Daylesford Dispatch - Sunday, 1st January 2012

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 28^th 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