1. May 2012 Updates: Barak has some news this month as well Barak stayed up till late this month, following the World Chess Championship in Moscow live, and crossing his fingers for the Israeli competitor, Boris Gelfand, who fiercely battled against Vishi Anand.

2. Barak doesn’t see the girls much during the week (sometimes he sees Alma in the middle of the night or is lucky to help with their bath or get a glimpse of Hahgoot before she is off to bed) but we try to at least have meals together on the weekend. Bottom: we are eating Iulia Zeltzer’s Romanian semolina dumplings soup!

3. We now have a routine on the weekends where Barak minds the girls for several hours and I get time to do something else, which is usually sleep. Barak usually reads or sits and comments from the sofa while the girls play (he isn’t much of an active person...) but the girls manage to incorporate him in their games...

4. To get him more active and deal with his bulging belly, Barak got a Wii Fitness kit. It was so popular, everyone wanted a turn!

5. At work, NASDAQ-OMX moved to a new building, spitting distance from the new MCA and Circular Quay. These are views from the breakout’s balcony at work

6. Travelling an hour and a half each way isn’t easy, but Barak has been using it well for reading a massive amount of books and also working a little too...

7. Not bad for a guy that used to have a cubical overlooking a brick wall when he worked in Israel...

8. Barak’s uncle Menash has turned 60 and his son Adam turned 28, so they had a big bash in their backyard. As it was an “adult friendly” party starting late at night, Barak was sent as the only family representative and had a fantastic time. He stayed to sleep in Bondi and took his time coming back home on the Sunday, as the party only ended at 4 am!

9. It was a lovely party, with good food and lots of dancing TahliaCandiceBarak and Andrew Bianca and her mum Debbie Adam and mates Adam and Barak

10. The party’s guests could huddle around outdoor heaters or sip drinks in cosy beanbags Adam and Bianca Nelson Philip and his gorgeous girls

11. There was dancing, Karaoke and a bean bag - everyone was happy!

12. And way after midnight, when the Karaoke people were at last finished singing, everyone enjoyed the cakes In our next presentation: Celebrating Mother’s Day with Apple Picking in Bilpin! Philip and Veronica