Couples that don't talk.

Many moons ago I read a book where the heroine is dumped by her husband because he didn't want to turn into one of those couples who don't talk in restaurants.When I was younger I was fascinated seeing couples that didn't say one word to each other. I thought that they must have a very bad relationship. I felt sorry for them. Now I realise that Steve and I don't say much to each other when we are out. I like to think it is because we are so comfortable in each other's company we don't feel the need to chat. I shared this thought with Steve - and once he got over the shock that I was talking to him, he agreed. But then he would, wouldn't he?

What's in a name?

As part of lazy Sunday I was reading some of the blogs on Dashboard and one writer was talking about the importance of the blog name. I think I was pretty unimaginative when it came to my blog title. I felt pretty shy about doing a blog in the first place and I didn't really know what I'd be writing. I chose Gina Robbo because Steve's nickname is Steve Robbo so I sort of kept the family connection. When I say family, please do not be alarmed, we're strictly related through marriage. I didn't want anything too cheesy like Frustrated Writer or I'm a office worker get me out of here. Now I regard GinaRobbo as my trade mark and I'd be strangely annoyed if there is another Gina Robbo out there. Its like Clark Kent and Superman. By day I'm Gina Robertson but by night I'm Gina Robbo!!!! Only I can't fly and don't have a cape.
Do you think I should get out more?

Weekend

After a very busy, super stressy week we've had a very lazy (well after essential cleaning chores - a week from hell does not mean that one lets one's standards slip)weekend. We watched The Lady Vanishes. I won't spoil for you if you haven't seen it - but do try and see it as you'll realise a lot of films pay homage to it. I love getting film references and at one point nearly peed myself with excitement. Steve and I like to play spot the character most likely to die - Steve got it right this time. You play it by shouting out "Dead meat!" when they're on the screen. That's why we tend to watch films at home, much more fun than the cinema where you have to keep quiet.
I've been to London quite a few times this week. I used to commute about 9 years ago and am amazed at the change of train etiquette. Some people treat the carriage as if it is their living room, music blaring and long, loud one sided telephone conversations. On a very rickety tube ride to South Kensington the girl sitting opposite me was applying mascara. I kept waiting for her to poke her eye out.

Black eye

Steve is sporting a black eye. No, I didn't give it to him -he has had a minor operation on it Tuesday. He has been in a fair bit of pain. Which is why I have forgiven this:

Gina is blabbing on about how things normally turn out on the best.
Steve: yeah and you thought you'd get pregnant.*
Gina: Blimey Steve , break to me gently!

Gina then gives Steve the evils as Steve tries to back out of it. Actually I thought it was pretty funny - but I had to make him squirm a bit first.

* I had fertility treatment a few years ago. I was very optimistic it would work. I'm a twit

Hmmnn...

I was just been reading one of my regular blogs. And I noticed although I'm still linked to I've been moved lower down the list. So much lower down I thought I had been removed. Now I know this is a small thing and I shouldn't even notice stuff like this (me being so grown up an' all). But even so...

Hello -I'm still here

Just realised that I haven't blogged for a few days. My poor reader(s) how have you managed?
Steve has had a minor operation having a thingy removed from his face. He was very brave and has to take it easy. That means I'm doing all my chores and his chores. I'm a bit worn out. I never realised how much he does. Don't tell him that though.

Steve is right - it is a load of buttocks.

Your True Love Is a Capricorn

Why you'll love a Capricorn: Hard working and driven, a Capricorn will work overtime to win your heart. Be prepared to get wined and dined, even once you're convince that your Capricorn is the one! Why a Capricorn will love you: You don't rush things. You know it will take a while for a Capricorn to trust you, and you can wait. Social and outgoing, you can introduce normally shy Capricorn to a great circle of friends.

What Sign Is Your True Love?

And I didn't cheat with my answers.

Steve's a Virgo!

After reading Steve's blog I had to post this:

Never Date a Capricorn

Somber, demanding, and freakishly logical. Emotions? It's not clear that Capricorn has them. And while it may be flattering for a Capricorn to be serious about you, bad news: they expect you to be super serious in return. Instead try dating: Aquarius, Gemini, Leo, or Virgo

What Sign Shouldn't You Date?

Friday

No one handed in my ring. Oh well. There is no use claiming on the insurance because the excess £100 which is more than I paid for the ring. It was a nice ring though. If any one out there has found it and kept it (heaven forbid) I hope your finger drops off.

Thursday.

I've got my leaving date from work - 10th August. It will be an end of an era! I've worked in the building for 14 years so it will feel funny leaving. I'm inviting people for drinks from work and dinner, Mae if you are reading this considered yourself invited! I'm looking forward to it, its been ages since I've been out with a group of people. But then I am an unpopular member of staff so perhaps there won't be that many of us there..
On an annoying note - I lost my little finger ring. I'm pretty sure that I lost it at work - but I couldn't find it anywhere. I hope my good karma comes into play because I ALWAYS hand in stuff I find.
I'm reading Imperfectly natural Woman by Janey Lee Grace. Isn't it odd that many people who are in to alternative stuff (eg won't take anti biotics because they are bad for you, think sun screen give you cancer)smoke?

Bring out the Branston

The Littlest Dude attends speech therapy. Angela and I were discussing his progress.
Angela: ..So Aaron asked for a cheese and Branston sandwich. But he didn't say Branston clearly. I said I couldn't understand him and he managed to say cheese and banston.
Me: Why didn't he say cheese and pickle if he is having trouble with his "r"s?
Angela eyes rolling : He'll only eat Branston.
Me: Oh!

MmmmMagnum

There is one Magnum triple chocolate lolly in the freezer. Unfortunately there are two of us.
"You have it"
"No you have it"
We're not grown up enough to share it. At the moment there is an uneasy - if you can't have it I won't have it.
I think Steve will be the first one to break.
BTW I got the job! Don't know when I'll be starting yet.

Pizza (or how kids tell lies)

Just to expand on the post below:
We're at Pizza Hut with the boys. One of the reasons we are there is that Joe has a nut allergy and the Meat Feast is nut free. (although saying nut allergy is a bit like saying diabetes is a sugar allergy.) The boys want large, thick crust. I query that that this might be a bit too much for them but they are quick to reassure me that they always have this. So I order it for them. And they eat it all.
"That's the biggest pizza I've ever eaten." Aaron tells me as he pushes his empty plate away.
They played Gina for a sucker.

The next morning I'm cooking breakfast for them. I'm reading the back of the honey pot for ingredients. I'm pretty sure it won't contain nuts but you have to check. There are no nuts but there is a disclaimer. It is quite long winded but the gist of it is 'It shouldn't have nuts in it. But it might. We can't be bothered to check. Its up to you if you eat it or not" Shame on you Tesco.
BTW I didn't give Joe the honey.

Sunday

Had a great time hanging out with the Little Dudes. It was hilarious watching Dare Devil as they gave us a running commentary on what happens just before it happened.
A storm woke us up at the ungodly hour of 6am. Tommy was terrified but fortunately for me he was whimpering on Steve's side of the bed.

When to shut up...

I had an interview today. When they asked me how I would handle the commute I gave them the full benefit of my research on train times. "If I get the 7.05, that would get me into London 8.07 which should get me here at 8.30. If I get the 5.30 I'd get home about 6.30." Yes, I actually said 8.07.
The Little Dudes are coming over tomorrow for a sleep over. We're taking them out for pizza and then watching Dare Devil. Can't wait!

Cool Girl.

I've been reading blogs like Company bitch where the blogger uses cool pseudonyms, slags people off, discusses their sex life and has a way cool 'list of characters' on their side bar.
I don't slag off people(who I know )in this blog, in case they read it, or someone reads it and tells them and they beat me up. Reading my blog you could be forgiven for thinking I've never had sex (the whole Doctor Who geekiness, the way I got confused between real life and Heroes). Then I found out Steve's Auntie Carole reads this blog and tells his Mum about it- so I'm keeping well clear of the sex thing. Also Steve's mates read this and I wouldn't want them to feel inferior..
Perhaps I should start another blog - but make it anonymous and not tell anyone it is me. I could slag people off, give them mean nicknames. I could call it Honks of Filth (I watched How Clean is your House and Kim said "This honks of filth " and it struck me as a good name for a blog)...oh dear I've just blown it haven't I?

Now I know why I don't diet and Victoria Beckham always looks so miserable. It sucks not eating. Stupid rumbling tummy, stupid food poisoning.

If you ever get food poisoning from eating fish, taking an anti histamine helps. Steve looked it up on the Internet in the early hours of this morning. I'm never eating fish again. I'm scared of the fish.

I'm sure everyone noticed the look of barely controlled horror on Ziggy's face when Chanelle was not evicted from Big Brother last night. Steve has that look on his face every time I mention decorating.
I haven't put a title on this because I can't click on the title box. it was going to be called: The Look of Love (Not).

"As a parent..."

I purely hate it when someone starts a sentence "As a parent I feel awful that a child had died/injured/gone missing". It makes me feel like a non parent. That I can possibly understand because I haven't got children. Which is a nonsense.

Friday

I'm secretly proud that I am left handed. It is a silly thing to be secretly proud of, as it is no effort for me to be left handed. I suppose it is like being proud of your eye colour. It makes no sense.
Watched Big Brother last night. Charley is very proud of her chest isn't she?

Even younger Gina

Thinking about how I was at 19 made me starting thinking about when I was 9. Although I might get 9 and 10 muddled up as it was a long time ago.
When I was 9:
Mum wouldn't let me watch Charlie's Angels. I was very cross about that and felt it was very unfair.
I loved drawing and writing stories. I would carrying on reading after the light was turned out.
I shared a bedroom with Angela. I hated that. I hated the fact we went to bed at the same time and I was the OLDEST.
I was in the Brownies. We lived in London.
Dad did night work so we had to be very quiet during the day as not to wake him up.
We didn't have a phone. Or a car.
I had a Purdy haircut.
I thought my Mum knew everything. She still thinks she does.
I have never been on a plane or been abroad.
I used to play out with my mates. I had a Tomahawk bike.
We didn't have central heating. We used to get dressed in front of the gas fire.
I liked The Famous Five, Secret Seven, The Faraway tree and Amelia Jane is naughty again. I thought the Wombles might be a bit real.

Games

Steve downloaded a game on my phone. I call it Bubble Pop, but that's not its real name (puzzle bubble or something.)I don't normally like games but this is very addictive. Steve had to explain to me how to play it, step by step. I saw Joe yesterday, he is off school with a tummy bug. To cheer him up I let him play Bubble Pop. As I was explaining to him how to play it, he was already playing it. Is that the difference between a 20th Century and 21st century person? Or is it just me?

I was just randomly looking at blogs and came across a blog where someone really opens their heart. But there is a spelling mistake in the title of the blog. And I got all snobby about it. I am a terrible, shallow person. (I even got the dictionary to check- how mean is that -if she wasn't so depressed I'd let her know.)

Your EQ is 133

50 or less: Thanks for answering honestly. Now get yourself a shrink, quick! 51-70: When it comes to understanding human emotions, you'd have better luck understanding Chinese. 71-90: You've got more emotional intelligence than the average frat boy. Barely. 91-110: You're average. It's easy to predict how you'll react to things. But anyone could have guessed that. 111-130: You usually have it going on emotionally, but roadblocks tend to land you on your butt. 131-150: You are remarkable when it comes to relating with others. Only the biggest losers get under your skin. 150+: Two possibilities - you've either out "Dr. Phil-ed" Dr. Phil... or you're a dirty liar.

What's Your EQ (Emotional Intelligence Quotient)?

Dentist

I had a dental check up this morning. I had a little filling (I call little fillings the ones where you don't have to have an injection) and a teeth clean. It came to £43.40, which isn't bad I suppose but doesn't feel very NHS.
When I left the Dentists it was bucketing down with rain. All this rain is getting weird.

Young Gina

Hurray! mrs M has updated her blog! its about how different the 39 and a bit Mrs M is from the 19 and a bit Mrs M. So mrs M - I ripping off your blog.
When I was 19 I didn't know Steve Robbo, so my name wasn't Gina Robbo.
I had a steady boyfriend who was a complete f!ckw!t. Readers, he was so up his own arse he used to explain MY jokes back to ME. Readers I'm sorry to say I thought he was terrific. Sadly Young Gina had to kiss a few frogs before she met her prince.
I started going to pubs. My tipple then was vodka and tonic. Stupid young Gina started to smoke "socially".
For some reason Young Gina used to carry a brolly with her every where (I think I had a horror of getting my hair wet)but hated using a handbag.
Young Gina would snigger behind Now Gina's back, as Now Gina has her own special glass and coffee cup at work, as well as photos on her desk. Young Gina used to think people like that were really sad.
I don't think YG knew what the Internet was, YG never thought she would own a mobile phone. YG had a choice of 4 TV channels to watch.
Young Gina was all right but she was very naive and tended to believe what she was told. She was also a bit of a clothes snob- like she would only wear 501s. Young Gina would be mortified at Now Gina rummaging through George and Peacocks.

Your Five Factor Personality Profile

Extroversion: You have medium extroversion. You're not the life of the party, but you do show up for the party. Sometimes you are full of energy and open to new social experiences. But you also need to hibernate and enjoy your "down time." Conscientiousness: You have medium conscientiousness. You're generally good at balancing work and play. When you need to buckle down, you can usually get tasks done. But you've been known to goof off when you know you can get away with it. Agreeableness: You have medium agreeableness. You're generally a friendly and trusting person. But you also have a healthy dose of cynicism. You get along well with others, as long as they play fair. Neuroticism: You have low neuroticism. You are very emotionally stable and mentally together. Only the greatest setbacks upset you, and you bounce back quickly. Overall, you are typically calm and relaxed - making others feel secure. Openness to experience: Your openness to new experiences is high. In life, you tend to be an early adopter of all new things and ideas. You'll try almost anything interesting, and you're constantly pushing your own limits. A great connoisseir of art and beauty, you can find the positive side of almost anything.

The Five Factor Personality Test

Robbo Rule No 2.

Robbo Rule number 2 is who ever gets out of bed last, makes it. The rule was violated this morning by Mr Robbo. As I'm not one to make a fuss or go on about things I made the bed. Later Tommy was whimpering for his walk. (He does that as soon as we get dressed)
Steve: Why is Tommy crying?
Me: Because you didn't make the bed.
Steve: No he's not!