Once upon a time…. in July 2017

Richard was driving through Centennial Park and casually swiped right on his Bumble dating app. That moment would become the fateful one that drew Robyn into his Bumble vortex. Robyn accepted the request after seeing Richard’s profile photo, which showcased his flawless jump splits—something she’s yet to witness in person, even to this day.

Their first date was planned for drinks at an intimate wine bar in Surry Hills. But when they arrived and met face to face for the first time, they discovered the wine bar had gone into receivership. Quick to think on his feet, Richard suggested driving them to his work site in Darling Harbour. He pretended to be a site manager, but in reality, he was working as a labourer at the time! Robyn, charmed by this handsome “site manager,” hopped into his car, and the adventure began.

Richard took Robyn to “The Meat Co” restaurant in Darling Harbour, unaware that she was a vegetarian at the time. Despite this little hiccup, they had a great night together, though Robyn did end up with a rash from the cured meats. The evening was filled with laughter and a connection that neither of them could ignore.

Encouraged by their first date, they planned a second. By then, Robyn had discovered that Richard was living in the Shire with his parents after losing $20 million on roulette in Los Angeles. She made her first journey to the Shire, which felt like 4,000 km from Centennial Park, though it was really only 24 km.

Richard took Robyn out on the water in a canoe, excitedly pointing out the 1m flatheads they paddled over. Afterward, they retreated to his parents’ home in Kirrawee. Richard’s mum, Mary Ellen, had thoughtfully prepared their upstairs Airbnb and headed out with John to the club, hoping to ease Richard’s unease about living at home.

As the evening unfolded, things started to get a little heated in the living room. But just as the moment was building, the front door key unexpectedly turned. Richard’s parents had come home much earlier than expected to greet Robyn and say, “Hello, we’ve heard so much about you!” Sensing Richard was about to crawl under a rock, John nervously asked, “Do either of you kids want an ice cream?” Mary Ellen firmly nudged John and gestured that they were heading to bed—at 5 pm. As they left, Richard lamented, “I’m a man!” Robyn thought it was by far the best date she’d ever had and rushed off to meet her sister Kimmy to share the hilarious story. John affectionately called Robyn "ice cream girl" for quite some time afterward.

In summary, they’ve come a long way from those early days. They’ve shared many adventures, laughter, joy, and even tears, and they continue to discover more about themselves and each other every day. The arrival of their kiddies Charlotte and Kai has been epic—a rollercoaster of love and joy. Now, Richard and Robyn can’t wait for their wedding day to celebrate a life that is not always a straight line.