Dear
Friends, last Sunday we had been expecting to welcome home Margot, but she had
misled us all and arrived back that day. Fortunately, Barbara had checked her
emails before driving to Melbourne Airport and didn’t make a wasted trip. Even
Pasquale at The Food Gallery had bought the Herald Sun for Margot to read when
she arrived for her early cup of coffee, so he gave it to Barbara to pass on to
Margot. We had also been expecting three Russo brothers, but Peter arrived at
9.50am to ask if it was 8.30am or 9.30am start, just as we were all finishing
up, so we missed their company.
It
was a beautiful day after the cold morning and Warren planted all the daffodil
bulbs we had bought at the Melbourne Flower Show, before coming inside to watch
Carlton play Port Adelaide. He was in tears at the end – it was easily the best
display for year by a Blues team, and considering they lost their best mark,
Levi Casboult, in the first few minutes, and their other big man, Matt Kreuzer,
was hurt three times during the game, it was an incredibly gutsy win from
behind.
On
Monday, Wes walked Bilbo early in the dark, where the temperature hovered
around 2° until about 8.30am. I went to gym for the first time in a fortnight,
and was pleased that I coped OK, although I was very sensible and didn’t do
anything too strenuous. Everyone at gym was happy, as all our teams had won on
the weekend, so there were smiles all round.
We
woke on Tuesday to the sad news that John Wallace, partner of Yvonne at the
Sunday Market had died overnight in hospital, where he had been for a couple of
weeks, as his lungs were no longer working properly. John, who was 82, had for
many years cut cabbage leaves for Woody, Bilbo & Frodo to eat while their
owners shopped. We will miss him.
Thanks to David
Castles for posting this favourite Peanuts cartoon on FB recently.
Mary
Goodall joined me at the Daylesford Cinema to see the film The Jungle Book,
which we both enjoyed very much. I didn’t know the book by Rudyard Kipling, but
she was familiar with the story and thought Disney did an excellent adaptation.
In the afternoon, I went to EKO for a well-overdue manicure & facial and
arrived home to a yummy late lunch with Wes. That night Wes and Barbara
attended a shareholders’ meeting of the Bendigo Bank, where the Board was
questioned closely about its future plans and strategies.
Here is my latest crop
of beanies & a beret, as requested by ‘Keeping Daylesford Warm’ Wes liked
the yellow one so much I knitted him one of his own!
We
were back playing Mah Jong on Wednesday morning and enjoyed a fun time catching
up with each other and trying to beat Valerie who was on fire for a change!
Wes
and I both travelled to Melbourne on Thursday – I left at 8am to visit Leanne
and he went at 9.15am to accompany Barbara to an Independent Living Expo at the
Showgrounds. I coped well with driving there and back & had a good visit
with Leanne, but was quite weary by the time I arrived home. So was Wes, who
had a much longer day, but without the driving. When they got back to
Daylesford, he had suggested to Barbara that they do a big shop at Coles, which
was sensible.
We
slept in on Friday, and after I went shopping at the supermarket, I took Bilbo
for a couple of circuits of the Gardens. Judi & I had originally planned to
do this together, and spend time together afterwards, but she was suffering
from a relapse and I was feeling as though that would be too much, so we
postponed it for another morning.
Later
in the morning we attended John’s funeral at Verey’s Chapel, Yvonne would have
been delighted as there was standing room only by the time the service started.
We didn’t know much about John’s early life, so enjoyed learning about what a
likeable rogue he had been. He and Yvonne had been together 30 years after John
left his wife, with whom he had 6 children. We will treasure our timber
chopping board that John made and which I bought for Wes one Christmas some
years ago.
Yesterday
morning was very brisk early, so I stayed in bed doing the Age crosswords while
Wes & Bilbo walked. We woke to the news that the Swans had beaten the Hawks
and were delighted for Jane & David, who had flown down from Sydney for the
match, which we had watched until half time. The Hawthorn players looked
subdued early, probably because of the shocking news of the return of Jarryd
Roughead’s cancer, which had been discovered earlier in the week.
I
drove to Melbourne and parked at the MCG, then walked to the Square &
Compass, where I met up with Danny Millman, Jane & David for brunch before
the Collingwood vs Geelong game. It was lovely to see all three friends and we
enjoyed a leisurely and yummy meal before walking back to the G for the game.
We
had good seats on the wing and enjoyed the game much more than any of us had
expected, as Collingwood had brought its best skills to bear in the first
quarter, and although we were outscored in the remaining three quarters, the 7
goals we scored was enough to register a win against Geelong, who were flag
favourites.
As
the match started early, I was able to drive home in daylight for most of the
way and the last 20 minutes or so was illuminated by a stunning red-gold
sunset. Wes had hung a black & white scarf on the front door and made a
yummy seafood risotto, both of which were much appreciated. He had spent the
morning assembling the planter box stands, which we had bought at the Melbourne
Flower Show two months earlier. It has taken ages for our order to be filled –
the boxes themselves arrived about 2 weeks ago, and Wes had to argue very
forcefully to get the stands, which he was told I had picked up myself. As the
company is in Officer (wherever that is), it seems most unlikely that I would
have driven there without telling him and collected half the order.
We
are planning to put the stands up on the decking, filling the boxes with soil
and planting seedlings tomorrow – I’m too tired today to think about any of
that. Bilbo is sitting at my feet, very relieved that I got up & dressed
and have printed out my list for the Sunday Market. We will leave shortly, and
then it will be Sunday Breakfast, where everyone will be delighted to see
Margot and hear about her wonderful cruise.
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