The Clapham Family

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What interests us?

Well, for Robert it has to be anything to do with petrol. He is into dirt biking personally and loves cars. He watches most forms of motorsport, including the Australian Supercars, Rallying, Formula 1, Enduro, Motocross, Trials, 500cc, Superbike and Touring Car Racing. He will also jump at the chance to ride quad bikes.
Lousie, after a rough introduction (and a painful one), also now enjoys a bit of bike riding (2 and 4 wheels).
Snow skiing has always been a passion, as has rock climbing.
Robert has now done a couple of bungy jumps (Melbourne and Victoria Falls), and recently the Minjin Jungle Swing in Cairns.
Both enjoy food and cooking, although since Lucy was conceived there has been somewhat less chilli used!
Movies and good wine never go amiss either!

Here is a bit about us:

Robert grew up (I use that term loosely) in England, while Louise did in Melbourne. They both met in 1995, via mutual friends in a pub in Melbourne, when Louise was working for Schwarzkopf and Robert for the State Bank of NSW.

Shortly after meeting Robert changed jobs (Standard Chartered Australia) and got his dream car (a Subaru WRX).

Robert and Louise moved to Sydney in 1997, and while Louise continued with Schwarzkopf, Robert moved to Mocatta, the metals trading company that was at the time owned by Standard Chartered.

Following the takeover of Mocatta by the Bank of Nova Scotia in late 1997 it was suggested to Robert that he might like to spend some time in the Johannesburg office, where an alliance had been formed with ABSA—one of the biggest South African banks. Can you imagine how stunned Louise was when she got off a flight from Hamburg to be asked “How do you feel about living in Africa for a while?”

So January 1999 we moved to start a 3 year stint in Johannesburg, which was certainly a great experience.

November 6th, 1999, Robert and Louise were wed in Melbourne and shortly afterwards (mid December from memory) they had the exciting news that Louise was pregnant!

Then on July 27th, just a few days before her mother’s birthday, Lucy Rose joined the Clapham clan!

The family moved back to Sydney in late November 2001, before skipping off to Tassie for Christmas and to collect a nice new Subaru WRX STi (6 speed box etc) and a trailer to bring back the Kawasaki KLX300 for Lou to ride (not very often).

We are now settled in Balgowlah, overlooking Manly.