“If the facts don't fit the theory, change the facts.” Albert Einstein

I always look forward to spending weekends with Robbie. Weekdays are so hectic that we hardly see each other so weekends are very special and those rare Saturdays when we can just be lazy and take life at our own pace are extra special. Last Saturday we had been enjoying some 'us time' when Robbie said "Mrs J, there is nothing better than cuddling up an a Saturday morning and listening to Kate Adie on the radio". I told him that it may have been better to have left that little gem as an unspoken thought, but he didn't take the hint. He went on to tell me why Kirsty Wark was even better than Kate Adie, well I guess I should be grateful at least I always know what he is thinking!

A little later Robbie was contemplating his navel when he looked up and swore. I was startled and asked him what was wrong. He told e that his long held theory had been disproved then he held up a small quantity of red fluff fro his belly button. He said that he had believed that belly button fluff was always blue but this proved him wrong. I shrugged (wondering why Robbie has to waste so much tie on trivia) and said that it must depend on what colour clothes you wear. Later I noticed that he had made a facebook post on the subject, and one of his 'wicked' friends had decided to encourage his already unhealthy interest in the subject by sending him the link to a website about belly button fluff. He managed to put me off my meal by showing me pictures of jars of fluff - Ewwwww!! Just in case anyone is interested, this is the link http://www.feargod.net/fluff.html. Why can't he just be 'normal'!!

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! 

Pain and Suffering!

When I got home yesterday evening Robbie was nursing and injured finger. He had achieved a variation on a theme, and instead of hopping around with blood pouring out of his foot after stepping on something, he had sliced the top off of his finger instead! Apparently he had put his hand in his toiletry bag to find his razor and came into close contact with the blade. He pointed out countless times that it was his middle finger and he couldn't function without it. He spent the evening making a series of grimaces worthy of a Gurning Contest, and he cradled his hand with the middle finger stiff as if constantly ready to make an ungentlemanly gesture. As they say every cloud has a silver lining and at least the injured finger took his mind of his cold!

I am so annoyed with one of Robbie's colleagues, he has introduced Robbie to a new website that enables you to track ships, to see where they are, where they are registered and a plethora of other facts about them. Needless to say Robbie felt obliged to share his new discovery with me and for several hours he read out countless facts about every ship he came across. I think the creators of the site should market it widely as a soporific!!