Daylesford Winter Dispatch - Sunday, 18th August, 2013

 

Dear Friends, we are very disappointed, like most Australians, with the pathetic ending to the 4^th Test – we were in a winning position and threw our wickets away needlessly. Let’s hope that we can salvage something out of this tour and win the last Test!

Since I last wrote on Sunday, Wes had a successful debate, speaking last, and arrived home very happy, having had a few drinks and caught up with some friends after the debate. I had been sitting by the fire, knitting and watching footy with the boys.

On Monday it was too wet and cold and windy for golf, so I did some early shopping and decided to make minestrone and a boiled fruit cake, thus winning lots of points from Wes, who, as he put on Facebook, had spent some time in the rain putting up the Collingwood flag, which he had managed to hang upside down on his first attempt. The soup went well, but just as I was about to boil up the cake ingredients I discovered I no longer had a suitable cake tin, so we jumped in the car and I bought the only square tin at Magic Pudding. The cake has been declared a success, and it is obvious that anytime I want to cook, it will be welcomed!

Wes enjoying the Old Harbour at Reykjavik

We started Tuesday with a gym session, and it was good to see Ian & Josie & Martin again, and they all enjoyed catching up with Wes.

I keep forgetting to talk about one of the women I read of when we were at St Andrew’s. Her name is Issette Pearson, and she is responsible for turning handicapping from an inexact science into something resembling the golf handicapping system we have today. Under her leadership the Ladies Golf Union established a reliable form of handicapping, something the men’s clubs had been unable to do. She sounds like a rather ferocious autocratic person, but we have her to thank for many things golfing, especially as far as women are concerned.

 

It was cold and wet on Wednesday, but Dot and I turned up for Mah Jong and as there were only two of us, we took the table right underneath the heater at Harvest Café and stayed warm. Carol came in to say hello as we were packing up and it was so good to see her, as it has been ages. Wes went to the doctor with Barbara and then took her to lunch at Glenlyon Food Store, where they were joined by Penny and David Reilly.

Waiting for cabbage leaves at the Sunday Market

The next day we met up with Rhonda at Gracenotes Café, as she was keen to hear about our trip. It is always lovely to spend time with her, and we had the table by the open fire, which is the best seat in the house. That afternoon we had been invited to witness a friend, Sharon Nicholson, become an Australian, at the Daylesford Town Hall. We were very honoured to receive the invitation as we only know Sharon through Rotary, where she is a newish, younger and very active member. There was a good turn up of Rotarians and in all 18 people took citizenship including 2 Mauritians, a Spaniard, a Thai, some Indians, some Poms, a Scot and a Yank. I always get tearful at these ceremonies as I consider it is such an honour that someone bestows on us by becoming an Australian. We did think the ceremony was a little different from the warm, inclusive ones that Wes ran in the Council Chamber when he was Mayor, but everyone seemed thrilled with their certificates and native plants and afternoon tea.

We drove to Melbourne early on Friday where Wes dropped me off to visit Viva and he went to Fawkner Cemetery to check on the graves of Perc, Dot & Ray, as well as Mick Griffiths, his school-friend who died in 1970. I had a good visit with Viva, who was looking very well indeed and pleased to see me after two months. I was able to do a few chores to help Leanne, who went to Queen Vic market, the supermarket and the library while I was there.

 

Budir, Iceland, by the side of a creek formed by melting snow waterfalls

Wes picked me up at lunchtime and we decided to visit The Plough at Myrniong on our way home. We had been there previously for a brilliant lunch with the Gibsons, Robinsons & Stevensons, and we were not disappointed. We had Wagyu beef salad & tempura oysters for starters followed by baked whole snapper with chili. Our waitress recommended an Italian-style King Valley pinot Grigio which beautifully complemented our meals.

We drove home via Blackwood and Trentham, just as the strong winds that lashed Victoria were starting to take effect. Wes dropped me home, and then drove to Ballarat to pick up Barbara’s wheelchair which had been in for repairs. He managed to avoid all the fallen branches and flying roofs in Ballarat and came back home safely.

Yesterday Barbara drove them to the MCG to see Carlton play Richmond. I was pleased she drove as he was exhausted after the day before, and they were both delighted with the unexpected win. They had to travel home in strong winds and driving rain and I was very relieved when Wes finally walked in the door safe and sound.

This morning, after I took the boys to pump water and buy bones, fruit and vegetables at the Sunday Market, we went to breakfast at The Food Gallery, where we were warm and comfortable and had a fun time chatting and swapping stories. Judi and I are going to Trentham early this afternoon to hear David Astle speak as part of Words in Winter…let’s hope it is a warm and cosy venue!

 

Modern Marina near the Concert Hall, Reykjavik