3hrs west of sydney is a 6,000 acre 'mountain retreat' with wild goats, a moody river and no curfew. to get there, you'll drive past our childhood homes, the (three) chinese restaurants we collectively worked in, and lana's teenage fire brigade haunt. we spent early dates out here - nostalgia tours on the back of the motorbike, and dinners on the floor in front of fireplaces. we told stories from outside our high school gates - both of us weirdo scrappers forever more glad to have found each other. last september, after a patient wait for the summer to arrive (football to finish), we rode back through the area; stopping to pat goats, check out the local pub, and anything else I could think of to calm to my nerves. we finished that day on a bushbash up mt banks, not too far from turon gates. shaking, resolute, grateful; I proposed to the love of my life, Lana Girl (Bryant). next march, 2026, we're headed back for a 2 day party and campout, and would love for you to join us (because she said yes). -- morris.