Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Sunday, 15th January 2023

Last Sunday, after the Market, we set off to Strathmore for Instalment I of Leanne's new garden. We started small with the section by her main entrance, where her lemon tree had been living in a pot. Wes broke up all the soil, added new garden soil and chicken manure and planted the lemon tree into the ground. My job was to add the Tuscan rosemary and pink groundcovers we had bought and cover it all with sugar cane mulch. She is delighted with the result and understands that getting the garden back on track will be a gradual process. 

We arrived back home that afternoon to find Morse had been sound asleep and not bothered either of our neighbours while we were away. It was the 5th day of the Sydney Pink Test, and we watched South Africa put up a great resistance in their second innings, leaving Pat Cummins with no option but to shake hands with the batters & accept the draw. 

On Monday, after I had been shopping, we decided to hold School over breakfast at Muffins & More, where we chatted about keeping my Dispatches on a disc, as they are a diary record of our life here in Daylesford. We also talked about getting to more footy matches this year and worked out how we can do that. 

After doing some chores, we came back here in time for a Zoom catch up with Mike & Linda Kirby, as it had been a couple of months since we had managed to chat. We all enjoyed the get-together and will make sure it happens more regularly. Even Morse got into the act, climbing up on my lap to say hello & get a treat reward.

Morse, the stare bear, watching me as I delivered books to Judi & Michael's front door on Monday morning

I was back in the swing of Zoom chats on Tuesday with Leanne, followed by Terry Borg. There was plenty to discuss and in Terry's case, we needed to share our Christmas day experiences. Wes spent the morning in the front garden, working wonders as usual, while I prepared a vegetable bed for zucchini seedlings.

This week's selection of roses

Judi & Michael's much-loved dog, Maddy, had to be put to sleep on Monday, so I invited Judi to breakfast at Pancho's on Wednesday morning to reminisce about Maddy, who has been a lovely companion for 16 years. She was a rescue dog, and we were lucky enough to meet her the week she arrived, back in June 2006, in Sydney, where Judi & Michael were then living. 

Judi & Karen on Maddy's first bay walk

That afternoon, Wes attended the Memorial Service at the Lake House for Allan Wolf-Tasker. We had been delighted to be invited personally, but I didn't feel I was ready to mingle with a big group of people. Wes was pleased he went & enjoyed listening to the seven different speakers, who each gave a different eulogy of Allan to the 120 people there. Sadly, no-one mentioned the excellent work that Allan did locally, being involved in many community projects, for which we are all grateful. He will be missed.

On Thursday, I drove to Ballarat to see my dental technician at Ashmore Dentistry, where I got 9/10 and made another appointment for the same time next year. Afterwards I went to Myer Ballarat to spend $100 Gift Voucher that Leanne had given us and stocked up on underwear, socks & night attire for both of us. Meanwhile Wes spent the morning in the back garden, mowing, weeding & watering & our roses are particularly grateful for his care. 

After Zooming with Leanne on Friday, I had an excellent appointment with my podiatrist, Peter, at Springs Medical, where he had some suggestions to my exercise programme, that will make me use right side leg muscles more than I do. Afterwards, I went to our pet shop to buy a harness for Morse, as he gets very difficult to control when ducks, runners, walkers, other dogs etc are on the pathway around the Lake. 

Morse not entirely sure about his new harness!

Glen invited us to sit under her cherry tree that afternoon & we enjoyed a bottle of Peter Rumball Sparkling Shiraz together. It is a beautifully cool spot on a hot day, and I sent the photo below to Dene & Rob, who can't wait to be living close to Daylesford again & enjoying spending time in Glen's garden as well. 

Wes popping the cork & Glen looking forward to her glass, as was I, but I was taking the photo!

Yesterday was a stinker - Wes bathed Morse early after our walk, which cooled him down, and we all stayed in air-conditioning once the temperatures had risen. Today is much cooler, and I will pick a bunch of roses after we return from the Sunday Market.