That Monday Feeling

On Sunday night it snowed again, then it froze and this morning the roads were white with ice and frozen snow. I had promised to get Robbie to the station one way or another because he thought the buses would not run. It was the journey from hell, I was sliding everywhere and the state of the roads around the station car park was terrifying. I was thankful to get back in one piece and I was determined not to go out again until it was safe to drive. Laura was overjoyed because her school was closed again due to the icy roads, Sam was devastated because his school was open and he had to walk there, he made me feel so guilty.

As the day went on the roads improved and by late this afternoon it rained a sort of sleet type of rain, there was water on the roads, but it wasn't taking the snow away, it was hanging on as if it was waiting for more snow. By the time I left work it was snowing heavily and settling, the roads were already dangerous and rapidly becoming worse. Robbie was beside himself with frustration, he said he absolutely has to get to work tomorrow, but I don't think he will get very far. I have just been outside and taken these photos, we are back to square one with deep snow on top of ice again. It really isn't funny any more!

In a Flap!

I don't believe it, we have had more snow this evening and Robbie is rampaging around the house flapping his arms and ranting about having to get to work tomorrow. I understand how he feels, I am seriously fed up with the snow too, but I don't see why he is blaming me for the weather.

Why Are Men Such Slow Learners?

Why are men such slow learners? You would think by now that Robbie would have learned that certain behaviour provokes a negative response, but when Robbie finds himself in a hole he just keeps on digging!
He rang me at about 4.30pm yesterday to say that there was a problem with his usual route home, and he would try to get back via Nuneaton instead. I know he can't help it but it drives me mad when I am left in limbo, either everyone has to eat late or I have to cook several different meals. We were having roast pork and it wasn't something I could cook in stages, so everyone had to wait.

After several more progress bulletins Robbie hoped that he would be home between 6.45pm and 6.55pm but they encountered further hold ups and the train didn't get in until 7.30pm. A journey that should have taken an hour took three hours and by the time we sat down to our meal it was well past 8pm. I was irritated about him being late, not so much cross with him as frustrated by the situation because it happens so often. I'd had my own frustrations in the afternoon so by the time Robbie got home we were both tired and frustrated. That really wasn't the best time for him to start getting critical about the cooking! He came into the kitchen and started to tell me that I had cooked the peas too soon, he even tried to tell me how to fill the kettle! These are all trivial things, but I have told him about it so many times and he just will not learn that it winds me up. A few words were exchanged, but instead of backing off he started to micro manage how the plates were set out when I dished up the meal, I told him to be quiet and leave me alone - something he seems physically incapable of doing!

After our meal I was trying to get some work finished on the computer and I just needed to be left alone to get on with it. The others were watching the Soap Awards but Robbie did his usual thing, he started flapping his arms and demanding to know what he had done wrong. I tried to focus on my work but with Robbie flapping around like a cross between a dodo and Why Bird! Do you remember Why Bird from Playdays? he had such an irritating voice. In the end I couldn't ignore Robbie any more and I told him to go fry his face, everyone has their limits - even me! The children thought it was hilarious, but I wished I hadn't reacted. It had the desired effect because Robbie took himself off to bed leaving me to tackle the washing up.

This morning he was sorry, but still annoying, I wasn't cross anymore, just exhausted. He sent me a text in an attempt to get back into my good books, a simple sorry would have been fine, but it was a typical Robbie approach. The text said Excellent and rather touching piece on Gwyneth Dunwoody in Rail by Nigel Harris. It is a good thing I can read between the lines! Gwyneth Dunwoody was a bit of a rarity in politics, she said what she meant and she meant what she said, and she would stand up for what she believed was right even if it didn't always suit her party. You have to admire a person with that sort of strength and independence even if you don't always agree with her politics. She will be missed especially by those involved in transport.