Christmas in October

What Sherlockian or Holmesian worthy of the name doesn't spent an hour or so each Christmas reading "The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle"? How we love to read, "I had called upon my friend Sherlock Holmes upon the second morning after Christmas, with the intention of wishing him the compliments of the season."

You will recall, of course, that Mr. Henry Baker belonged to a goose club at the Alpha Inn. This was a public house near the British Museum which he perhaps frequented too frequently, judinging by the "touch of red in his nose and cheeks."

Most scholars believe that the Alpha Inn was in fact the Museum Tavern. On our trip to England last month we spent some time in the British Museum. Ann took dozens of pictures of mummies and Egyptian statues. But she didn't forget to take this shot of the Museum Tavern across the street.

Because it wasn't lunch time, we only stuck our heads in the door of the tavern and didn't stay or eat or drink. But even that was enough to feel the presence of Henry Baker. I hope that his wife accepted his peace offering of that goose, and that all was well thereafter in the Baker household.