Put a santa hat on the cat, exchanged some presents, hung out with family, had a few well earned glasses of wine, and rugged ourselves up in the unseasonal cold weather for Melbourne. For a change it would've been quite the weather for the traditional turkey and Christmas puddings.
(Yep, that's yours truly in the rather unflattering angle, thankfully the images were worth the discomfort.)
Rich and Maddy Melder were great subjects to photograph. There was no shortage of strain on their faces in the process of pulling some great moves.
ABOVE: Madeline Melder on "Sting Like a Bee" (24) Amnesty Wall, Grampians.
After the fires in January 2006, and with Spring upon us, a trip to the fire ravaged Halls Gap seemed overdue. It's great to see so much green amongst sections of the devastated areas, even though some areas are still off limits, with roads and tracks still closed off. 
climbing at Arapiles.
bouldering, Wilsons Promontory.
June 17 and 18, 2006
The little munchkins, Jackson (2 yo) and Elizabeth (3 yo).
Whether the story is true, one thing can't be denied; there's a mystique about Hanging Rock that invites speculation and discussion. Admittedly I haven't read the book or seen the movie but even as a child I was attracted to the 'spirituality' of the site. I endured goosebumps and brothers playing tricks on me through the countless maze of rocks, not even hearing noise from their innocent tricks as they snuck through another corridor of rock.
Revisiting the rock as an adult similar feelings emerge. Even as my husband played a similar trick by wandering off as I turned a corner wandering in my own innocent world of discovery, I was reminded of the 'lostness' that seems so easy to fall into up there amongst the rocks and trees. Even as I called his name I could hear nothing else, no birds, no rustle of leaves, but I could feel the icy chill of the wind. Yet I don't remember feeling afraid.
There were plenty of people wandering around in their own adventures, children complaining of the walk up the hill, parents taking happy snaps and couples talking as they walked down the rocks and paths, but it was quite simple to lose them, and sneak down another passage of rock and around an unseen corner. Perhaps that's why there's so much mystery associated with it, the sheer natural structure of the place, where around every corner it feels like it's a new discovery.
I overheard some tourists saying how understandable it was that people could become lost up there, with the maze of rocks and dark corners and hidden spots. I don't know whether the story is true, and I really don't want to know. It creates such wonderful imagery and discussion and illusion, and invites people to visit in order to try and solve it for themselves, but creates more mystery by simply visiting.
Cheeky little "Ziv" aka s#!*head or Pu...
In 2005 I met and fell in love with the beautiful little baby girl, all fluffy and cute. I saved her from homelessness and brought her home to meet my man and she's since taken over the house and stolen Steve's heart too... though don't say that too loud, he likes to imagine he's all tough and not so easily won over.
If she weren't such a mental case it would make life rather boring really.
We've found her hiding under clothes in our cupboard, flicking kitty litter from here to next week, sitting in the kitchen sink waiting for some water, hanging from the wire door, and flying through the house at speeds that can only end with a crash against a wall through lack of traction on the wooden floor. She's gorgeous, she's our little furry bundle of fun.
Our first little holiday as husband and wife. It was great to have time to chill out and get some outdoorsy adventure under our belt again. Climbing was definitely on the agenda, and despite a few days of rain, and the big dumping of snow we managed to get six straight days of Castle Hill bouldering.
Steve bouldering V4 Spittle Hill.
Lil' Em bouldering V3 Spittle Hill.
1st of April 2006.
What a day!? Went and got myself all married off to my spunky bloke, Steve Black! It's true what they say about Black y'know.... you can't go back!
The day was incredible, life changing, beautiful, sounds a little cliched I know, but oh so true. Haven't been fluffed up in a dress like that before and it really was quite a treat.... though I'm not sure if there's any photos circulating of my little bootie dancing on the dance floor! Oh so much fun!
Gorgeous young Preston with his dad (my bro).
Aaaah,
