Daylesford Winter Dispatch - Sunday, 31st August 2014

Dear Everyone, last Sunday I set off early with Bilbo and we drove to Leitches Creek to pump water, but it was closed, as it has been for about 6 weeks. We arrived at the Sunday Market quite early, but Yvonne & John were organised and happy to look after us. One advantage of arriving early is that you get the pick of everything and can snap up the rare items such as fennel, coriander and chilis. John & Yvonne sell lots of produce that come from individual small gardens or properties and I love to buy these very fresh foods. Bilbo ate his cabbage leaves with gusto, and we headed off at 8am to Hepburn Springs, parked in the Mineral Springs Reserve and walked to Sulphur Spring to pump that water. It was also closed and so were many of the other springs there, but I finally found one down low and had to kneel to pump the water.

Breakfast was fun – our friend, Janine Hawker, has joined us over recent weeks and we are enjoying spending time with her. Her husband, David, doesn’t enjoy good health and has had to move into Lumeah Lodge, which is attached to Daylesford Hospital. Aileen regaled us with wonderful stories about her family, as usual – we are all in awe of her people skills and her ability to get the best possible outcome from whatever life tosses up. She has recently moved her 100-year old mother over from Adelaide to live with her and each week there is a new instalment in Aileen’s life, which she generously and amusingly shares with us. Barbara had been into Melbourne shopping during the week with Ann Holden and told us of her difficulties using a Myki card from the height of her wheelchair.

Queuing up for Fawlty Towers

As the sun was shining, Wes bought some straw and spent the morning mulching most of the front garden, while I washed the cars. I visited our next door neighbours, Rob & Dene, to see what we could do for them, while they are away overseas for the next three weeks and discovered they have introduced a flourishing worm farm, which we are under instructions to feed.

That night Wes made very yummy pizzas with roast vegetables and we watched the first episode of the Shetland series. As I have read the books, I was very keen to see how well the casting and adaptation went and I can report I am very satisfied with both, although the actor playing Jimmy Perez (Douglas Henshall) isn’t anything like I imagined.

On Monday I drove to Strathmore to visit Leanne, as it is a while since I have been to her unit. It was raining, foggy and cold here, but I knew that it would be warmer and sunnier when I arrived bearing produce from yesterday’s market for her. We had a good visit and Leanne had very kindly made a cake, which I brought home and which has disappeared rapidly. Peter and Anka had been in Melbourne last week and also visited her bearing a beautiful bunch of long-stemmed tulips, which looked stunning. I drove back home out of the sun and into driving rain and was very pleased to spend a quiet afternoon. Wes had taken Barbara to lunch at Gracenotes Café and enjoyed the usual fine food that Chris serves.

It was cold again on Tuesday morning before the day turned into one of those perfect late Winter/early Spring days, where the sun shines, the wind forgets to blow, the birds chirp and all seems right with the world. I went to gym while Wes did more gardening. Just after midday, when we were sitting down waiting for lunch to cook, we received a visit from David Hall, who was delivering a thank you card from his daughter and couldn’t find our letterbox (because we don’t have one). Wes persuaded him to have a small whisky, and then to share our prawn risotto lunch, which he did reluctantly, but enjoyed very much. We were thrilled to be able to spend time with him again so soon as he is a thoughtful and interesting conversationalist.

Later in the afternoon Nick Massaro came to give me a long overdue massage and we spent the time catching up on each other’s news. He is an Essendon supporter and couldn’t wait to remind that Essendon had decimated Collingwood some weeks ago. He and Robyn had been on holidays to Auburn in South Australia, where they house-sat for a couple with a dog and enjoyed their fortnight or so very much.

Tuesday was also the day that Jane Knox returned home after being fitted with a pacemaker. She said the doctors were thrilled with her recovery and she can now turn her head without feeling giddy for the first time in 2 years. We are very relieved that she is so much better, as it was quite frightening last week when she was rushed to hospital. I have been exchanging early morning/late night messages with her daughter, Emily, who is in London and not due to return to Australia until next February.

On Wednesday we were up bright and early and headed off to Melbourne Airport to collect our other Sydney cricket/footy friend, Terry McDonald, who was arriving for his first visit to Daylesford. I had bought tickets for the three of us to attend the Bradman Lunch at the MCC, as Terry hadn’t visited the MCG before. We had time to kill before the lunch, so Wes took us on a bit of a cook’s tour of inner Melbourne, including Brunswick, Carlton, Parkville, Fitzroy and Collingwood.

Terry and I in our glad rags at lunch at the MCC

We were able to park under the MCG for the lunch, caught the lift to the second floor and Terry was very excited to be in the Melbourne Cricket Club area looking out onto the hallowed turf. As we walked into the Percy Beames bar for pre-lunch drinks, we were greeted by Paul Sheahan, who is the Chairman, and Terry promptly asked him about Hans Ebling and when he played cricket. Paul didn’t know the answer, so went off to find it for him. Very impressive stuff indeed.

The Bradman lunch lived up to all the hype – packed Members’ Dining room, friendly welcome from Paul Sheahan; Gerard Whateley talking about the Don’s trip to America with a ragbag of cricketers; Greta Bradman singing;  an interview with Damien Fleming,  and a delightful speech by Mike Hussey. Our meal and wines were first class and our table companions were OK without being memorable!

We finally arrived back in Daylesford around 5.30pm after collecting horse manure from the side of the road in Tylden, much to Terry’s delight. Bilbo was thrilled to see us and quite hungry as it was past his dinnertime. I fed him and then we settled down to chat about our day and managed to polish off a light pasta meal that Wes cooked. It wasn’t a late night!

On Thursday we took Terry for a tour of Eganstown, Blampied, Smeaton & Clunes before driving to Tuki Trout Farm for a spot of fishing and lunch. Rob & Jan Jones were their usual hospitable selves and left us to try our luck at the ponds. Terry had no sooner put his fishing line into the water than a fish obligingly jumped on the end of it and he won bragging rights for the afternoon. We all caught a fish or two and then repaired to the best seats in the house for a tasting platter of Tuki smoked sausage, Tuki smoked trout, Tuki trout pâté, olives and horseradish sauce. This was followed by the whole trout, Tuki lamb straps and Tuki beef steaks accompanied by roast spuds and a green salad with oranges. Terry polished off a huge slice of apple pie as well.

Catching fish & admiring the view all the way to the Grampians

We arrived back home here and the blokes decided it was time for a little rest. So I sat quietly with Bilbo catching up on The Age, and when Wes and Terry emerged again, I went to bed and watched the ABC news and 360° from a prone position. Neither Wes nor I was hungry after our lunch, but Terry was pleased to be served bacon and cheese on toast.

Friday was another perfect day after a cold morning and Wes got up early to walk Bilbo, while I had a very early shower and delivered Glenn Mack’s mail to him as he had arrived home early and unexpectedly from South Australia the previous night. Then I did some supermarket shopping, bought potting mix, said goodbye to Wes and Terry and took Bilbo with me to Gracenotes Café for a quick cuppa and catch up with Glenn. Afterwards Bilbo & I walked into Vincent Street where Keith fixed my phone which had unexpectedly started turning itself off, and I ordered a new fridge as bits and pieces of our 16 year old Fisher & Paykel are starting to break or wear out.

Back home to have a lovely long chat with Leanne, before Bilbo and I sat in the sun catching up on emails and letters, while Wes and Terry drove to Melbourne to Jimmy Watson’s Wine Bar for a Boys’ lunch with Tom Tyrrell, Danny Millman, Robert Preston & surprise guest, Brendan Kierce. What went on at the lunch stays at the lunch, but if I tell  you that Wes and Terry arrived back home at 7.30pm, you’ll get the message that they enjoyed a very long lunch and that Terry is now even more knowledgeable about Aussie Rules than he was before. We watched Collingwood be competitive for the first half of the game against Hawthorn, but it was all over long before the end of the match.

Yesterday we all slept in and I took Bilbo for a long walk around 8.30am, where we met lots of lovely friendly dogs and a toddler who squealed with delight and didn’t want to stop playing with Bilbo. Wes took Terry on a tour of Hepburn Springs and they sampled mineral water at the Reserve. We had decided on an afternoon of footy and Wes cooked a very yummy pumpkin and mushroom risotto while we tried to get Carlton over the line against Essendon. I am sure all supporters were disappointed with the draw and especially the Blues’ fans as it was a winnable game for them.

Then it was time for the Sydney vs Richmond game and we apologised in advance to Terry that we would be supporting Richmond in their quest to win 9 games in a row and play finals footy this year. I suspect nearly everyone watching was barracking for the Tigers and they held on to win a nail-biter of a game against a less than full strength Swans side. Jane & David Knox were there at the Olympic Stadium watching and Jane was very gracious in defeat, as she could see how exciting it was for the Tiger fans.

This morning I am about to take Bilbo to the Sunday Market as usual and then we will be having breakfast at The Food Gallery, where we will be joined by John & Jan Smith and will catch up on their news since their return from the big trip to the Top End. Then I will take Terry for a stroll along Vincent Street, before Wes collects him and they visit Cricket Willow in Shepherds Flat – a must for any past, present or future cricketer who visits this area. 

Daylesford Winter Dispatch - Sunday, 24th August, 2014

Dear Everyone, we’ve had rather a social week, which has been enjoyable. After a very quiet Sunday, we woke on Monday to find it was too wet and cold to consider golf, so Wes walked Bilbo and I took it easy. I have been reading all 11 Kurt Wallander books by Henning Mankell, and can’t believe I found them so hard to read the first time I tried. I think that seeing umpteen Swedish episodes of Wallander starring Krister Henriksson has done the trick and I see him very clearly when I am reading the books.

Another project I have is to knit 49 x 20cm squares, which is the minimum requirement to make a rug for the Keeping Daylesford Warm project. I have knitted about 30 so far and am experimenting with patterns and colours and hope to have a good variety to give someone to sew together. By the time I finish I think I’ll have a great sense of achievement and will start stockpiling beanies and squares for next year. When I have finished each day’s cryptic and ordinary crosswords, I usually do a few Logic Problems from dedicated magazines I subscribe to from the UK and Australia. As well I play Scrabble on FB with two friends, which is always challenging. I find that I can’t cope with too much social activity in a day, so these are good ways to keep busy and stimulated.

On Tuesday we held a lunch for our friend, David Hall, whose wife Lorelle died three months ago. David’s daughter, Natasha, was visiting him, so she came as well. We had also invited our friends, Nick & Lindsay, who were recently returned from a six-week holiday in the UK, where they traced some of Lindsay’s ancestors and followed an Agatha Christie trail as well. Lunch went well in every respect, except that our guests had between them requested no seafood, no fish & no mushrooms. We live on these foods and most of Wes’s recipes incorporate one or other of them. So he decided to serve roast lamb with vegetables and made a fish pie for me.

It was cool enough to light the fire, which gave a lovely atmosphere, and everyone enjoyed the stunning views we have from our windows. While our visitors were admiring the view, we finally received our first visitors to Fawlty Towers. We were so thrilled. We think the green rosella on the left might be blind as it took forever to find the seed, then careered straight into the downstairs window on its way out. Leanne has pointed out that the expression birdbrain is probably quite apt!

Valerie and I played Mah Jong happily on Wednesday, while Dot was having the wires taken out of her toes and hopefully being in less pain than she has been for the past 6 weeks. Gail was to join us, but came down with a dose of sniffles and very kindly decided not to infect us. Wes and Barbara went for a drive and ended up having their lunch at Vaughan Springs, one of my favourite places in this area.

After gym on Thursday, I had a cuppa with Jane Barrett in Harvest Café, which has finally reopened after 9 months. It is being run by Donna & Greg, who opened Rubens in Hepburn Springs some years ago, then took over the old Ice Cream Parlour and turned it into a Health Food shop. They have expanded into the Harvest Café area, increased their fantastic range of health foods and organic products and are slowly improving their lunch options. They don’t serve breakfast yet, but Jane was able to order raisin toast and jam as she had missed out on eating before gym. We were both very impressed with all the renovations that have been done and the place is so much warmer and welcoming than it has been for years.

Afterwards I seemed to spend most of the day on the phone to Energy Australia as they had changed their website and payment options and I wasn’t able to do anything except go around in circles on the improved website. It turned out that our lovely Dual Fuel option is obsolete and that there are only 60 of us in Victoria with this option, so much time had to be spent cancelling the account, opening two new accounts, getting the best of the new deals and finally, at the very end, discovering I can pay by B-pay once again and don’t need to circumnavigate the website after all. I was reminded of the very funny show, Utopia, which started recently on the ABC. Not everyone is enjoying it, but as Wes and I have both had experience of the public service and more recently, the Hepburn Shire Council, we are identifying with all the issues the show raises.

On Friday it was a very cold morning, which turned into a lovely sunny day. We had been invited to lunch with Jan & Warren (Secundus) Pengilley, so walked to their place armed with bottles of champagne and shiraz, pink and purple tulips, two soft French cheeses and some muscatels as our contributions. I went shopping early and all the shops seemed to be donating to Daffodil Day.

Jan Pengilley – always smiling

We had some dramas around Fawlty Towers, when two uninvited cockies swooped down and frightened away the rosellas. When they discovered there was nothing for them to eat, they promptly flew up to the veranda, ate all the bread that had been left for the magpies and destroyed the hanging basket of pigface that the magpies were raiding for their nest. I chased them away with the broom a couple of times and they haven’t been back since! While all this was happening a little sparrow flew into the kitchen and it took about 15 minutes to get it to fly out again after it hid, first in the wood basket and secondly in the shopping basket.

As usual, lunch with the Pengilleys was a delight and we were sorry to leave just before 5pm, but knew that Bilbo would be wondering where his dinner was! We enjoyed fine wines, stimulating conversation, and very yummy food indeed, as Jan is a wonderful cook.

When we arrived home, after feeding Bilbo, I discovered an SMS from our friend, Jane Knox, to say she had been rushed to hospital during the night. She had been complaining of flu like symptoms and is being given massive doses of antibiotics. As well, the doctors have decided to fit her with a pacemaker, to help her heart cope with the effects of post-concussion, which continue to plague her after all this time. I offered to fly up to help her on her return from hospital, but she is in isolation at present, and her husband, David, is planning to cut back on work so he can look after her on her return home next week. Needless to say, we were immediately sobered by all this news and wishing we weren’t so far away and could be of some practical assistance.

Sadly the Blues were woefully inept against a rampaging Port Adelaide, so there was no cheer from that quarter and Wes turned off the TV and came to bed before half-time as it was obvious that things were only going to get worse, especially after Mark Murphy was accidentally concussed.

Our friends, John & Jan Smith arrived home on Friday after six weeks travelling around the top of Australia. They have enjoyed some wonderful experiences and we look forward to their next visit to Daylesford to catch up with their stories. We have seen all the photos on Facebook (which is such an easy way to keep friends involved in your travels). Also our friend, Gillie, is currently in Venice, studying Italian and living in cloisters, as part of a three-month trip primarily to England and Italy. Here is a photo of the cloister chooks, which must make Gillie feel right at home, as she has a lovely brood herself back here. 

Yesterday Wes went to Ballarat to do a couple of courses as part of the Writers’ Festival, while Bilbo & I had a walk into town to buy fish & salad for lunch. Wes came home very stimulated from his two events and was pleased to discover all he had to do was quickly cook the tuna steaks as I had made the salad, cooked a dish of potatoes, onion & tomatoes, and baked a fruit cake.

That afternoon we watched in amazement as Collingwood lost three more players to soft tissue injuries, but managed to take the lead late in the last quarter and hold on for a gutsy win against GWS. Before these latest injuries we had difficulty fielding two teams for the weekend and it will be even harder next weekend, the last round of the season before the finals. Geelong & Hawthorn then staged another amazing game of two halves with an unexpected result – Geelong were comfortably ahead at half-time, but completely overrun by 11 goals to 3 in the second half. It’s going to be an exciting month of Finals.

This morning it was too wet early for Wes and Bilbo to walk, but we are about to head off to pump mineral water and stock up on fruit and vegetables at the Sunday Market. Then breakfast at The Food Gallery, and after that, Wes hopes to spend some hours in the garden as we need to have everywhere looking spick and span for the arrival of our Sydney friend, Terry McDonald, who is arriving on Wednesday for his first visit to Daylesford.

Daylesford Winter Dispatch - Sunday, 17th August, 2014

Dear Everyone, when I left you last Sunday, we had just said goodbye to Peter Russo, I was making a pot of minestrone soup, and Wes was attacking his email and Facebook pages to get feedback from the Asylum Seeker Forum. Everyone was very positive about their experience and the only negativity came from people who hadn’t been there or who confused the Forum with a debate and complained that both sides weren’t represented.

Here is the refugee longboat being put into position by members of the Daylesford ALP Branch

We spent the afternoon in front of an open fire as the weather couldn’t make up its mind what to do – we had a flurry of snow, followed by brilliant sunshine, followed by heavy rain and strong winds. I was most disappointed by Collingwood’s inability to get within cooee of the West Coast Eagles and we were very lucky to lose by 10 goals – it should have been more. Dear Norma Hutchins would have been delighted if she had still been with us.

Meanwhile our Sydney friends, Jane & David Knox were invited to be guests of Geelong at the exciting game against Fremantle at Kardinia Park last Saturday night. They witnessed a wonderful spectacle and Geelong was lucky to win after Freo couldn’t kick a goal after the siren to snatch victory. Jane is always careful not to offend her friend, Annette, who had invited them to the game and never wears red and white when the Swans are playing the Cats. She sent me through this picture of her, David and Patrick McNamara (another person we all met on our original 2008 Indian cricket tour).

For those of you not in the know, Freo colours are purple and white!

Wes had planned to play golf on Monday, but it was 0° and raining, so he took Bilbo for a long walk then gave him a bath and decided he would spent the rest of the morning in the garden instead. The rain eased off, the full moon disappeared and the garden was very keen to have him working in it again. We’ve both neglected it lately because of unwellness on my part and the Forum on his. That night Wes chaired a meeting of our local ALP Branch, attended by our local MP, Catherine King, where there was an animated debriefing on the Forum.

Tuesday dawned wet and cold, so there was no walk for Bilbo. I went to gym, which had been in recess while Barry was in Canada, and Wes drove to Sr Genevieve Jeffrey’s funeral in Gardenvale. I had a lovely facial with Emma at EKO and returned home to minestrone soup and computer work. Wes was pleased he had been to the funeral, but tired after all the driving, so we both spent a very quiet late afternoon in preparation for a very busy day to come.

Glenn Mack arrived on Wednesday to help Wes to cement in the bird house pole and attach the three-storey home on top. I headed off to Mah Jong with Dot & Valerie and Sandra cleaned the house for us. Bilbo is very funny when she arrives – he gets very excited and we tell him he can go upstairs to be scratched and patted. When he comes back down again, he skips in excitement!

Wes spent time helping Barbara then came home to rest. He had been due to drive to Melbourne again that afternoon for a 6pm meeting, but was too tired, so cancelled out of the meeting and enjoyed an early night.

I made it to gym again on Thursday, then came home and changed into glad rags, before picking up Judi and driving us to Bendigo to see two exhibitions at the Art Gallery there. Judi had organised the tickets for us and I was pleased that I felt well enough to go. The first exhibition, from the Victoria & Albert Museum, was Undressed – 350 years of underwear in fashion. It was fascinating, beautifully displayed and explained a lot about early underwear, before tracing a path until today. One of the highlights for me was the amazing gown worn by Emily Watson (who played Hermione) at the Opening Night of the final Harry Potter film.

We then went into the new space to see The Body Beautiful in Ancient Greece, from the British Museum. There were some wonderful sculptures, which I enjoyed, while Judi appreciated the bronze figures and we both could take or leave the earthenware.

The famous discus thrower with his head replaced facing the wrong way

Judi had thoughtfully booked a table for lunch at the Gallery and we enjoyed a very yummy meal and pots of jasmine tea. Our waitress was very young, very inexperienced and very fond of the word youse.

I found I was quite tired after all the stimulation and chatting, so spent a very quiet night after dropping Wes at Jeff Bain’s place for a Boys’ Film Night. They watched The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (American version) and drank lots of whisky, red wine and liqueurs. Wes arrived home at 1.15am.

He was very ordinary indeed on Friday, so I made lunch, walked Bilbo, collected the mail and bought the bird seed and shell grit for Fawlty Towers. It is taking ages for our first guests to check in and we are getting very impatient indeed. Perhaps they were looking for water beds and spa baths, or perhaps they don’t realise we will take one night over the weekend!

That night we tried our best to get Carlton over the line against Geelong, but they fell short by a goal in a very entertaining, close game. Injuries made the difference in the end, although Wes thinks that the Blues have forgotten how to win.

Yesterday we both got into the garden early once the frost had melted. I mulched a bed that had been most prolific with Italian parsley, basil and chilis this year, in preparation for some more goodies next year. Wes has been putting in pavers through the front garden so we can reach the new roses to pick them when they flower. He is filling compost bins as fast as he empties them (we have 5 in total) and Bilbo followed him around this morning taking notes no doubt.

After lunch we went to Victoria Park for Daylesford’s last home and away match against Waubra, a team we haven’t beaten in 4 years. The Doggies played very well and beat Waubra by 19 points which puts us into an Elimination Final against Buninyong next Saturday afternoon. There was a carnival atmosphere at the ground as all the Past Players had been invited to partake of refreshments and celebrate the year. I enjoyed spending time with Ken Matheson, and Wes chatted with Cr Kate Redwood and her husband, Neville, who had been on the gate, but were able to watch from quarter time onwards.

We came home to watch Collingwood play the Lions to cement a place in the Eight and were horrified to discover we had lost our most exciting player and our captain before the game even started. During the match we lost three more players to injury, and one replacement player had already played a full reserves game in the morning to boot. Needless to say we were no match for Brisbane and have dropped out of contention. I am so pleased I didn’t go last night – a long way to travel for not much reward!

This morning I woke with a splitting head (all the excitement of going out yesterday no doubt) so cancelled my trips to the Market and breakfast. Wes did both activities while I stayed in bed. I’m now up and dressed and will have a very quiet day.

Wes with Nick Massaro earlier this year

Daylesford Winter Dispatch - Sunday, 10th August, 2014

Dear Everyone, I left you last Sunday feeling a bit sorry for myself and staying in bed to try to get over bronchial asthma. Wes did the Sunday Market and Breakfast with Bilbo and then drove to Gisborne to collect Fawlty Towers. He has to dig a big hole for the post and add some cement to solidify it, so here is the photo again for all of you anxious to see it, as it may be a little while before our one is up and running. We have decided not to paint it, but just let it look natural in the garden.

Poor Wes had been fighting off a cold as well; trying to tidy up all the loose ends for the Asylum Seekers Forum and keep me fed and watered, as well as look after Bilbo. I decided to cancel my week’s activities and spent Monday in bed. On Tuesday, Wes took the Mazda 2 to Ballarat for a service (something I should have been doing) and I decided to wash the bedding (very doggy) and see how I felt being up. About an hour was all I could manage and gratefully fell back into a clean bed with a pot of jasmine tea.

On Wednesday I was still feeling unwell and with the very cold mornings decided I would stay in bed yet again. Wes spent some hours over at Barbara’s place doing gardening, handyman jobs and giving computer advice.

On Thursday I got up and dressed, went to the Post Office and visited Tonna’s early before anyone else was out shopping to replenish muesli, Arborio rice and pasta, where our stocks were running perilously low. That was enough I must confess and I spent the rest of the day doing crosswords & Logic Problems. Wes was tired as he had been burning the candle at both ends in preparation for the Forum, so he took advantage of my being up to get an afternoon sleep, during which time the Ballarat Courier must have rung his mobile 5 times, even though he had asked that questions be directed to Cr Kate Redwood.

We were both sorry to read that Sr Genevieve Jeffrey had died peacefully the day before at the good age of 93. She was an interesting and involved person in Daylesford during her posting here and we had kept in touch via Christmas cards and when she occasionally returned. I met her through U3A and Wes met her when she visited him in the Mayoral Chamber on his first day of office, when she presented him with a wooden duck. Wes hopes to get to her funeral on Tuesday.

After good nights’ sleeps, Wes and I were both better on Friday but I found a short trip out in the car was enough and decided to conserve my energy for the Forum, where I was rostered to be on the door, giving out the consultation sheets and name tags. Wes spent yet another day getting prepared for the Forum and trying to make sure everything had been done to make it successful.

Yesterday was a sunny, but cold day here. Wes set off at 10am to help with setting up the Town Hall and collected 4 beautiful roses from Ken Rae at Spring Park Nursery as thank you gifts for the Speakers. The rose is called Bright Spirit and sales from this rose help single mothers in South Australia.

Bright Spirit – it has a beautiful fragrance and is glorious in colour as you can see.

I rested during the morning then walked up to the Town Hall to be there by 12.45 ready to hand out Consultation Sheets to the attendees. There was a wonderful silver longboat in position outside the door and one of the Branch Members had found an old suitcase and a paper sunshade to sit alongside it. It was very evocative!

People started to arrive from 1pm and by 2pm there were close to 300 in the Town Hall, which was almost as many as we could fit in it. There were friends from Melbourne – Ian & Robyn Robinson, David Castles & Tom Tyrrell (as well as Peter Russo, who welcomed the group with his own songs and sent them on their way when it was all over). There were lots of local friends and supporters, as well as representatives of many community groups, and Ross Fairhurst (former Liberal), now the Greens Candidate for the State seat of Bass, was there with his wife, Barbara. All the organisers were thrilled with the turn-up and participation and we can only hope that the local press highlights it next week. The speakers were Anna Burke MHR (ALP Public Speaker for Asylum Speakers), David Manne (Lawyer & Advocate for Asylum Seekers) and Julian Burnside QC (Public Advocate for Asylum Seekers).

After it was over and everywhere had been cleaned up, Wes & Peter Russo came back here and we were joined by David & Penny Reilly, Ross & Barbara Fairhurst, and a woman named Bronwyn. There was a healthy discussion on how the Forum had been received. We discovered that over $500 had been donated - money that will be given to the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre.

Around 34 people then had dinner at the Savoia Hotel in Hepburn Springs last night, where Wes was able to introduce them all to an Iranian boat refugee, Mohammed, who has been living here for about 2 years. Peter played his guitar and sang as well, which was very good of him.

This morning after the Sunday Market, we took Peter to The Food Gallery for breakfast before he headed back to Melbourne, guitar under his arm. Thanks to him and everyone else who helped make yesterday such a success. 

Daylesford Winter Dispatch - Sunday, 3rd August 2014

Dear Everyone, last weekend, we had an unexpected phone call from Paun to ask if she and Brian could visit us on Monday, so we said yes immediately and offered them a bed for the night, which they duly accepted. I decided to have a very quiet Sunday and didn’t join Wes at the Glenlyon Food & Wine Fayre. He enjoyed his time there and said it was very well organised as usual, except for the entry, where visitors have to queue for too long.

We lit a fire, watched highlights of the Olympics and tried in vain to get the Pies to beat the Crows. The most exciting thing to happen was the unexpected win by Michael Shelley in the Men’s Marathon, followed by the Bronze medal to Jess Trengove in the Women’s event.

We were very excited to see Paun & Brian when they arrived in time for lunch on Monday and Wes had gone to his usual amount of trouble. He made his famous fish pie and as he put the hot Bendigo Pottery casserole dish on the wooden board, the bottom decided to separate itself from the rest. He was able to rescue most of his pie, which we enjoyed, but we are both very sorry to say goodbye to that casserole, which must be 40 years old. He had also cooked some spicy herbed chicken drumsticks, so there was plenty to eat. Sweets was a jam sponge smothered in berries which went down a treat.

Brian, Paun, Liam, Warwick & Rohan in 2000 at Michelle & George’s wedding

We spent the sunny afternoon chatting, sitting quietly, drinking lots of tea and catching up on news. Paun & Brian had bought some yummy afternoon tea items which we demolished after corn cobs for dinner. We watched a bit of the Olympics and then everyone was tired and we all headed to bed.

The next morning Wes and Bilbo walked early, although not as early as Bilbo would have liked – he gave a plaintive cry at 2.30am, but we persuaded him to go back to sleep until 4.45am, which was much more civilised. We decided to have breakfast out and arrived at The Food Gallery at 8.15am. Pasquale was happy to let us in early and was very interested to hear about Paun & Brian’s café, Cliff Place, in Tathra. We all had croissants, except for Brian who tucked into the bacon & egg roll and Paun & Brian enjoyed the coffee so much they had seconds. Eventually it was time for them to get on the road and we were sorry to see them go. They were off to Wagga Wagga for a couple of nights, before heading to Wollongong to catch up with Liam & Warwick, who were celebrating their birthdays on Friday. Rohan was coming from Manly so the whole family would have been together.

The minute the Fells left the weather turned and rain set in, the sky was grey and we were confined to quarters for most of the day. Wes had to drive to Ballarat for an FEA Meeting and we both survived on leftovers, as there is always plenty to eat after Wes has cooked.

Bilbo wearing my cap!

Wednesday was Brigadoon and wet, so Bilbo had to make do with a yummy bone and no walk. I dropped off a couple of beanies for the Keeping Daylesford Warm campaign, then Sandra arrived to clean and we three went downstairs into the study as we usually do to keep out of her way. There was no Mah Jong as Dot still isn’t well enough and I find it hard to breathe on these mornings, so suggested to Valerie that she stay warm in Castlemaine and hopefully we can meet next Wednesday.

Wes went over to help Barbara with Ancestry and no doubt to pass on some of the tips he learnt at his seminar, and after lunch, they drove to Ballarat where Barbara had an appointment. Bilbo & I lit a fire and spent a relaxing afternoon knitting and watching Miss Marple episodes until Wes arrived home to cook us dinner. And it was special – swordfish steaks with spicy sauce, green beans & spuds.

Thursday was a much milder morning than we have had all week and I took Bilbo with me to pump water at Leitches Creek. When we arrived there, the spring was closed, so we had to drive back here and get my third choice, Wombat Flat spring on our side of Lake Daylesford. We went to Tonna’s to stock up on pasta and I ran out of money, so we came home feeling rather silly and I replenished my wallet before heading out to have morning tea at Gracenotes Café with Jane Barrett.

We had about an hour together, but by the time we chatted with Annie Smith, Helen & Rose, and Maureen & Graham, that time had been whittled down. Bilbo enjoyed being fussed over as he sat outside wearing his Winter coat. Jane was able to tell me the good news that our mutual friends, Roger & Valerie Roberts, are returning to Daylesford after moving back home to the Adelaide Hills last November. They are missing all their friends here and find that the grandchildren they had hoped to spend more time with are all too busy. They have bought in Central Springs Road, within walking distance of their very good friends, Di & Jeff.

Talking about mineral water reminds me that Wes and I discovered the last time we were at Victoria Park watching the Daylesford Bulldogs play footy, that there has been a tradition for many years that the footballers are given pure spring water to drink during the game. Someone takes big water containers to the pump in Grant Street near East Street on the day before the game. I find the pure spring water completely tasteless, but many of our visitors are thrilled to bits to drink water that reminds them of their childhood.

I spent the rest of the day knitting, while Wes worked on Ancestry and the upcoming Asylum Seekers Forum, which is being held in the Daylesford Town Hall this Saturday. We had very strong winds during the afternoon, but fortunately there was no damage or loss of tree limbs near us. That night Wes went to a meeting at the Savoia Hotel to support another group wanting to assist asylum seekers. He returned home in time to watch Carlton play Fremantle over there and was very disappointed when the Blues lost by 5 points in the last minute of the game.

Leanne found this lovely photo of me, Viva & Jane at lunch in 1987

Friday was extremely cold and we were promised snow. I went out early to deliver more beanies and do some Coles shopping, and stayed inside after that. We had planned to try lunch at the Argus Dining Room at Peppers Mineral Springs Hotel, Hepburn Springs, but decided we would have to do that another day. It did snow on and off all afternoon, which was lovely to watch, but not good to be in!

Yesterday was very cold with -3° and lots of black ice. I decided to spend the day in bed as I was very asthmatic and didn’t want to end up with bronchial asthma. The sun shone brightly most of the day and Wes spent his time working on the computer and feeding me!

This morning we woke to find -5°, which is most unusual for Daylesford, and a very heavy frost is still around, although the sun is shining. Wes had no hot water in his downstairs bathroom, Bilbo’s outdoor water bowl is frozen and we can only hope the frogs are surviving in the frozen pond. I have cancelled all today’s activities and am heading back to bed after a shower. Wes has taken Bilbo to the Sunday Market and breakfast, and after he returns Bilbo here, he will drive to Gisborne to pick up Fawlty Towers, our eagerly awaited bird house. We have a pair of magpies who will be delighted as they keep knocking on our windows for food and steal Bilbo’s bones.

Snow falling into Dene & Rob’s place, taken from the dog veranda