Daylesford Autumn Dispatch - Sunday, 1st March 2026

Needs a good editor!

We started our week very busily last Sunday. After the early morning walk in the cemetery, and an early visit to the Daylesford Market, we came home, got changed and joined our neighbour, James, at Larder, for a catch up breakfast, to hear all about the trip he & Yoko made to New Zealand. They were invited to a Hindu wedding, which lasted for some days, and decided to tour around afterwards, which meant they were away for a month. It was lovely to see James looking very relaxed and pleased with their trip, which he had organised back in October. The meals at Larder were generous and flavoursome and the staff attentive. 

James tucking into buttermilk hotcakes & Wes enjoying bacon & eggs with tomato sauce

When we arrived back home, I finished washing & putting away the fruit & vegetables we had bought from Yvonne, then collapsed on the couch in the lounge with the Sunday Age for a couple of hours, as I was still tired from our trip to Melbourne the day before.

On Monday, we walked early rugged up because the temperature had dropped and we had been gifted 3mls rain. Afterwards, I went shopping at Coles, then we sat down to School, where I had asked for assistance with two items, neither of which we were able to solve. For some reason I can't open Jacquie Lawson e-cards on my desktop, but they open perfectly on the laptop & my Motorola. Wes doesn't have this problem so we compared our Settings & couldn't find anything different. Fortunately, Jacquie Lawson was able to provide another way of opening cards received. Secondly, our 2 year old laptop can't seem to get Windows 11 updates. Wes had a try, but was unsuccessful, so we have contacted HP to find out why!

It turned into a beautiful day - Wes spent the rest of the morning in the front garden, and I made a boiled fruit cake, which went down well when he had finished working. Everywhere is tinged with green after the rain, and the birds were out in force as well.

Clockwise - Freesia, Perfumed Passion, Ashram, Red Riding Hood & White Iceberg with palm fronds & Jasmine

We slept well after a cool night and enjoyed our walk at Daylesford cemetery, before I Zoomed with Leanne, and Wes headed into the front garden to trim, weed & mow the edges. At 10am I sat down at my laptop to book a reserved seat for the Collingwood vs Adelaide game next month, and it took 45 minutes. The laptop stuck at NEXT and wouldn't take me any further, and then my phone kept directing me to the Club Members section instead of the MCC. It was a relief to finally snare a seat under cover in the 50 year member section!

That afternoon, we finally had some good rain - it was intermittent to start with, then got heavy with thunderstorms and a bit of lightning and finally stopped after 9mls. Everywhere looked very grateful and there is more on the way later in the week. 

On Wednesday, we had a cool walk around the cemetery before I headed to town and Mah Jong with Judi. I try to leave home at 9am so Wes can get started on his vacuuming & floor washing, and this week, I filled in the time by driving to Spring Park Nursery to return the huge tray that Chris had filled with petunias for me the week before. We played a few hands, winning some each and trying some different ones that we weren't so successful with. The café was very noisy with a pair of free-range young kids, and then a bunch of tradies, which made it rather tiring for a change.

Guess who - doing what?

That night the Blues beat the Cats by 15 points in a friendly practice game at Princes Park. Wes was delighted with their performance - we can't wait for the footy to start in earnest. Although we are enjoying the Women's Cricket with the series against India nicely poised at present with 2 points apiece. After the men played so dismally in the T20 World Cup, it is good to watch these excellent women's teams playing so well against each other. 

It was another cool morning on Thursday and we lost the race to the Cemetery. Every morning we have an unofficial race with the Woodend bus to see who gets to the cemetery first. It's usually us, but we have been beaten most mornings this week, much to the delight of the female bus driver! I was due to chat with Terry Borg on our return, but she had woken with a sore throat and cough, and we had to postpone. However, I was able to Zoom with Kathy & Karen S, and we moaned about progress - specifically the loss of homes & gardens to town houses/units with no trees.

We were very sad to read that John Savage had died last Sunday. When we first came to Daylesford, John ran the Tyre Service, until he had a stroke, and Jamie took it over. John was a Rotarian, a keen racegoer, and a kind businessman. We did enjoy his company and are sorry he has died. 

John wearing his good gear!

Then there was good news - Callum Preston & his wife, Mo Wyse welcomed a daughter, Dorothy, on Wednesday. Bobby & Marilyn are delighted to have a fourth grand-daughter, and Mo's 97-year-old grandmother is thrilled to have a namesake!

On Friday, Wes drove to Essendon to meet up with 19 other Old St Bernard's boys at the Royal Hotel for lunch. He has been organising get-togethers for many years, but these days a casual lunch at the pub seems the best way to stay connected. Here are some photos from a very successful get-together.

Geoff Dillon, Laurie Wordsworth & John Atkinson

John Sherry & Geoff Dillon

Mick Curran, George Traczyk & Gerry Delaney

Finally - a group shot including Dave Carey, Geoff Dillon, Warren Maloney & Tom Tyrrell

That evening Daylesford was hit by a hailstorm to accompany heavy rain. The stones were the size of marbles and the noisiest we can remember. We weren't sure if the skylights would survive the onslaught. It rained again later in the evening and I found 52mls in the rain gauge yesterday morning. Our enjoyment of the Women's 2nd ODI was marred by the effect of the storm on Foxtel, which meant we had lots of interference on both TVs. Our team won again, and now leads in the series with one more ODI this afternoon, and a Test next Friday to Monday. 

Fortunately we had no damage and when I checked Glen's home & car, she hadn't suffered either. We were very grateful for the downpour and enjoyed a softer walk in the cemetery as a result. We opted for a very quiet day - Wes needed to recover from his trip to Essendon, and neither of us had slept well in spite of the drop in temperature.

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. 

Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Sunday, 25th January 2026

 

A Sally special for Wes!

After the Daylesford Market last Sunday, we quickly put everything away, had showers & drove to Kyneton to catch up with old friends, Shar O'Reilly and her husband, Rory O'Doherty at a café that Shar had booked, called Home Grown on Piper. It was run by a Lebanese family, who were wonderfully welcoming to us all. We sat for 90 minutes in their pleasant courtyard catching up on news - health, ageing, and Collingwood FC dominated the conversation. Shar & I met in August 1982 at a meeting of female Collingwood Social Club members (associates as we were known) to form the first ever Women's Group at the Club. Shar stood for President and was elected easily, while I offered to be Treasurer and no-one stood in my way. We were the perfect combination and spent many happy years together at our Club. 

Shar & Karen

Wes & Rory

When we arrived back home, we visited our neighbours, James & Yoko, who wanted to show us their outfits for a Hindu wedding they are attending this weekend. We hadn't seen Yoko since she retired and it was lovely to catch up with them both and exchange news.

On Monday, after our warm walk around the cemetery, I headed off to do the supermarket shopping, dodging huge items of machinery that were taking up most of our little road, as they attempt to repair the damage down by water overflows to #74. As we were having our first School for the year, I stopped at Baker's Delight to get scrolls for breakfast - coffee for Wes, and apple for me. We enjoyed the scrolls and got stuck into our agenda - checking our Wills & Executor Dossier, both of which only required a couple of address changes. So we moved on to the HP camera settings, which had been popping up uninvited lately, and found a couple of settings which were really useful & improved the quality of our video chats.

The next morning was a big one for me with Zooms. I started at 7am chatting with my aunt, Jeff, in Lincolnshire, and was delighted to see her looking so well and sounding chirpy! An hour later I caught up with Leanne, who was also looking & sounding good, and we discussed the temperatures for our upcoming visit. which was to have happened yesterday. Then I had a break - made a quick trip to the PO & pharmacy, before my final Zoom where Old Friends were able to chat with Lib & her daughter, Becky, in Tannum Sands, Qld. Lib is looking so much better & happier since her move - we were all delighted with the catch up.

Becky & Lib at the cinema to see Wicked

On Wednesday I had an appointment with my dentist in Ballarat, and headed off early just in case there were roadworks between here & there. Anna was pleased with my teeth, and I made another appointment to have the two remaining old fillings replaced in March. As I was finished early, I decided to go to the Palace Regent Cinemas to see the film, Hamnet, as so many friends had enjoyed the book. I was entitled to a free ticket, bought my coconut choc-top and settled in the beautiful art deco Cinema 1 to enjoy the film. Sadly, I couldn't get excited about it, and after an hour, decided to leave - something I have very rarely done (last time was Moulin Rouge and I didn't last an hour). As I walked out, I bumped into Fiona & Les Groundwater, and their son, Joshua, about to go in, and we had a quick chat.

I arrived back home to sparkling floors and an envious Wes, who would have liked to have walked out of both the previous films we have seen together! I don't think I can even read the book, as I will have the actors in my mind, and I didn't care for them at all.

We were very lucky that Pat Millman, his wife, Kate Adams, and their 8-year old daughter, Clara, were visiting Castlemaine as part of their trip to Melbourne to celebrate Pat's 40th birthday. We weren't able to get to his party, but could drive to Castlemaine & meet them on Thursday for brunch at Saffs Café. We had a wonderful time catching up - they live in Wellington, and both have very interesting jobs, which we loved hearing about. 

Pat, Kate, Clara & Wes catching up over yummy breakfasts

On Friday we prepared for the hot weather. Wes watered everywhere in the back garden, while I Zoomed with Leanne,  made enough potato salad for an army, bought a new iron (tripped on the cord & broke the old one), washed clothes and stayed cool. Wes had his usual chat with Barbara, followed by one with David Hall, who was in hospital awaiting surgery.

Yesterday, as we had postponed our visit to Leanne with temperatures of 40℃ expected, Wes continued his watering, while I cleaned the silver, and reorganised my study desk. Morse was happy to lie around keeping cool, after chasing up to 6 bunnies in the cemetery earlier. It was the 50th Birthday of ABC Classic, and I was glued to the radio/TV wherever I went, listening to the various presenters, old & new, telling stories and remembering difficulties they had experienced, especially in the early days. 

Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Sunday, 18th January 2026

 
Snoopy has a very limited imagination at times 🤣

It was good to wake to another cool morning last Sunday, although there was a smoke haze when we walked Morse at the cemetery, where he spotted two of the five bunnies we saw. I tried to take a photo of the sky, but my phone camera compensated for the haze and corrected it!

Wes got a better shot

Wes discovered that our old friend and neighbour, Caroline Storm (aka Caroline Cameron), had died last year. We had lost touch a few years ago when she moved back to Melbourne from #75 Duke Street, and had searched in vain to find her again. She suffered dementia towards the end of her life, and probably died in care somewhere. She was a lovely, interesting & intelligent woman, and we did enjoy her company on many occasions.

Just as we were thinking about Caroline, I read that another old Daylesford friend, Carol Bruce, had died on Saturday. Carol, Dot, Valerie & I played Mah Jong together for 15 years before Carol moved to Ballarat to be closer to her daughter, Sue, and grand-daughter, Alexandra. We had continued our friendship online and have many happy memories of times together, especially when we were able to introduce Carol to Julia Gillard, one cold night in Trentham before Julia became Prime Minister. 

Carol loved this photo of her that I took at Café 3460 one lunchtime

On Monday, we had planned a trip to Ballarat to see "The Choral", starring Ralph Fiennes, Roger Allam & Alun Armstrong among others. I did the supermarket shopping early, and we headed off for toasties & hot drinks at Wen & Ware café before the film. I really enjoyed it, but Wes didn't and was very critical of the direction. When we left Ballarat, there was smoke haze everywhere, which only intensified as we got closer to home & the Harcourt fires. I retreated to the bedroom and the air purifier, which helped my breathing, as I was quite asthmatic.

We woke on Tuesday to cleaner air, and were able to walk Morse at the cemetery. I had no commitments for a change, as Leanne wasn't able to Zoom with me, so enjoyed a leisurely read of The Age before heading into town to check the PO Box and do some chores. Wes spent the morning in the front garden - clipping, tidying and watering.

More roses - Guy Savoy, 4th July, Hot Cocoa, Perfumed Passion, Freesia, Julia etc

On Wednesday, Wes was determined to do the floors, which had taken second place to Test cricket this year, and I was invited to leave home for a couple of hours. Firstly I filled the car with petrol, checked the tyres and topped up the water; then I had a blood test at Springs Medical, and finally I went for a long walk around The Mill Markets, which I hadn't visited for quite some time. I was on the lookout for second-hand books that we might enjoy, but had no luck, and ended up back in Vincent Street, where I found three at Paradise Books. By then the floors were dry and I came back home to a sparkling clean house.

The next morning, it was great to catch up with Terry Borg on Zoom - we hadn't chatted since before Christmas, and there was a lot to share. Then it was time for Old Friends, and we were all thrilled to have Kathy joining us again, full of stories from their month in Mexico. 

We had decided to have lunch at Tuki Restaurant & Retreat, a wonderful place that we have neglected in the past few years, to say thank you to Rob & Jan, who are taking stepping back and leaving Tuki in the capable hands of their son, Alastair, & his wife, Georgia. 

Sadly, we were very disappointed when we arrived. We have taken so many friends to this place; had fun fishing for trout in the pools; sat down to wonderful set menus, and watched Rob expertly fillet trout, as Jan, just as expertly, looked after us all. Instead we were the only ones having lunch and were waited on by two young waitresses. The menu has changed drastically and we were shocked to be paying $46 for a fillet of trout, and $18-$30 for a glass of wine. So we had our meals, which were yummy thank God, and said goodbye to the Tuki we had known & loved for so long.

Our view over Stoney Rises, which remains an incredible one, this time with the addition of some ponies instead of the usual dogs

Fiona Groundwater had delivered a tuna casserole to us, as she was feeling so sad that we were mourning a few friends. We were very grateful, but couldn't eat it that night and saved it for Friday night's dinner, instead of our usual fortnightly fish & chips. 

Meanwhile, Wes started back in earnest with Zooms & phone calls this week - 2 chats with Barbara; a catch up with old friend, Carole Hardwick; a call with his sister, Denise, and time with another old friend, Wendy Owen. On Friday, I caught up with Leanne's news, before a WhatsApp call with Jan Pengilley, where we debriefed on Christmas & she explained Costco to me, among other topics!

Yesterday, after the walk, Wes washed Morse, which is always fun, and we enjoyed a quiet day together. The wind had died down and I was able to cut another vase of roses, which are so prolific so far this year. Even our standard Glorious, which suffered in the storms towards the end of 2025, has recovered and is blooming again.

Last night the Melbourne Stars fell in a heap in Perth against the Scorchers and look as though they will have to travel to Hobart to play an Elimination Final against the Hurricanes. We're very disappointed as they started BBL15 very strongly and were on top of the ladder for quite a few weeks. 

Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Sunday, 11th January 2026

It surely is!

We started our week with a very early trip to the Daylesford Market, so we could be home, unpacked and ready to watch Day 1 of the 5th Ashes Test from the SCG. The Poms won the toss and batted very well, with Root making his first century on that ground, and Brook hitting 84. 

I was still struggling with asthma the next morning, but did the supermarket shopping early, as well as a podiatry appointment and some chores before the early start of Day 2. After we dismissed the Poms, we batted very well with Head & Smith both making centuries.

Tuesday was another busy early morning - my first chat with Jeff for 2026, followed by a catch up with Leanne, and a midday appointment with my GP, Dr Ellie, who is leaving Springs Medical as the travel time is too much now that her elder daughter, Billie, is starting school. I am very grateful to Ellie for all her help, and we both agreed that Dr James, who is Wes's GP, would be a good fit for the future. 

In the cricket, we were eventually all out for 567, a lead of 183, which the Poms set about chasing with enthusiasm on Day 3, and which saw Jacob Bethell make his maiden Test century in front of his delighted family, who rode every ball with him. At 22, Jacob looks like the future, and he played with a wonderful maturity. By stumps on Wednesday, they were 8/302, giving them a lead of 119 runs.

Before the cricket on Wednesday, I had visited Juls early to have my first manicure for the year. As I was leaving, she said she had a small gift for me in return for all the gifts I had given her over the years.

Not so small and full of yummy treats!

Meanwhile, most of Australia was sweltering in high 30s/low 40s heat, and we were very grateful for our air-conditioning, which kept us cool as we sat engrossed in this 5th Ashes Test. 

On Thursday I caught up with Old Friends, Karen & Joyce, and we exchanged Christmas stories before chatting about the cricket and wondering what this last day would bring. Wes & I had arranged brunch at The Convent with Bob White and his Mexican friend, Angel Aldapeg, so we headed off there and were delighted to find ourselves in The Parlour, which was cooler than Bad Habits Café. We spent a very happy 90 minutes together, discussing a wide range of topics before heading back home to watch the Test on delay. ,

Bob, Angel, Wes & Karen with thanks to Beck Walker who always obliges by taking lovely photos

Wes & I were thrilled when Australia finally hit the winning runs, after losing 5 wickets and looking shaky in the final hour of play. Mitch Starc was a worthy Player of the Series, and it was a Test to remember for Usman Khwaja, playing his 88th & final one.

Wes has had a quiet week for Zooms, as, apart from chatting with Barbara in NZ, his other ones were either cancelled or forgotten. We have installed a strong fan in the downstairs study, which makes working there more pleasant in the temperatures we have been experiencing this week, but nothing beats the air-conditioning upstairs in the lounge & our bedroom. 

The worst day was Friday, so we stayed put after walking Morse early and then pumping mineral water at Leitches Creek. I chatted with Leanne, who was staying cool, and not too concerned about her cat, Smokey, who seemed to be drinking water and sleeping happily. I ducked out early to get some spuds to make a potato salad to go with our fish & steak for dinner, and was very pleased to come back home. 

Wes & I have spotted quite a few bunnies at the cemetery this week - as many as 10 on one day. We think Morse sees one or two and heads off for a run in the direction he thinks they have taken, which isn't always right! We continue to pick up rubbish on our walks and try to leave the cemetery cleaner than when we arrived.

Morse still looking for those elusive bunnies

Although Daylesford had some smoke haze, we fortunately remained free from fires, and it was a big relief to wake up yesterday to cooler temperatures. Wes spent the morning reclaiming our garden, which had suffered in the strong winds, and everywhere is looking much better now. I even managed to pick a vase full of roses that had been sheltered from the weather.

Far too many different blooms to name them all!

We had bought tickets last month to the Ballarat Organs & Fine Music Festival, previously known as Organs of the Goldfields, which we had attended when we first arrived here. We were attracted by the performance entitled The Singing Pipes - Music of Handel, Bach, Haydn & Beyond, which was at St John's Anglican Church in Creswick yesterday. 

However, early in the week, we received a phone call to say that the performance was oversubscribed and we were invited to choose another item from the programme, which we were unable to do, as most were at night, and in Ballarat. So we missed out, but will keep an eye out for next year's schedule and book earlier. In some ways it was a blessing as there were trees and debris on the roads in & around Daylesford, and it wasn't an ideal day to be travelling.

That afternoon, Wes collected old Daylesford friend, David Hall, from his home about 5 minutes away and spent a couple of hours with him in our study, showing him how to get the best out of Ancestry.com and introducing him to WhatsApp, so he could contact his family & friends more easily. David is 93 and his mind is still as active and full of ideas as it has been since we first met him in 2000.