It's already shaping up to be an incredible year for former journalist at The Canberra Times, James Massola.
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Early this year he was appointed Fairfax's South-East Asia correspondent, based in Jakarta. He moved over in March and in his second week scored an exclusive interview with Indonesian President Jokowi.
He and his wife, Karen Barlow, welcomed twins Carlo and Giacomo ("Jacky for short'') in May. Their daughter, Sabina, is two.
Then Massola covered the incredible Thai caves rescue from go to whoa. He is writing a book about the rescue for Allen and Unwin to be published October 1.
And if that wasn't enough, he's turning 40 on August 21. He is having an amazing year.
"If I survive it,'' he joked.
Massola also covered the "incredible'' Malaysian election in May.
"Packed for three days, stayed two weeks, first change of government ever, and had to cover a massive suicide bombing in Surabaya in the middle of it,'' he said.
"Then the first interview in the world with Anwar Ibrahim - and an overnight flight the next day as the twins came early! And that was just until May 17.
"Since the whole family moved over at the start of July Ive been home for four days this month - Thai Cave for 10 days, Bangladesh for five days to visit Rohingya camps and then Cambodian election for four days. Karen is a saint!''
Massola is writing The Great Cave Rescue: The extraordinary story of the Thai boy soccer team trapped in a cave for 18 days in his study in Jakarta.
"I'm currently lining up interviews in Thailand and with the Australians involved too and doing those over the next few weeks,'' he said.
Im writing late, not early, because I start work at 6am for the paper because of the time zone differences.''
Massola, who worked at The Canberra Times for three years until mid-2010, continuing to cover federal politics for Fairfax after that, paid tribute to his wife Karen, also a respected journalist.
"It would be absolutely impossible to do this job - let alone writing a book as well - without the support my wife, Karen,'' he said.
"Karen has had a highly successful career so far with the ABC, SBS and Huffington Post.
"When we got together six years ago, we made a deal that if one of us ever got a foreign posting, the other would come along in a support role, and would look after the kids if we were lucky enough to have them.
"I always thought she would be the one to get posted but as fate would have it, I got the Jakarta gig.
"For now, she is juggling three kids, learning Bahasa Indonesian and helping us get settled. She's hoping to freelance and do a masters degree next year."
Massola said it had been a privilege to cover the rescue of the 12 Thai boys aged 11 to 16 and their young coach who were trapped in the caves for 18 days.
"Good news stories are few and far between,'' he said.
"I can scarcely believe I was there to witness first-hand the miracle of Tham Luang.
"I've always felt being a journalist is an incredible privilege, witnessing major events and writing the first draft of history. And now I'm thrilled to be able to actually tell the full story in a book with Allen and Unwin.''
