Our Wedding Day

Me at the rifle range with my world record score

Rhonda and her scrapbooking

The beach down the road

The Leader Of The Pack

My name is Robert and my wife is Rhonda.

I am a keen Target Rifle Shooter and my wife is into her scrapbooking.

Although my wife is disabled and in a wheelchair most of her time she is strong and has a positive outlook on life.

We live in the beautiful coastal town in Western Australia and have been blessed with two lovable children. I had one to a previous relationship but he has since passed away.

I have no parents (that I wish to Acknowledge) and my wife is is the same after her father died when she was 18 and her mother died in January this year (07) so the kids don''t have a lot of family.

Our daughter has completed year 12 and has started university and whilst our son has never been one for schoolwork has always been a hard worker and is always ready to help anyone. He has just scored himself an apprenticeship and is doing well.

10 Feb 2008...Well we have been in our new town on the west coast now for just over 12 months and we are loving it.

Traded our Ford Territory for a smaller more affordable Mazda 3 Maxx Sport Hatch and have not looked back on its fuel economy.

The gardens are coming along slowly as are the lawns and I have built a shade house with wheelchair access for my wife...it is only small but a start.

Our daughter has left uni and is working with Activ Foundation full time and has 4 other part time jobs. She is working too much and has at 19 purchased her 2nd new car and owes the bank more than I can say in one sentence without choking. She is having a few troubles with her life at the moment and it is hard for me to sit back and watch but so long as I am there when she asks for help I will have done all I am able unless I risk my/our relationship...and I am not prepared to go that far...she will ask when she is ready.

The young fella has now completed the 1st year of his apprenticeship and is going well but has hit a bit of a hurdle with the theory side of things as hid didn't expect he would be doing anything more than hands on...but I didn't say "I told you so". He just purchased a 1995 Barina and has been busy pimping it up...bit of a waste but I would rather him spend his money on that than drugs and alcohol. he has also joined venturers ( a bit like scouts but for older kids) and is helping the community whenever he can.

My wife, Rhonda has been away on a couple of scrapbooking camps and has met a few friends and has a lot more freedom here than in Esperance. But she realises that there is no such thing as a bad day, "just good days and better days".

I have been busier than usual on the rifle range and have met a lot of good people and have had an excellent year stretching my club average out to 99.03.

I have been delivering pamphlets for the past 10 1/2 months to try and get a few extra dollars but was wearing myself out and had little valuable time with the family so I gave it up...even if it did help me lose 20kg.

4 July 2008

Oops...20kg back on again...But it was the cakes fault....Or winter fat.

My daughter has moved to Perth to live with her boyfriend and I think she is finding out that she is trying to go through life too fast but is making positive steps to secure a future for herself. We don't see much of her anymore which does make me a bit sad at times but we still have one at home that needs us for now. Brendan is going out with his 1st girlfriend (best thing that ever happened in way of his personal hygine) but is sad because she has gone to Reunion Island for a WHOLE month...dragging his feet all over the place and the like...do we still remember what it feels like to be in love....lets look to our children for some reminders.

Rhonda has been having a few health issues to add to her existing woes...just what she needs...NOT. Bartholian Abccess,  self cathaterisation  and now another DVT...some people have all the fun.

Being a carer over the last 12 years has caught up on me and my back has been giving me absolute hell but I have a good Physio and the Doc gave me some pills so things should get better for me at least.

My new rifle long range target rifle turned up a while back so I have been busy sorting it out and am still enjoying my sport.

Winter has arrived but I am much warmer this year thanks to a very thoughtful Minti member. Thanks a million!

Even with all our troubles there is always someone else worse off and we are actually looking at doing some respite work for parents that need a break on a casual basis as and when we are able and I am really looking forward to it. The 1st step is a working with childrens check and I am hoping that a pup fight that I had half a lifetime ago wont prevent us from helping those in need.

Otherwise, neither of the kids are into drugs and/or alcohol and nor do they smoke even though I have all their lives and Basically I am proud of where they are at despite a couple of hurdles. Our love for one another keeps up keeping on.

I will add more here as time permits but for now we enjoy life and look forward to it''s challenges.

1 October 2008

Won 5th badge in shoot at end of August with 71 shooters from around the State so I am over the moon.

Rhonda has been busy in the garden, she just love spring.

Brendan has moved into his sisters old room and is starting to mature both physically and mentally. His car sprung a leak whilst I was in the city and filled up with water and he thanked me for making him save his $.....now he can fix it.

Rochelle is still doing her own thing and is having a real tough time of it. She just turned 20, announced that she was engaged then a few weeks later that she was pregnant (6 weeks). I was in the city last week and caught up with her but she looked like crap. They are tight with money atm but her man was installing 4 spotlights on his 4WD...go figure....boys and their toys.

Just had a phone call from Rochelle.....................................................I knew what she was going to say and my stomach turned upside down..........................................................................she lost her baby. All I want to do is give her the biggest hug...................................."I love my kids soooooooooo much."

Otherwise, bills coming out of our ears as always but life knows but one dirrection.

Anyway, Will try and keep my entries up to date and visit Minti more often........I miss my friends.