Daylesford Winter Dispatch - Sunday, 28th August, 2022

 
What a lovely solution to life's issues by Charlie Brown!

Although the weather bureau had predicted a dreary Sunday last week, after the frost melted, the sun came out & we had a beautiful, cool day. Collingwood beat Carlton by one point in a thrilling game in front of 88,000+ at the MCG, much to the chagrin of the Blues supporters, who thought they had won after an eight goal to one 3rd quarter. Wes was very disappointed, as the Blues had started the year so well & seemed very likely to play Finals until this result. There is now a week off before those games start & we have been able to concentrate on the AFLW instead. 

Morse glued to the footy

On Monday, we had a great chat about finances during our School session, and made the decision to redo our wills. We are in a much better situation financially since embracing the Pension Boost, which is a reverse mortgage, that gives you extra income when you need it. Afterwards we enjoyed a lovely Zoom catch up with Mike & Linda Kirby, who are planning to visit Daylesford as part of a trip to Victoria in October.

Although it has been mostly too wet to garden, everywhere is looking wonderful as the daffodils open, the camellias continue to flower & the native violets take over from the seaside daisies briefly as the splash of colour at the base of the roses. 

When it is dry enough, I have been walking down to Vincent Street to check our PO Box, pick up anything we need & catch up on what is going on in our town. There are still quite a few shops empty. Endota Day Spa has moved out of the Frangos Hotel & is being replaced by an enlarged Bakery. The Food Gallery still hasn't been re-opened since Toni & Pasquale refused a long lease & closed over two years ago. New shop spaces are being built next to the RSL, which may attract businesses looking for a blank canvas. 

On Wednesday, after Dot & I played Mah Jong at Muffins & More, which was full of locals all catching up, I had an interview with the exercise physiologist, Jack, who has been overseeing my exercise classes. We were both pleased with my results - I am stronger, fitter, and have evened out my left-handedness to quite a degree. He is happy that I continue to attend his classes until I see his colleague & start a home programme in early September. I've decided to set up in the laundry for my gym - there are cupboards to hold ribbons, weights & explanatory cards, there is a step down to the dog decking & half the door is glass, which lets in plenty of light. 

The next morning Wes was delighted to be able to get back into the garden & do some tidying up. It was too wet to mow, trim hedges, or weed, but he cut up some previously trimmed branches & made everywhere look a little bit better. We had a break together on the main decking - I make a mean 'railway tea', which he enjoys mid-morning. Morse joined us, but spent most of the time in guard dog mode. 

Kathy, Karen, Lib & I had a good Zoom chat - catching up on the footy, families & visitors, as well as discussing walking, exercises & how we have less energy than we once did! Sure enough, I was in bed by 3pm that afternoon - having one of those weeks where I feel like a deflated balloon by the afternoon. 

By Friday, the sun was shining in earnest & Wes was able to mow & use the hedge trimmer. We sat chatting again on the decking & Morse resumed his pose of guard dog, every now & again coming over to see if any biscuit crumbs had dropped.

AFLW has started again with all 18 Clubs involved, which is extra exciting for supporters of those women's teams who are just joining - Essendon, Hawthorn, Sydney & Port Adelaide. Collingwood & Carlton opened the season at Princes Park on Thursday night. The Pies were lucky enough not to lose too many players to the expansion teams and ran out winners by 3 goals, against a less-experienced Blues team. On Friday night, Melbourne turned the tables on Adelaide in the Grand Final rematch, also winning by 3 goals. 

Yesterday we drove to Kyneton to see their mile of daffodils, which seem to bloom earlier & earlier each year. It really is beautiful & many of the homes as well as parks have clumps of daffodils to help celebrate their Annual Daffodil Festival. 

Judi & Michael delivered a beautiful rose to us this week in memory of Lewis - it's not one we've seen before and we've decided to plant "Kindred Spirits" outside the study windows, where we will see it every day & be delightfully reminded of a very special Labrador who died far too soon. 

Lewis's garden today with hellebores, tété-à-tétés & rosemary

Also yesterday, Wes successfully bid at the auction of Annie Smith's home on behalf of Fiona & Les (her daughter & son-in-law) and we are thrilled that they will be living here most of the year now. There is also interest in #77 Duke Street across the road from us, and so far all the prospective purchasers want to live there, not develop it into visitor accommodation. 

After the Sunday Market, we're off to The Convent for brunch with three Essendon supporters - our friend & neighbour, Glen, and our new neighbours who will move into #80 in December, James & Yoko. They will all be delighted that their AFLW side beat the Hawks last night in front of 12,000+.

Daylesford Winter Dispatch - Sunday, 21st August 2022

 
Morse would agree 100%

Last Sunday, I had an excellent visit with Leanne after the Sunday Market. We had quite a few chores to do, lots of chatting & some decisions to be made & it is always better if you can talk something through with someone else. When I arrived home, Wes & Morse had been out getting provisions - Jameson's, Hendrick's, vanilla slices & homemade pie & pastie for dinner. 

Collingwood travelled to Sydney to play the Swans & were comprehensively beaten. Thank God. I have been sure we weren't good enough to sit in second spot on the ladder & now we are fifth, which seems a much better place for our talents. We also have a few injuries, after being lucky all year. This afternoon I had hoped to get to the MCG to see a big clash between the Pies & the Blues, but I don't have the energy to get there.  We both need to win, so it should be a good game & Wes & I will watch it from different rooms. 

We had School on Monday morning, after I had done the supermarket shopping at Coles. Our topic was our Adelaide holiday & we fine-tuned it and agreed it would include some games of golf. We are going to pack one golf bag, our favourite clubs & hope to play some early morning games on quiet country courses in Beachport & Kingston SE, before heading to our cottage in Adelaide, which is a 40-minute walk to the Oval. 

Karen playing golf on frost at Trentham Golf Club 2012

Warren & Terry White sporting plus fours at Trentham Golf Club 2010

We also have tickets for the T20 World Cup & decided to put Morse back in kennels for a couple of nights in late October to prepare him for his big stay in December. Our tickets for 28th October include 2 games - Afghanistan vs Group B runner-up, followed by Australia vs England. We also have tickets for the Final on Sunday, 13th November.

We were saddened to hear recently of the sudden death of Ian Esmore, former Daylesford resident & Rotarian, aged 73, in Murgon, Queensland. He & his wife, Isobel, were very prominent in our community before they shifted to Casterton, where we met up with Isobel in 2017.

Ian & Isobel at Rotary Christmas function 2009

It's been a busy week for catching up via my desktop - an early morning call with Jeff in Lincolnshire (late evening for her & still 28° indoors); two chats with Leanne via Zoom; a monthly discussion with Jan in Maleny; and my weekly exchange of news with old friends - Kathy, Karen, Lib & Joyce. Most of the catch-ups went over time & we finished up mid-sentence. 

In spite of the lack of sunshine, I got motivated to buy some seedlings & planted parsley, coriander & mint for starters. Wes continued to feed plants & looks forward to being able to mow the lawns when we get enough warmth to dry out all mudheaps. 

The best plants in the garden at present are the camellias & the best bulbs are the daffodils which are poking their bright yellow heads out of everywhere - through lavender bushes & rosemary hedges, in wheelbarrows & under rhododendrons. 

Flawless pink camellia bursting with flowers in spite of the weather

This month marks 40 years since Wes persuaded me to drive to Victoria Park on a Sunday to attend a meeting called by Sue Fordham, who had left Essendon to manage the Collingwood Social Club. She was appalled by the treatment of the female members & invited us all to get together & set up a Ladies' Committee. I became the first Treasurer of that Coterie and made some wonderful friends as a result. The backbone was Sharon Lendrum, the President, and Helen McDonald, an older committee member who seemed to know everyone & was full of common-sense & a good work ethic. Helen has died, but we are still friends with her daughter, Gayle Gibson, & her family. I stayed on the Committee until the end of 1990 by which time we had broken our drought & won a Premiership.

Daylesford Winter Dispatch - Sunday, 14th August 2022

 
Another of my favourite Snoopy cartoons

We started our Sunday with a drive to Trentham after the Market, as we felt like breakfast at Chaplin's & catching up with the owner, Mel. We pulled up outside to discover she had closed her café for a few days, but neglected to mention it on the website. We drove back to Daylesford & had crumpets and honey sitting at our table overlooking Lake Daylesford - a better view than any of the local places can offer!

Some glimpses in our front garden including early daphne, flowering prostrate rosemary, gazania seedlings & Lewis's Garden with hellebores & têtê-à-têtês

Wes was most disappointed with Carlton's performance against Brisbane up there. Apart from 15 minutes in the last quarter when they slammed on 8 goals, they looked very lacklustre. After their brilliant start to the year, the second half has been unsatisfying for their fans. 

We woke to a cold & frosty Monday morning. Wes & Morse had a good long walk, while I did bin duty & supermarket shopping at Coles. School was reorganising the study to make room for the second printer & move the electric jug across to the tray holding coffee, teabags & mugs. We got all that done in an hour & did some cleaning & shifting of furniture as well. When the new printer arrived on Thursday, it was very easy to install & fitted into its spot on my desk perfectly. 

My reward on Monday was brunch with neighbour, Glen Tandberg, at 10.30 at Bad Habits café. We enjoyed a lovely catch-up & the time flew by too fast. We keep returning to this spot because the staff are so good, the atmosphere is wonderful & there are views of outside wherever you sit. As well, the small menu has something for everyone & Tina, the owner, has been happy to let me keep a tin of Jasmine tea in the kitchen. 

That afternoon I finally got stuck into the planter boxes & prepared them for seedlings, which we'll get shortly. The coriander, parsley & spinach have finally finished, the French tarragon is emerging from its Winter sleep & the various thymes, sages & mints are all sending out new growth. 

On Tuesday morning, after chatting with Leanne & making plans for today's visit, Wes and I both spoke with Terry Borg, and her daughter, Laura, who has been home on a visit from Chiang Mai, Thailand, where she lives and fosters children. She & her sister, Georgie, both barrack for Carlton, because Wes took them under his wing when they were teenagers & took them to see the Blues play. She has loved being back home after three years & her family & friends have been equally delighted to catch up.

Morse joined the Zoom briefly, but preferred to rest with his friend & recover from his early morning walk in the frost
 

Like many, we were very saddened to hear of the death of Olivia Newton-John, whose lovely personality touched everyone she met. Her struggle with breast cancer was well-known & the fund-raising she did to build the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research & Wellness Centre in the Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, in 2015, has been so beneficial to many & will continue its work in her name. I was listening to ABC Classic radio when the news broke & Russell Torrance played her singing Ave Maria, which she nailed beautifully. 

A recent photo of a serene, smiling Olivia

Wes has been pruning seriously since 1st August, and has completed the fruit trees and is working through everything else that needs doing. Everywhere looks cared for & new shoots are appearing in spite of the rain, fog, mist & frost. Yesterday was feeding & mulching time as we had a break from the rain. 

Dot, Judi & I were delighted to play Mah Jong at Muffins & More on Wednesday morning. Apart from the usual regulars, there were some very happy visitors who enjoyed their big breakfasts, their muffins, their hot drinks & the friendly atmosphere. Most of them can't resist asking what we are doing & one couple, in particular, were fascinated when I produced our little rubber fish, that we wave when we are "fishing" (i.e. we only need one more tile to win).

This week has been the last two exercise classes of the sixteen I booked in for & I had an appointment with Millie, the convenor, to discuss my thoughts, feedback & next steps. We had an excellent chat & decided that my best move would be to ask an exercise physiologist to design a home programme for me, as I am not comfortable going back to a gym. I am seeing Dr Ellie on 5th September, so will continue with my current exercise programme until then. I've already booked an appointment with Jake for 9th September in case he gets busy quickly. 

Sorry these photos aren't as sharp as I would like - this is New Year's Eve 1988 at Blairgowrie. Above Karen & Wes are dancing their own dance, while below Sherryn & Paul show us the famous saucepan dance!

#77 Duke Street is back on the market, two years after Barbara Simpson sold it to Ellie Bonnett, who has relocated to Bali. There was an Open House yesterday afternoon, which attracted great interest. We feel sorry for the tenants, as their future is up in the air, and we have our fingers & toes crossed that a developer doesn't want to turn it into a series of holiday lets. 

Last night Carlton played Melbourne at the MCG to keep their finals hopes alive. It was a great game with the lead changing 10 times, but Melbourne kicked the last goal with seconds to spare & won by 5 points. Carlton has to beat Collingwood next Sunday in the last game of the home & away season to be sure of a spot in the eight. 

Daylesford Winter Dispatch - Sunday, 7th August 2022

 
Wonderful cartoon from Jeff Glorfeld - we think Morse would identify with this

We started our week with a successful visit to Leanne last Sunday. She was in good spirits & we were able to help her, mostly by chatting about things. Wes was able to see & admire the work done by Peter the handyman/painter. We drove back here to discover Morse in his bed with remnants of the dried bone we had given him.

On Monday morning I was unable to pay for my shopping at Coles Supermarket, as my credit card had been dishonoured. I spent the rest of the day waiting to speak to someone in the Fraud department of the NAB to get this sorted. The solution to paying for groceries was to leave them there, return home, collect Wes's credit card & pray it went through OK, which it did. In between periods of waiting on the phone, I had a very welcome massage with Sarah Hunt, which was just what I needed!

At 3pm the third person I spoke with suggested I visit an actual NAB branch. Wes offered to drive me to Ballarat, so we did just that & got it sorted in 15 minutes. Wes did think I had gone to incredible lengths to get out of School that morning, which was spring cleaning our bathrooms 🤣🤣.

Back to 1984 - from the top

Cousins - Andrew & Sharyn Kierce + Callum & Heath Preston

Hong Kong - Jan McClean, Karen Maloney & Viva Saundry

Danny Millman & his daughters - Greta, Celia & Lauren

Jeff & I were able to chat on Messenger on Tuesday morning & found ourselves reminiscing about shows we had seen when travelling. She won with her memory of seeing the wonderful opera, Turandot, performed at La Scala, where the audience booed & hissed. She was able to tell me that the Aussies had won more Gold Medals in the pool & in the gymnastics, and I assured her we would come back to the pack once the Athletics started (but I could be wrong - we seem to be still winning medals).

We were at the end of our tethers by now after two weeks with no NBN & Wes eventually spoke to someone higher up in Telstra, who finally agreed to send us a technician the next day. Mohammed arrived on time, checked that everything was OK inside, which it was, & headed outside. He arrived back after 10 minutes to say that our NBN had been turned off at the exchange for no apparent reason!

Wes spent Wednesday morning, while I played Mah Jong with Judi, getting everything reconnected to the new modem & when I arrived home, I tried to do the same with our printer. After two frustrating hours Wes could print, but I couldn't, so on Thursday I bought a new HP flatbed scanner, printer & copier. It means we go back to a printer each, but life is too short to keep uninstalling & reinstalling our current HP printer. 

Also, on Thursday my new credit card arrived, so I spent a good part of the day updating my details with all the businesses with which we have direct debit accounts. I am thrilled with the speed of delivery of the card, as well as the professional way the whole potential fraud was handled by the NAB. 

Finally, because we had the NBN, I was able to enjoy a lovely fun Zoom with old friends - Kathy, Karen & Libby - after a fortnight of having to assign Kathy as host instead. 

Christmas morning 1978 - 

above - Libby Tyrrell & Karen Millman & 

below - Joyce Spiteri & Kathy Lazzaro 

& we are all still friends

We had a lovely long brunch with Fiona & Les Groundwater on Friday at Bad Habits café. Fiona is the daughter of David & Annie Smith, two of our earliest Daylesford friends, who both died far too soon. We met Fiona, who lives in Fremantle, early on in our friendship, when she brought her baby daughter, Chloe, to Daylesford to spend time with her grandparents. We have stayed in touch over the years & always enjoy catching up, especially now when we can share our memories. 

That night Collingwood played Melbourne in yet another game that wasn't decided until the last few seconds. At half-time I was resigned to our inevitable loss, but amazingly we rallied & won by 7 points in front of a crowd of 71,000 on a cold, wet Melbourne night at the MCG. 

Yesterday, after not much sleep, I found myself watching the replay, while our sheets, towels & clothes all washed & dried themselves in the laundry. At lunchtime, we had a delightful visit from our former neighbours, Rob & Dene, who were looking at nearby properties in Kingston & Waubra. We hadn't told Morse they were coming to see us & he was overjoyed, especially when Rob fed him treats. It was so good to see them both & we were sorry they had to leave after an hour with other commitments. 

Finally, the news of Judith Durham's death was a very sad way to finish off yesterday. Her wonderful voice will never be forgotten as she & The Seekers recorded so many albums & were loved around the world. 

A recent photo of Athol Guy, Judith Durham, Bruce Woodley & Keith Potger