Daylesford Autumn Dispatch - Sunday, 23rd March 2014

Dear Friends, we started the week with a wonderful breakfast at The Food Gallery, where Aileen regaled us with her tales of procrastination, which had been legitimised by the short book The Art of Procrastination. Meanwhile, outside, Bilbo and Molly eyed each other off and wagged their tails, but stayed well clear of each other.

I had a head cold, and decided not to March in March at Castlemaine, so Wes and Glenn set off to do that together, and Bilbo and I came home to the warmth and a quiet day. When Wes arrived home, he decided to have a sleep in preparation for his big night at the footy and emerged three hours later realising he wasn’t well enough for the drive either. John Goullet collected our tickets and would have enjoyed three quarters of footy before the Blues were overrun by a keener Port Adelaide outfit.

We woke to Brigadoon and gentle rain, which meant golf was off the agenda. However, Wes had made arrangements to meet Bob White at his favourite Trentham café, Chaplin’s, so he drove there anyway and they had a good time together, along with two of the ministers who had been at Kirk’s funeral.

I had the flu injection in the afternoon and took it easy afterwards, while Wes worked on the computer and then in the garden while the sun was out. I had my usual reaction to the injection, swollen arm and sniffles, so went to bed and stayed there until Wednesday morning, by which time both symptoms were decreasing in effect.

Dot and I had a quiet morning at Mah Jong, neither of us being at our very best – Muffins and More was full, with standing room only by 10am. Their winning formula is smiling locals, inexpensive but generous meals and reasonably priced hot drinks. Later that afternoon, Wes was at Springs Medical Centre getting his flu injection at the same time as Gillie, Dot & John.

 

Fabulous photo of Jan McClean, me and Viva in Hong Kong - April 1984

I had hoped to have lunch with Janine Hawker on Thursday, but we had to postpone it as I wasn’t well enough, ditto Friday when I was to have spent the morning & lunchtime with Sherryn at Cinema Nova. We decided it was best if I just took it easy by getting up late and going to bed early. Fortunately I had a few episodes of Lewis to keep me entertained.

Wes drove to Melbourne on Friday where he and Leanne went to Fawkner Cemetery to sort out a new plaque for Viva & Perc’s grave. They ended up making an appointment to see someone on 31^st March. Leanne took him to lunch at her favourite Vietnamese restaurant in Puckle Street, Moonee Ponds. Wes also visited the solicitor to sign papers and make sure the ball was kept rolling as far as paying bills is concerned.

On Saturday we had breakfast together at Gracenotes Café, with Bilbo in tow. It was quite cold, so we didn’t hang around for second drinks. On the walk back home we met Annie and Rosie, which caused Bilbo to dance around in excitement. Wes had to take a big suitcase to New Zealand this time, as Barbara needed another one to bring back family keepsakes. Apart from that his packing was minimal and he set off in high spirits for his weekend of travelling.

 

That night Bilbo went to sleep in his bed in our bedroom, but just after I turned out the light he jumped onto our bed and fell asleep there and didn’t move all night until I woke him at 6.30am with the offer of a bone.

We are off to the Sunday Market, then breakfast, and I hope to have a cuppa with John & Jan Smith before they head back home after spending time in Bendigo. Wes and Barbara should arrive back around dinner time.

Next weekend I will be in Sydney, staying with Jane & David Knox, so that Jane & I can go to the Olympic Stadium to see Collingwood play the Swans. I’ll get a Dispatch out sometime on Monday.