Daylesford Winter Dispatch - Sunday, 26th June 2016

Dear Friends, we enjoyed breakfast last Sunday – Judi got the chance to tell us all about the highlight of their trip to Tassie, which was their visit to MONA, which is accessed by ferry, and nestles into the side of a cliff. We were all most impressed and it certainly made us even more determined to get there ourselves, hopefully in the next couple of years.

Feel the excitement as Bilbo, wearing his very warm pink coat, waits for breakfast leftovers

In the afternoon, there was a vigil outside Daylesford Hotel, in memory of the Orlando victims. As well, the rainbow flag has been flying at half-mast in Vincent Street. We had hoped to get there, but both of us were tired after our busy week and opted to stay warm at home.

On Monday, it was raining again, against all predictions including a stunning sunset the night before. Wes cancelled plans to mow the lawns, but he and Bilbo did enjoy an early walk.

  Lake Daylesford before dawn, courtesy of Robyn Lawrence

After gym, I met up with Gillie Gough at Muffins & More for a hot drink & snack & catch up, as it seems like ages since we spent any time together. Back home, it was definitely indoor chores only.

We woke to rain & fog on Tuesday, so all thoughts of a walk were cancelled. Wes went off early to prepare to show ‘A Month of Sundays’ and after a fringe trim, I joined about 20 others in watching this wonderful film. Most of us loved it and thought that Anthony La Paglia’s acting was superb. We also enjoyed seeing Julia Blake & John Clarke in fine roles. Afterwards we met at The Food Gallery for a quick hot drink & bite to eat before Wes dropped me off at EKO for a facial & manicure.

It made quite a change on Wednesday when we woke to a dry, cold morning and the boys had their walk, while I went to gym and later to Mah Jong at Muffins & More, where the heater was blowing out cold air no matter what anyone did! I left early to get tickets for us & Jane & David for the Adelaide Day/Night Test against South Africa in November.

Wes and I were very chuffed to discover that our good friends, Marilyn & Robert Preston, were not only staying in Pitlochry, at the Claymore B&B we had loved, but also they had taken photos of some of our favourite spots, and then decided to climb Ben Vrackie. We feel so exhilarated that our recommendations were heeded, and so very proud of them for succeeding in climbing 2,790ft. I think both of us spent the day with these pictures in our minds.  

Us in 2014 & them in 2016

Wes had spent the morning taking Barbara for a big shop at Coles and filled her car with petrol. In the afternoon he attended a meeting back at her place to help a Daylesford Cinema volunteer, who wants to give the area’s oldest residents a chance to see a film outside of regular sessions. He left her with a hundred ideas and the hope that she might be able to make this happen.

We had planned a day in Geelong on Thursday – I did the shopping early at Coles & Tonna’s in case it was sleeting early on Friday morning and we set off around 9.30am. We left the rain behind the closer we got to Geelong and our first stop was Hope Street, Geelong West, which used to be part of Little Scotland, and somewhere that some of Wes’s ancestors settled in during the early 19^th century. We needed a hot drink and found Three Figs, a casual cafė with a warm greeting and lovely atmosphere, and enjoyed cups of tea and coffee and a good chat.

Next stop was the Geelong Botanical Gardens – much to our shame, neither of us has ever been there before, and we must have visited Geelong a hundred times over our lives, especially when Lib’s parents, Doug & Bell, had a holiday house in Barwon Heads, that they very generously let their children’s friends use often.

We were blown away by the beauty and size of these gardens; by the well-maintained pathways & lawns; by seeing 38 National Trust trees, and by finding a handful of historic buildings & fountains, which have been moved here from the centre of town. We spent about 90 minutes lost in wonder and have vowed to visit again very soon as there is still so much to see during each of the four Seasons.

Wes being greeted by these wonderful bollards representing the first curator, Daniel Bunce, and his wife.

We were ready for lunch after this, so headed to the foreshore and the Fishermen’s Pier, a restaurant that we have visited many times in the past, but not recently. While Wes got his fill of boats from the window, we ordered oysters, red Thai seafood curry and a bottle of Thomas Goss McLaren Vale Sparkling Shiraz. This was a perfect meal and we took our time over it, which was just as well, as we didn’t expect the weather we were going to encounter on our way home.

We had decided to vote early in Ballarat, so drove there from Geelong through sleet and of course, missed The Atlantic Hotel on our first time round. It was a fun experience – more people handing out How to Vote Cards outside and more officials inside, than voters. The Senate paper is now the size of a large petition and we were very grateful to have the ALP’s instructions on how to navigate it!

We arrived home at 5pm right on the dot, just as Bilbo was starting to panic that he wouldn’t get his dinner on time. We had left him with a big bone, which had completely disappeared, so he didn’t have too bad a time on his own. 

We were expecting snow on Friday and the early indications were good with 3º (feels like -3). Wes and Bilbo walked early before it started raining, and I met Judi for a cuppa at The Food Gallery during light rain. We had a good catch-up chat before she left to unblock their spouting and I visited Keith at Bi-Rite to see what was happening with my mobile phone, which has now been missing for 8 weeks. Wes visited Daylesford Neighbourhood Centre to have a meeting with Jenny Beacham about the Hepburn Family Tree Centre.

Finally, around 1pm it started snowing and continued on and off for an hour & a half. Sadly, the snow melted as it hit the ground, but we did enjoy watching it. 

Later that evening, I was very thrilled to see Collingwood beat Fremantle comprehensively in front of 20,000 very brave souls at the MCG. Not only was it freezing, but also there was no parking at the G, which probably caused a few fans to stay home.

Yesterday was another cold morning, so we decided not to walk early. I took Bilbo around the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens and on the way had a fright, when there was black ice at the first roundabout. When we arrived back home we discovered that two people had been killed in a car accident, when the driver lost control and hit a tree on the Midland Highway, just before it meets the Woodend Road at Daylesford.

Snow falling on our backyard

Wes tried working in the garden but everything was frozen and it wasn’t even possible to sweep up leaves, so he opted for the computer instead and I did the washing & ironing. We had hoped to get to the local footy but it was too cold, so we stayed put and I baked a fruitcake to keep us company while Carlton played GWS at the Sydney Showgrounds.

Sadly, the Blues were no match for GWS, much to our disappointment. Wes would have coped with a 4 or 5 goal loss, but 10 was too much. Later we watched the first half of the very exciting and close game between St Kilda & Geelong and were amazed to discover this morning that the Saints had won by 3 points in a thriller.

Although it is very frosty again today, Wes and Bilbo have been for their walk, and now Bilbo is waiting patiently (or not) for me to send the Dispatch and for us to get cracking. We have to pump water; shop at the Sunday Market for bread, fruit, vegetables & bones; come home and sort it all & put it away (with unwanted pieces of celery for Bilbo), and then join our friends for breakfast at the Food Gallery.

 We found the Magic Faraway Tree in the Geelong Botanic Gardens – this giant redwood is exactly how I pictured it looking – can you see Moonface & the Saucepan Man in its branches?