Morse

Morse
Morse & friend

Sunday 5 November 2023

Daylesford Spring Dispatch - Sunday, 5th November 2023

Poor Snoopy & Woodstock

We started our week well with a visit to the Daylesford Market, where everyone was pleased to see me back. Afterwards we gave Morse a big bone, and drove to Strathmore to visit Leanne. Wes spent most of the time doing the next bed in her front garden, and planted seaside daisies and salvia to brighten it up. Everywhere else is looking very happy with the geraniums, azaleas, camellias, hydrangeas & veronicas all showing growth spurts. We're on track to finish by Christmas, which was our original plan.

Some of our stunning irises, which have been very slow to appear, but worth the wait

Leanne & I spent some time talking through issues, tidying up the pantry, backing up her computer and downloading new photos of Morse for her to enjoy. On our way home, we stopped at Gusto, where we picked up a vegetarian quiche for dinner. 

We arrived back here to find Morse had been sleeping happily, and caught the last quarter of the AFLW match between Sydney & Collingwood, which the Swans won well in front of a big crowd of 5,700+, which included our friends, Jane & David Knox, who were attending their first AFLW game. 

On Monday, we decided to watch Peter O'Toole in the starring role of the play Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell. We saw it about 20 years ago in London with Tom Conti as the lead, and he was very good, but Peter O'Toole was perfect. It's available on YouTube if you are interested.

Afterwards, we had a lovely Zoom chat with Mike & Linda Kirby in Queensland, followed by a massage for me from Sarah Hunt. I had postponed our regular appointment because I was coughing last week, but Sarah was ready for me with lots of pillows under my head and I barely coughed at all. Meanwhile Wes weeded, mowed and tidied up the back yard, which has surprises at every turn - carnations are appearing, the lavender is in full swing, the seaside daisies are taking over, and any minute now we'll have roses galore.

On Tuesday, I had an excellent Zoom with Leanne, followed by a good catch up with Terry Borg, who has recently returned from a trip to Malta & Italy with her good friends, Helen & Benny. She regaled us both with the disaster stories, but assured me that there were plenty of upsides while she was away. After that I was able to have an overdue facial at EKO, where Julie was very understanding & gave me plenty of pillows which helped stem the coughing.

Colourful beanies!

Finally, on Wednesday, I was well enough for Mah Jong, but neither Dot nor Judi was available, so I had a quiet morning instead. Wes vacuumed the floors, and I took Morse out for a while to make that an easier job. We pumped mineral water at Leitches Creek, visited Muffins & More to apologise for our non-attendance again, and collected the post from our PO Box. Wes then headed to Ballarat to get a haircut, which was very overdue, and returned with bottles of Jameson's whisky & Hendrick's gin, both much needed at present.

Wes had an early Zoom on Thursday with his Overseas Friends, discussing heroes, and I followed with a good chat with Kathy, Lib & Joyce, where we debriefed on Grandparents Day, admired Joyce's beautiful needlework camel, and enjoyed hearing about Lib's happy visit from her brother, Bob. I also got to catch up with our neighbour, Glen, who isn't home very often these days, since her specialist allowed her to drive again. 

On Friday, we were without power from 9am to 3pm, while new telephone poles were erected in our little bit of Duke Street. At one point there were 6 enormous trucks, and getting in & out was quite tricky. We were due for morning tea with Rob & Dene in Ballan, and were pleased to escape for 2.5 hours. We had a lovely visit with our old neighbours, admired their beautiful garden, ate yummy treats prepared by Dene, and caught up on their latest holiday stories. Morse was in heaven, he just loves them both, and particularly likes running around their garden to his heart's content. 

Dene showing off some of his roses - after years of being given roses by us, he now has vases of his own & they were everywhere!

Rob & Morse enjoying each other's company on the couch

Rob & Dene's beautiful weeping Japanese maple, which just loves living in Ballan

We came home with these Baby Gladioli aka Cottage Gladioli, which are growing beautifully in Ballan, and now we're in the market for some bulbs as we just love them!

We were very sorry to hear from Danny Millman that an old school friend of his, and friend of ours, Tim Hayes, died on 28th October. Tim was part of Hepburn First, a group that Wes instigated to win seats on Hepburn Council in 2003; and, with his partner, Michael, made his mark on Clunes, where they ran Keeble House B&B, and then Widow Twankey's Café. He will be much missed.
The launch of Hepburn First at Smeaton - Wes, Tim, Phil & Peter

I spent much of yesterday watching an exciting Derby Day at Flemington, remembering all the years we went to the Cup Carnival, and how much fun we had with friends. As well, Erin Phillips played her last game of AFLW footy, and a huge crowd turned up at Alberton to cheer her on, especially when she kicked a goal in the last quarter. 

Today is Morse's 5th birthday. He was very excited to get a treat of biscuits with Vegemite, while we sang Happy Birthday to him. But all that has been forgotten and he is making hurry up noises to us both, reminding us that we are due at the Daylesford Market, where he will get more treats!

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