Last Sunday was exhausting for some of us – the boys had a long walk
early, then we went to the Sunday Market, and had the excitement of friend,
Margaret, accidentally taking one of my bags of fruit & vegetables home
instead of her own. Fortunately she lives close by, and I was able to persuade
her to swap bags. Ken & Chris from Spring
Park Nursery had brought lots of lovely tomato plants in preparation for
the great tomato plantings that go on after Cup Day. By the time we arrived
back home, we didn’t have time to unpack our bags as we were due at breakfast.
John & Jan Smith were there, and told us the sad news that their
brother-in-law, Colin, had died suddenly the previous Wednesday, in the arms of
his wife, Jen. Because of John & Jan’s good relationship with one of our
local undertakers, Central Highlands Funerals, they asked Steve & Anne to
take care of everything for them, which was a big relief to Jen, Jan’s twin
sister, who was in no shape to be organising a viewing & wake.
Barbara was in good spirits and told us what she had been doing during the
previous week, and Gillie tried to persuade me to abandon the Art Show and play
golf with her! We agreed to have a game as soon as possible.
When we arrived home I unpacked the bags, fed the boys their celery and
lettuce and we settled down to a very quiet day while the wind howled, the rain
spattered and people outside rushed for cover.
Our second shift at the Art Show was much quieter than Saturday, as it was
cold and windy and we suspect visitors stayed indoors. The Show was a success
with about 30 paintings sold (just under 10%, which is the norm), as well as
ceramics, cards, books and prints. We continue to be amazed at the dedication
shown by Brian Nash & Roberta Donnelly, who are not Rotarians, but give so
much to this Art Show. Brian had donated another beautiful $3,000 original
painting as the raffle prize, and he was at the Show every day, helping to put
up & pull down the screens, hanging the paintings, giving advice to
potential buyers and being available for any odd jobs. Roberta did a beautiful
display in the Info Centre and was also available to help whenever she could.
We are very lucky to have had both of them onside for each of the 4 Shows run
by Rotary.
On Tuesday, Wes spent the morning at the Town Hall helping dismantle the
Art Show while I made a potato salad in preparation for our first Cup Day party
in a few years. We had been invited to Rob & Marg McDonald’s winery,
Sailors Falls Estate, and it was a lovely, low-key, bring your own everything
affair, with some long-time friends from the bushwalking group. We did better
in the sweeps there than in our bets, although, like many others we did back Fiorente. However, we weren’t as clever
as our friend, Gail White, who got the trifecta using a cunning selection of
birthdays and an owner she liked.
We were both very tired and probably a bit emotional after the Art Show –
it felt very strange to be part of it, but not running it, and it was a big
relief that the Show was a success and will continue on.
Wes had a free day on Wednesday, and apart from shopping and playing Mah
Jong, I had a very quiet one too. He took Barbara to the ALP meeting that night
and endured another very ordinary meal afterwards at the Daylesford Hotel. It is a great venue for the meeting, good choice
of wines, but all the dreams of another gastro-pub seem to have vanished into
thin air.
After gym on Thursday we drove to Ballarat to see About Time in Gold Class ($25 which includes morning tea) and a
very lovely film it is – Bill Nighy heads an excellent cast revelling in a
well-written and totally engrossing story. Back home for lunch and a couple of
bets, which were more successful than Cup Day.
On Friday I drove to Melbourne to visit Viva and give Leanne a
well-deserved morning off. When I arrived I discovered Viva was asleep and
Leanne couldn’t go anywhere as she was waiting for a man to quote on a new ramp
at the front of the unit. She and I had a good chat and she finally got away at
10.30, which was too late for a trip to Queen Victoria Market, one of her favourite
spots. I polished the furniture while she was out…I like doing it and Leanne
doesn’t…win, win. Viva was looking good and we chatted while I worked.
I arrived home in pouring rain to a lovely late lunch with Wes, who had
been busy with Ancestry in lieu of a few hours in the garden.
Yesterday we drove to Clunes as I was keen to see the latest bookshop
there, which was a disappointment. However, we walked up and down Fraser
Street, came home with 6 books including a splendid History of Scotland, and enjoyed a yummy, simple lunch at Lucky Strike, which is a café/wine bar
run by the chaps who opened De Fermier
for Annie Smithers in Trentham. It was bitterly cold in Clunes and when we
arrived back here, Wes lit the fire and we spent the afternoon reading in front
of the warming flames, thanks to Judi & Michael who have given us lots of
lovely firewood.
Beautiful Iceland…
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