Daylesford Dispatch - Sunday, 15th January 2012

Dear Friends, Sunday has rolled around again so quickly. We enjoyed another lovely breakfast this morning with the usual crew and Gillie’s good friend, Irene. Kim spoilt us rotten as usual & Aileen helped in the kitchen as Gary wasn’t available. It was a cold morning, but the sun is now shining & it should be a perfect day – more like Autumn than Summer. We are off to lunch at Candy & Hal’s place later on – they live at ‘Daylesford House’, a beautiful big home opposite the Botanic Gardens and we haven’t been there since they bought it and are dying to see what they have done, especially with the garden, as well as catch up with lots of friends.

Candy Broad

Like most of you, we are back in the swing of things this week. I’ve enjoyed going to Holiday Strong and tried to walk on the other days to regain my fitness. We both went to the first Rotary meeting for the year, which was a very easy introduction back. We were all pleased to see each other and share our news.           

                                                                   

Wes has continued to focus on the Family History, but is promising himself a week in our garden to get it looking good. No matter how much weeding you do, there is always plenty, and with the rain followed by sun, the grass takes no time at all to grow. We have lots of tomatoes just waiting for a bit more sun to ripen and plenty of basil, which is the perfect combination. The roses are still prolific, the new lemon tree has heaps of buds, the geraniums are flowering and the fruit trees are bearing loads of fruit.

I had suggested to Wes that we go to Ballarat Races last Thursday, so he sent around an email and got a few others interested until we discovered it was a twilight fixture. He and Barbara went and spent an enjoyable time together, although they didn’t have any big collects.

We have some new shops in town:

·         An Aboriginal Art Gallery that is rarely open

·         Ginger Thai, previously Jasmine Thai, has moved into the vacant space in Raglan Street near the library, &

·         An ice-cream & lolly shop

There are also some empty shops available – one double frontage opposite the Information Centre will become the Daylesford Community Bank, and the other, next to Café 3460, is rumoured to be a fruit shop.

The Perth Test looks as though it will be over today with the Indians no match for our pace attack. We enjoyed the exciting batting of David Warner, who managed to outscore the entire Indian team in his knock of 180. His unconventional entry into Test cricket is an inspiration for all young cricketers. As well, Bernard Tomic defied the pundits in beating Mardy Fish in the final of the Kooyong Classic. Let’s hope it doesn’t go to his head and he manages to get through a few rounds in the Australian Open.

The news from Strathmore is good with Viva improving slowly but surely; Jeff in Lincolnshire is also recovering well from her back operation; Judi is back to normal after her shingles episode; Gillie was well enough to come to breakfast this morning, and Carol is doing rehab twice a week as she recovers. On a sad note, Glenda’s mother, Edna, has lost her long-time companion, Max, who developed cancer and died very quickly; and Aileen’s husband, Roy, finally died after being unwell for months.

We are all fine and the boys are very happily asleep at my feet, after their usual exciting Sunday morning activities. Enjoy your week and I’ll be in touch again next Sunday.

Lake Daylesford geese in the early morning.