Yarrangobilly Caves

We went to the Kosciusko National Park, Yarrangobilly for a cultural tour, a swim in the thermal waters, and a cave tour. An amazing place.



First stop was the cultural tour. We learned how to make string, how to start a fire using just two bits of wood, and then how to throw boomerangs. This guy made the spears at the visitor centre in Tumut. He is an impressive guy.




The second stop was to the thermal pool. It's incredible to think the warm water in the middle of the Snowy Mountains, but there it is. Amazing views, a great swim, everyone enjoyed it.





Next stop was the cave tour, all v v good.

Finally, we came back via the Tumut 3 power station near Talbingo. Funny to think of this place as getting snow, as it feels way too hot in summer.





The pipes that look so tiny from afar, are really huge close up. They're made of steel.






Huge pipes.







Back in Batlow. Seems a lot of places are for sale. It's a great little town, and can be again with a rail trail to pump in the tourism dollars.

Our efforts to make string. Nailed it! (?)

Tumburumba rodeo

New Year's day was at the Tumburumba Rodeo. The action was pretty cool, but the best part were things like the mechanical bull. It's a bit hard to stay up there! The guy was gentle with me and Lou, did not make it too violent.








People travel for miles to be there! Probably.







Ollie does a serious skate as we admire the view from up near the lookout, in Batlow.







2nd of Jan, we rolled out to Tumut. It has some very beautiful historic buildings like the Montreal...











and the John JJ Learmont building.

On the way home from Tumut, we went to Adelong and the creek right near town. It used to be a gold mining area. The ruins of the battery and buildings are still in place.

The boys looked the happiest they've been, apart from picking berries, all holiday so far. The water is just perfect, the weather, the area, everything is magic.

Batlow

The day after Boxing Day, we had a house swap for Batlow. We met our fellow house swappers in person for the first time. Usually, it's been all via messages. I think the kind of people who let strangers in their home are very trusting people, and pretty cool (not us)

We the set off at midday.

Left, Ollie proud of his haul of raspberries.










Right, in the super huge garden, with the super huge raspberry bush, collecting a super huge harvest of fruit.







About a day's worth of collecting. The fruit was ripening at all different times. There were heaps of greens, light reds and rich reds. The aim is to get them when they're deep red but before they fall off by themselves.














Louis on the old railway which runs right through the town.





The pool is free for a few months to encourage people to use it. What a great idea, uh.











Let's skate! Lou's hitting some speed. No skin lost from memory.








Welcome to Batlow, population not many.













Water balloon wars. They take a while to collect afterwards, though the kids didn't worry too much about it. They did help pick it up.








One of the many beautiful homes, possibly the nicest one in town, huge land, perfect condition.

The night before Christmas 2017, and Christmas

We went up to Norah Head, near Toukley with Bushan, Archie, Laurens and Anke, and their kids. We stayed in a pricey caravan park camping with old but clean facilities. The boys had a great time at the pool, at the beach, and at night while we cooked dinner.

The pic at the left is of them coming home to find Santa had left them the first installment of stuff. Ollie is no longer a believer.



Christmas was at John's house at Faulconbridge this year. Needless to say, we stuffed our faces and the kids drowned in gifts.



The following day was at my brother Peter's place in Lane Cove. We stuffed our face, and the kids got some more gifts.

Jason, Tobias, Zdenka, Marie, Anna, Baka, John, Ang and Evonne.

The gang at the table.

Cricket cricket cricket

It was a real summer of cricket. Lucky they had some games on at the local oval featuring international women's games. The boys all rolled along and had a great time watching.






Ollie has really caught the bug. We've got a great coach, Cameron, who used to be the wickie for W.A. He thinks about cricket "a lot." At the end of the season, he even did a coach's course, even though he probably knows more than half the dads put together.

He got Ollie to bowl using a run up at a 45 degree. This got Ollie really on the line. Ollie's had a couple of bowled outs. He has really come along this season. Batting was awesome. The ssecond last game, he got 30 not out. The team got 170 overall, and their first win. The last game was a bit of a wipeout, but this game was something that will stand in their minds.

We went to an escape room. Everyone found something different. It was fascinating to see everyone's different perspectives and thinking were needed to solve the puzzles and get out of the room. The kids really enjoyed it.




Ah, my usual obsession is transport. The train is always crowded, but the govt keeps building roads. Sorry to the next generation. We have really screwed it for a long long time.








You build for cars, you get tonnes of traffic, and low low speeds. Simple.







The sins started in the 50s and 60s and went downhill from there. At left, the Gladesville bridge. Multiple car lanes, no thought for any alternative but cars. Spectacularly narrow minded thinking.







Gladesville Bridge, half a tiny side section for game walkers and cyclists who don't mind the air pollution (not that we have a choice.)





The car mindset: an appaling pedestrian environment that looks like a bomb shelter.  Man, how depressing is this design?








Why we can't have nice things: a smashed bike share helmet. What is wrong with people?









Last but not least, the thoughtlessness extends everywhere: a warning sign for cars that completely blocks the footpath. If you had a wheelchair you're screwed. With kids, it's not great. As an adult with no shopping, you can just squeeze by.

Happy Birthday Stephen, Arush and Rohan.

Stephen our brother in law had his 60th in the function area of Cabarita Park. We had a good time, made a fruit platter, and me I made some dips, which did get eaten. Happy birthday to a great, kind brother in law.








The dips:














In other news for Dec 2017, Aursh and Rohan had their birthday. We played bubble soccer. This means they dress up in sumo suits and bang into each other. Sometimes they kick a soccer ball towards the goal as well.

Philosophising with Sunny. The 30 odd years difference doesn't seem to matter? Maybe he's just being kind to old people.










Serious cricket action. There was a big women's match on the same day, so the boys took advantage of the activities offered.




And took advantage of the snacks offered.











Happy birthday to Arush and Rohan.