Moving On

There has been a long silence on the blog, over a week of saying nothing I wasn't able to talk about something that was happening, hence the reason for my silence but at last I can speak again. Robbie made the difficult decision that after almost fifteen years it was time to leave the company that he works for and set his sights on pastures new. It has been a very big decision and it has occupied our thoughts for months, but it was very important to do things properly and I couldn't mention it on the blog until everything was agreed with his employer and his departure had been announced. He is still technically with the company for a few weeks longer, but he is now using up leave, his last working day was last Friday.

In the weeks leading up to his departure there were several important jobs to be done including emptying his cupboard and his desk. It sounds simple enough doesn't it, but this is Robbie that we are talking about! It took a huge amount of effort but thanks to the effort of two wonderful 'helpers' his cupboard was emptied - it is just as well that my Ford Galaxy has the rear seats removed because the contents of his cupboard filled the car. I thought that was the end of it but more bags and boxes followed as he emptied his desk - even a tardis couldn't hold that much 'stuff' so we now have a a lifetime of timetables that were taking up house room. It seems that he has several copies of every leaflet ever published by a train company, he also has the largest mug collection known to man and other sundry 'junk' that will fill at least 20 archive boxes!! By junk I mean old tickets, reservation slips and assorted stuff that 'normal' people would throw away. I have tried to be understanding but it is difficult, I feel as if I am drowning in clutter. I am ashamed to admit that you can't actually see our garage any more, the utility room has become a store room and all things railway related have invaded the bedroom!! Just occasionally I crave a a bit of 'normality'. When I told Robbie how I felt he told me that in 100 years time it will be an important historical archive. I wasn't as reassured by that as he expected, after all in 100 years (or even 50 years) I will not be around.

Pushing His Luck!

Robbie was late home on Thursday evening , but I dragged him out to help me check the tyre pressure anyway. The car had to have an MOT and service the next day. Robbie began rambling on about someone having a leaving do and that he really felt he should go. It was on Friday evening and Robbie had smothered me with promises about being at home and having a nice weekend after the performance last weekend. I couldn't be mean and try to stop him going, but I did ask him not to be late home and he assured me that he wouldn't. In fact he assured me that he wouldn't drink to much and he wouldn't be too late, he failed on both counts! He rang for a lift so at well past midnight I picked him up, he got into the car, grinned and went to sleep. We travelled home in silence except for his occasional snores, when I pulled onto the drive he got out and said “thanks mate” before heading into the house and leaving me outside. He parked himself on the sofa and complained angrily when I asked him to do the food and water for the animals. When he finally got up he did a little dance in the hall as if he was on board ship in a heavy storm. He was soon back on the sofa and sound asleep and I decided to leave him there. I know that he came to bed at 5.30am because he sat down so heavily on the bed that I was almost bounced out onto the floor! I wasn't impressed.