Karen Maloney's Dispatch: Daylesford Summer Dispatch

Dear Friends, for all those who have been asking, the black & white photos at the top of the Dispatches have been of Viva as a child. This week’s features her as a mother, outside 34 Balloan Street, Coburg, with me in the stroller.

When I left you last week we were heading off for a busy day and it certainly was. We had a great time at Celia & Cory’s home in Beaumaris, although it took us two hours to drive there each way, which was tiring. We met the beautiful Isla, who is a lovely, contented baby and spent time with all the family members who were there. Celia had made yummy nibbles, so we ate and drank and the time flew by. As we were leaving, Lovely & Malcolm presented us with a very special rose, Mitsouko, in memory of Viva.

Bilbo was very thrilled to see us on our return and even barked, which is most unusual. We fed him and then Wes made us anchovy, basil and tomato pizzas for dinner before we collapsed into bed.

On Monday we were so tired after the weekend we seemed to be travelling on empty for much of the day. Wes carted some firewood and did some gardening, but we were both pleased to sit down to lunch and watch an episode of Dr Blake Mysteries, which are set in Ballarat in the 1950s. The writing this series is very good and we are really enjoying them. I spent my time trying to sort out our June trip to Sydney for the footy – we are going to see Carlton play GWS at the Sydney Showgrounds and Jane will be joining us at the match. We have decided to drive via Rutherglen, spend three nights in Sydney and come home via Canberra.

Tuesday was spent dodging tradesmen – Brian Moss came to put up the outside blind in front of our bedroom window in the hope it will eliminate much of the afternoon heat. That necessitated electricians from Fells and although everyone was neat and tidy, there was a lot of yelling, much turning on and off of power and much getting in everyone’s way. Our biggest worry of course was that Bilbo would escape, but everyone seemed to get the message and close the gates and doors behind them.

The blind works well and we were delighted that our bedroom didn’t get too hot that afternoon. And it was light, as the blind is grey, unlike our indoor blinds which are black.

Beautiful roses from our garden – Hot Cocoa, Peace, Big Purple & Freesia

Nick arrived late in the day to give me a massage and recommended rest for my troublesome knee rather than the exercise bike. Bilbo was delighted to see him, especially when he produced a treat from his bag.

The next day was lovely and cool. Sandra came to clean, Wes did heaps of gardening and I set off for Mah Jong with Dot & Valerie. Gail had hoped to join us but she was tired after a quick trip to Sydney, so I’ll have to catch up with her stories over breakfast.

It was my turn to be tired and I went to bed in the afternoon watching the very welcome rain beat down on the windows and hopefully soak the garden. Wes has recorded all the Lewis series, so I have something to enjoy on these afternoons in between cryptic crosswords and logic problems and reading!

How lovely to wake up on Thursday and have to put the heating on. It was too wet for a walk for Bilbo, so he happily ate his bone and sat downstairs with Wes at the computer while I read The Age in bed. Tom & Deb came to lunch, which lasted 5.5 hours! We enjoyed a very yummy Wes meal, and sat back chatting for ages afterwards. It was just perfect. We knew Deborah long before she met Tom, and we’ve known Tom forever, so there is plenty of reminiscing to be done with each of them, as well as chatting about now.

We were very grateful to them for making the long trip here and back and have a vase full of beautiful white roses to remember the visit by. Needless to say it wasn’t a late night in the Maloney household and we watched the cricket for as long as we could before sleep took over.

On Friday I had arranged to catch up with Judi for a quick cuppa before my appointment with Andrew Gallagher, physio. We had a delightful chat together before I went to tell Andrew that I had gone backwards following his advice to use the exercise bike. I am now wearing a stretchy tube over my knee with a knee brace coming, and all bikes, rowers and walking machines are forbidden for the present. However I can walk, so long as I use a walking stick!!!!

Wes used his mulcher as he had collected lots of cut off branches and leaves when he pruned the front garden and declared it a success, although we were both amazed at how little mulch we got out of a big stack of stuff. He is trying to spend a couple of hours in the garden each day to get back on top of the weeds which are part of the Summer growth as everyone knows. We are harvesting roma tomatoes and about to pick our first zucchini and chilies.

It was lovely and cool yesterday morning, so while Wes and Bilbo had a good walk, I washed the cars. It wasn’t my absolute best job as I am hobbling, but at least they are clean and safe. We had been due to have a yum cha lunch with Kathy & Ged, but Kathy’s mother, Iris, went into hospital for a pacemaker, so lunch has been postponed.

We were underwhelmed by Collingwood’s effort against Richmond at Wangaratta in the afternoon; however, it is better to be rusty in February and firing on all cylinders in September, so I am holding that line. The cricket is interesting with South Africa easily on top in the Second Test with their superior batsmen. It makes for a nail-biting Third and deciding Test.

This morning I am about to take Bilbo to the Sunday Market, and after we wash and put away the fruit and vegetables we will head off to Breakfast at The Food Gallery, where Gail will have lots of stories from her recent trip to Sydney. In the afternoon I am hoping to see The Railway Man, here at The Rex Theatre, with Judi.