Daylesford Winter Dispatch - Sunday, 2nd August 2020

Dear Friends, when I left you last Sunday, we were heading off to the Daylesford Market, which was very well organised & included a few more stalls than the week before - including Jeff, the dog treat & egg man, which enabled us to stock up on Lewis & Morse's favourite goodies. Yvonne was much happier with a side table as well as her front one and both bakeries had plenty of stock. 

Me masked & gloved with a boot full of goodies from the Market

Afterwards we went to The Food Gallery, for a delightful breakfast. Pasquale & Toni are only open from Friday to Sunday at present as lots of their regulars live in the Shire, but outside of Daylesford & they are choosing not to travel, which is very understandable. 

Wes about to tuck into scrambled eggs with spinach & toast

When we got home, Wes went over to spend time with Barbara, helping her get ready for their trip to the airport the next morning. He had planned to supervise the Allied Pickford packing that day, and as he wouldn't be able to do that, he collected everything that wasn't to go with the removalists & brought it here. 

His next activity was to collect Denise & Barbara to take them to Jackie's on Vincent for Denise's birthday lunch. He had hoped to have taken Barbara there before she left, but ran out of time. He was sure Denise wouldn't mind the extra company. Meanwhile, I made phone calls, did some chores & gardening & looked after Lewis & Morse. 

On Monday we got up at 5am to walk the boys around Lake Daylesford, before Wes did Barbara's care and they got ready to leave for the airport again. The removalists arrived about 30 minutes earlier than expected, which threw a small spanner in the works, however, Rob & Dene were happy to look after things there to let Wes & Barbara get on the road. Fortunately, everything went without a hitch & Barbara texted Wes, me & Rob to let us know she was in her seat & drinking bubbles at midday. 

Meanwhile I went into Vincent Street to meet Judi for breakfast at Harvest, going to the PO & pharmacy beforehand. I had enough time to walk up & down Howe Street as well & bemoan the loss of a couple of shops, mostly boutiques, which have not survived. Judi & I had a good catch up sitting in the little room with an open fire & no-one else for much of our time there. Afterwards, I walked Maisie, to help out Hugh, who is looking after her at present. Maisie was thrilled to see me, as she had been when Wes walked her last Friday - we both come equipped with treats and she sits up waiting with a big smile on her face. 

Lovely Maisie, Annie's Irish Water Spaniel

Wes arrived back home with a big bag of Dutch Cream potatoes from a farm near Trentham. He was so relieved that Barbara had been able to board her flight & she texted him later to say she was in her hotel and preparing for 14 days isolation.We all went to bed quite early after our 5am start.

Wes has spent much of this week over at no 77 - as Barbara was unable to take her pot plants & hanging baskets, they are now ours & there were quite a few items like stamps & foodstuffs & cleaning stuff & grog that we have gained as well. The packers left a mess of paper when they left, so he vacuumed all that up in preparation for the carpet cleaners this week. As well, he had his second dental appointment & came home most impressed - cost us $47.50 for 90 minutes & very clean teeth - 4 fillings to come. 

I seem to have had a very Zoomy week - apart from my weekly chat with Leanne, and my fortnightly catch up with friends from the very early seventies, I also chatted with Terry Borg and we have made this a fortnightly event. Wes joined me for that one, which was a lovely surprise for Terry and we had some good laughs as well as some serious talk. 

I was also due for some pampering & enjoyed a very special facial with Emma & later had my nails done by Alanna. I rang friends for birthdays, caught up with my younger sister, Paun, and left messages for my younger brother, Peter, & his wife, Anka. We were in touch with many of our footy friends with messages of good luck before games & commisserations or congratulations afterwards. Collingwood put up a dreadful peformance against West Coast Eagles, which made our coach, Nathan Buckley, liken them to the Harlem Globetrotters losing to the Washington Generals back in 1971.

Morse & Lewis waiting for Sandra to finish cleaning our house & give them apples as she leaves

When Victoria had 723 deaths on Thursday, Premier Dan Andrews announced that the wearing of masks would be compulsory statewide. I had been thinking about that alot this week, when wearing my disposable mask (still waiting for the ones we ordered to arrive). I feel so much safer wearing a mask & I have been finding that everyone gives me a much wider berth than they were before. It just makes sense to cut down the transference of droplets as much as you can. I don't go anywhere without gloves, which also helps. We are both pleased that we started mask wearing seriously some time ago & will find it easy to comply with the rules. 

I had to cancel a few things towards the end of the week when I woke with a cough and had absolutely no energy. Fortunately, Wes was able to pick up the slack, and I am now feeling much better after a couple of days in bed. Carlton were disappointing against Hawthorn after a good start & most of the matches have been one-sided, which is very sad for the supporters of the losing teams. Collingwood plays Fremantle later today and I've got my fingers crossed that we put on a good performance.