Tea to the English is really a picnic indoors - Alice Walker

Today didn't start quite as well it should have. The alarm went off at 5am and I jumped into action, I shook Robbie awake and told him that it was already 5am and if he didn't hurry he would be late for his train. He turned over and said that he was getting up, there was no further action for a few moments, then he sat up 'zombie style' but he seemed to be still asleep. In those few moments my brain managed to catch up with the situation and I realised that it was Saturday! I told him that it was Saturday and I was very sorry for waking him up, he said "yes dear" and still in zombie mode he settled back into bed; he was instantly asleep. When we woke up at a more realistic hour for a Saturday Robbie had no recollection of the 5am episode.

A favourite pair of Robbie's Shoes

He came back to bed with a cup of tea for me (and a coffee for him) and announced that he wanted to show me some Dickies. I wasn't entirely sure what he was suggesting until he picked up my laptop and logged on to his favourite shoe website. Apparently the 'Dickies' in question were a particular type of canvas boots. Being Robbie he couldn't just look at one pair of shoes he showed me a whole selection of footwear that he would love to own. I guess he could be doing worse things than lusting after shoes, but our house isn't big enough to accommodate all his footwear.


Looking at the website led to a (very long) conversation about shoes he has known and loved. To be honest it was more of a monologue than a conversation. We had worked our way back to 1980s but I was spared further 'time travel' to his earlies footwear memories because he sent himself to sleep! I can't say it was the most exciting start to a Saturday morning, but seeing Robbie happy and relaxed makes me happy.  I was left feeling that some things are just meant to be. Robbie came to Northampton because of me, but what better place for someone with a passion for shoes, a bus ride away from the shoe museum and a stone's throw from the Doc Shop! 

The more things change the more they stay the same

Thursday afternoon seemed fairly ordinary when I went to work, but then at about 7pm it started to snow. At first I thought it wouldn't come to much, but it did, it settled very quickly and when I left work soon after 8pm the roads were horrible and once I got of the main roads it was a rather scary journey home. 

Robbie was not happy because the snow had ruined his plans to go to Carlisle by train on Friday. My son was not happy because according to him he had no suitable footwear to walk in ice and snow. I questioned him closely about this because I distinctly remember buying him waterproof walking boots. Apparently his not inconsiderable collection of footwear is designed to be fashionable rather than functional and with the exception of the walking boots (which are allegedly are just a figment of my imagination) none of them have sufficient grip for walking on snow and ice. I threatened to search his room for the 'imaginary' walking boots, but it was clear that he urgently needed a pair of wellies.

So today Robbie and I set out in search of black wellies for my son. He was very specific about having to have black boots so that they would match whatever he was wearing. We found boots in his size at a fairly reasonable price and we bought him thick socks as well. I felt quite pleased with myself until we got home and we realised that one boot was all rough inside. So I went out again, this time accompanied by my son, to get the boots changed. That was when the problems started, all the black boots in his size had the same problem, so my son agreed to have green ones instead. He was dressed in his 'smart casual' attire ready to go out to a sixth form party at a venue in town, so I was rather surprised when he took off his fashionable boots in the car and put on his new wellies. We went home for a while as it wasn't quite time for him to go out. He walked around in his wellies, they looked a bit odd with his smart clothes, but he kept glancing down at them and admiring them. Suddenly I was reminded of when he was a very little boy and he was so proud of his shiny new wellies that he refused to take them off! Today he kept his inner child under control, when it was time for him to go out he took a last look at his wellies and then changed into more suitable footwear.   

Don't Mention the Boots! 09.01.08

After all the rushing around and distraction over the Christmas period, I am finally getting organised again. I spent some time transferring last years posts to the new blog site today, it takes ages but it is very interesting to re read the posts. Looking back on a whole year of Robbie's escapades can be exhausting, with him around there is rarely a dull moment - no wonder I am always tired. I can hardly believe that it is a whole year since my first railway related rant http://robbiesrandomramblings.blogspot.com/2008/01/answer-to-rail-congestion-become-sheep.html

My favourite post has to be Sam's description of Robbie, it was so accurate and very funny. I have added it to the home page of the new blog site, it is in the left hand column towards the bottom of the page. http://robbiesrandomramblings.blogspot.com/

Robbie is still feeling sore and bruised after his fall but I think he will survive, his dignity suffered a bit of a dent but he'll get over it. His new suit arrived today, he has ordered some new footwear and tomorrow he is off to M&S to order some more trousers, that seems to have lifted his spirits considerably. A word of warning, don't mention footwear or you will never shut him up, you wouldn't believe that one man could find so much to say about one pair of boots!