Robbie was determined to be back at work today, he made a huge effort to prove that he was walking better yesterday evening. Actually he was walking like Spotty Dog from the wooden tops and all the painkillers were making him rattle, but I was ready to be convinced, the prospect of another day with him in 'Troll mode' was terrifying.
This morning was a bit of a rush, everything seemed to take Robbie a bit longer than usual, but he was OK when he got going. The train was cancelled (yet again!) and he was stranded at the station for an hour in the freezing cold. Then the train was packed to capacity and he had a horrible journey to Birmingham. To add insult to injury he had to pay full fare for the journey because he had forgotten his season ticket. It turned out that he left his season ticket in his shirt pocket last Friday and it has been through the washing machine, so he will have to get it reprinted tomorrow.
He wore that hideous red tie to work today, I detest it, it looks horrible. He was already in my bad books because he was acutely embarrassing last night. Emily's friend came round and we were all sitting in the lounge chatting and laughing, I hardly noticed Robbie slip out of the room, but suddenly he was back and he thrust his page of the calendar right under her nose! The poor girl was lost for words. You simply can't go around frightening eighteen year olds with naked photos of yourself (with or without a bicycle pump!) and some of the other specimens on that calendar could put a girl off men for life!
Well, the long awaited calendar has finally arrived. My first reaction was disappointment, apart from Robbie there were only two others worth a second look. Some of them still had their pants on - that's cheating! Why ever did they make Robbie wear that thing on his head, it looks silly. I notice the Burgess belly managed to creep into the shot. Personally I think his back view is best - but maybe the world isn't ready for that!
Having examined the calendar more closely I've now realised that the Calendar Guys are part of the Virgin strategy to deal with overcrowding on trains. The prospect of encountering that lot (clothed or otherwise) is enough make people abandon rail travel for ever!!!
So, my final verdict on the calendar - The bike looks amazing!!
I think Robbie is incredibly brave, he volunteered to pose for a naked calendar produced by his company to raise funds for charity. Our two younger children (11 and 15) were horrified and have threatened him not to tell any of their friends about it. The older one (17) just thinks it's funny as long as we don't have to have a calendar in the house!
Several months ago he went for the photo session. I love everything about Robbie, but I couldn't help wondering if the world was ready for his Homer Simpson physique. If the camera survived, I thought the viewing public would probably survive too. The theme for Robbie’s group was cycling and he was asked to take a bicycle pump with him as a prop. The children were hysterical, wondering how that could possibly preserve his modesty!!!
