Its always fun if you can give it back

Exciting news everyone!

On the Friday 1st August at 10:35pm the number of Gatts in Australia increased by one.

My gorgeous niece

Meet Ruby Gatt - the newest addition to our family, and to my endless excitement, my niece.

My brother Lucas with his daughter.

Congratulations Lucas and Amanda on a job well done (although I still maintain Amanda did all the hard work). I'm heading to Melbourne for a formal introduction in week and a half.

I would pass on all the important birthing info but its rude to discuss a females weight. Just feel privileged that I let slip her age...

And if you are all warm and fuzzy about the miracle of childbirth then read this Cracked.com article entitled 6 terrifying things they don't tell you about childbirth (not recommended for pregnant women or expectant fathers).

http://www.cracked.com/article_16508_6-terrifying-things-they-dont-tell-you-about-childbirth.html

Crazy Bikers

This is something I've always aspired to do...

http://my.break.com/content/view.aspx?ContentID=534896

Melbourne and Leeton - Bucks and Marriage

Recently I traveled to Melbourne in order to partake in a social tradition known as a Buck's Party. My good friend Kieran was getting married and I was honoured with an invitation to be a Groomsman.

This is my story...

I spent a week in Melbourne, enjoying my time away from Canberra. I saw movies, got drunk, went bowling, drank beer, visited friends from the science circus, indulged in alcohol, toured the MCG and went on a bar crawl for Kieran's Bucks Party, in which it was proper etiquette to sample many of the world's finest (and not so finest) beverages. I have no photos from the Buck's night as it is a well known fact that anyone with a camera can legally be killed by his mates. Needless to say we visited many classy establishments and gentlemen's clubs.

Bowling with the Buck a few days before our weekend barcrawl.

The we played pool. $4.00 a game, can you believe it!

The wedding was held in Leeton, the Bride's hometown. We had lots of fun that weekend. As I was flying to Perth for conference after the wedding I had to hire a car to get down their. Here I am posing with my manly Toyota Yaris.

The night before I celebrated with Kieran, his family and friends. We went to bed early though as we had a big day of wedding prep starting with an 8:00 Champagne breakfast.

Kieran - the groom - in the middle with school friends Sean, myself, Xavier (Best man) and Bags at the club.

The next morning after our champagne brekkie we headed back to the club for a sneaky beer before the wedding. Our groups has been joined by the last groomsman Jon at the back.

The big day was upon us, it started with a church ceremony. The priest was quite funny and often cracked jokes that only the wedding party could hear.

The handsome groom, a friend I have known since I was five

The epitome of manliness - Kieran's Groomsmen - Me, Bags, Jon and Xavier (best man)

After the wedding photos we joined the rest of the wedding guests at the local club for a dinner and a few drinks (Open bar). We danced, we drank, we were merry.

Job well done, the Groomsmen celebrate with our gift beer mugs!

I apologise for not having a picture of 1. the brideand 2. the bridesmaids, but I'm still waiting for them to be emailed to me!

It was the most fun I've had in a long time. Can't wait for the next wedding!

Life is tough

Hi All,

Its been 6 weeks since I last put in a post, but its because life has been super busy. Be prepared to be inundated with posts detailing my trip to Melbourne, a wedding in Leeton, a conference in Perth, bush week (including drag night!), Sports updates, trip preparations for Vietnam just to name a few!

For some general knowledge, ANU has finally starting paying me my scholarship so I can rest easy in knowing that I have a steady income and prepartion for the Oxfam Trailwalker is coming along nicely, our 18 hour target is looking possible...but more on that later.

Here's a picture of a cat in a bun just to keep you interested.

The World's Hardest Game

Bored at work? I have just found the self proclaimed world's hardest game.
Try it out at http://www.bored.com/games/action/1/worlds_hardest_game/
I'll admit, its pretty hard.

Birthday Drinks

On Thursday the gand got together to celebrate my 26th at O'Neils. Thanks for coming guys. It was a great night that started with beers and ended with multiple games of pool at Fenner
The photo is a bit blurry as the random drunk who took it was, well...drunk.

Sports Weekend - Sunday

After Saturday's success, the Fenner girls softball team journeyed back to the ANU for the interhall grand final. This is the fourth time in four years Fenner has made the final. Coached by myself in 2005 and 2006, followed by Toby in 2007 we are yet to bring the trophy home. This year we joined skills, hoping that with our forces combined Captain Planet like power would spur us on to greater victory.

The Softball Team

We entered this final undefeated, the first time in my coaching history. But B&G were not to be underestimated. Three North American students (to our one), spoke highly of their experience, and this was topped off by a shortstop that had represented at National level. But our girls had beaten them once, and with star pitchers Liz and Tracey and fielding combination Georgia (shorstop) and Shana (first base - remember her from Road Relay) we were more than ready.

The Fenner spectators

The game was high tense. Fielding first, Fenner proceeded to show why we were first on the table. An easy play from shortstop to first, a flyball out at second base, followed by an outfield catch by Louisa (also backing up from Saturday) at left field, which she made look easy. Three up three down - Fenner into bat. Unfortunately we were not able to capitalise as we to lost three successive batters.









Liz warms up her pitching arm and Boof readies her swingInnings two proved to be a bit more exciting. B&G's batters were a bit more succesful. Batter #4 (always the biggest hitter) started strongly and after we taken three outs they had run two batters home. With our big hitters still to come it shaped up to be a good innings. However, by the time we headed back out to the field for the third and final innings, only Shanna had made it home.

Last innings - Go Fenner!Our third at field didn't shape up well for us. Simple fielding errors including missed throws and dropped catches saw B&G score eight runs. Nine runs behind meant we had to bat big to win.

Basic skill errors left Fenner in a bad spot and two somewhat unhappy coaches (check out Toby's cheek!)Toby and I made our first sub, bringing in specialist batter Laura. However despite our best efforts only Laura was able to make it home for the innings, leaving the final score 10-2 against.
For the fourth consecutive year we had to make do with second place.

Toby devastated in defeat

Sometimes the during these hard times we forget that for the entire season, we lost only one game. Despite the hurt the girls found time to celebrate second place.

Next term I look forward to coaching Volleyball (girls and guys team) and Inward Bound. Can I add a first place finish to the list of 2008 accolades?