INTRODUCTIONS...

Firstly, I suppose I should introduce myself. My name is Ian and I am currently residing in a beautiful part of Queensland, Australia called Burnett heads. It is approximately 15 km north west of wonderful Bundaberg.

As the title of this blog suggests, I am an ex truckie and have now become a house hubby. Why, you might ask? Well, I might answer, "Why not." But seriously, it is mainly through necessity.

I have been in the transport industry for over thirty years, some stints of long haul and interstate driving, some local, some in management and some as a yard monkey. Its always been good to me, I have never been out of work, unless as at times like these, I have chosen to be.

We left out beloved Burnett Heads to move south into NSW to help care for my sick mother about 18 months ago. It didn't work out as planned and I ended up running long haul for a local company. I had been driving here but it was local, home every night and a good company to work for. The mob down south weren't bad, but a transport company none the less.

You see there are two types of driving, there is the kind as I had here in Bundy previously working for a local roofing manufacturer, driving their vehicle and carrying their product. and there is driving for a transport company. And whilst the degrees of, how can I put this, 'workability', can differ from transport co, to transport co, with some being better than others, in the end they are all transport companies. If you've ever been involved in this industry, you'll know what I mean.

Anyway, fast approaching fifty, and in a situation that I was away from my beloved family (you see I'm a very big family man, in more ways than one...lol), a minimum of five nights a week, it was taking its toll. Partnered with long days, minimum rest, a lack of excersize and only average dollars, it wasn't what I would call ideal for me. My health being effected, with a weight increase and constant fatigue, my family being effected as I was hardly at home, and too tired on weekends when I was home to bother, we came to the conclusion to move back to where we call home, Burnett Heads.

Well move back we did, and things have been on the improve. Unfortunately our timing was a little off, as we moved back here the week of the floods through Bundy, tornadoes and water spouts through Burnett Heads, and a Category 1 Cyclone hitting the region. It wasn't the best time to be living in a camper trailer.

Of course things have smoothed out, and we eventually found a house to rent that we are making our home. Sharon, my wife, was offered work and the whole house hubby thing started from there. You see, we are not a stereotype, and I'm glad that these days it is becoming more acceptable for the husband to stay at home. Being completely knackered from the past twelve months, it didn't take too much convincing for me to swap roles with my wife.

Now that we have settled, we are starting to get established, boxes unpacked, made the home comfortable, tidied the yard, and have become, as we were before, quite sustainable. Now, not sustainable that has become synonymous with Anthropogenic Global Warming (real science, and the earth itself has proven that all to be nothing more that politically motivated bullshit), but more sustainable as in self sufficiency. And this all in an average sized yard.

We have got our vege patch sorted and planted out, and focusing on organic growing. The brewery is set up and in full operation, churning out full flavoured, naturally brewed beer.

And I suppose that this is the purpose of this blog, yes because of some boredom...lol, but to hopefully encourage others in the same thing. We are just simple people, not experienced or avid gardeners, and whilst I have always enjoyed home brewing, I wouldn't consider myself to be a master brewer.

When you search the web, there are so many variables, so many 'experienced' people, that in a way it can become daunting. So if we can see people just like us doing these things, it might just give us that nudge in the right direction we needed.

There also might be men out there that have become like me, a house hubby. And believe me when I say this, there is still a kinda stigma that has to be pointed out by someone along the way, you know comments like, "We know who wears the pants in your family", "Does she have bigger balls than you?" and many others. And even though house hubbies are becoming, how can I put this, a lot more 'socially acceptable' there's always one in the crowd.

There is also a lot to get used to, budgets, house work, cooking (which has always been a passion of mine), getting the kids ready for school along with lunches etc. It can take its toll, where do you start?

So guys be encouraged in house husbandry, and girls (you may have just been dumped out of the work force), join me on my journey, join in and offer advice, tips or hints. After all we have this life, and our families, to enjoy to the fullest, so why not make the most of it and do stuff that you can enjoy.