LOU: When we met,Rob was so friendly and inclusive. I could tell he was a good egg. I knew straight away that he was the one,but you can’t be too easy! Within six months he was saying,“I’m going to marry you” – and he’d say that every day. We went out for dinner with my parents,and when I went to the loo he asked Mum and Dad if he could marry me. Rob was so excited,he came home that night and said,“Guess what? I’m not asking you now,but I did ask your parents if I could marry you and they said yes!” He tells me everything! It’s very cute.
A couple of months later,I went on a film shoot in Canada withThe Great Outdoors and Tom Williams was the presenter,so I think Rob was a bit unsettled. I came home and there he was in airport arrivals,with roses and T-shirts he’d made with our pet names on them. His said,“Will you marry me,Wendy?” and he had a T-shirt for me,“Yes,I’ll marry you,Kevin.” And instead of kneeling down – because he’s got bad knees – he squatted! I said at that point,“I feel sick.” He was like,“That’s not what I’m expecting”,and I’m like,“Please,stand up!” People were applauding. I was so embarrassed. Then we jumped into the limo and he spent the whole way home asking the limo driver about his kids. He talks to everyone.
We’ve felt like equal partners from early on – once I set him straight. If I hadn’t pushed him,we would be in a 1952 relationship,and to Rob’s credit he’s been open-minded. As a new parent,I felt like my life changed 100 per cent and his life changed about 30 per cent. I felt stuck at home and could see Rob’s life and was a bit jealous. It’s taken 10 years to get to an equal balance again. Rob organised a kids’ birthday party for the first time this year.
He co-founded the Snowdome Foundation because his dad was diagnosed with blood cancer and he needed to do something;he was like,“Right,we need to find a cure for cancer.” He grabs life and goes for it. With the two other founders,they’ve raised more than $25 million in 10 years – and Rob’s dad has been in remission for a long time now because of the trials he was on.
I was a bit reluctant about bringing Rob into the family business – what if we don’t agree on something? – but we made a rule that if it was in the areas he looked after,he made the decision,and in the areas I looked after,I made the decision. And if one of us doesn’t feel like talking about work at home,they can say so.
We have cracking fights,but not about anything important. Sometimes there’s a bit of silent treatment from me. He’s a terrible present buyer,but I’ve decided I’m not going to be disappointed;I’ll just buy my own presents and spend twice as much. It’s also difficult to get a word in as he talks so much,but that’s made me more articulate because I’ve had to think about what I say – I don’t get much air time!
Rob knows me better than anyone,knows all the faults,yet he believes in me. Females are good at doubting themselves and his belief in me has helped me grow. I’m very lucky.
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