Daylesford Autumn Dispatch - Sunday, 10th March, 2024

 
This is very topical, as so many friends have been in this situation over the past 12 months - I wonder if they were tempted to wield their crutches in the same way as Snoopy 🤣

We had a lovely Sunday morning - there were no other dogs at the Daylesford Market, so Morse was very relaxed, ate all of his pear, and greeted everyone he knew for a change. Afterwards, we met Fiona & Les and their dog, Brodie, at Daylesford Cemetery, for a catch up walk & talk. Morse was thrilled to see all three of them - Brodie just likes to catch tennis balls, and Morse couldn't care less, so they get along very well!

We came home to tea & toast and the last of the 1st Test, which Nathan Lyon wrapped up almost single-handedly, although Cameron Green was Man of the Match for his unbeaten first innings. He also took a wicket, and a couple of catches - the perfect all-rounder. Unsuprisingly, I found myself in bed around 3pm, absoutely spent after a wonderful social week!

Autumn was in the air with cooler nights & mornings, which we love. On Monday, after the Lake Daylesford walk, and shopping, we spent an hour or so cleaning the laundry & hallways as part of our School programme. Wes then tackled the front garden again, while I had a remedial massage with Sarah - always very beneficial.

Another vase of roses - Hot Cocoa, Red Riding Hood, Freesia, Mother's Love & Ashram

One of the things I have been doing for years as we walk around Lake Daylesford is collect rubbish - serviettes, tissues, cans, bottles, clothing etc. With clothing & beach stuff, I usually put them somewhere visible, and if they are still there three days later, they go into the bin. However, since the Victorian Government finally re-introduced 10c refund on bottles & cans of soft drink, the amount of rubbish we find on our walks has greatly diminished. The Council has put a few more bins around the area, and that has helped as well.  

We've both had lots of interaction with friends & family this week - Wes has chatted twice with Barbara in New Zealand; with his Godson, Danny, in Fortitude Valley, Qld; with old friend, Helen Hanrahan in Lower Plenty, and with the Jackson Group scattered around the globe. I've caught up with my sister, Leanne, twice; with my aunt, Jeff, in Lincolnshire, and with Old Friends, mostly in Victoria + Queensland. 

As well, we received sad news that old friend, Margo Prophet, had died of cancer last Saturday. We spent many happy hours in her company with her former husband, Ron, especially when we shared a holiday home in Blairgowrie with Paul & Sherryn. She was a star in our various Murder Weekends, and we will miss her in our lives. At Christmas, she was making plans to visit us, but that didn't happen.

A lovely photo of Margo in 2015 with her daughter, Lauren, and son, Andrew

There was no Mah Jong on Wednesday, so Wes & I visited Dot & John Smith in Hepburn Springs. I've been playing Mah Jong with Dot for over 20 years, but she hasn't been well enough lately, so we thought we would catch them at home. It was a lovely visit, and we chatted about lots of topics. Meanwhile Liam Malone and his team were busy removing the dangerous split in one of James & Yoko's oak trees, and we came home to find Morse sound asleep and the job done.

The end of the week has been very confusing with Aussie Rules footy starting (only in NSW & Queensland), while Test cricket is still being played in New Zealand. We have been glued to the TV morning, noon and night as a result. The Swans opened the season with a good win over Melbourne at the SCG, followed by Carlton with a stirring 1 point win over Brisbane at the Gabba. Yesterday, Gold Coast were too good for Richmond & last night, Greater Western Sydney were clinical in their demolition of Collingwood, winning easily. 

With all this sport to watch, I've been busy knitting and took quite a few items to the Salvos shop yesterday, where they were very grateful and gave me some navy blue wool in return. I suspect Carlton beanies might be in demand after their amazing win. 

After the beautiful Autumnal days at the start of the week, these very hot days have been a shock. Fortunately our air-conditioning keeps us cool upstairs and we have a fan downstairs in the study. Today we are expecting 36°, which will not be pleasant. The Annual Moomba Parade in Melbourne has been cancelled, as have quite a few other outdoor events. We're off to the Market early and I'll be staying put once we return home.