Tree House Diary #1

After Zac got a treehouse book for Xmas, it seemed the sensible thing to do to actually build one of the suckers.

So that's what we've been doing. We found a good spot between two of the giant pine trees in our back garden, then adapted a plan from the book and began to build.

It's been a slow process, but using wood from under the house and some borrowed tools, we've managed to construct a sturdy frame which supports even me.

Next up, some walls and a roof, and a rope ladder for access.

Ant.

Coffs Harbour, Xmas 2009

Just after Xmas 2009 we drove north to Coffs Harbour to visit Jude's sister Lara and her family for the New Year.

We also met our friends Joe and Danielle up there, along with their son Damien. Joe is a talented photographer, and took some great shots of Jude and the kids. Here's Zac with white zinc, Jude and Tash on the dodgems, and Tash on the giant water slide at the Big Banana.

Ant.

Zac's Cricket Team

This is Zac's cricket team for season 2009-10. Note that there are eleven boys in the photo, the ideal number for a team playing cricket.

The U12 Hazelbrook Bombers are, top row l to r: Reuben, Josh (c), Cohen, Matt, Emrys, Gideon, Gabriel, and bottom row l to r: Sam, Gabriel, Thomas and Zac.

After a sluggish start to the season (half of the boys hadn't ever played cricket with a hard ball before) the team hit its straps and went through the U12 'B' division undefeated.

Following a couple of years playing in England with the squidgy orange variety, Zac found it difficult to adapt to a proper cricket ball and the quite remarkable pace some of these kids can generate. Yet by the last league game of the season, he had improved so much that he batted for an hour and half (more than his old man ever did) in a partnership of 50. Despite the sledging.

This photo was taken during the Grand Final, just after the Bombers had dismissed Katoomba for 73. By close of play they had reached 3-55 with victory in sight. The following Saturday, Hazelbrook captain and vice-captain Josh Kitchner and Reuben Chowdhury unleashed a storm of stroke play against the Katoomba bowlers. With Josh ending on 106 not out, the Bombers were able to declare their innings closed on 3-240 just two hours into the morning's play, and the win was soon complete.

Ant.