Daylesford Winter Dispatch - Sunday, 3rd August 2025

 
I just love the look on Charlie Brown's face!

Well it's been a quiet week again - I had a relapse and have spent most of it in bed, trying to regain energy and fighting off bronchial-asthma. Wes has been wonderful - cooking, cleaning, gardening, dog walking, and eventually, relaxing with Morse at night. When I apologised to him for our very little life at present, he reminded me that on Tuesday night, he had shared his first ever Johnny Walker Blue Whisky with our neighbour, James, - an evening neither of them will forget. I don't drink whisky, but this smelt very similar to Edradour, the Scottish whisky that Wes loves, which has a honey fragrance to it. 

This top-shelf whisky retails around $233 & was a gift from Rob & Dene, who had been given various whisky bottles by their neighbour, and very kindly decided to share with Wes. 

As well, on Thursday, he had enjoyed a long lunch at The Convent with our friends, Hacy Tobias & Jim Brown, where he reprised the duck gnocchi, which is a signature dish of Bad Habits café. We've known Hacy for over 35 years and went to her wedding with Jim, but lost touch when they moved to Sydney. Now they are living in Melbourne again, it has been wonderful to rekindle the friendship and I was sorry to miss seeing them.

Jim, Wes & Hacy enjoying the sunshine at The Convent

Thanks to everyone who has been in touch during the week - I really appreciate Judi Allen & Lyndall Jenkin who play online Scrabble with me; Kathy Lazzaro, who keeps in touch by text & phone calls; Glen Tandberg who never fails to check in each day to see how I am, even when she was suffering her first bout of COVID (now gone thank God), and all my footy friends who exchange messages of good luck when the weekend comes. I don't feel so isolated when I have all this contact. Plus some stunning views from the bedroom!

Beautiful gums, Lake Daylesford & the Wombat State Forest make lying in bed looking out the windows a pleasure!

Last night, Collingwood lost by 27 points to Brisbane at the MCG in front of more than 82,000 fans. We never looked like winning, after the Lions hit the ground running and outplayed us. We now have a poor record most of the teams in the Top Eight, and will have to win against two more of them before the season ends. Carlton plays late this afternoon against Fremantle in Perth, which will be a tough game for them as well.