We started our Sunday with breakfast at Pancho with Judi & Janine. The service was lovely, and we enjoyed sitting outside, but it is very busy, and, although our meals were yummy, drinks were lukewarm. We must remember to ask for hot drinks next time. We are not sure that Pancho is the answer for a permanent home, so are going to try a few more places, starting with Gary Thomas's Woodshed café across the road from the Sunday Market.
We were very excited to get the boys back on Monday lunchtime, and thrilled with all we achieved while they were away. Wes did most of the railings around their decking before running out of paint and we hope they appreciate it. I bought some new mats for the front & back & laundry doors & everywhere looks fresh & loved again.
Front ramp & dog decking
While neighbour, Glen, and I caught up over cuppas in Muffins, Wes drove to Ballarat to collect the boys. I had to get the house ready for them - put out all their soft toys, beds & pillows & fill umpteen water bowls that are dotted around the place. When they arrived home, the boys were wildly excited & enjoyed exploring their yard once again.
Happy to be home with peanut butter treats!
On Tuesday, I had an appointment with my podiatrist in Ballarat, after lovely Zooming with Leanne & then Terry. I have been looking for chair pads (chair cushions with ties on them) for some months & decided to try a few shops in the big smoke. I wandered into Bed, Bath & Table, and there they were - green, the right size & half-price! The service was wonderful, and I ended up buying some bathroom items as well. After Victoria Armstrong, my wonderful podiatrist, advised me that my walking boots were wrong for my feet, I headed back to Faull's, where I had bought my everyday shoes last year. Once again I got excellent service & came out with a pair of red boots, which are most comfortable & stylish as well. Wes had been painting & gardening while I was away, and all three boys welcomed me home joyfully.
Judi & I played Mah Jong on Wednesday after I did my newspaper delivery to Eganstown; Epicure & jars drop-off at Porcupine Ridge, & visited Annie & David's graves with a fresh bunch of rosemary. Dot had a specialist appointment, so couldn't join us. We enjoyed a good chat, as well as a few games & I think we each went home with at least one win. Wes had been painting again, only interrupted by an expected visit from our Financial Adviser, Simon, who was in the area & popped in.
On Thursday, while I had a turn painting the dog decking, Wes attended a U3A Class on Cool Climate Wines at Rob & Marg McDonald's Sailors Falls Estate winery. He collected Judi on the way, enjoyed the presentation & came home with a mixed dozen wines. Prior to his outing, he had hosted the fortnightly Zoom chat with Paul, Barry, Mike & Bill where they discussed India's place in the world. Wes had put a lot of time & effort into this presentation & was very pleased with the result.
Friday morning we had fun - for some years we have had a competition to guess the number of cars parked in Lake Daylesford's main carpark when we have finished walking (not including our own car). These bets are $1M each & I have gotten as far ahead as $22M (& been tempted to call it in). Because we did an extra long walk on Friday, I guessed 10 cars (there are usually 3-5) and Wes took a risk & suggested there would be 11 (which is quite a lot, even for 7am). We turned our final corner & discovered 15 cars - there was a fund-raising bike ride about to happen! We had to laugh - our scientific reasoning went out the window - how can you factor in an unexpected event?
These wonderful photos show Jack & Olivia Lazzaro excited to get pancake mix, chocolate sauce & blueberries from us, to make up for missing out on a kick of the footy at Princes Park, when we were in Melbourne & had to return home quickly.
School this week found us sitting on the deck talking about what needs doing immediately around the house and we divvied up the jobs. I bought 3 new doormats & asked Judi if she would mend our latest hole in the wall as she is an expert. I've also got to find someone to replace our bathroom skylight and Wes is contacting Fells to get the bedroom ceiling lights fixed (possums have been unplugging the fittings), as well as sourcing a new dog door flap & the best way to wash our windows.
We were invited to lunch by Di Lyttleton & Jeff Bain, along with Judi Allen & Michael Ivanchenko. It was quite exciting - our first visit inside a home for a meal since we had a Christmas celebration with Glen in Rob & Dene's home next door to us. Di produced a stunning meal, beautifully balanced & full of yummy flavours & colours. Judi brought along the befores - a huge platter of smoked salmon blinis, which we demolished with glee.
Judi's blinis & our generous hosts, Jeff & Di
Yesterday morning we headed to the Daylesford Rotary Farmers' Market and were very pleasantly surprised. There was a great selection of stalls selling fresh food, vegetables, seedlings, cakes, chooks, paintings, Emu Oil products, waffles, wine, gin & chocolate etc as well as the traditional Rotary Sausage Sizzle offering gourmet Istra sausages as well as your common or garden variety.
I did some more painting on our return before retiring inside to read The Age & complete the crosswords. Wes worked down in the study and produced a precis of his India Zoom chat, as well as some notes for me to study before School tomorrow, where we will look at our finances and options.
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