Daylesford Dispatch - Sunday, 24th February 2013

Dear Friends, I have so much news to tell you… let’s start with the exciting early arrival of Penny Millman Ellsmore, born to Greta & Harry yesterday morning. Everyone is over the moon with happiness for them. Here is the proud grandfather, Danny, having his first cuddle.

 

Today we have been visited by Ben & Leanne who brought Jack for me to meet. We really enjoyed their visit and Wes provided a lovely lunch courtesy of The Food Gallery, where we have breakfast. Leanne & Ben are both excellent cooks, so we decided not to try and compete, but offered vegetarian lasagne, ricotta slice, salad, olives and an Italian cheese. Jack was well-behaved, especially for Wes, who enjoyed persuading him to sleep. They have just left to drive back to Brunswick, hopefully picking up some farm produce on their way.

 

Here is Jack wearing a top I knitted for Ben, which Kathy saved and gave to Ben for his son. I was very touched on both counts.

Last Sunday, we had a very good visit with Viva & Leanne after breakfast, before travelling to Bundoora to celebrate Mick Millman’s 60^th birthday. This was a lovely chance to catch up with Danny, Lauren & Travis, Greta & Harry, Celia & Cory & Patrick as well. We did enjoy it. Danny gave a wonderful speech and Mick told us all what a great bloke Danny is, just in case we had forgotten!

 

Here is Lauren & Rosie with Warren & me – our first meeting with Rosie

 

 

 Danny with Mick & his son, Matthew, during the speeches

It was a very hot day, 43°, and we were pleased to come home & turn the air-conditioning on and drink lots of water to rehydrate.

During the week, we played golf on Monday & Wednesday mornings; I did gym on Tuesday & Thursday; Wes went to hydro with Barbara on Tuesday; Glenn Mack had his second knee reconstruction on Monday afternoon; Wes went to Aperitifs & Rotary on Wednesday night, and I had my first massage of the year on Thursday morning. We booked into Gold Class in Ballarat to see Lincoln, which we loved. We thought the acting, particularly by Daniel Day Lewis & Sally Field, was outstanding.  Wes posted the following on Facebook - Just home from seeing "Lincoln". For a political & history tragic, it was delicious. 6 or more excellent acting performances and good writing - but everything pales into insignificance when compared to Daniel's acting - he is up there with Anthony Sher and Judi Dench – in a class of their own.

By Friday I was very tired, Nicole came to cut my hair and by early afternoon I was back in bed. We had planned to go to Barcaldine House to see Gideon’s Daughter with the U3A Film Group, but cancelled, as it was just one thing too many for the week.

Yesterday, after a 10-hour sleep, I was feeling much better, and did the supermarket shopping early. Then disaster struck – Warren’s computer was going very slowly with the new modem, and we couldn’t hear ourselves on our landline for interference. I made three trips to Jenkin & Thomas to solve the problem & eventually we worked out the modem was faulty, so Wes spent some time installing a replacement modem. His computer is working perfectly, but there was some interference on the phone line this morning, so we will have to fit a filter to rectify that.

The beautiful 2 year-old Miracles of Life winning the Blue Diamond Stakes yesterday with apprentice jockey Lauren Stojakovic aboard.