Dear Friends, when
I left you last week I was hoping to get to the Sunday Market, but we decided that
it would be better if Warren went instead as the rain was pelting down. So he
duly did and came home with fruit, vegetables, eggs & dog bones. We had
32mls in total, but Ken Rae, at Spring Park Nursery in Eganstown had 75mls and
his back yard was flooded. He stayed at the Market for a while, but very few
hardy souls were around and he decided he could do more good at home.
We took Bilbo to
breakfast as we could put his bed out of the rain; so Margot, Judi & Janine
all tried to make up for what he had missed by not getting cabbage leaves from
John at the Market. I think he was more than amply compensated, especially when
Margot gave him a slice of toast with butter & vegemite – just like Gary
Ashley used to do at Café 3460. The six of us enjoyed some good topics during
our meal – we discovered that Judi & Michael were again without a car, so
as soon as we arrived home we checked our diaries for the week and decided we
could easily manage with one, so drove the Mazda 2 over to their place, much to
Judi’s delight. Janine has retired from work – her final day at Daylesford
Clothing had been the previous Friday and she was thrilled to be fancy free.
Wes regaled us with some of his stories from his visits to cemeteries the
previous week; Barbara chimed in with a couple of graveside coincidences, and
Judi updated us on Tulku Rose’s current state of health, which isn’t wonderful.
On Monday, Wes and
Bilbo were able to walk early after sleeping well. Wes spent most of the
morning in the garden, removing an old ornamental passionfruit vine, which was
threatening to take over the back fence, pruning some bushes and doing a few
handyman jobs that mean there is a lot less squeaking at our place! I walked
into town while it was still cool and wasn’t too sore afterwards. Apart from the
exercise, it is good to do a little bit of socialising as I have been like a
hermit the past couple of weeks.
After a haircut
with Lyndal, I joined 21 others watching the wonderful film – Suffragette. When
you see how those women struggled to be taken seriously as equals, entitled to
the vote, their own money, a fair wage etc, it is especially disappointing to
see some of us take it all for granted. Wes & I found it particularly
galling in Scotland, when touring the Parliament in Edinburgh in 2014, to meet
young women who did not intend to vote in the next election, as they didn’t
think they could make a difference. How very wrong they are.
Afterwards we had
bagels for lunch at Cliffy’s, next door to Wombat Nursery, where we met up with
Bill, who used to take his wife to hydrotherapy in Ballarat when Warren was
there with Barbara. He told us that his granddaughter, Coco Jack Gillies, who
is 10 and lives in Sydney, played Olivia, Shane Jacobsen’s granddaughter, in
Oddball. We remembered enjoying her acting and he is hopeful that she will go a
long way.
In the afternoon,
Danny sent us a message (including this lovely photo) to announce the arrival
of Celia & Cory’s daughter, Olive May, sister to Isla.
It was delightful
to wake on Wednesday and find cooler weather and some more rain. Wes &
Bilbo were able to walk at 5am, while I slept for another hour. It was my first
morning back at Mah Jong since mid-December and we were all keen to see each
other & catch up, as well as play a few games.
What was even
better was the warm welcome we received from Muffins and More as we ordered our
hot drinks prior to a good chat. Sadly, Dot & John’s lovely dog, Lucy, had
been put down over the weekend and Dot was understandably still upset. Lucy was
an excellent companion & went on all their caravan trips with them.
Valerie having a chat before we
start playing.
I had a quiet
afternoon watching the Kiwis make mincemeat of the Aussies in the first One Day
Game at Eden Park. Wes & Barbara went to Aperitifs at Al & Kathy’s
place, and from what Wes told me it seemed to have been a very successful and
enjoyable event.
When we woke on
Thursday, it was to discover that during the incredible windstorm our precious
Japanese Maple had been knocked out of its pot and was lying down along the
side of the house. Miraculously there was no damage, not even to the smallest
branch and Wes was able to put it all back together again. I went shopping
early to Coles before meeting Janine Hawker at Daylesford Organics for a cuppa
& catch up chat.
Afterwards I came
home to yummy salmon, broccolini, spring onion, red pepper & chilli
spaghetti, which Wes and I ate while watching Who Do You Think You Are
featuring Davina McCall, who discovered very interesting and strong men on both
sides of her family tree – one in England & the other in France.
In the afternoon, I
received a lovely surprise when Wombat Hill Florist delivered another beautiful
arrangement of flowers, this time from Leigh & Simon Murrin in London.
It was lovely to
spend time with Judi on Friday morning – we drank Jasmine tea at the Food
Gallery and caught up on each other’s news. Meanwhile Wes did serious pruning
in the garden, mowed everywhere and picked a basket of
nectarines &
plums from our trees. They are not quite ripe, but we can’t afford to leave
them on the branches any longer or Bilbo and the birds will eat them.
Yesterday we awoke
to a beautiful morning although it was still dark when Wes & Bilbo arrived
home from their walk. I stayed in bed doing the Age crosswords before some
gardening. We set off to visit Ian & Robyn Robinson at Chewton as we had a
rose to deliver to them in memory of Robyn’s mother, Dulcie.
It is quite a few
years since we have been to their country home and we enjoyed seeing all the
improvements they have made lately. There is a lot more light everywhere and
stunning views from the decking and lounge. Bilbo was allowed inside and enjoyed
being patted and spoiled by four adults instead of two.
In the afternoon, I
enjoyed watching the second One-Day match, where Australia was able to turn the
tables, although it was a close game until the very end. Two fine partnerships
made the difference – Warner & Khawaja at the start and Mitch Marsh &
Hastings at the end. New Zealand is blessed with a very clever and competitive
captain in Brendon McCullum, who never gives up until the last ball has been
bowled.
As I sit here watching the sky turn pink over
Daylesford, I am grateful yet again for the decision in 1998 to buy a holiday
home here. We knew very soon after we moved in that we wanted to live here
full-time and, although, we would love a little bolthole in Melbourne near the
MCG, we don’t regret our move at all. Every day brings beautiful sights, smells
and experiences and we have made so many wonderful friends here, as well as
keeping in touch with our old friends. We are very blessed indeed.
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