We joined brother Peter in volunteering to do some work for a couple of days at Dr Forbes’ Hut in the Snowy Mountains.  It was built in the late 1940s as a fishing retreat for a certain Dr Forbes (surprise!), and was almost completely destroyed in the bushfires of 2003. We camped near Keeble’s Hut on Swampy Plain River, at a lovely spot near a deep swimming hole (not a swamp in sight!) It was a short four-wheel drive into the work site. Gary and Geoff, the builders, were working on constructing the new roof and the first day we helped tidy the site and remove fallen timber. We then did some pointing (filling in between the river stones in the walls) and the two Petes started constructing a set of steps up from the river. The weather was glorious – quite hot, really! – and it was just so refreshing to swim in the river and cool down. Nights were cold but clear with a full moon. A lovely break from the everyday world. We look forward to visiting the completed hut soon.