Daylesford Winter Dispatch - Sunday, 7th June 2026

 
Guess who?

Our week started very quietly as we were still tired after our trip to Melbourne last Saturday. Wes & Morse did the Daylesford Market for me, and came home with lots of goodies. I spent the day in the lounge, watching footy & sewing up a jumper I have been knitting with some lovely donated wool. I dropped it into the Salvos on Monday and the manager very kindly told me she looks forward to Winter & my knitted offerings.

The main colour is actually pumpkin, rather than yellow, and blue & green stripes seemed the best fit

We have enjoyed quite a lot of rain this week, although we were able to walk on Monday morning, and Wes did some pruning before it set in. Everyone I met in Vincent Street agreed that last Saturday's fog was the worst they had ever driven in - particularly in the aptly named Pleurisy Hill, christened by Gail White when she & Terry lived in Lupin Cottage, Grenville Street, near the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens.

Once again, we have discovered we have lost a friend - this time, Sheila Hollingworth, who died in WA in 2024. We spent many happy hours with Sheila & her husband, Vaughan Brown in Daylesford. They lived in a wonderful home in West Street and were very generous hosting U3A & Words in Winter Events. Sheila was a cartoonist & writer, and the last we know she was volunteering at schools, helping young people develop their skills & interests.

Sheila & Vaughan on their wedding day in 2008

On Tuesday, I visited Springs Medical Centre to see my GP, Dr James Smith. He listened to my breathing & suggested I have a CT Scan to check my lungs to see if that would explain why I have been coughing all year. I'm booked in for next Tuesday morning. 

Wes has been busy with phone calls, Zooms & WhatsApp chats this week - he's spoken with Barbara in NZ twice; Helen in Lower Plenty; Danny in Queensland, & Paul in Oxfordshire. He had planned chats with Sam in Brunswick, and Wendy in Clifton Springs, but both are looking after very unwell spouses and couldn't fit Wes in. Meanwhile, I chatted with Leanne in Strathmore, Shar in Heathcote, Terry in Burwood, and Old Friends - Karen in Port Melbourne, Kathy in Burwood & Joyce in Reservoir. 

Meanwhile Judi & I played Mah Jong on a rainy morning in a packed & noisy Muffins & More café. I won most of the games, but Judi tried some interesting hands and enjoyed the challenge. 

By Thursday, it was three days in a row since we had been unable to walk Morse and the rain was persistent, and occasionally heavy. I imagine this weather has been good for our new volunteer-run Cinema, named the Phoenix, as it has risen from the ashes of the previous one in The Rex Arcade. The local developers of The Rex, Eddie Comelli & David Bromley, have made good on their promise to re-open the Cinema, and it seats 64 in comfort with excellent elevation. We haven't been yet for various reasons, but I am hoping to get to The Sheep Detectives before it disappears from the screen.

Morse was very happy to stay warm & dry inside

The rain finally stopped at 3am on Friday morning, but everywhere was so wet underfoot & full of puddles that we didn't walk Morse. However, I had a lovely Zoom with Leanne, missed out on a WhatsApp chat with Jan in Maleny; and headed into Vincent Street to complete all the chores that had been building up during the week. I overhead one shopkeeper telling another that they, too, had closed early the day before, as no-one was venturing out in the incessant rain.

Yesterday we woke to discover, in spite of the Bureau's predictions, Daylesford was wet & misty yet again. Morse missed out on his walk, and a bath - the latter didn't bother him too much. We settled down to listen to the ABC Classic Top 100 Greatest Music of all time, punctuated by footy games, including minis of the two close games already played - Adelaide's 1 point win against Geelong on Thursday night, and the Western Bulldogs' amazing 8 goals to 1 second half to beat Hawthorn on Friday night. 

So far we've not had many of our selections make it into the Top 100 - we both chose Chariots of Fire by Vangelis, which came in at 75, and I had O Eccelesia by Hildegard von Bingham, which was 84. Fingers crossed for better luck today when 50 through to 1 will be played.

Daylesford Autumn Dispatch - Sunday, 31st May 2026

 
I'm sure Morse thinks he is!

As promised last Sunday, we had a very quiet start to our week. Wes had made a superhuman effort to get out of bed and drive me to the station on Saturday, and then collect me the following morning, after walking Morse & doing the Daylesford Market shopping. We watched most of the Carlton game again, the last quarter of the North match, and minis of everything else!

On Monday, we both walked Morse early, where the temperature was a balmy 11℃ at 6.15am. I did the shopping at Coles and came home with our Baker's Delight treats - spinach & feta croissants, which were still warm from their oven. Then we compared Calendars and booked in an Anniversary celebration next month, and a visit to Chadstone Shopping Centre in July to see the latest Rone exhibition - Home ("This immersive exhibition reconstructs a Chadstone shopfront as a familiar yet disquieting Australian weatherboard house. Visitors step inside a space that feels at once intimate and nostalgic, where materially rich, time-worn interiors sit in contrast to the controlled architecture of the centre.")

I went back into town to collect our monthly prescriptions and met old friend, Barry Spall, at the pharmacy. We have known Barry almost since we arrived here in Daylesford, and I am especially grateful to him for running a wonderful gym for many years - I benefitted very much from his advice, programmes & guidance. We chatted about footy of course - he is a Doggies fan, and they had beaten Melbourne in a close, exciting game the night before. His wife, Fran, is a very keen Geelong supporter, who has been enjoying the way they are playing at present.

My Mother's Day Oriental lilies opening beautifully

The next morning, Wes & Morse walked early, while I tried to contact my aunt, Jeff, in Lincolnshire for our fortnightly WhatsApp chat, but had no luck getting in touch. Afterwards I Zoomed with Leanne, who was booked in for her COVID booster; before heading to Leitches Creek to pump mineral water, and then onto Hepburn Springs for a manicure with Juls, who is busy planning her 70th birthday party in Melbourne next month. 

It was a warm day for May, so Wes got started on the pruning - he filled a green bin, and then mowed before retiring to fix a couple of areas that had been damaged by the cockies. We had learnt of the death of Neale Daniher - an amazing man, who was last year's Australian of the Year for his fight to find a cure for MND. He was diagnosed in 2013, after a career as an Aussie Rules footballer, coach & administrator, and spent his remaining years fund-raising. He will be given a State Funeral and next month's King's Birthday clash between Collingwood & Melbourne will celebrate his legacy in style. 

Wes was able to wash & vacuum the floors on Wednesday while I had a full blood test at Springs Medical, and then played Mah Jong with Judi. I had fasted for the test in the hope that would give a more accurate reading, so needed something to eat & drink before Judi arrived at Muffins & More café. Fortunately there was a savoury muffin left, and I was delighted when it was served warm & with curls of butter!

Yummy muffin

 My beautiful All Honours Hand with 3 concealed Kongs - that doesn't happen often

Lovely photo of Judi with the Three Philosophers' winning hand

That night, Wes has another go at steaming dumplings - this time the prawn & ginger ones he had bought from the Ballarat Fish Supply, and he used our rice cooker. The dumplings were perfectly cooked and very yummy with a little soy sauce on the side. We finished our meal with an interesting English cheese & crackers.

We walked Morse early again on Thursday before Wes drove Snoopy to Ballarat for its 12 month service. I had set aside the morning to change from our lightweight to heavyweight doona cover, and apart from a great WhatsApp catch up with Old Friends, I spent most of my time around the laundry! Wes arrived home at lunchtime with custard tarts & a date roll for afternoon tea from Golden Nugget bakery.

On Friday, I had my regular appointment with my podiatrist, Peter Dietsch, at Springs Medical Centre. He was only 15 minutes late, which is pretty good by his standards, as he drives to Daylesford from Castlemaine, and I suspect he is already late by the time he leaves home. Meanwhile Wes spent the morning in the back garden doing more pruning & mowing as we were expecting rain for the next few days. That night Carlton had an unexpected and excellent win against Geelong, one of the Flag favourites. Wes is on Cloud Nine after three wins in a row. 

The last of the Autumn leaves greeted us as we arrived home from our early walk

Yesterday we woke to a dense fog, but were able to walk Morse, and amazingly saw a bunny, who led him on a merry chase. We then drove to Strathmore to spend time with Leanne. She is doing very well, but as anyone who lives on their own knows, you sometimes need to run your thoughts past others, as you can get the wrong idea. We chatted about a few things, put her mind at rest about some of them, and had a walk around her garden where we found oranges, parsley, thyme & spinach shoots all doing well.

Last night Collingwood fell 4 points short of beating the Western Bulldogs after a spirited last quarter comeback. I fell asleep at half-time and will look forward to catching up on the second half today, which is going to be a very quiet one with more rain expected.

Daylesford Autumn Dispatch - Sunday, 24th May 2026

 

We started our week with a wet visit to Daylesford Market and Morse was very upset to be left at home. Yvonne sent an apple back for him, and he cheered up with that. We had 16mls in our rain gauge, which meant tanks were full again and the ground soaked. We had planned on breakfast out to celebrate Carlton's win the night before, but opted for tea & toast at home instead.

On Monday, we were pleased to be able to walk Morse early although it was very dark. The rain didn't start until 2pm, so I did the Coles shopping and then my other chores without getting wet. I had a massage with Sarah late in the morning, while Wes pruned in the front garden. In the afternoon, he went to Alan Harrison's funeral, which was very well-attended, and came home with some wonderful stories to share.

Our beautiful Weeping Japanese Maple at its best

Once again we had a dark early walk with Morse, and for once, I had no Zoom chats booked, as Leanne was expecting the NDIS gardeners at the time we usually catch up. I made a quick trip back to Coles to get orange juice & packets of soup - the former wasn't available, and I couldn't find the latter the day before. Wes & Morse went out and returned with some beautiful Oriental lilies for me as a belated Mother's Day gift. 

The last of our trees to change colour is this Maple at the front door

On Wednesday, Judi & I met for Mah Jong in a very busy Muffins & More café. Honours were even with some interesting hands tackled by both of us. Wes had vacuumed & washed the floors when I arrived home, which was lovely of him. 

After two WhatsApp chats on Thursday - early with Terry Borg in Burwood, and later with Old Friends - Burwood, Port Melbourne & Reservoir,, Wes & I travelled to Strathdale, a suburb of Bendigo to visit Cliff Talbot and his wife, Barbara. Cliff lives in a very lovely Aged Care Home, where all the staff were smiling & helpful. Barbara had driven in to visit him as well, and we all had lunch together. The staff had organised a table for 4 for us in a side room, which gave us some privacy and allowed us all to hear each other. It was only as we were driving back home that we realised we had forgotten to take a photo!

This photo of Wes & Cliff was taken in the hallway of Maloney Manor, 246 Brunswick Road in 1991

We woke early on Friday morning as Wes was feeling quite unwell - possibly food poisoning or diverticulosis. He was very cold and shivering, so I covered him in blankets until he warmed up again, and he spent much of the day catching up on sleep. Morse couldn't cope with the change in routine and kept sneaking outside to eat the nuts in the bird food.

We lost another Daylesford friend this week. We met Robert Bartlett when he was walking around Lake Daylesford. He had suffered from a stroke, and forced himself to stay as fit as he could by walking, which wasn't easy. We met most days for a few years as he walked the opposite way to us. One morning he had fallen over beside his car and couldn't get up - we were so pleased we heard his cries for help & were able to get him into his car. Eventually walking was beyond him and he moved into Hepburn House for 24 hour care, which his wife, Deb, could no longer manage. RIP.

Yesterday, Wes had recovered enough to be able to drive me to Ballan Station so I could attend the Collingwood vs West Coast game at the MCG, where Scott Pendlebury played his 433rd AFL game overtaking Brent Harvey's 432 to head the leader-board. I had invited Danny Millman to choose a game to attend with me earlier this year, and he picked this one, with neither of us realising it would be such a momentous afternoon. We caught up with David Lazzaro before the game, which made it perfect.

West Coast played very well and Collingwood managed to win by 10 points in a close struggle in front of 90,028 fans, an amazing turn up for this game. I walked back to The Windsor to my room, in time to watch Carlton play very well against Port Adelaide over there, and win by 34 points. Wes was thrilled - two wins in a row is very satisfying.

I took this photo of the beautifully lit Melbourne Conservatory in the Fitzroy Gardens as I was walking back

This morning, Wes was good enough to walk Morse and visit the Daylesford Market to collect our fruit & vegetables, before driving to Ballan to pick me up at 9.40am. I think a very quiet day beckons for all three of us!

Daylesford Autumn Dispatch - Sunday, 17th May 2026

 

What an interesting Sunday morning I had last week. It was Mother's Day, and as I walked with my suitcase from The Hotel Windsor to Flinders Street Station, I was passed by heaps of runners of all ages, who had just completed the Annual Mother's Day Classic run or walk, which is a fund-raiser for breast & ovarian cancer. It was a dry, overcast morning, which probably helped the marathon runners in particular.

When I got to Flinders Street Station, I asked which station was best for Southern Cross Station, and was told to go to Platform 4, the Craigieburn train. When I arrived the platform was quite full, with lots of people of all nationalities and most of them clutching cameras & cardboard cut-outs. The train was 12 minutes late arriving, and when it did, everyone sprang into action taking photos & chatting excitedly to each other. Unwittingly, I was one of those riding the first trip of the first of 25 X'Trapolis 2.0 trains, which are being built in regional Victoria. The experts seemed very happy - the train had better passenger information, was very comfortable, and held more passengers with an excellent seating arrangement. I was sorry I had to get out after only one stop!

Wes & Morse picked me up at Woodend Station - I usually go on the Ballarat line, but all the trains were being replaced by coaches that Sunday, so I took the Bendigo line instead, which confused Morse no end. He was thrilled to see me get into our car. We drove home via Trentham on a most glorious late Autumn day. The sun was shining, the trees were still beautifully coloured, and when we got to Daylesford, there were wall-to-wall cars & visitors taking advantage of the weather to celebrate Mother's Day.

On Monday, we were able to walk Morse in the cemetery, before I did the Coles shopping, and later Tonna's for pasta, Dutch Cream spuds & tarragon. Before Wes went out into the garden, we did our ABC Classic Top 100 of everything picks & mine are shown below. As a result of Wes's hard work in the garden we now have pots & wheelbarrows of bulbs - tête à tête, tete boucle & hyacinths. We should be able to see them all when they flower in Spring as they are visible from at least one window in the house.

We've got our fingers crossed that we end up with displays like this - tete boucle, tête à tête & mixed hyacinths

The next morning was cold, but Wes & Morse walked, while I had an early WhatsApp chat with my aunt, Jeff, in Torksey Lock, Lincolnshire. She was in good spirits in spite of some pain in her shoulder and the effects of the latest COVID jab. Then it was time to catch up with my sister, Leanne, in Strathmore, who was heading out with her support worker, Bec, to have a blood test. She was very chirpy and pleased to see Morse, who climbs on my knee to say hello & receive a treat each time we chat. 

Then I was glued to our desktop & my phone screens to get tickets for three upcoming Collingwood matches. I managed to get them all - one on each device! It is much easier since I became a 50-year member and can book seats in a dedicated bay on Level 2. 

Meanwhile, we were both very flat to read that an old, much-loved Daylesford friend had died on Sunday - we first met Alan & Kaye Harrison, when they ran Sweet Decadence café in Vincent Street. Then we had more contact through Daylesford Rotary, where Alan was an excellent Treasurer, and helped us enormously when we took on running the Daylesford Art Show back in 2010. Sweet Decadence is known for its beautiful chocolates, and when Wes was Mayor, he asked Kaye to make a chilli choc, which she did. They are very popular and there is still a plaque in the café commemorating his request.

Lovely photo of Alan, always smiling, and a very popular local teacher before he retired

We had our usual Wednesday - early walk, followed by a fringe trim for me and delivery of goodies to Vinnies, one of our 4 Op Shops. Then while Wes cleaned the floors, I played Mah Jong with Judi in a busy Muffins & More café. Honours were even, and I left to come home, while Judi had lunch with friends.

I had booked a mammogram for 9am on Thursday morning at Lake Imaging in St John of God Hospital in Ballarat as Dr Ellie had advised me I couldn't continue with Breastscreen at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital because of my age. Fortunately Wes decided to drive me there - we left home at 8am and I arrived at Lake Imaging at 8.59 - we encountered 6 lots of roadworks and spent 12kms behind a driver whose top speed was 60kms. 

Once there, I was interviewed by a lovely radiologist, Brontë, who told me that it would cost me $300 to have it done where I was, and that it was still free for me at Breastscreen. She then rang them & they agreed to fit me in because I had travelled from Daylesford. Wes drove me to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, about 5 minutes away, and I was looked after very well. Louise, the receptionist assured me I could always come to them every 2 years, but I wouldn't get an automatic reminder.

We then drove to the NAB ATM to get some cash and I discovered too late that the ATM I chose only delivered $100 notes - EEK! So I got in line to see the teller, who happily gave me some $50s & $20s instead. Our next stop was the Ballarat Fish Supply and Wes had fun choosing fillets of salmon & flake; some frozen King prawns; a rainbow trout, & prawn & ginger dumplings. Meanwhile I went to Woolworths to buy packets of cooking salmon, which we can no longer get at Coles in Daylesford. 

We were hungry & thirsty by then, so went to our favourite little café, Wen & Ware, which was very busy. We found a corner on a shared table & tucked into cheese & tomato toasties & hot drinks, which certainly hit the spot. We love the friendliness of this place - the staff are always smiling, polite and patient, and there are plenty of plate glass windows to look out of, so you feel part of the day. 

Another late vase of roses - Guy Savoy, Perfumed Passion, 4th of July, Red Riding Hood, Ashram & Friesia

We were delighted to have a day at home after our busy morning in Ballarat, and after walking Morse, I had another good Zoom with Leanne, while Wes did wonders in the back garden. Everywhere needed pruning, mowing & a drink - all these things were done in lovely sunshine. 

Wes has enjoyed a social week on the phone or via Zoom or WhatsApp - he's spoken with Barbara Simpson twice; chatted with Carole Hardwick; caught up with his sister, Denise, and enjoyed a long overdue conversation with very old friends, Hymie & Joan Zawatzky in Caulfield. 

My votes - I'll find out how I went next month

On Friday night, Collingwood played Sydney at the SCG, and instead of being soundly beaten, as expected, they played their hearts out & led most of the night, being beaten by a goal when the final siren blew. I was so proud of them, especially as we were missing 5 regular players, and our young ruckman, Oscar Steene, sustained an ACL injury. 

Yesterday we had our usual walk before Wes gave Morse a bath, and I caught up with Rhonda at The Convent for morning tea. Rhonda had brought back from Florence two bars of beautiful soap from the Santa Maria Novella Apothecary - one for her & one for me, and I wanted to thank her for her thoughtfulness.

We visited this beautiful pharmacy in 2012 when we were in Florence - unforgettable!

That afternoon, Wes took David Hall to the monthly Politics in the Pub at the Farmers Arms Hotel in Daylesford. They had a stimulating & enjoyable afternoon, while Morse & I watched footy! That night, the Blues, under new caretaker coach, Josh Fraser, won a tight game against the Doggies, much to the delight of all Carlton supporters who were sick of losing every week after being in winning positions. Wes was delighted!

Daylesford Autumn Dispatch - Sunday, 10th May 2026

Last Sunday, we managed our weekly trip to the Daylesford Market before the rain became very heavy - 36mls in our rain gauge that night, which is wonderful - everyone's tanks would be full, and the gardens were desperate for moisture. We had hoped to plant our bulbs, but it was too wet, so we opted for computer work, the Sunday Age, and footy instead.

On Monday, I did the weekly shop at Coles and bought home our breakfast of spinach & feta croissants from Baker's Delight. We have become addicted to these delightful pastries, and enjoy sitting down with them & hot drinks once all the shopping has been put away. We usually then have weekly School, but are trialling it monthly instead. Wes went out to the front garden to trim & mow, while I caught up with washing & computer work. The cockies have been getting stuck into our house from the decking, so Wes has painted over the area and covered it with chicken wire, which we hope will deter them from returning. 

This week's bouquet - Guy Savoy, Tangles, 4th of July, Volcano, Don Bradman, Hot Cocoa & Friesia

Wes had a very social afternoon - a Zoom with Terry Larkins, followed by a chat with Barbara in NZ, and finished off with a catch up with Helen. He had been due to Zoom with Paul & Rod that night, but it was postponed until Wednesday.

There was more rain overnight & into Tuesday morning, so we couldn't go for our usual walk. I chatted with Leanne, before Wes & I tackled cleaning our lounge/kitchen area. He cleaned the paintings & cupboards, while I polished furniture and then cleaned the benchtops, while he did the vacuuming. We both felt very pleased with our efforts, and celebrated by putting Morse in the car and pumping mineral water at Leitches Creek!

We were delighted to see these blooms on Glorious, our beautiful standard rose that was damaged in the last big storm

It was dry enough to walk on Wednesday, but no sign of bunnies, although we had spotted two on Monday morning - both times Morse & the bunnies enjoyed the chase. I played Mah Jong with Judi at Muffins, where quite a few locals came in from the cold for meals & hot drinks. Meanwhile, Wes did the floors and I came home to a lovely clean, warm house. I had a very quiet afternoon and evening, but Wes enjoyed an excellent chat with Paul Jackson in the UK & Rod McDonald in Melbourne after dinner. 

Golden Beauty seems to be very happy with its spot & keeps flowering splendidly

We woke on Thursday to a freezing cold wet morning, and cancelled all thoughts of a walk. I had been looking forward to a catch up with Rhonda at The Convent, but my cough had freshened up, so we postponed until next Saturday morning. I did have enough voice to speak with Terry Borg on WhatsApp, where we enjoyed swapping stories; and then with Old Friends - Karen S & Joyce briefly, as she was coughing too!

It was such a cold day that we lit the fire and stayed in front of it, reading The Age & books, much to Morse's delight. He & Wes had gone out foraging & returned with feta & onion tart for lunch, apple log for afternoon tea, and dumplings for dinner. Needless to say we couldn't fit the apple log in and saved it for Friday & yesterday.

Nothing like an open fire

On Friday, it was cold & wet, but nowhere near as bad as the day before. I had an early Zoom with Leanne, which went well; followed by a lovely WhatsApp chat with Jan in Maleny. Wes joined me for the first 30 minutes and we caught up with all the fun & excitement of the 5-week cruise around Australia that she did with her daughter, Tara, and son-in-law, Diedrich. Afterwards Wes took me to breakfast at the Glenlyon General Store, where there was an inviting open fire, and we enjoyed our usual meals there. We took the chance to catch up on a few things and only left when my cough returned.

That night Carlton travelled to Brisbane to face the Lions - they played very badly in the first half & it looked to be a walkover, but towards the end of the 3rd quarter, they found their mojo, and nearly pulled off an upset, losing by only 11 points. Wes was very pleased with the outcome, although a win would have been even better.

Spotted this lovely photo of our friend, Terry Borg, & her younger daughter, Laura, on FB

Yesterday it was raining again, but lightly and that is the end of rain for about a week according to the Bureau of Meteorology. I packed my bag for another trip to Melbourne - Wes & Morse dropped me off at Ballan Station at lunchtime so I could check into The Windsor by 3pm and have a rest before walking to the MCG. This game against Geelong was important because our former Captain, Scott Pendlebury, equalled Brent Harvey in playing the most number of games of AFL footy.

Before the game, I met up with David and Helen Lazzaro for a drink and chat at The Pullman hotel across the road from the MCG. We were joined by their son, Dan, and a couple of friends, and then I spotted Danny Millman with his partner, John, and we became a large social group. Geelong was too good for us and won easily in front of a crowd of 83,000+.

Daylesford Autumn Dispatch - Sunday, 3rd May 2026

We started our week with a good visit to the Daylesford Market, followed by an overdue wash for Morse, which he enjoyed. We three were tired after our big Saturday, especially Wes & Morse who had stayed up to see if Carlton could beat Freo over there. We bought spinach & feta croissants from Baker's Delight, and spent plenty of time with the weekend papers & the day's footy matches.

On Monday, I had lots of shopping to do - Coles, Tonna's & Blooms - where I finally got some very good advice from one of the pharmacists, Georgia, who suggested I ask Dr James for an extra ingredient to be put into my asthma medication, and found some cough mixture that didn't taste of senega & ammonia! We then had School, where we made some financial decisions and solved a few computer issues that were worrying me. As it was another gorgeous Autumn day, Wes spent the morning watering our front garden.

More lovely roses - Volcano, 4th of July, Friesia, Hot Cocoa, Tangles & Perfumed Passion

For the past couple of years I have been going to bed between 3 & 5pm, unless I have managed to have a very quiet day and still have energy to do something else e.g. go to the footy. Most nights I prepare Morse's food just before 5pm & Wes gives him his dinner. Then he joins me in our bedroom, sitting in our lovely armchair and we debrief on our day & make plans for the next one while sipping on Jamieson's whisky (him) & Hendrick's gin (me). Morse comes in to say thank you for his meal and lies on the floor until we are finished chatting. Wes then very kindly makes a yummy meal, which I eat in bed on a tray, trying not to make a mess!

Last Tuesday, I was due to chat with my aunt, Jeff, in Torksey Lock, and now that there are only 9 hours difference in time between Victoria & England, she stays up until 9.30pm & I forgo my walk with Wes & Morse, and endeavour to ring her on WhatsApp at 6.30am our time. We had a good chat, with lots to catch up on as it had been a month since we last spoke. She told me that my brother, Peter, & his wife, Anka, were heading overseas this week, and would be spending time in Lincoln so they could visit her, which is lovely.

Then I caught up with Leanne, my sister, in Strathmore. She was looking good & we chatted about the ANZAC Day footy, as well as plans for our visit to her last Friday. My final socialising was to visit Juls in Hepburn Springs for a manicure - always a fun experience, and this was no exception. That afternoon, Wes had a good catch up with an old friend - Carole Hardwick, who had recently returned from a cruise with friends. 

This is the site of the dreadful accident in Daylesford that claimed 5 lives back in November, 2023. The big rocks were put in place to stop another car doing the same thing, but Council has decided to block the road off and turn the area into communal land

On Wednesday, Judi & I met for Mah Jong and she easily won more games, including trying some difficult ones. I think she can take her P plates off now! It was nice in Muffins with locals galore, even Kelly, who used to run it, turned up for an early lunch. Meanwhile Wes did the floors before spending an afternoon on Ancestry and then having a long chat with Simon from First 
Samuel about the best way forward with our finances. 

Collingwood was hosting Hawthorn at the MCG on Thursday night - a five day break for the Pies, which isn't ideal, but I had booked a room at The Windsor, so I could attend the game. We both had early morning chats - Wes with the Jackson Group, discussing the future of universities, and me with Old Friends, which turned out to be the two Karens, as Kathy & Joyce were both coughing too much. 

While I packed and did my usual Thursday chores, Wes visited David Hall, who has moved into Hepburn House, and took him out for morning tea at Sweet Decadence. They had a good time together & David particularly enjoyed being driven around the Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens to enjoy the Autumn colours. 

Then Wes & Morse drove me to Ballan Station - when I walked onto the platform, there was our friend, Dene Roberts, who used to live next door to us in #80, with his partner, Rob Griffin. Dene was as thrilled to see me as I was to see him. Dene guided me onto the emptiest carriage, put my suitcase up for me, and proceeded to engage me in conversation until he had to alight at Footscray. It was a lovely start to my trip to Melbourne!

Wes took these lovely photos of our front garden, especially to show off the Dogwoods, which have beautiful Autumn shades

When I booked into The Windsor, I was able to turn on Classic FM radio from the TV, and sit quietly for a couple of hours until it was time to shower & change for the footy. I had made arrangements to catch up with Collingwood friend, Gayle Gibson, in the Long Room, so I needed my best black jacket & trousers. We enjoyed a lovely time over glasses of sparkling wine, before I went to my seat in the 50-year member bay to get ready for the game.

Over 76,000 turned up to see Collingwood & Hawthorn play a thrilling draw

I hadn't expected the Pies to win, let alone hold their own, and didn't think we could prevail, until the last 2 minutes, and then we made a couple of errors and let the Hawks catch up. They had more of the ball, but kicked inaccurately, which kept us in the game. 

The next morning, I had breakfast in the beautiful Windsor dining room, before packing, and walking to Flinders Street station to catch the Craigieburn train to Strathmore, where Wes picked me up about 10 minutes after I arrived. We then drove to Leanne's place, and had a very enjoyable visit. Wes checked her computer, fixed a knob that was loose, and she & I tidied up two kitchen drawers.

Coconut & quinoa porridge with fresh fruit - yum!

We were tired when we got back home, where Morse presented us with a bone he was in the process of digging up! Apart from unpacking & washing & watching the entire replay of the game, I did very little and was in bed when fish & chips were brought in!

Yesterday, we were still recovering and had a quiet morning - I made some potato salad to go with our dinner that night, and read the Saturday Age from cover to cover. Wes did some computer work and we settled down to watch the day's footy. Sadly that night, the Blues couldn't keep up their early good form against the Saints and lost their match. 

Daylesford Autumn Dispatch - Sunday, 26th April 2026

Last Sunday we had a lovely visit with Yvonne & Ken at the Daylesford Market - Yvonne had set aside all the fruit & vegetables we usually buy, and I added a bit more as our crispers were bare after the holiday. Then we came home and while I washed & put everything away, Wes got started on cleaning the car. He was feeling much better than the previous day, when he was so tired, and Snoopy desperately needed a good clean after 1,600km. However, it was my turn to feel exhausted, so I did very little, and was pleased we had postponed our visit to Leanne, as I wouldn't have been able to do it. 

Another Morse contortion - I think this says he is happy to be home!

On Monday, we enjoyed another early, cool walk around Daylesford Cemetery with Morse - still no bunnies have emerged yet from their burrows for him to chase. We skipped School, spent time catching up with our neighbour, James, before he flew to Japan on Tuesday, and headed back home to do chores. Wes mowed the lawns, which had grown green & lush while we were away, and I started the cleaning by dusting & polishing the furniture in our bedroom. 

Later that morning I had a very welcome massage with Sarah, and spent the rest of the day quietly - reading, crosswords & Logic Puzzles. Wes had a very social afternoon catching up via phone or Zoom - Barbara in NZ; Helen in Melbourne, and after dinner - Gary in Melbourne & Libby in Switzerland. In this last Zoom, Wes had set the three of them the task of coming up with sayings that were peculiar to their family or their time, and they all enjoyed it so much that they were still chatting when they ran out of time. 

We were thrilled to pick a vase of roses in April - mostly Guy Savoy, Freisia, Hot Cocoa & Perfumed Passion

Tuesday passed in a blur - I had no energy at all, and apart from walking early, Zooming with Leanne & cleaning the microwave, I spent the rest of the day resting. Wes got cracking on the back garden - he tidied up the wisteria, which had gone crazy on our back fence, weeded two garden beds, exposing roses we had forgotten about, and clipped bushes & trees that needed doing.

I was thrilled to wake up on Wednesday with some energy, and headed to Spring Park Nursery after breakfast to deliver much-needed newspapers, now that bare-rooted rose season is approaching. Then it was time for a fringe trim with Kirsty in their beautiful salon in The Rex Arcade, and finally Mah Jong with Judi. We had a good morning - it was quiet in Muffins, and honours were even when we finished.

On Thursday, we were booked to have our second flu shots, but discovered, talking to Dr Patrick, that we didn't need them. We think reception thought my chronic fatigue warranted a second dose, but it didn't. Wes dropped me home so I could catch up with Old Friends, who were chatting on WhatsApp, and I joined them all easily, which was such a relief. I've felt guilty in the past when I couldn't host a Zoom chat & everyone else missed out, but with WhatsApp, that doesn't happen. Any of us can start the chat, and any of us can leave it or join it when it suits. 

Before we left for Springs Medical, I had a lovely catch up with Terry Borg - it had been a month and we had lots to share. After my Old Friends chat, Wes offered apple log for morning tea - perfect as there hadn't been time for breakfast!

I took this pre-dawn photo in Daylesford Cemetery when I looked up and saw the cross reaching to the sky

Glen & I had been promising a get-together and it finally happened on Friday morning - after she had walked her dogs, and I had chatted with Leanne. We went to The Convent and enjoyed their scones with pots of tea. All the staff came over to say hello - such a welcoming environment. We spent an hour together and must make sure it happens again soon. Meanwhile Wes did further wonders in the back garden, which now looks much more under control than it did when we arrived back from our holiday.

Yesterday was ANZAC Day - we went to the Eganstown 9am service, as it is unique and we love being part of it. It was a beautiful morning, and all the rituals were performed well. Instead of a guest speaker, John Menadue spoke about his uncle William, who was one of the first 8 men to volunteer for World War 1 & ended up in Gallipoli. He was shot in the shoulder, recovered, and then lost a leg, dying on the hospital ship and being buried at sea. He is commemorated on the Eganstown plaque, and the plan is to celebrate a different person each year. 

From the top - early arrivals, Sally, and the piper

Wes drove me to Ballan Station & I caught the train to the MCG for the annual ANZAC Day Game between Collingwood & Essendon, which started back in 1996 with a memorable draw. The ceremonies were moving as always and I particularly like the joint banner which both teams run through together. After an even first half, the Pies were able to take control, and win the game, mostly due to a stunning performance from our former Captain, Scott Pendlebury, aged 38, playing his 431st game. He had 43 disposals, and easily won the ANZAC Day medal. 

Wes & Morse picked me up at Ballan Station after the game, and I went straight to bed with a split of prosecco and a toastie. Sadly the Blues couldn't win their game against Freo, but rallied to lose by only 14 points.

Joint banner at the G yesterday

Daylesford Dispatch - Sunday, 19th April 2026

We started our Sunday in Adelaide with brunch at Pantry on Egmont, where we both enjoyed delicious meals once again. Wes had the granola and I tackled the truffle mushrooms with scrambled eggs, which was a very special meal indeed. The owners recognised us from our previous visit and we made sure they knew that we always choose to have breakfast at their café when we are in Adelaide. On the way home we filled up with petrol rather than wait until we were heading to Lorne on Tuesday morning. 

Karen enthusiastically peppering her meal

Once again, we had a quiet day in preparation for the footy that night. Fortunately it started at 6.45pm. We arrived early, had our usual glass of shiraz and found our seats up high & under cover. We were barracking for St Kilda against Port and they managed to win an exciting game, in spite of heavy rain and quite a few errors.

Our last day in Adelaide started slowly with tea & toast in bed, before we went for a walk into the city, specifically Rundle Mall, where all the footy stuff was being dismantled. We had a cuppa in a lovely little café before walking to the restaurant at the back of the Art Gallery for lunch. 

We both enjoyed spaghetti with clams & a big glass of shiraz

We walked back home via the Zoo and Botanic Gardens, where I couldn't resist taking this photo and wondering how many Poms would find it confusing. I especially thought of our dear friend, Bill Longley, no longer with us, who, with his wife, Sue, was guilty of bringing two empty plates to a barbecue early on in his life in Australia.

God knows what Bill would have made of this!

We drove all day Tuesday and arrived safely at Lorne around 4.30pm, having left Hackney at 6.20am. Our unit is a little tired, but spacious, and we managed to get Kayo operating, so could watch our usual Aussie Rules TV shows. The shower in the bathroom is over the huge spa bath, which is quite a challenge, both for the users & the cleaners. We will be pleased to get back to our normal showers and our own bed, as well as our Labrador, on Friday.

We woke on Wednesday to light rain, which eventually turned into heavy rain. A few surfers braved the weather and had fun with the waves. I went for a long walk along the main street, looking for good breakfast & lunch spots, with mixed success. I eventually found a French bakery and brought back baguettes for our lunch. We sat on our little balcony to eat them and enjoyed watching and listening to the sea. 

Surfing in the rain

We got up at 6am on Thursday morning to go for a beach walk, and we are so pleased we did - it was dark as we started off, then we saw some amazing skies before a stunning sunrise unfolded in front of us. We came back home and had early teas sitting on our balcony watching the day begin and the surfers arrive at the beach.

Arriving at the beach

First light

The very start of sunrise

Sunrise in all its glory

We decided to have another quiet day, reading and watching the sparkling water from our balcony. We have been enjoying the books we brought & bought & Wes, in particular, has been pleased to get back into reading after quite a long break. 

Mid-afternoon, we ventured out for a walk and early dinner. We tried the Lorne Hotel, but they only offered snacks between 3-5 in spite of their website saying the kitchen was open all afternoon! Eventually we ended up at Salonika Social, a Greek pizzeria, where we enjoyed an excellent prawn pizza and Wes tried Greek rosé. He loved it and had a second glass before we went back to our unit to watch Carlton & Collingwood play in the Peter McCallum Cup. 

Yummy pizza & Greek rosé

Collingwood escaped with a 5 point win after Carlton had looked the better side early. Nick Daicos in his 100th game had a last quarter to remember, and was the difference between a win or a loss.

We had breakfast locally on Friday morning - the best of a pretty ordinary bunch - Lorne specialises in take-away everything or eat in at long benches. Then it was time to finish packing, and drive home via Eureka Kennels in Ballarat. Morse was so excited to see us, and, because he was in a penthouse, he came back as clean as when he left! We had local fish & chips that night, as we were too tired to be bothered worrying about a meal, and Morse loves the leftover chips.

Yesterday, we were back to normal, with an early walk at Daylesford Cemetery. Then I went supermarket shopping, followed by a trip to Tonna's to replenish pasta & potatoes supplies, as well as snaring the last 4 nectarines to make a fruit salad.