heelerau
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2018
- Messages
- 224
- Reaction score
- 112
Gentlemen, have not been here in a good while. Life took an interesting turn for me on the first of Feb this year. A bushfire that started about 20 miles to the east of my home swept through and wipe me out along with 87 other homes. No one was killed although, I should have been. Only made it out because I had my horse tied up outside the house, so had to save him. My now ex partner lost virtually all we owned, family history, antique furniture, guns saddles, tools etc. I now find at the age of 60 I am starting again from scratch.
To be honest the fire has perhaps done me personally more good than harm. I was tested, faced death, rescued my horse, my ex partner survived with the dog and parrot. It go me out of a lousy marital situation, she told me to leave the day after the fire. I am now living with my widowed mother in another state, I had been worried about how she would go after being widowed again, and she lives on a small farm. I get virtually nothing from the marital settlement, and that is fine by me, I have a good job behind me, my health and the strength and determination to rebuild. Replacement rifles and pistols have been acquired, my mate Niel Fields a rifle smith mate in Vernal Utah, suffered almost the same fate, having lost his home and gear to a fire, but not his lovely wife ! He will build me a replacement .40 Flintlock. I have a new horse and a new custom roping saddle being made, have even acquired a 1924 Chevrolet pickup ( buckboard) to get going, another passion of mine. Life is falling back into place. Hopefully a trip to the US in the next couple of years to catch up with friends and pick up my new rifle ! Things at the end of the day are just things and like us it all will perish eventually. My lovely old home, and Mike C here can verify that, is now locked as an unblemished memory, a sacrifice if you will. Life has had a major reset and its actually quite freeing. I have mourned the loss of my old life, but can now look forward to an unencumbered new one . Kiplings great poem "IF" pretty much describes my ethos. Will look forward to seeing some of you when I eventually get States Side !!Cheers Gordon. Ps friends have been utterly amazing, a ver humbling experience.
To be honest the fire has perhaps done me personally more good than harm. I was tested, faced death, rescued my horse, my ex partner survived with the dog and parrot. It go me out of a lousy marital situation, she told me to leave the day after the fire. I am now living with my widowed mother in another state, I had been worried about how she would go after being widowed again, and she lives on a small farm. I get virtually nothing from the marital settlement, and that is fine by me, I have a good job behind me, my health and the strength and determination to rebuild. Replacement rifles and pistols have been acquired, my mate Niel Fields a rifle smith mate in Vernal Utah, suffered almost the same fate, having lost his home and gear to a fire, but not his lovely wife ! He will build me a replacement .40 Flintlock. I have a new horse and a new custom roping saddle being made, have even acquired a 1924 Chevrolet pickup ( buckboard) to get going, another passion of mine. Life is falling back into place. Hopefully a trip to the US in the next couple of years to catch up with friends and pick up my new rifle ! Things at the end of the day are just things and like us it all will perish eventually. My lovely old home, and Mike C here can verify that, is now locked as an unblemished memory, a sacrifice if you will. Life has had a major reset and its actually quite freeing. I have mourned the loss of my old life, but can now look forward to an unencumbered new one . Kiplings great poem "IF" pretty much describes my ethos. Will look forward to seeing some of you when I eventually get States Side !!Cheers Gordon. Ps friends have been utterly amazing, a ver humbling experience.
