Tom went on his first-ever way from home school camp last week. Ann and I picked him up yesterday. Waiting in the bleaching late afternoon sun as the buses snaked into the school bus area, disgorging crowds of tired students and equally tired teachers, the homecoming threatened to become a melee over bags and space. In the restricted space betwixt school wall and bus, it was a very tight fit and a disorderly end to what must have been a highly organised week.

The Sport and Recreation Camp, Myuna Bay, gave the kids the chance to do all the outdoorsy thing that they often don't do these days - canoeing and sailing, rock climbing and obstacle coursing, bush-walking and setting campfires. There was archery but also all the cooking and cleaning-up chores, great good fun no doubt and instructive too. Below I post two initial photos of Tom at play with his friends, though he is but a small figure in the broader scheme of things.