BlokeMiles

by Matthew Ravden (Author)

• Used

  Paperback
  2006

  $6.24

  Rob is a thirty-something bloke who seems to have things pretty much sorted. But appearances can be misleading - in fact, he's suffering from something of an early mid-life crisis. His wife, Clare, is a natural high-flyer who has recently returned to work after the birth of their second child, leaving Rob to care for the kids. Despite his love for his family, Rob sometimes feels demoralised by his less than glamorous role and hankers after his old, more selfish single life - before nappy changing began to feel like an Olympic sport. His two best mates, Brian and Donald, are in similar situations. Brian is horribly torn between the demands of his career in the city and the needs of his family, especially his wife, Tania. And Donald - solid, reliable Donald on whom the other two depend - turns out to be hiding a devastating secret. Meanwhile, the Rugby World Cup is looming, and Rob decides he needs to establish some ground rules with Clare so that he can watch the big matches in peace. So the concept of BlokeMiles is born. It's like an AirMiles account: Rob can earn points by doing things for Clare and redeem his miles against 'blokeish' activities of his choice. Rob convinces Brian and Donald to join the BlokeMiles programme, and the three hatch a plan to win the jackpot - a trip to Sydney for the World Cup final. As we watch the three men struggling to earn their miles, so we get under the skin of their respective lives: their marriages, hopes, insecurities and their relationships with their kids. But just when the jackpot seems to be within their grasp, the wives come up with a plan of their own ...

• Used

  Paperback
  2007

  $4.33

  Rob is a thirty-something bloke who seems to have things pretty much sorted. But appearances can be misleading - in fact, he's suffering from something of an early mid-life crisis. His wife, Clare, is a natural high-flyer who has recently returned to work after the birth of their second child, leaving Rob to care for the kids. Despite his love for his family, Rob sometimes feels demoralised by his less than glamorous role and hankers after his old, more selfish single life - before nappy changing began to feel like an Olympic sport. His two best mates, Brian and Donald, are in similar situations. Brian is horribly torn between the demands of his career in the city and the needs of his family, especially his wife, Tania. And Donald - solid, reliable Donald on whom the other two depend - turns out to be hiding a devastating secret. Meanwhile, the Rugby World Cup is looming, and Rob decides he needs to establish some ground rules with Clare so that he can watch the big matches in peace. So the concept of BlokeMiles is born. It's like an AirMiles account: Rob can earn points by doing things for Clare and redeem his miles against 'blokeish' activities of his choice. Rob convinces Brian and Donald to join the BlokeMiles programme, and the three hatch a plan to win the jackpot - a trip to Sydney for the World Cup final. As we watch the three men struggling to earn their miles, so we get under the skin of their respective lives: their marriages, hopes, insecurities and their relationships with their kids. But just when the jackpot seems to be within their grasp, the wives come up with a plan of their own ...