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I live in Clevedon, North Somerset, United Kingdom and I was born in Northumberland in 1942. I grew up in the farming community there, qualified to be a stockman - loved every moment of it - but I had to change my career plans because of sight problems. RP started to restrict my fields of vision and I needed to drive for my job. I moved to the south-west of England to make a new start and I got a job as a machine operator in an engineering factory. Definitely a culture shock. I did OK, and I quickly progressed to becoming a machine toolsetter and then to toolmaker. My central vision was still fine, but it was like looking through a keyhole and very stressful in the noisy work envirnment. I got married and I have a grown-up son and daughter, neither of whom, have any symptoms of RP. My wife suffered the most because she couldn�t come to terms with my sight problems and got very, very depressed. As a consequence, we go divorced in 1986 and she has completely recovered. I live on my own - well I try too - if you know what I mean. I have lots of friends and people drop in, to sort out their problems. Hey, its great, I love every moment of it. I look after my house on my own and I have a good-size vegetable garden to tend. I do a lot of voluntary community work and I am very active in my local church. I think that life is for living and as I am a committed Christian, I am keen to apply my beliefs in community action. I do, one to one, support work with people with challenging behaviour and youth work with the street kids. I have experienced the real power of love and learned to value and respect people from all walks of life. I�m not to keen in having RP but it had made me grow up in my attitudes and relationships - so that�s the good side of it. What are my plans for the future. Well, I�m trying to develop a website, specialising in drop-in Christian ministry. It�s hard work but its OK and I�m having a lot of fun because I love people. Now that my family have grown up I think I might do a bit of travelling too. -- Many blessings, Bob Davies, Clevedon, North Somerset UK
"I'm learning to lean upon Jesus"
