Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Sunday, 22nd February 2026

Love Linus!

We started our week with our usual visit to the Daylesford Market, after a successful walk in the cemetery - 4 bunnies, all up for the chase. Afterwards, Wes & Morse drove to Ballan to water Rob & Dene's garden for them as we've had very little rain in the last week. I stayed at home, washing & putting away the week's vegetables & fruit & dog treats, which does take quite a while!

In the afternoon, I watched the 3 remaining quarters of the AFL State of Origin match, which was very entertaining, and I was pleased to see WA fight back, but the Vics held on for a 4-goal win. That night Wes served pancakes for dinner - he had been keen to make them, so I found my old Sunbeam Mix-Master recipe book, which has the best pancake recipe and he made them. They were delicious - thin, crisp at the edges and perfect with squeezed lemon for me; he added honey to his. 

Stunning night sky with my bedside lamp superimposed

On Monday morning after our walk, putting out the bins and shopping, we sat down to talk about a few decisions we needed to make with regards to our finances. This was a good use of School, and we enjoyed the exercise. Wes then spent the morning in the garden - snipping, weeding & watering, while I had my monthly massage with Sarah, who had remembered my love of Tchaikovsky and played "The Nutcracker Suite" in the background.  

Last week, when we enjoyed a couple of cooler days, I turned on our ducted heating, and discovered it wasn't working. I alerted Wes to this and he checked everything that needed checking & agreed. The company that had previously serviced our heater no longer visits Daylesford, but suggested a similar company in Geelong. Josh arrived around 8.30am on Tuesday, as promised, and declared the heater dead. Now we have a 4 week wait for the new one to be installed, but our two air-conditioners are reverse cycle, so we should cope if we encounter very cold weather between now & then. 

I had enough voice to chat with my aunt, Jeff, in Lincolnshire, where she was looking and sounding better than last time, in no small part due to having experienced a sunny day at last. Then I Zoomed with Leanne, who was also in good spirits and we made plans for our visit yesterday.

Also during last week, when I was sitting quietly without any energy, I found a delightful little film "The Miracle Club" starring Maggie Smith & Kathy Bates and set in Ireland & Lourdes. It certainly helps to have been brought up Catholic, and to have some Irish blood in you to enjoy it, and it was perfect for that afternoon. 

Tuesday was not only Pancake Day, but also Chinese New Year and we celebrated with a lovely late lunch - Wes slow baked a whole trout with Asian flavours, and served it with coconut rice, broccolini & carrots. We had a glass of February's bottle of Rose of Virginia rosé, which was the perfect accompaniment. 

Beautiful Asiatic lilies and a stunning view complemented the wonderful meal

On Wednesday, after a fringe trim with Kirsty at Daylesford Hair & Beauty, I drove to Eganstown to deliver newspapers to Chris at Spring Park nursery. He was so grateful he sent me home with a tray of purple & lilac petunias. Judi & I played Mah Jong - me not as well as I would have liked as I found the talking and noise difficult to manage, but she had plenty of wins, and we tried a few different hands. 

We both had Zooms on Thursday morning - Wes with the Jackson Group, discussing various topics, including the funeral business. Meanwhile, I caught up with Kathy, Joyce & Karen S - once again Joyce amazed us with her beautiful handcrafts - she has at least 3 projects on the go, including knitting for prem babies. 

Then I potted a couple of the petunias to welcome Glen home from her time in Melbourne, I put aside 5 to take to Leanne yesterday and the rest I planted in what had been the potato patch.

On Friday, after a lovely WhatsApp call with Jan Pengilley in Maleny, Wes, Morse & I drove to Kyneton to stock up on cooking salmon at their Woolworths store. We usually get it in Ballarat, but the trip to Kyneton is shorter and the store is much friendlier. On the way home we stopped at Blake's Family Grocers in Daylesford to choose some interesting cheese, olives, chorizo, salmon dip & an olive baguette for make a fun meal for the night. We call this our "Three Pines Feast" after the wonderful restaurant in Louise Penny's Chief Inspector Gamache series.

Yesterday, Wes & I drove to Leanne early on a very hot day, but her home was cool and we enjoyed a good chat before Wes went out to plant her herbs & petunias and give the garden a good soaking. Meanwhile, she & I tackled two more shelves of the pantry, and were very pleased with the result. I bought some baskets, which makes it easier to get to things at the back. 

We arrived back here early afternoon, and Wes had a quick break before collecting David Hall, and taking him to Politics in the Pub - a monthly ALP meeting at the Farmers Arms hotel. They both enjoyed catching up with friends around the big table and chatting about the current issues. 

Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Sunday, 15th February 2026

Morse doesn't have the same problem as Snoopy - he's out patrolling at the slightest sound!

Last Sunday was a funny sort of day - when we arrived home from the Market, I was exhausted, and we decided I should stay home & rest, while Wes & Morse went to Ballan to water Rob & Dene's place. They arrived back about 2 hours later, having given everywhere a good drink. We had been promised rain ourselves, but the afternoon went by without any, until suddenly around 4pm, there were thunderstorms and very welcome rain. This went on & off for some hours & in the morning we found 18mls in our gauge, which was amazing.

On Monday, we had a sleep in, and I went off to do the supermarket shopping at Coles. When I arrived home, we had no power, yet again - our fourth outage in 17 hours. Fortunately it didn't last too long and we were able to enjoy our savoury croissants and hot drinks. Instead of School, we were due to give our bathrooms a really good clean - Wes did the lion's share including both shower recesses, and washed the floors when we were finished. 

1998, the year we bought Maloney Folly in Daylesford - this is us at the National Insurance Brokers Association ball that year

I woke on Tuesday with not much voice and a cough. Did a RAT, but it wasn't COVID, which is always a relief. I had a very short Zoom chat with Leanne, to see how she was going, before having to cancel out of an Old Friends catch up with Libby & Becky in Gladstone. 

And that's how the rest of my week has gone - cancelling or postponing Zoom chats, Mah Jong & breakfast out with Wes. He has been wonderful, as usual, doing all the cooking, looking after the back & front gardens, and keeping up with his chats & phone calls. He's contacted Barbara in NZ twice; caught up with Carole Hardwick in Essendon; with his sister, Denise, here in Daylesford, and with Wendy Owen on the Bellarine Peninsula. 

Also 1998 - my mother, Viva, with her much-loved niece, Leigh, during her visit to Australia

On Friday, Wes bought me a beautiful bunch of Asiatic Lilies, which are yet to open, and three punnets of pleasure. I've planted two of them - Dolly Dahlias to grow under our bedroom window, and Honey Babe Calendula which are outside the study window. The third punnet is orange & yellow Gazanias, which will go out the front in boxes when the old plants have been removed.

Yesterday, Wes spent the morning watering our neighbour, Glen's place, Serendip, as Glen is in Melbourne for a few days. He finished up doing our front garden as well, so I turned our homegrown spuds into potato salad (with cucumber, salad onion, hard-boiled eggs and celery for interest). We had double the crop of spuds this year - quite a few full-size ones and plenty of smaller ones that were perfect for the salad. 

Casper - our much-loved rogue 6 year old Labrador, settling into 78 Duke Street, Daylesford in 1998

Last night was the return of State of Origin footy with a match in Perth of Western Australia vs Victoria. The Vics won by 4 goals in a high-scoring, skilful game, which augurs well for future matches. I only lasted to quarter time, and look forward to watching the remainder of the game today on replay.

Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Sunday, 8th February 2026

 
Snoopy the teacher!

We were both tired after our trip to Melbourne last Saturday, and had a quiet Sunday - I mostly sat & read, while Wes watered the front garden, and did some work in the study. We were pleased that Carlos Alcaraz beat Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open Men's Final, and very glad that they weren't playing in extreme temperatures.

On Monday, after our walk and the supermarket shopping, we had a very welcome visit from Rob Griffin, our former neighbour, who now lives in Ballan. He brought us various jams, horseradish & fresh peaches - in return we gave him coffee & a croissant, and he left with a box of jars for the next time he or Dene is turning fruit into jam. 

View of The Convent Courtyard on Friday morning

While I enjoyed a quiet afternoon, Wes chatted with Barbara in NZ, and later, with Paul in Oxfordshire. In between he cooked us a beautiful dinner, and I contributed my potato salad, which we both enjoy. All three of us slept well with another cool night.

Next morning, Wes & Morse walked early, while I caught up via Messenger with my aunt, Jeff, in Lincolnshire. She was looking very well and back to her old self, after breaking her hip four months ago. Then I Zoomed with Leanne in Strathmore, who was preparing for her support worker to arrive and take her to visit her GP. Finally I drove to Hepburn for a manicure with Juls, who always has plenty to talk about, which suited me fine, as I was talked out!

We spent the rest of the day pretending we were on holidays - reading mostly and relaxing, and it was so good, we must do it again very soon. Morse & Wes both caught up on sleep - I can't sleep during the day easily, but I rested. This is a lovely place to live and we have stunning views - we are very lucky indeed. Wes had a call with Helen Hanrahan before making our dinner - he really enjoys the contact with her again after all these years when we only exchanged Christmas cards.

Walking through The Convent gardens

We had our usual routine on Wednesday - Wes vacuumed and washed floors, while I played Mah Jong with Judi. The wins were evenly spread, and we had a nice time together, greeting the locals and enjoying our pots of Jasmine tea.

Wes & I both had Zooms on Thursday morning - the Jackson Group was looking at The Impacts of Social Media, which led to an interesting discussion. We are both in favour of it, especially Facebook, which allows us to be in touch with family & friends that we wouldn't otherwise be, and we are kept abreast of what is happening in Daylesford the minute it does. When we volunteered at the Information Centre, we were in the hub of activity, but since my chronic fatigue, we don't get the opportunity to physically mix with people here as much as we once did.

More views of The Convent garden

Meanwhile I chatted with Old Friends - Kathy, Joyce & Karen S - we talked about gardens, health, the recent visit to Melbourne of Pat, Kate & Clara, and made plans for a Zoom with Lib & Becky next Tuesday. Wes set off to Bendigo after his Zoom, to catch up with an old Essendon Toastmasters friend - Cliff Talbot, who is now living in Strath-Haven Community there. We've been friends with Cliff, and his wife, Barbara, for over 50 years, but hadn't seen them since they last popped in here for a visit some years ago. That night Wes had a Cousins Zoom, and enjoyed chatting with Gary Testro and Libby Stewardson.

On Friday, after walking Morse and I Zoomed with Leanne, I headed to Springs Medical Centre for an appointment with my podiatrist, Peter Dietsch, who was very helpful with toe alignment issues I have developed. Then I met up with our neighbour, Glen, at The Convent, for scones, jam & cream & pots of tea. Glen needed a treat, and this is something she loves, so we spent a very happy 90 minutes or so catching up and being looked after beautifully by The Convent staff.

Glen about to tackle her gluten-free scones, while my slightly more decadent ones are shown below!

Meanwhile, Wes trimmed, snipped, cleaned up and mowed the back lawns, before joining the Family Tree Maker Zoom group, where he usually manages to pick up some handy hints. Later in the afternoon he Zoomed with Barbara Simpson, and had a WhatsApp chat with David Hall. 

Yesterday, after the walk, Morse had a bath and lay in the sun drying off happily. While I did inside chores, Wes did wonderful things in the front garden - he is managing to keep everything alive in spite of the heat and we have our fingers & toes crossed for some decent rain very soon. 

Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Sunday, 1st February 2026

 
Peppermint Patty in a dress

We had a busy Sunday morning - walked Morse, came home, fed him & the birds, including Alfie the King Parrot, plus 3 rellos; visited the Daylesford Market to get fruit, vegetables, eggs & dog treats, and pumped water at Leitches Creek on our way back. Wes then spent a couple of hours watering in the back garden, while I put everything away, and then we collapsed with cups of tea as the temperature was climbing quickly.

With Monday being a Public Holiday, we watched as Daylesford slowly got back to normal, and visitors returned to their homes, with school starting the next or following day. I did the supermarket shopping early, and bought scrolls again from Baker's Delight, where Andy was in for a chat. He is a cricket fan and was being taken to the Boxing Day Test on Day 3, which didn't happen as the match finished so quickly.

Decadent Pimms before dinner!

Instead of School for us, it was time to give our bedroom a good clean, which involved polishing all the furniture, moving the bed, vacuuming, washing windows & floors, and putting everything back again where it belongs. Wes did the lion's share of the work, and we were pleased to have it done before the heat descended on us again. 

On Tuesday, we walked Morse early, but it was 21℃ by the time we arrived back home on its way to 40℃. Wes did some watering and trimming of roses, and I made a quick trip into Vincent Street, where life was just about back to normal with most visitors gone. We made sure there was plenty of seed and water for the birds - they even drink from Morse's water bowls, so we are kept busy refilling them all.

I think everyone suffered on Tuesday night, it was so hot, even air-conditioners & ceiling fans couldn't keep us cool all night. We were pleased to get up at 6am and take Morse to the Daylesford Cemetery, where there was a breeze.

Smoky sunrise over Daylesford Cemetery

While Wes vacuumed and washed the rest of the floors, I had a fringe trim with Elise at Daylesford Hair & Beauty as my usual hairdresser, Kirsty, had to take her son to Damascus College in Ballarat to meet his teacher and settle in for his first day there. Elise wanted to know what my reaction would be to ringing her salon and the phone being answered by an AI bot. I told her I had never rung the salon, but much preferred to make my appointments for the year in advance!

After that, as I had time to kill, I delivered newspapers to Spring Park Nursery, before arriving at Muffins & More Café for the first Mah Jong morning of the year with Judi. It was hot indoors, but I turned on the ceiling fans which made a difference, and we played quite a few hands very happily, until it was time for her lunch guests to arrive and me to come home.

My favourite photo of Dot - taken in 2023 - she had all 4 blanks in our Goulash game of Mah Jong and couldn't help winning!

Wes has been very social this week - Zoom chats with Barbara in New Zealand & with Terry Larkins in Gisborne; a phone call with his sister, Denise, here in Daylesford; a Zoom with Wendy in Clifton Springs; a newsletter to his Old Schoolmates, and emails galore catching up with friends and rellos. 

On Thursday, after our walk and chores, I Zoomed with Old Friends - Kathy & Karen, while Wes & Morse drove to Ballarat to stock up on Atlantic salmon & flake as our fish supplies were at rock bottom. He also brought home a whole trout, which he is threatening to bake on Valentine's Day!

By Friday we were so over the heat - we're not used to warm nights here let alone hot ones, and the possums in the ceiling are extra active on those nights. We think they are trying to disconnect all the downlights or else they are remodelling their kitchen - it's hard to tell. 

Morse getting comfy on his sheepskin rug

In the afternoon, I retreated to my chair in the bedroom and decided to watch the film "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry", which disappeared so quickly from the cinema that we missed seeing it last year. Wes had found it on BritBox and suggested I watch it too. It stars Jim Broadbent & Penelope Wilton with a cameo role by Linda Bassett. Like many British Arthouse films, it is beautifully written, acted and directed with barely a superfluous word or deed. I loved it and recommend it very highly. 

Yesterday we visited Leanne in Strathmore where the temperatures weren't as high as here. She was looking tired, like all of us, not getting enough sleep on these hot nights. We had a good chat, then I helped her make a start on cleaning her pantry, while Wes flattened boxes and bags that we took home to our recycling bin, as hers was full.