Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Sunday, 26th January 2014

Dear Friends, we have been struggling this week as you can imagine and finding it hard to get back into projects. I have been doing lots of crosswords and logic puzzles while watching cricket and tennis with the TV sound down and the radio on. Wes has tried to work in the garden, but ends up in front of the computer trying to lose himself in Ancestry.com. Our early morning walks with Bilbo are going well and he is enjoying being able to trot along by our side instead of being pulled from pillar to post by his brother. I did try throwing balls for him one afternoon, but ended up retrieving them myself, so we have decided to just let him find his own way back to equilibrium.

When Greta discovered Frodo had died, she suggested that she visit us, which thrilled us very much, so she, Penny & Danny are all coming for lunch tomorrow. Bilbo will be delighted to meet Penny and we can only hope that will be reciprocated. He will also be happy to see Danny as they met on the boys’ first weekend home 9 years ago almost to the day. Tom & Deb have also made a date for lunch here in February and they will bring their dogs with them.

 

23 January 2005 – Bilbo sitting up alert and Frodo relaxing – nothing ever changed!

 

We have been overwhelmed by all the messages of support we have received since Frodo’s death. Thanks so much to everyone for emails, phone calls, FB messages and flowers. We were especially overwhelmed by the beautiful flowers and kind words from Andrew & Annette at Eureka Kennels, where the boys felt very much at home and were looked after nearly as well as at Maloney Folly. Thank you also to Lib, who hasn’t been well, but showed her feelings by sending  us a very lovely box of exquisite pink & white blooms.

We were pleased to get back to semi-normal by going to gym on Tuesday and Thursday; and I met up with Dot, Gail & Valerie for our first Mah Jong of the year on Wednesday. We had hoped to see the final screening of The Book Thief on Tuesday night at the Rex Cinema, but didn’t like to leave Bilbo for 3 hours.

 

 

 Bilbo & Frodo New Year’s Eve 2006

Bilbo enjoyed the visit by Jan Smith on Monday at lunchtime. She arrived with a card and flowers for us, and Bilbo sat on her feet the whole time. On Thursday, Joe Rozen dropped in as he hadn’t known about either death and it was lovely to see him as well.

Wes spent Friday in Melbourne visiting Joan Testro in the morning and Leanne in the afternoon. It rained all morning in Daylesford, which was very welcome, so I took Bilbo shopping in the car with me, and later we walked up to the Post Office together to make sure we both had some exercise. In the afternoon I tried playing ball with him and he responded by retrieving it a few times, which was very good to see. Wes arrived home around 5.30pm very tired but happy with his day.

As you know, I am a big fan of cards and flowers and have been thrilled to receive so many of both from our friends and families. Just as last week’s flowers were past their best, a huge bunch of glorious Christmas lilies arrived from Leigh & Simon Murrin one day and a lovely box of brightly coloured gerberas and Asiatic lilies came the next day from Terry & Georgie Borg. Thank you to everyone for your thoughtfulness and generosity.

Bilbo & Frodo walking at dawn around the Lake on 6^th January this year

On Saturday we decided to go to Ballarat to collect a few things we can’t get locally, such as new cushions for the outdoor setting, sticky address labels & a one litre bottle of Jameson’s Whisky. We took Bilbo with us and he enjoyed the outing. We had just arrived home when Eddie & Jenny Beacham were on the doorstep with a home-made cake and some hugs.

This morning I am about to take Bilbo shopping, then off to the Sunday Market & breakfast. Wes is watering the garden, the kookaburras are laughing, there are ducks up and down our street; the roses are blooming in profusion and all’s well with the world. I promise to be back to normal with next week’s Dispatch.

 

 

 

 2006 – all three boys asleep together!

Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Monday, 20th January 2014

Dear Friends, this is another sad Dispatch as we have had to put our dear Frodo to sleep. His heart had been affected by the latest Great Escape and he deteriorated over Friday and Saturday. We suspect he had a small stroke on Saturday afternoon, and then another big one late that night that left him unable to see. Wes sat up with him all night until he could speak to the emergency vet in Ballarat at 9am. Our own vet was unable to be contacted on his mobile, so this was the kindest solution. Bilbo stayed with me all night, and in the morning, before Wes left with Frodo, we let them say goodbye to each other.

I took Bilbo to the Sunday Market as usual and then we walked up to breakfast, where everyone made a fuss of him. Wes let me know when Frodo was at peace, and brought him home to bury him in the backyard next to Casper. We spent a very sad day yesterday, crying and reflecting on all the Frodo stories. He loved Wes’s scarves and we came home one day to find them draped all down a staircase. He also loved body lotion and licked bare legs and feet clean whenever he could. He was a very beautiful, soft, good-natured dog and we are missing him. However, it is made much easier than before when we have lost our pet, because we still have Bilbo to love.

This is my last photo of Frodo, taken on Saturday when he was restless and looking for somewhere comfy to lie – why not on our bed?

This morning we walked Bilbo on his own for a slightly longer walk around the Lake and down by Sutton Springs. He is catching up on sleep, as we all did last night, and trying to get used to being able to enjoy his food instead of bolting it down in case his brother came and ate it (which he often did). He is also taking full advantage of being able to stretch out on the various dog beds, but he is missing his mate in spite of all this.

Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Friday, 17th January 2014

Dear Friends, since I last wrote we have celebrated Viva’s life in style with a wonderful funeral at St Monica’s Church in Moonee Ponds. She would have loved it all – the reading by Terry, the eulogy given by Peter, the big crowd in the church (nearly 100); the piper playing Amazing Grace; the lovely wake next door, and the private burial where Sinatra belted out New York, New York, before we five siblings released doves to symbolise the freeing of Viva’s spirit.

We want to thank everyone who came to the funeral. We were overwhelmed that so many of our friends came to support us. There was a healthy contingent from the Climb Every Mountain Choral Society Cricket Match days, Daylesford was well-represented, as well as friends from Brunswick days, and a surprise visit from Jane from Sydney. We have been thrilled by all the phone calls, flowers, cards, emails and Facebook messages we have received. We have enjoyed hearing your stories and memories of Viva, which keeps her legacy alive in all of us.

Peter, Cathy, Wes, David, Jane & Rhonda

 

 

Malcolm, Lovely, Kathy & Joyce

After the burial we all met up at the Pascoe Vale RSL, where Viva had been a member. A room had been organised for us, there was a Vale notice as we came in the door, and Wes found a couple in the bar who had known Perc during the war. They were friends of Kevin Saundry, my only surviving uncle, and my Godfather. We family enjoyed catching up with each other as that is such a rare thing these days with us in Daylesford, Peter & Anka in Canberra, and Paun & Brian in Tathra.

Just before releasing the doves – Terry, Karen, Peter, Leanne & Paun

 

Viva’s beautiful grandchildren – Liam, Rohan & Warwick, Jessie & Michelle

We collected Bilbo & Frodo from Eureka Kennels on Saturday, where Andrew & Annette also suspected what we had been fearing – that Frodo had cancer, as his tummy was very swollen. Last week, we had decided it was best to wait until after the funeral to seek treatment as Viva’s death was enough to cope with. On Sunday morning, after the walk, Frodo refused his bone, and then an apple, and lay down on their bed with very shallow breathing and cloudy eyes. We thought it was the end, so sat as a foursome for about 2 hours until Wes decided it would be best to take Frodo into the garden if he was going to die. I got the lead out to put Bilbo in the car and suddenly Lazarus awoke, sat up straight, brightened his eyes and charged out to the hallway to be part of the walk. When we recovered from our amazement, we offered him his bone, which he demolished with gusto!

On Monday we took him to the vet, who suspected liver or kidney problems and did some tests. The results were fine, so on Tuesday, Frodo went back to the vet to have 3.5 litres of fluid drained from him. The fluid was tested and nothing showed up. Andrew finally suggested we try giving Frodo some heart-starters and diuretics to see if that would help and so far it is doing the trick. He isn’t retaining fluid and has lots of energy in spite of the heat. We don’t know if this is a band-aid solution or not, but we are grateful to have some more time with this delightful Labrador, as 9 years old is too young.

We haven’t really been doing much this week as we haven’t wanted to leave the boys and it has been too hot to go anywhere. Wes postponed a visit to Joan Testro until next week and I cancelled a massage, but we have been to early morning gym and I did have a last manicure with Michelle Jenkin before she moves to Mount Martha this weekend to start a new life with her partner, Anthony.

The highlight of the week for Wes was going to a boys’ War Film night on Tuesday, where he, Jeff Bain and Brian Nash were ‘hosted’ by Warren Pengilley. I use the term in inverted commas as Secundus as he is known, has been spoilt rotten by Jan all his life and only knows how to look after himself. I am sure his guests didn’t mind pouring their own drinks and cutting pieces of cheese and cabana.

Waterlily in the pond at Maloney Folly

Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Wednesday, 8th January 2014

Dear Friends, as many of you already know, Viva died peacefully on Monday afternoon at John Fawkner Hospital in Moreland. She had deteriorated after she was discharged home by Brunswick Private and on Sunday we all agreed to get the ambulance and have her taken to Emergency at JFH. They looked after her very well, but suggested that she would have trouble recovering from her latest lot of infections. And they were right.

Peter flew back down on Monday afternoon and he and Leanne have been busy organising the funeral, which will be held on Friday. We have managed to squeeze the boys into Eureka Kennels for Thursday & Friday nights, so will be able to stay in Melbourne for the those nights.

Thanks for everyone for your messages of support, and for sharing your memories of times with Viva. She was a very generous woman, a good mother, a thoughtful friend and an interesting and intelligent person. We all have a lot to be grateful for, and we are. We are also very lucky to have had her in our lives for so very long.

 

Wedding Day – Viva & Perc 17 March 1949

2010 at Melba Restaurant, Southbank

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
  

Daylesford Summer Dispatch - Saturday, 4th January, 2014

Dear Friends, we enjoyed a wonderful New Year’s Eve by going to see The Hobbit, Part 2, in Gold Class at the Regent Cinemas in Ballarat in the morning. We got the last two seats, so were in the front row, which isn’t ideal, but the toasted banana bread took away some of the pain. We loved the film and were pleased that we were in comfort for the 3 hours of the session.

We decided to have a very late lunch, so I spent the afternoon taking down decorations and denuding the Christmas tree, while Wes gardened and helped Barbara with some computer and phone issues. Which reminds me – I keep forgetting to tell those of you who have indulged in e-Wallet, that there is a very good App for the phone which enables you to carry all your passwords around with you very easily. It synchronises with your computer e-Wallet and costs about $9. The website is http://www.iliumsoft.com/ewallet

This is a photo of Wes’s cactus in flower – the first time it has done it and it is rather spectacular.

Wes cooked us a very yummy dinner of squid ink pasta with chili prawns, and we indulged in some more of the Christmas pudding with brandy butter before joining Barbara in the walk down to the New Year’s Eve Parade in the main street. I haven’t made it to the last couple of parades, so was very excited to feel well enough to get there. We left just before the end as the fumes from the Fire Trucks were getting to us. However we enjoyed the spectacle, said hello to heaps of friends, were congratulated on the return of the wanderers, and especially appreciated the music played by our two town bands – the Daylesford Brass Band, who led the parade and the Daylesford Pipes and Drums Band, which finished it.

We didn’t stay up for midnight, although I woke briefly when the fireworks (about 6 in total) went off at the Lake House. Instead we were up early and walking the boys around Lake Daylesford at 5.30am and it was a beautiful sight.

 

I had suggested to Wes that we go to the Glenlyon Sports Day, which is a fun occasion, and he decided to invite lots of others to come with us. However, the weather forecast was most unkind, predicting 36° and rain, neither of which was particularly attractive. Wes didn’t want to let anyone down, so decided we would have a Games Afternoon instead.

Barbara arrived with mince pies and shortbread; followed by Judi & Michael with bottles of wine and a berry strudel, and finally Jenny & Eddie walked in the door to join the card players and share the afternoon tea. Judi & I played Scrabble, but could hardly concentrate with the hilarity coming from the card table, where no-one seemed to know what he or she was doing most of the time!

On Thursday we had a sleep in as it was quite wet at 5.30am, and after a yummy breakfast at Gracenotes Café with Wes, I drove to Brunswick Private to visit Viva. We had a good long time together but it was obvious that Viva probably wasn’t strong enough to come home. However, the doctor okayed her departure for the next morning.  Leanne and I were worried that she wasn’t well enough, but thrilled that she would be coming home again.

Wes decided we should have a lovely long walk yesterday, so walked the boys to Twin Bridges and back, which took about 90 minutes and was most enjoyable. We both worked hard before the cricket started and then I sat down to listen and watch Day 1. After lunch I rang Leanne to see how things were going and discovered that she needed Warren’s help, so he immediately dropped everything and drove to Strathmore to help her.

Wes has stayed overnight in Strathmore and will return this afternoon when Peter arrives from Canberra. Viva has slept well and eaten breakfast, both good signs. Meanwhile I walked the boys early this morning and they are sleeping at my feet. It is raining so I probably won’t take them with me to the Farmers’ Market as I had planned.

 

A lovely thing happened on Thursday, when I turned on my computer. There was an email from a chap in England saying we didn’t know each other but he had woken to find New Year’s Day wet and cold and windy and decided to google ‘Bill Longley’ on his computer as he had lost touch with him over the years. My blog celebrating Bill’s 80^th birthday was the first item that came up, so he emailed me asking if I could forward his details on to Bill. I immediately sent the email on and Bill is thrilled to bits and was getting in touch yesterday.

I hope your New Year celebrations were good; that you are enjoying the cricket and time with family and friends and that 2014 will be a happy & healthy year for us all.

 

              Daylesford Pipes and Drums in the New Year’s Eve Parade