said, looking up from the letter he was reading.  From Elsinore to Verona (And Back Again) (Hamlet/Romeo & Juliet AU)

"I haven't seen Stanley for a while,” John Watson commented.  Adventure in Rotherhithe (BBC Sherlock)

It was a few days after Esme and Inspector Hopkins had been forced to run from some attackers, that at about 11 o’clock in the morning, Esme heard someone knocking at the front door.  The House on St James Street (ACD Holmes) [Chap 5, which is where I picked up the WiP]

Tigger was waiting for Rabbit to come home from visiting various of his friends and relations, and wondering what to do, when he noticed the mirror was flashing.  Tigger Holmes and the Case of the Shrunken Prince (Winnie-the-Pooh Tigger Holmes 'verse)

"Regency outfits for all three of us, in less than a week,” Aemelia Vole said.  Buttons and Bows (ACD Holmes, MMI 'verse)

"Are there any other ideas for stalls we could add to our sale?” Shelagh Turner asked.  The Button Stall (Call the Midwife)

Adam Carter lay in his bed and tried to sleep.  Snippets from Werewolf Life. (Spooks WerewolfAU) [Chap 14, most recent ficlet/drabble]

Val Dyer collapsed gratefully onto the kitchen chair, a cup of tea in one hand, a chocolate biscuit in the other.  Trouble at Baldwin Flats (Call the Midwife)


Half of these begin with some form of dialogue, and of the rest, most launch directly into the story.  And 16 introduce one, and sometimes two, of the main protagonists of the story.  Which, given that few of them are very long is hardly surprising.  Yes, this is what I would have expected.

My favourite line has to be: “Get your snout out!” Adam said, tapping the werewolf on the muzzle.

Adam Carter and Tigger Holmes go on a picnic.  What food do they take and where do they go and do they have a good time? nagi_schwarz 

Clearly they go someone in the Hundred Acre Wood.  Adam packs a picnic basket with all the things he likes, plus some things especially for Tigger, like little pink cakes with icing on them.  They have an interesting time, as Adam finds it slightly strange to be consulting Tigger Holmes, but when he leaves he’s much more hopeful than when he arrived.

 

The inhabitants of Nonnatus House and Tigger Holmes are married, but Hamlet is trying to get the nuns’ attention.  What happens? jormiwillingham 

This is not a marriage in the regularly accepted way, because nuns aren’t allowed to marry and even if they were a small toy tiger wearing a sou’wester would not be the normal partner for them.  However, the current arrangement suits everybody very well.  Hamlet, who believes that women should be kept in a nunnery to prevent them having unsuitable relationships, by which he means those he doesn’t approve of, is told to get with the times and accept that people have a right to live their own lives.  Hamlet whines that no-one understands him, but Sister Monica Joan says that people do understand him, they just don’t agree with him, and Tigger Holmes suggests he look outwards a bit more, instead of always looking inwards.  It turns out Hamlet is still cross because while he was busy being introspective Horatio and Ophelia have gone off together.

 

Greg doesn't believe in werewolves.  Well, Bilbo Baggins has a surprise for Greg - are they a werewolf or someone both Bilbo and Greg know?  What happens? luthienberen 

Bilbo Baggins has known Greg for over a year now (they originally met over a similar occasion last year in which their quiet weekend away was gatecrashed by several others).  So Greg has come to associate Bilbo with the odder events in life.  However, Greg doesn’t believe in werewolves.  Which is a shame really.

Once again they decide to go away for the weekend.  It will be purely platonic, separate rooms (Bilbo is in a steady relationship with Thorin), just a chance to have a quiet weekend in the country.  Except that Bilbo brings a large, wolf-like dog with him, saying he’s taking care of it for a friend.

This time, instead of an attempted robbery, they find themselves on the periphery of a case involving the secret service (Greg’s fairly sure he recognises the fair-haired man who appears to be in charge of the operation, although his dark-haired partner doesn’t seem to be around.)  As it is, Bilbo’s dog manages to trap one of the enemy agents, and everyone is happy.

That night, when they go to bed, Bilbo asks Greg if he would mind having the dog in his room.  Somewhat surprised, Greg agrees.  It’s a twin bedded room, and the dog goes to lie on the second bed.  When Greg tells it to sleep on the floor, the dog growls, so he decides to let it stay where it is.

In the morning, when Greg wakes up, he discovers the dark-haired partner of the man who had led the operation asleep in the other bed. 

Greg now believes in werewolves.

 

Thorin Oakenshield knits a sweater for Mrs Hudson.  How does this work out and why does Sherlock find the resulting garment hilarious, while Lucas North feels somewhat offended? debriswoman 

To be fair, Sherlock isn’t the only one who finds the knitted sweater hilarious, although no-one else voices their thoughts to Thorin’s face.  Mrs Hudson says it’s lovely and puts it away in a cupboard until such time as she can find a good use for it.  That good use turns out to be the day Lucas arrives at 221B looking like a drowned rat and Mrs Hudson lends the sweater to him.  Sherlock tells Lucas that his new dress doesn’t suit him, but that if he were looking to find a suitable disguise he would give him some tips.

Images once more by the lovely moth2fic 

I haven't done this meme this year, so I thought it might be entertaining.

I have a list of 15 characters, all of whom I regularly write (prompted by yesterday's entry) numbered from 1 to 15.  What I would like you, dear flist, to do is ask a question, such as:

One and Two go birthday shopping for Three.  How successful are they and is Three happy with their present?

Please post your questions in the comments, and in a couple of weeks I will reply.

I received five requests for drabbles when I posted my response to this prompt.  My responses are:

 

Three things which are indigo nope, let's go for rainbow instead:

1.  The classic rainbow in the sky

Sun through the rain.  I'm not an eternal optimist, but I am generally glass half full.  I also don't fit smoothly into a lot of groups I belong to, because the rainbow inside me isn't just one or two colours.  It may also explain why I will change memes/challenges when they don't quite fit what I want to do - on the basis it won't spoil things for other people.


2.  Currently the symbol for support of the NHS

I have very personal connections to the NHS.  My daughter-in-law is a nurse in our local hospital.  My daughter up to three months ago was a pediatric nurse in a hospital in Warwick.  She's now a student paramedic training with West Midlands Ambulance Service.


3.  Pride

I am white, and het.  I also believe that all people, no matter what race or sexual orientation, or anything else, should be equal.  And I am trying to live that way.


Fanfics I've written with multi-colours:

The Colours of My Mind Lucas/Adam, written for inspiring_tables Colour table

Coming Home Lucas/Adam again, this time an attempt at sentinel/guide

Plus:

Not What Brown Owl Expected Sally Donovan was once a Brownie

The Black Stallion Sherlock is currently a horse