Last Sunday, I discovered that it’s
a mistake to think that everything is going swimmingly – time for a setback
instead. I didn’t last past the Sunday Market shopping & retreated to bed,
which meant I missed the special lunch for Jan Pengilley. Wes & Barbara
went & I heard later from Judi that Wes gave an excellent speech.
I couldn’t resist this latest gem from Sally to Linus
At the doctor the next day, I was
told I had contracted a virus for which there is no treatment & I was to go
back home to bed & rest (& pray no doubt that it went as quickly as
it came). Wes has been wonderful, taking on the lion’s share of work &
making sure I am well fed & watered.
On Tuesday, he went to Strathmore
to help Leanne, who needed her cat, Smokey, taken to the vet for a check-up
& teeth clean, which required him to be sedated. Wes spent time with Leanne
after dropping off the cat at her local vet, then dropped into the Mediterranean
Wholesalers in Sydney Road, Brunswick, for coffee & canoli. We
still miss lots of things about Brunswick – mostly its multi-culturalism &
wonderful places like this that are institutions in the town that was home to
us from birth (Wes) & aged 8 (me). We’ve been living full-time in
Daylesford for nearly 20 years & love it to bits, but it still isn’t very
multi-cultural.
Leanne sent home a pair of used
pillows for Lewis & Morse. Here is Lewis loving his as he sleeps on his
downstairs bed. Morse prefers to sit on Warren’s Jason recliner when he is in
the study, but didn’t say no to a pillow to go with his rug.
I missed out on playing Mah Jong
with Judi & Dot on Wednesday, but they both told me how much they enjoyed
playing with each other without the rules boss watching their every move!
I also had to cancel a visit to
Cathy O’Toole to see her garden in Spring & catch up with the latest news
from her & Peter Widdop.
On Thursday, Wes had planned to
accompany Barbara to the 20th Anniversary Meeting of the
Quadriplegic Association in Melbourne. However, he was reluctant to leave me
looking after Lewis & Morse for that length of time & asked her to
cancel. I felt awful & suggested he take her to lunch instead, which he did
and they had an enjoyable time at Jackie’s on Vincent.
Meanwhile, I was up & dressed
& just finishing lunch, when there was a knock on the door & our dear
friend, Carole Hardwick, was standing there. She & five other friends were
in Daylesford, staying at the Lake House for a couple of nights to celebrate a
friend’s 80th birthday. She left the others shopping & came to
visit us. We had a great catch-up & just as she was about to leave, Wes
arrived back home, which was wonderful, as Carole was very keen to update him
on her husband, John’s, health.
Wonderful photo
from 1992 at Lindsay Park Racing – with Colin, Betty, David & Peter
Hayes;Les & Beryl Gordon, John (behind me) & Carole (in navy &
white) Hardwick & Joe De Simone
After spending the rest of
Thursday in bed resting, I woke feeling better on Friday & was able to go
supermarket shopping, and do a few other chores. Wes spent some time in the
garden – weeding, trimming & mowing & has everywhere looking loved
again. The Mazda 6 needed some work done on it, so he took it to Howe
Automotive, locally & when I dropped him back to collect it in the
afternoon, this is what greeted him.
Beautiful local
peacock
Yesterday was a very exciting
& meaningful day for us. We got up at 5am and Wes had to wake Lewis &
Morse to take them for a walk. I didn’t go on the walk, but had an early
shower, cleaned up, prepared the boys’ breakfast & was ready to leave for
Moonee Valley Racecourse at 7am. We had been invited to attend the opening of
the ALP State Conference and were given our 40 year ALP Life Memberships by
Premier, Daniel Andrews, after he had delivered his speech to the delegates
& observers & us at the Conference.
There were probably 30 members who
received this honour, which we would have qualified for about 6 years ago if we
hadn’t let our memberships lapse briefly after we moved from Essendon to
Brunswick in 1976. Daniel shook everyone’s hands, had a word for each of us
& stayed around for a group photo. We were then given morning tea with
scones jam & cream. We both feel very honoured & will wear our new
badges with pride.
We arrived home to find Lewis
& Morse looking eagerly for us from their dog veranda. Our lovely
neighbours, Rob & Dene, had spent time talking & sitting with them
while we were away, which gave us peace of mind. Thank you both very much.
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