Dear Everyone, Happy New Year to you
and let’s hope it is a peaceful one all over the world. Wes & I have just
returned from a lovely late breakfast at ‘Bocconcini’ in Vincent Street. Our
usual Sunday breakfast doesn’t restart until next week, but we thought it would
be good to share the beginning of the year with breakfast, especially as we
have both been awake since before 5.30am. I walked the boys, while Wes did some
computer work, then some early gardening. It was already 20° when we went to
the Sunday Market, so we left the boys at home eating celery (instead of toast
& vegemite) and had our first ever meal at ‘Bocconcini’. As many places are
closed today, it was the hub for all the locals and we caught up with quite a
few friends.
We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas Day
and weren’t troubled by the terrible hailstorms that swept across some of
Melbourne’s suburbs. We walked the boys, then had tea and toast on the veranda
and planned our jobs for the morning. It did seem strange not to be frantically
busy providing food for up to 100 friends, but we enjoyed the more leisurely
start to the day and I was able to ring both Viva and Paun and wish them both
Happy Christmas.
Jon Stephens, our house guest, arrived
at 11am with a bottle of Moet under his arm and a desperate need to open it
after the drive from Melbourne. He was sartorially splendid, including a hat,
so once we had the table set, the vegetables & lamb organised and the
pudding ready to be reheated, we sat and had a drink with him. Marjorie arrived
next with enough ‘befores’ to feed a
hungry mob and assembled a huge variety of yummy things, while Wes went & picked
up Gail from home, and Jon helped Barbara across the road with the ham and
gifts she had. Then Judi & Michael arrived full of cheer; Denise, Barry,
Leon & Shaun followed suit and we were complete.
Jon Stephens on the phone...for a change!
After a lovely afternoon, we threw
our guests out around 6pm, cleared up and sat down to catch our breath and open
our gifts and those the boys had received. Wes and I were in bed early as we
had to leave at 7.15am next morning for breakfast with Peter and Anka at the
‘European’ in Spring Street. This is a very pleasant tradition of some years’
standing and it is always good to catch up with them before we head off to the
Test. I was sitting in the MCC on my own for Day 1 and they had seats in the
Great Southern Stand. Wes very kindly dropped my suitcase into the ‘ Stamford
Plaza’ for me and made sure I was checked in, so that all I need do was collect
my key when I got home from the first exciting day.
Wes then drove home here and spent
time with Jon, before hosting a barbecue of Jon’s friends, including Nick &
Lindsay, Graham & Jenny, Frank & Ellis & Barbara. If Frank’s photos
on Twitter are to be believed it was a brilliant evening. That night I had early
dinner at the hotel with Jane & David Knox, who had driven down from Sydney
that day. It was lovely to see them both and spend a relaxing hour or so with
them before I went to bed.
Peter & Anka
We spent the next two days at the
cricket together, including a memorable Women’s Breakfast with Wasim Akram as
Guest Speaker. The cricket was fabulous and it seemed there was a twist in
fortunes during each session. Jane & David left on 28th to drive
to Barwon Heads for a couple of nights before driving back to Sydney via
Canberra & the National Gallery. They arrived home yesterday afternoon with
time for a rest before hosting a small group for New Year’s Eve fireworks.
I had invited Gillie to join me on
Day 4, but she was unable to come as she has been so unwell since Christmas.
Instead David Lazzaro used her ticket and caught up with his mate, Matt, over
from Tassie. I had breakfast with Jon Stephens, who handed over the ticket and
I was able to introduce him to Peter & Anka, who walked into the ‘European’
just as we were leaving. At the ground, I found a good seat in the Balcony,
only to be tapped on the shoulder by Gillie’s friend, Yvonne, who was sitting
behind me – her first time at the G as a full member and she was so excited.
She had just returned from a visit to Ireland, where she spent time with Seona,
who is a good friend of David’s from uni days. Seona married an Irishman one
hot New Year’s Eve and left to live in Ireland. I think Yvonne must be her
aunt. Small world!!
On Day 2, I caught up with Andy
Spencer (aka Bilby) and her partner, Chris. We met her on our trip to Alice
Springs many years ago and have lost touch recently. I discovered this is
because she has been back in England for most of the past 2 years. It was
lovely to see her again and I hope we can spend time together soon. My final
socialising was on Day 5 (which wasn’t needed), when I had a long, leisurely
breakfast with Squiz. We enjoyed catching up on each other’s news and just
being together. Squiz’s friendship goes back nearly 40 years as I first met him
in October 1972, along with Kathy Lazzaro. I had to laugh when Squiz told me
that conditions at his current employment were quite lax, as people often
wandered in as late as 9.30 but made up for it by working late. I reminded him
that the old Squiz would have given his eyeteeth for those working conditions
in ‘72 & ‘73 when he was always late for work. Apparently the new Squiz is
much more a morning person these days.
Squiz & Jan on
their wedding day 1979
Wes picked me up after breakfast and
we drove home. We had hoped to visit Viva but it wasn’t convenient, so I plan
to see her later in the week when the weather is cooler. I’ve spent the last
two days catching up on washing & ironing, emails etc and playing Words
with Friends with David Knox. I’m not coping too well as the ‘Scrabble’ game
bears little resemblance to the traditional layout, so I’ve found a proper ‘Scrabble’
online, but can’t download it to my phone....yet!
Let me update you on everyone else –
Viva is progressing well, although she & Leanne suffered some water damage
during the storms. We are hopeful it won’t be big enough to be a claim and can
be fixed quickly. Jennifer returned home from hospital in Lincoln on Christmas
Eve and is slowly getting back on her feet. Our friend, Carol, unexpectedly
ended up in hospital needing 3 stents, and was able to come home on Christmas
Eve as well.
·
We had a delightful
visit from the Anderson family on the Sunday before Christmas
·
We saw ‘ The
Importance of Being Earnest’ with Geoffrey Rush playing Lady Bracknell and were
sadly underwhelmed – Ruth Cracknell was so good in that part, no-one since has
held a candle to her
·
We were lucky enough
to be allowed to volunteer to hand out Christmas goods to the disadvantaged
here locally and it was a very humbling experience
·
Wes spent a day in
Melbourne with Warren Pengilley – introduced him to Vince & Dom, his
Italian hairdressers in Little Bourke Street, and took him to Pelligrini’s for
lunch along with Doug Walsh, who is recovering from a heart attack suffered in
the Philippines
·
I spent an afternoon
in Ballarat on a very hot day, visiting the dentist and then having a lovely
facial with Sarah
·
We have been walking
the boys together most mornings and I am finding that is a good way to start
the day – I have lots more energy to get things done in the mornings, still
flag in the afternoons and useless most evenings
·
One of Wes’s school
friends, John Hogan, died unexpectedly just after Christmas – it was quite a
shock as well as a reminder that life is precious
·
Wes had a lovely New
Year’s Eve – he and Barbara went to the Parade, then dinner at ‘Gracenotes’
where Barbara had organised a table including Judi & Michael, John &
Jan, Glenn & Annie. He arrived home in time to look after the boys when the
fireworks began at midnight from the Lake House.
So now you are up to date again –
thank you to David Castles for worrying that I hadn’t written post Christmas;
thank you to everyone for your cards, emails & phone calls. Wes and I are
looking forward to sharing this exciting year with you all.
Lovely photo of Irish, Malachi, Kalarni
& Dublin Anderson
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