Daylesford New Year's Eve Dispatch - Wednesday, 31st December 2014

Dear Friends, we’ve had a busy time, like you, since I last wrote. The days leading up to Christmas were spent by Wes getting the garden looking wonderful, winning the war with the weeds and the lawn, and putting the pond motor on notice that it had to work or else! Bilbo had a bath and his bedding was washed & aired, which was a source of much annoyance to him. He enjoyed all his Christmas treats, including home-made dog biscuits with peanut butter from Aunty Leanne, a new black & white squeaky toy, a new soft, cuddly friend, and more doggie delights than he can reasonably expect to eat!

We usually get our windows cleaned around this time, but last December, the window-cleaner was the one who left our side gate open, which meant the boys escaped and Frodo subsequently never recovered from the stress. Jason keeps avoiding me in the street, which is very sad – all he needs to do is say ‘sorry’ and we’d have him back here like a shot. It is now impossible to get out of the side gate he used and the other one has a chain, which you can’t avoid putting back on as you leave.

Wes continues to chat to people about the ideas we had for Lake Daylesford while we were away. He has improved on them of course and tries very hard to get enough people interested in having a vision for the future that will be sustainable and will last a little longer than the next twelve months.

We had a Christmas drink with Glenn Mack at the new re-opened Boat House Café on Lake Daylesford. It is very comfortable and we enjoyed looking out over the Lake, seeing boats on it again, and admiring the beautiful trees, but Chris & Wayne need to improve the service if they are to get repeat business. We watched people being served meals but no cutlery; people being given the wrong meal; people wondering where the menus were, and people waiting for someone to serve them, not realising it is serve yourself menus and order at the cash register. Lots of locals are there giving it a go and with a bit of luck they will give the right feedback and perhaps the boys will get it right eventually.

On Christmas Eve I was walking around the garden picking roses for our bedroom & bathrooms, when I heard a strange noise and was just too late to see a Labrador leaping to get to the unripe pears on the tree. He didn’t do it while I was watching, but launched himself again once I had turned my back – needless to say the unripe pears are left on the ground, and no doubt he goes back again every day to see how they are getting on.

Wes and I were able to sit outside and eat oysters, prawns & smoked salmon for our Christmas Eve meal with a bottle of sparkling Shiraz as the perfect accompaniment. We had given each other a combination bird bath/fountain as our gift and while I was at the Test Wes had it up and operating in no time at all, as anyone on Facebook can testify. The magpies love it and are forever giving themselves a bath in it – we hope some of the smaller birds find it soon as well.

We had planned to sit outside for Christmas lunch, but made a decision mid-morning that the wind was too strong & there were too many flies to make that an enjoyable experience, so I set the table and whipped the cream (for the non-brandy butter lovers) while Wes cooked up a storm. He made a fish & potato pie using salmon and a lamb pie using Tuki lamb straps and lots of tomatoes. He also steamed broccoli, long beans and baby carrots, which accompanied these dishes very well. We were a small group – Warren’s sister, Denise; her partner, Barry; her middle son, Leon, and Barbara, so there were lots of leftovers. We had hoped that a couple of friends who were separately on their own for Christmas might have joined us, but they didn’t.

Barbara & Leon above

      Barry, Denise & Barbara                                                                                                                                  

During the morning I was able to ring my siblings, Terry, Peter, Leanne & Paun and either spoke with them, their partner or left a message. I rang or left messages for members of the Breakfast Group and Wes left a message for his friend, Deane Wells. Jon Stevens rang us, which was a lovely surprise – we do miss our Christmas breakfasts and the chance to see so many dear friends, but now that we provide lunch, it is just too hard to do both, although we did give it a try for a couple of years.

That night we watched the Royal Command Performance for the first time ever and were very pleasantly surprised and entertained. We particularly loved the compére, a comedian named Michael McIntyre, who had us laughing until we cried, and felt very privileged to see both Shirley Bassey and Bette Midler as well.

On Boxing morning, Wes walked Bilbo before we gave him a very big bone and headed off down the highway to the MCG, where I was able to pop into the MCC Members Area and get a perfect seat in the back row of the Balcony, next to another Collingwood supporter. Once we were issued with our seats, I left my bag there and Wes and I drove to The European for our traditional breakfast with Peter & Anka.

They had bought me a black & white Christmas gift as usual, and as usual, it is something I hadn’t seen before and didn’t realise I needed – Jock the Magpie Pillow! Wes scored an autographed copy of The Mandarin Code, by Steve Lewis & Chris Uhlmann, and Bilbo was given two black & white squeaky toys, which he will love.

We all found The European quite different from usual (it changed hands some months ago). None of the regular staff was working there; the meals had increased in price and decreased in value, and the service was not up to its usual standard. As well we discovered that our feet were sitting in water, which had been caused by a dishwasher overflow during the night, which no-one realised had made its way onto the restaurant floor.

After breakfast, Wes did his usual chauffeuring trick – took Peter & Anka back to the Park Hyatt; dropped me at the MCC gates; collected Peter & Anka again and dropped them at the Great Southern Stand entrance; checked me & my bag into Rydges Hotel in Exhibition Street, where he paid the bill and ordered The Age for me, and then drove to Caulfield North to make a surprise visit (bearing flowers) to Joan Testro. He had a lovely time with her and she was delighted to see him.

After that he headed to Fawkner Cemetery, where he left flowers on his parents’ graves, my parents’ graves and those of the Griffiths family. No doubt he tidied up the sites as well. Finally he stopped at Pascoe Vale South for a coffee with his nephew, Leon, at his home, before receiving an email from our lovely next-door neighbours to say that they had brought in all the bins, and could hear Bilbo crying. As if he hadn’t already done enough, that night Wes took Rob from next-door and Barbara for a drive around Daylesford etc to see the Christmas lights before he fell into bed for a well-earned sleep.  

Meanwhile I had a lovely time at the cricket, where it was cold, but entertaining, and made my way around to the Great Southern Stand to see Peter and Anka during the lunch break. That night I had a quick meal of chilli prawns at Westlake, before falling into bed myself and watching some of the Twenty20 game.

Jane & David Knox had spent Boxing Day driving to Melbourne from Sydney and we caught up for breakfast back at The European the next morning. We three had a much nicer experience than the day before with a very attentive waiter and yummy food. Then off we walked to the MCG and took our seats on the ground level, where we were out of the sun and not too cold. During the tea break we met up with their friend, Geoff, and had a couple of glasses of white wine each in the Terrace Café.

That night, after our entertaining day, we three went to the Yum Cha Café, across the road from our hotel, for a very yummy meal of chilli squid, steamed fish & vegetables and tofu, with bean paste pancake and ice-cream for afters. We were all in bed early and watched some more Twenty20 cricket, which is just what you feel like after a big day.

Day 3 was breakfast for 7 – catching up with Lovely & Malcolm, as well as Geoff & Narelle, who are friends of Jane & David from Newcastle. Once again we were at The European and once again we had the very attentive waiter from the day before and everyone enjoyed their breakfast. In fact it was all David & I could do to leave for the cricket. We walked there and Jane was given a lift. Our seats were once again out of the sun, but David was upset that the etiquette of not moving during an over was not observed and decided to sit up on the 4^th floor, where he was colder, but had no-one in his eye line. He eventually joined me again at the tea break as he couldn’t find the Terrace Café again to join Jane, who was meeting Patrick, Gordon & Tim from our past Cricket Tours. During the lunch break, David Lazzaro came and sat with Jane and I and we had a lovely chat and catch up with him.

Meanwhile in Daylesford, after the Sunday Market shopping was done, Wes took Barbara out to The Boat House for breakfast and gave it the thumbs up – apparently access was excellent for wheelchairs & the food was good.

That night we wandered around looking for somewhere to eat and found Sempre, an Italian café near the top of Bourke Street, where we could sit outside, drink an Italian pinot and have three very different but most enjoyable meals and share a couple of desserts afterwards.

Jane & David outside Pellegrini’s where they grabbed coffees before heading back home to Sydney on 29^th December

While Jane & David were heading home, I had an early Bircher muesli back at The European, before taking a leisurely stroll through the Treasury and Fitzroy gardens to the MCG. I had wanted to show David in particular the beauty of the Fitzroy gardens as it is some years since he has come down for a couple of days of the Test, but each morning we didn’t have enough time to dally. I wandered through the Conservatory which was full of glorious fuchsias among other flowers, admired the new Visitor Centre next to Captain Cook’s Cottage, and poked my head into a couple of secret gardens with pools on my stroll to Gate 2.

Once again I was back sitting in the last row in the Balcony with an Essendon supporter for company. Loud Gayle and I finally caught up for a couple of glasses of bubbles in the Long Room, where we were engaged in conversation with some of the male members, whose attitudes varied quite considerably when it came to women and equality! Gayle had met Shane Warne in the lift on Day 1 and shown him where he could get a pie safely without being mobbed – she even encouraged him not to have a second...pointing out the statue of ‘Fat Shane’ could be seen from the window behind the pie stall.

The fashion of putting witches hats on statues is alive & well outside the MCG

Meanwhile back at home Wes had invited Rob McDonald & Brian Nash for an afternoon of cricket viewing & party pies and possibly a drink or two, which they all enjoyed. Rob & Brian discovered all they had in common and are now firm friends. Somehow Wes cooked pasta for Rob, his wife, Marg, and Barbara, that night...by the look of the level in the whisky decanter, it was a very big call.

That night I went back to the Yum Cha Café, where I had Hunan style chilli prawns, which were sensational – can’t wait to take Wes there and share a few more of the delights of the current menu there.

Yesterday I was up early again, chatted to both Wes and Leanne on the phone, before packing and checking out of my hotel. I wandered back to The European for a last Bircher Muesli & tea and strolled through Treasury Place and the Fitzroy Gardens again across to Gate 2 and a short wait for the gates to open. This time I was seated next to a Hawthorn supporter, with Carlton in front, and Essendon to the side. It was another entertaining day at the cricket, and Mitch Johnson’s off-cutter that got Pujura was worth coming to see!

Wes very kindly picked me up after the game and we collected my suitcase before driving back home listening to the wrap-up of the game. Bilbo wasn’t at all interested in me and only had eyes for Wes, who had been doing all the feeding, watering & walking. Wes made us a yummy pizza each, while I unpacked and we watched a bit of Endeavour before heading to bed.

Bilbo with his newest friend

This morning I have been catching up on washing & ironing after doing the early walk with Bilbo and letting Wes have a well-earned sleep-in....suddenly I am on Bilbo’s radar again. Wes has taken Barbara for a big shop and a hot chocolate afterwards so she could tell him all about her day with Andrew & Syd, who visited yesterday.

We have decided to give the New Year’s Eve Parade a miss this year and have a quiet night together at home. It is Glenn Mack’s birthday and he and Denise are offering drinks and cheese under his walnut tree, so we will join them for a while and hope to see Judi & Michael & Gillie and wish them all a very Happy New Year, as we do you!

New Year roses with the reindogs

We hope it is a safe, healthy and happy year all over the world in 2015 and thank you so much for reading these posts this year. 

Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Sunday, 21st December 2014

Dear Friends, with no cricket last Sunday, I had no excuse to avoid the garden, so after breakfast Wes and I got cracking. He went out and bought a short plump Christmas tree, which I decorated, while he went out again to get horse manure compost. That gave me free rein with the tree and we are very pleased with the result.

Then I brought all my potting regalia upstairs and transferred the contents of the greenhouse (which had turned into a hothouse) into large black pots sitting on the veranda within easy reach for watering and harvesting. We have a pot full of self-seeding perpetual rocket, courtesy of Nick Massaro; a pot with full-grown basil mint and chilli seedlings, and a pot with garlic chives and French tarragon. As well there is a smaller black plastic pot of Italian parsley sitting on the table waiting to be put into something more salubrious! I had enough potting mix to make up a seed tray for spring onions and they are occupying the greenhouse in solitary splendour, while all the pots of baby rocket are around the side of the house where it isn’t too hot and they seem to like it.

By the time I had finished toiling, I was quite ready to sit down with the Sunday Age and while away the rest of the afternoon doing crosswords and Logic Puzzles. Over a very yummy pumpkin & olive pizza, we watched the first episode of The Knick, until eventually I couldn’t take it anymore and am hoping that Wes will watch the remainder of the series himself. It was far too graphic and the acting was too pedestrian for me to get any enjoyment at all. We then watched an episode of The Fall and found ourselves wishing we were seeing Vera instead. Brenda Blethyn would have sewn up this puzzle in one episode and it would have been much more realistic!

I had decided to go to gym on Monday & Wednesday this week as the rest of the week was looking busy enough and Barry was keen as his Monday classes have been small. I walked there as I needed to deliver a magazine to Judi and to do a last check of Daisy-Lea, John & Jan’s holiday home, as it was being settled that day.  By the time it was 8.05am, there were 17 participants at gym – almost a record I suspect. Two had been there since 7am and they left shortly afterwards, another left early and a fourth was attending his first session, and left also as Barry couldn’t give him his undivided attention.

When I arrived home Wes was mowing the bottom part of the garden before the temperature reached the expected low 30s. He had to plant his latest rose Cote d’Azure, which has glorious rich yellow blooms with a lovely fragrance, and remove his daily 100 weeds before retreating inside to the cool, where Bilbo and I were already ensconced. Lunch was an encore performance of Seafood Laksa, as good as the first and he can make it as often as he likes as far as I am concerned.

Like everyone else we were glued to the ABC news with the shocking hostage situation at the Lindt Café in Martin Place, Sydney. We were so impressed with the police and their handling of this and could only hope and pray it would be resolved without loss of life. Sadly it wasn’t and two innocent victims have died – changing the lives of their families and friends forever. It also seems that Australia won’t ever seem quite such a safe place after this terrifying occurrence.

Since we came back from Scotland, I have had an ongoing project to change all our passwords, something we try to do every two years at least. Once we have agreed on the passwords, we work our way through all the sites, memberships and miscellany of activities that require security and it can take quite a while. I find I do a better job in the mornings and can only last an hour or so in the afternoon before my head is whirling. As we keep all our passwords safe in our e-Wallet, it is a simple matter to run down the listed categories and keep track of where I am up to each time I have break. I am not a procrastinator by nature, but it did take me a good 5 weeks to get started!

The next morning I drove to Ballarat early to change the pin numbers on our credit & debit cards, which can only be done at ATMs and as there is no NAB in Daylesford, Ballarat was the next best place. I chose the branch with two ATMs as I needed about 15 minutes or so to complete the task, but as luck would have it, one of the ATMs was out of order, so I stopped every time someone else came along to use it. Then off to Bridge Mall to find the ABC shop in Collins Bookstore, as I had been totally unsuccessful in finding an ABC Cricket book this year, either here or in Melbourne. They didn’t have any copies at the ABC shop, but were able to explain that the new distributors preferred to have customers buy them at the cricket grounds, rather than at the newsagents, which we have been doing for years. At least I know why it has been so hard. It seems like a short-sighted move to me, but perhaps sales have sky-rocketed...I’d love to know.

Back home I tackled a few more passwords before it was time for yummy fish pie with three varieties of fish and lots of chillies while we watched Our Zoo, which has been a most delightful antidote to my steady diet of crime. Wes had decided to have a quiet day in front of the computer as he was going to be busy the next day, and I think Bilbo enjoys having both of us at home and being under our feet. Duke Street was without power for a while and we couldn’t reconnect to the internet once the problem was sorted. Wes eventually worked out that our modem wasn’t recognising our new password and solved the issue, as well as discovering that our Guest password had been changed, which was why our visitors had been unable to easily connect to our internet.

Wednesday was another cool morning which gives us all a chance to open windows and doors and let the fresh air in, before it gets hot again. I headed off to gym before coming home to get changed for the last Mah Jong of the year. Dot, Valerie and I had a fun morning and each of us won a game, which seemed very fair. Dot’s husband, John, joined us for lunch afterwards.

In the afternoon I had an appointment with Greg Stewart to find out the results of my blood test. He was thrilled with everything, including my current blood pressure and told me I had a less than 2% chance of a stroke or heart attack in the next 5 years...not that I had contemplated either of these events as there is no family history of them. I suspect I’ll trip over a large recumbent Labrador instead!

In the meantime Wes was having a very busy time – he started by filling up the garbage bins with weeds from the front garden, and then hosed everywhere before heading over to Barbara’s place. They spent the afternoon at Mooltan and the RSL doing interviews of old diggers. Wes arrived back here in time to get changed, collect Janine Hawker and go to the Daylesford Rotary Christmas break-up at the Daylesford Cidery. I was well and truly asleep when he arrived home, but had left him a note suggesting he sleep in and that I would walk Bilbo.

He took advantage of my offer, so Bilbo and I had a lovely, but dark early morning stroll around the Lake. It was cool, so there was mist rising, which is always magic. The Boathouse Café has finally opened again this week, and it looks lovely with a few lights on so it is visible from wherever you are walking. It is probably 2 years since it burnt down and early reports from the new place are very encouraging.

Inside looking out

Wes decided a very quiet day was in order after his busy day, so spent time at the computer and reading. Meanwhile I had lunch with friend, Sheila Hollingworth, at Gracenotes Café. Sheila & Vaughan have bought a house in Clunes and have been living there for the past 6 months after a year of so of travelling. Originally I was to drive to Clunes, but Sheila decided she would like to visit Daylesford and I was very happy to meet her locally. She and Vaughan both find Daylesford very busy these days after living in the sleepy hollow that is Clunes and we made plans to catch up with them both over there post New Year. Later on I had a haircut with Lyndal at The Cutting Studio.

On Friday I woke up feeling quite exhausted and realised I would be unable to do the final Bushwalk for the year. This was a shame as Wes was joining us all for lunch afterwards at Ian & Josie’s home in Musk. I stayed in bed until 9am (in the past I wouldn’t have been able to get up at all) and spent a very quiet day at home mostly watching the cricket. Wes cooked poached ocean trout which we ate with a small amount of the huge potato salad I had made the day before for the shared lunch.

Yesterday I felt much better when I woke up and knew I had made the right decision, as we were off to Strathmore to have a low-key Christmas lunch with Leanne & Smokey.

We were in charge of bon-bons, salad and bubbles, while Leanne provided a lovely meal of roast pork & turkey with bread sauce and baked vegetables. Wes had bought some smoked salmon for me and sweets was a gigantic trifle that Leanne had made. We exchanged gifts for Smokey & Bilbo and Leanne gave us a beautiful star for the top of the Christmas tree, while we had brought her a Darrell Lea Christmas pudding and some chook manure!

We drove home listening to the wickets fall at the Gabba and were able to see the end of the match and Australia’s unlikely win. Bilbo had slept for most of the time we were out and was thrilled to bits with his new friend courtesy of Leanne. We were all in bed early and watched the Hobart innings in the Big Bash, but were asleep by the time the Melbourne Stars failed to match their score.

Today Bilbo and I are off to pump mineral water, to visit the Sunday Market, and then we three will head to breakfast at The Food Gallery for the last time with year. It is a perfect morning here, so Wes and I will both do some gardening before it gets too hot.

There won’t be a Dispatch next Sunday as I am off to Melbourne on Boxing Day for the Test. As usual Wes will very kindly drive me there early, we’ll stop at the MCG for me to get a seat ticket, then have breakfast with Peter and Anka at the European Café before Wes drops the three of us back at the ground and checks me into my room at Rydge’s Hotel in Exhibition Street. Jane and David Knox are joining me at the MCG and the hotel for Days 2 & 3, and I expect to catch up with Gayle Gibson, John Webster & David Lazzaro over the match as well.

Happy Christmas to you all and thank you so much for sharing our lives over this difficult year. We hope you enjoy a wonderful Christmas Day with family and/or friends and that 2015 is a safe, happy, healthy and peaceful year for us all.

Daylesford Dispatch - Sunday, 14th December 2014

Dear Friends, Sunday again – not sure where the weeks go these days. Last Sunday we had a lovely breakfast with some good stories being told about Christmas. Aileen joined us for a while and we caught up on some of her news. Since her mother came to live with her, she has been very busy indeed and visits to Sunday Breakfast are no longer the norm.

Wes and I had decided to spend a quiet day as our week was looking very busy and so we did. We pottered in the garden, I made a fruit cake, we read and listened to music and had yummy pumpkin & olive pizzas for dinner.

On Monday Wes decided he could walk Bilbo, which he did, while I prepared for my trip to Strathmore to visit Leanne. While I was away he did some mowing and gardening, so by the time I got back again, he could hardly move with the pain of his ankle and after lunch, had a rest as he was hosting an ALP Christmas break-up barbecue at Eddie & Jenny Beacham’s house that night. Barbara drove them there and apparently it was an excellent night, very well-attended.

Apart from driving to and from Strathmore through very heavy rain, my visit was most enjoyable. Leanne loved her birthday rose and we sat around chatting for ages before tackling the shower, which need some heavy-duty cleaning. We were very pleased with the result – as always those jobs are much easier when there are two of you doing it.

The next day was a busy one for me – I walked Bilbo as Wes needed to rest his ankle and catch up on sleep. We had a good walk, and before going to the gym I got the first two loads of washing on, did some computer work and prepared the lounge area for my massage which was happening straight afterwards.

Dawn around the Lake

Poor Nick never knows what to expect when he arrives to give me a massage. I announced that we couldn’t miss the start of the cricket and had set up the radio & TV. We were able to see the Phillip Hughes Tribute at the start of the game, much to my relief and I thought once again, that it was very well done. Eventually I tore myself away from the cricket and Wes drove me to the Daylesford Bowling Club for the U3A Christmas Lunch, an event I have not been able to attend for a few years.

I was lucky enough to meet up with Di Lyttleton and David Hall as I walked into the restaurant, and Di, whose daughter had chronic fatigue for some years, was very understanding and appreciative of how I was feeling. We found a quiet little spot at the end of a table, saved a seat for Judi, who had another appointment beforehand, and settled down to an enjoyable chat. Fortunately I hadn’t gone to the lunch for the food, as the non-meat eaters were given roast vegetables and a small dish of gravy, after everyone else had been served their pork and turkey. I lasted 90 minutes at the lunch, before feeling overwhelmed and needing to go. Wes very kindly picked me up and later cooked us both a very yummy chilli-infested pasta dish.

The cricket was wonderful, with Warner, Smith & Clarke making memorable centuries and the Aussies posting an excellent first innings score. I watched it whenever I could, although I had made appointments that didn’t clash with the original Test dates and now, of course, they all did.

Once again I walked Bilbo on Wednesday morning before heading off to gym. As we were off to dinner at Gillie’s that night, I thought it would be wise to go to gym a day early and recover from being out at night without feeling I should be exercising. There were only 8 of us, which was very easy and enjoyable. Then off to Mah Jong to spend another fun time with Dot & Valerie again.

Early pink light over Lake Daylesford

Dinner at Gillie’s was lovely, as always, with Nick & Robyn as expected and Glenn a surprise guest. Gillie had made a wonderful antipasto platter for us to share beforehand and then a prawn dish served over rice, before producing some yummy cheeses. We left at 9.30pm as we were both tired by then.

Bilbo had to make do with a bone and no walk the next morning and I stayed in bed until 9am before getting up. It took me until Friday to recover from dinner, so I guess I am not quite as far back to normal as I had hoped and I will be avoiding evening activities as much as I can in the run up to Christmas. We both spent a quiet day on Thursday, with Wes doing some gardening and computer work and me watching the cricket.

I went shopping at Coles early on Friday and then Bilbo and I joined the Friday Bushwalkers for a hot walk around Muckleford. It took about 30 minutes to get there and by the time we had driven along a dry dusty road, the car was looking very dirty indeed. I drove Josie and her friend, Shirley, and we joined up with Malcolm and Helen for the short walk, which took us ages to complete. Nearly everyone had an apple at morning tea, so Bilbo scored well and he had two dips in a small dam which cooled him down.

We got home at 1.15pm to find Wes relaxing in the lounge with a whisky after having spent the morning gardening and then cooking a very yummy asparagus risotto. Bilbo and I were quite tired and very content to watch the cricket all afternoon.

Cardboard replicas of Glasgow churches in their Modern Art Gallery

Yesterday I washed the cars early while Wes walked Bilbo, then off to Wombat Hill Nursery for some pots, soil and seeds as my Summer task is to grow some seeds in the greenhouse. That job will be done today, as the last day of the cricket beckoned and I had to be near the radio & TV.

We had accepted an invitation to attend an opening at Tussock Upstairs Art Gallery in Point Lonsdale, where our friend, Wendy Owen, had some sculptures on display. The main exhibition was Seagulls by Julie Stafford (of Taste of Life fame) and we thought it would be good to see Wendy and experience art by the beach. It took about 1¾ hours to drive there via Geelong and we were horrified to see how dry everywhere was. We used to visit Point Lonsdale quite a lot in the 70s with our friends John & Helen Hanrahan whose parents had a holiday house there. It was a sleepy hollow and nothing was open after about 7pm.

We parked in the main street just outside the Gallery and went upstairs full of expectation, which was never met as Wendy didn’t arrive. We had a glass of wine each, looked at all the art on display and decided to have a hot drink in the café next door and wait for her. We did that and there was still no sign, so at 4pm we decided something must have happened and headed back home. We have since discovered that she attended the exhibition early after having lunch with her mother, then went back home, before returning later after we had gone.

Wendy in her studio

The final session of the cricket, which we listened to as we drove, was riveting, as the stand-in Indian Captain, Kohli and Opener, Vijay, did their very best to snatch an unlikely win. An amazing bowling effort by Nathan Lyon, which saw him take 7 wickets in the second innings for a total of 12 for the match, turned the tide and the Aussies were always going to win once Kohli went out to a great catch by Mitchell Marsh. The bad news is that our Captain, Michael Clarke, looks most unlikely to play cricket again for quite a while as he has torn his hamstring.

We woke this morning to a lovely cool still day, although it will get hotter this afternoon. Wes took Bilbo for a long walk around Victoria Park and shortly we’ll head off to the Sunday Market and then Breakfast. The magpies and rosellas are chirping and circling each other in their anxiety to get to Fawlty Towers and food; the roses are blooming in profusion and Wes is winning the war against the weeds!

An unexpected second bloom of our poppies

Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Sunday, 7th December 2014

When I left you last Sunday I was about to take Bilbo out to the Sunday Market, which we did. I left early to post some letters in Hepburn Springs, and on the way we passed some errant ducks waddling along our street, an echidna, which was on the nature strip outside the Lake House, and then a goat which was tethered to a front gate, munching away on another nature strip. Life in the country is like that at times.

Breakfast was fun with Gail telling stories of a trip to Melbourne during the week and Wes sharing his experiences of being on a small country booth where most of the 150 voters were dyed in the wool National Party, apart from one young green who snuck through without telling his grand-dad and gave his second preference to Labor.

That afternoon we went to Sailors Falls Estate Winery, about 5 minutes out of Daylesford, to help celebrate Rob McDonald’s 70^th birthday. Rob & Marg are very good winemakers, who are very generous as well with their hospitality and although they had requested no presents, most of us felt we needed to leave a gift as once again we were their guests. The highlight of our time there was the piper who turned up and played requests for 30 minutes or so. We did enjoy spending time with some old Daylesford friends, most of whom were keen to discuss the election. Eventually Wes and I decided it was time to go home and he made a yummy pasta dish for dinner before we fell asleep!

Neither of us felt like golf on Monday, especially with lightning, thunder and occasional rain all around us, so I had a sleep-in, Wes walked Bilbo and after the skyworks finished, Wes did some weeding, mowing and pruned most of the lavender bushes. I got creative with the stalks and this is the result. The basket is a gift from Peter and Anka, and it has been in constant use since we received it earlier this year. Before becoming the lavender repository it was holding the Christmas cards, which enabled me to tidy up all my bits and pieces quickly if we needed our big table.

I took Bilbo out with me late morning as we needed a new electric jug for the kitchen. We went to the Post Office, put out John & Jan’s bin, delivered a magazine to Judi and went into Jenkin & Thomas to find they had a special on Russell Hobbs kettles - $129 reduced to $77. After buying a beautiful black & silver model, I realised it wouldn’t fit in my Harrods carry bag, so I rang for help and Wes picked us both up, which was lovely of him.

There are so many new shops in Vincent Street, but sadly they are all offering beautiful things that we no longer want or need or can afford, so it is impossible to support them all. I do enjoy looking in the window displays and thinking that our visitors are very well placed for shopping that suits them when they are relaxing here.

I cheated this year and started putting out the Christmas decorations a day early on Sunday, as I realised I mightn’t have time on 1^st December. So our front door looks good with the beautiful wreath with red bells & ribbons, my favourite childhood Christmas tree is up, the cinnamon sticks are in the hearth and red & yellow bells (a gift from Viva) are chiming nicely on the decking. Wes’s rose this week is called Ashram, and has pride of place in the front garden. The only downside to this apricot-coloured tea rose is that is has very little fragrance.

We both seemed to have lots of appointments on Tuesday – I went to gym and arrived home to find Wes about to head out to his GP. My next commitment was to the Cutting Studio for a fringe trim, so I put Bilbo on the lead and we marched off only to find Wes on his way home and happy to give us a lift. He couldn’t wait for me to be finished as he was meeting his sister, Denise, at 10.30am at Gracenotes Café, for a catch up cuppa, and then off to help Glenn Mack at midday. 

We had decided to have leftovers for lunch, so I heated them up, picked some baby spinach & rocket to make a salad and had lunch ready when he arrived home at 1pm. In the meantime I had enjoyed a lovely long chat with Jane Knox before she and David headed to Brisbane on Wednesday, originally for a couple of days of the 1^st Test and now to spend some time with favourite family members.

After lunch I needed to change my GP appointment and scored one that afternoon, so we went back up to Springs Medical Centre, where I had a good chat with Greg Stewart, (commiserated with him on the loss of his mother, June, who died while we were in Scotland), and was pronounced to be in good health, with just a blood test needed to prove it!

We had decided to go to the flag-raising to celebrate the 160^th Anniversary of the Eureka Rebellion, at the Museum for Australian Democracy at Eureka early on Wednesday morning. If we had been there at 4am, there was a special performance of Blood on the Southern Cross, but we arrived just after 6am in time for the speeches from the CEO of the Museum, Kaaren Koomen, former Victorian Premier, Steve Bracks, and the Mayor of Ballarat, Cr John Phillips. The raising of the recreated Eureka flag, on a flagpole similar to what would have been used on the first morning, was an emotional experience. Neither of us had realised just how many nationalities were represented at Eureka, with just 4 of the 101 miners having been born in Australia.

After some gardening, Wes accompanied Barbara to Ballarat for her Annual Spinal Clinic, where they meet health professionals who may be able to make life a little easier or who have better ideas of how to manage the many issues that arise when you are confined to a wheelchair. They ended up having lunch at the Mill Markets afterwards and when Wes arrived back home, he went straight to bed for a rest, as he was tired and had somehow hurt his ankle, which was swollen & painful.

Meanwhile I spent the morning with Valerie & Dot and we even managed a few games of Mah Jong in between chatting. Valerie & I stayed for lunch, and then I came home to await the return of the dishwasher, which behaved perfectly while it was in the factory at Barclays, Ballarat. Wayne brought it back just as Phillip Hughes’s funeral was starting, but he was quick, efficient and after a coffee, went on his way. I loved the funeral as I had felt a real need to celebrate this life which was cut short so unexpectedly. I especially like the way Michael Clarke has made it very acceptable for men to be emotional and cry in public, and I hope this is a lasting legacy of the outpourings of grief that have followed Phil’s death.

Lovely photo of Lauren Kennedy with Rosie, Myles and Frankie, their new flat-coated retriever. We are all wondering just how long the Christmas tree is going to stay decorated & upright now Frankie has arrived!

On Thursday I persuaded Wes to stay in bed and rest his ankle, so walked Bilbo at 5am for an hour, came home and did some computer work, and then went to 8am gym. Afterwards I went to Springs Medical Centre for a blood test and found that I was the only one there at 9.15am – much preferable to queuing up at 8.30am with all the regulars.

We had planned lunch with Lovely & Malcolm at The Plough, Trentham and I booked a table for 12.30pm. We arrived early, parked out the front, picked a good spot, ordered an excellent Riesling and then watched our friends walk straight past the hotel and disappear out of sight. Eventually I sent them an SMS and discovered they had been sitting in the park waiting for us to arrive! We enjoyed a very yummy lunch and more importantly, a good time together, although it was hard to get a word in as everyone had something to tell or ask. They are off to Scotland next year and wanted to know a little more about our experiences.

Our dogwood at its best

The next morning Wes walked Bilbo, while I did the supermarket shopping before it got too busy. After I had unpacked everything I put Bilbo in the car and we set off to meet the other Bushwalkers outside the Daylesford Bowling Club, where Josie had invited us to travel in her car to Rocklyn and the Ashram, where Rob McDonald was leading the walk. Malcolm took the small group of us who were doing the 90 minute walk and we did enjoy wandering along an old train track in the Australian bush. Bilbo loved meeting another dog, Bindi-Sue, who put up with him dancing around her wanting to play. I accidentally dropped our morning tea apples on the path shortly after the start of the walk, but Shirley contributed a Granny Smith apple which kept Bilbo happy. Bilbo leapt into every puddle and came home a little muddier and smellier than when he left.

Wes had been busy in the garden when we left, but I discovered that Barbara’s roller-door had malfunctioned, which prevented her from driving her car to Ballarat for a meeting. Wes put up a message on the Daylesford Community Grapevine, and she rang around for help. That afternoon she rang him to say the door was open and she could get the car out, but wouldn’t risk closing it again until it is repaired properly next week.

Wes made us prawn laksa for lunch, which we both enjoyed immensely and I hope it becomes a regular fixture as it was very yummy indeed. After lunch I spoke with Ian Robinson, who is getting better by the day, and David Lazzaro, to make sure he didn’t need a ticket for the Boxing Day Test. He will be there on Day 3, but his best mate, Matt, has arranged a guest pass for him.

The first sight of a waterlily in our pond....I’m hoping for another one soon...

We have decided to make our usual Christmas donation (in lieu of gifts to friends and family) to Emerge, which is the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome organisation, as since I was diagnosed with CFS, I have found membership of this group to be a very useful thing. Every three months I receive an informative newsletter, as well as their frequent emails, and without fail there is always some article in the newsletter which has been of assistance to me. The latest contained a letter from a woman who, like me, was starting to come out the other end, but she suddenly contracted glandular fever and went back to square one.

Yesterday morning Wes rested his ankle and I walked Bilbo early. It was windy and cool and we were the only ones out until we spotted a keen photographer with his tripod, just as we were heading past the Lake House on our way home. Wes was up and ready to bath Bilbo on our return, as he really wasn’t very clean after his time spent in puddles on Friday.

We headed off to the Farmers’ Market, where I collected a beautifully wrapped rose called Mother’s Love, which I had ordered for Leanne’s birthday. I am visiting her tomorrow and wanted to take it with me as a surprise. Gillie has given me some eggs from her chooks and I will also take some fresh produce from today’s market as Leanne hasn’t gone back to shopping at Victoria Market yet.

                                                                           

Then we three walked to Vincent Street where Barbara Simpson & Helga Hart joined us to watch the Highland Gathering Parade. Not all the bands choose to march, but it is always a glorious sight and sound and afterwards we were treated to a line of vintage Rolls Royce cars which drove slowly up the road. We would have liked to have joined the festivities and competitions at Victoria Park, but Wes can’t walk far with his swollen ankle and the weather became very wild and woolly indeed.

Today it was raining when Bilbo and I got up at 5am, so he settled down with a bone, I collected the Sunday Age for us and our neighbours (it had been delivered, but out on the road – the Sunday person doesn’t worry about getting the papers close to our doors the way Steve does the rest of the week), and went back to bed with a pot of tea to read it. Wes had been up reading in the lounge since 3.30am when he couldn’t get back to sleep. He can’t take anti-inflammatory tablets because of the medication he is already on, so can only rest his ankle and wear a brace during the day.

Shortly we will head off to pump mineral water at Lake Daylesford and then drive to the Sunday Market to buy the week’s fruit and vegetables and the next fortnight’s dog bones. After breakfast we will come home for a quiet day as we have a busy week coming up.