Morse

Morse
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Sunday, 27 April 2014

Daylesford Autumn Dispatch - Sunday, 27th April 2014


Dear Friends, we enjoyed a wonderful Easter Sunday and hope yours was as good. Breakfast was fun with Gail & Terry, Michael, Barbara & us sharing stories, while Bilbo waited patiently for his toast. We came home to do a few chores, then set off to Trentham to see their Easter Art & Craft Show in the Mechanics Institute. It was a delightful exhibition, well priced with plenty of variety and lots of sales. Afterwards we strolled up and down High Street and Wes pointed out Kirk’s favourite haunt, Chaplins. I looked in the window and the first person I spotted was Bob White, so we joined him for a cuppa until his friends, John & Kev from Maryborough arrived.

Wes had invited Barbara & Michael to join us to watch the Carlton & Western Bulldogs game, so we lit the fire, he prepared macaroni cheese and we enjoyed a bottle of Passing Clouds Graeme’s blend Shiraz, followed by an equally good Cofield Sangiovese Shiraz...and the Blues won, which was a big relief to the Carlton supporters. Wes had decided not to go, so Ben Lazzaro used our seats and I bet he was pleased he was there, although injuries to Judd, Curnow and Bell soured the victory somewhat.


Lovely photo of the Hoolihan clan on Easter Sunday in Torksey Lock – Archie, Michael, Kelly, Jeff, Kev, Leigh & Simon

On Easter Monday we decided to play golf early and were surprised to see a few cars there at 7.15 when we arrived. We teed off at the 1st hole and realised the group of three in front of us were in no hurry, so cut across to the 10th and then played the back 8. Wes played some of the best golf I have seen him play in quite a while and had a birdie & a par as well as a couple of bogeys. I got a bogey and a few double-bogeys, so we were both very content with our morning.

We met up with Lovely & Malcolm for lunch at the Victoria Hotel, Woodend, where we had the best table in front of the fire and enjoyed fine Knights Granite Hills Wines and very pleasant meals while we chatted about everything under the sun. We arrived back here in time to settle in front of the TV and enjoy the Geelong/Hawthorn clash at the MCG with a crowd of 80,000+ adding to the atmosphere. It was a classic game between these two sides and just as everyone thought the Hawks would finish the better, the Cats found a second wind and ran away with the game.

We woke to pouring rain on Tuesday and a very welcome sound it was indeed. Wes gave Bilbo his bone and went back to sleep and then enjoyed a rare late start to the day with Hot Cross buns and lavender tea served on a tray in bed to him. I had to get tickets for the Collingwood/Adelaide match at the Adelaide Oval, so wanted to be sure I was ready, and sitting at my computer, for the 9am release of the tickets. Of course, it was 9am South Australian time, which added to the stress levels and when 9.30 finally arrived, contrary to advertising, it was only Adelaide members who could buy tickets. I sent messages to Ticketek and they advised I could buy tickets the next morning instead.

The rest of the day was spent by me updating my Contacts list and trying to get e-Wallet and my printer working perfectly on my new computer. Wes in the meantime spent the day finding glorious accommodation options in Scotland and I think our trip is just about all booked. We are opting for long stays everywhere and will get a car after Edinburgh. Wes cooked a brilliant lunch of fish with anchovy sauce sitting on a bed of tomatoes and peas....so good we can’t wait to have it again.

This lovely photo of Emily Knox and her boyfriend Alan was taken in Glasgow where they spent Easter

On Wednesday we were up bright and early again, Wes to walk Bilbo, and me to continue to update my computer. At 9.30am I selected 3 tickets for the Adelaide game and just as I triumphantly announced to Wes that we had them, the computer said NO! After another false alarm, I finally was successful and raced off to Mah Jong to join Dot, Gail & Valerie for the first time in quite a while that we four were all together. We had a fun morning and the time flew by. Valerie seemed to get Mah Jongs more easily than the rest of us. Wes contacted me during the morning to say that John Scarffe had turned up out of the blue to fix the skylight and hole in the ceiling, much to Sandra’s horror, as she had just cleaned everywhere he wanted to be.
That afternoon we visited our friends, Nick & Lindsay, who are heading to the UK in about 10 days’ time to loan them our Tom Tom, which we loaded with UK maps last year. They were delighted with it and will find travelling around much easier than only using maps.

On Thursday we had a power surge just as Wes and Bilbo left for their walk. It turned on the bedroom light for some reason, so I got up and decided to wash the cars before I had my shower. Then I watered the veggie patch, which just about guaranteed that we would get some light rain.



While Wes was gardening (shifting a maple from the front) I sorted out two more issues with my computer and am starting to feel much more like I am in charge instead of it. We picked up a DVD attachment, as there isn’t one with this new slimline HP model and you can’t download programmes without it!
Friday was ANZAC Day and I joined Wes and Bilbo on their early walk, before we deviated to the Cenotaph for the Dawn Service. This was a lovely event – wonderful speeches by the Secondary School Co-Captains, and a spine-chilling rendition of And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda by Sallie Harvey. Wes had let me know the day before that he would be doing Barbara’s care this morning so that he could take her to the lovely Eganstown 9am service and then the Daylesford Parade at 10.30am. We had to leave the Dawn Service the minute it finished which meant we arrived back only 2 minutes late for Barbara.

Meanwhile I spent some time on the computer yet again, and then set off to the MCG for the 20th Annual ANZAC Day Collingwood vs Essendon game. It was a wonderful game with Essendon getting the jump on us early, but our midfield getting on top in the second quarter, which allowed us to run out winners in front of 91,000+. I am lucky enough to have been to every one of these 20 games and enjoyed this one with David Lazzaro.

When I arrived home, Wes had cooked a very yummy prawn risotto to celebrate and had the replay ready to go. Later that night Bilbo forgot himself and leapt onto our bed as though there weren’t already two of us taking up most of the bed. He had to be sternly persuaded to get off and resume his usual position by the side of the bed.

Yesterday I joined Wes and Bilbo on the early morning walk, and then did a big shop at Coles, before stocking up on Jameson’s whisky as I didn’t think Wes could survive the Carlton game without a whisky or two. He had worked very hard in the garden, putting the lemon and lime trees under cover for Winter, as well as spreading manure and weeding.

Lovely and I at the Victoria Hotel, Woodend on Easter Sunday.

He had invited Barbara to watch the game with him as she is waiting for her Foxtel to be repaired and cooked them both yummy chicken with vegetables. I enjoyed leftover prawn risotto and much to everyone’s surprise, just when it looked as though the Eagles had a very close game in the bag, Carlton stepped up a gear and won in an exciting finish.


Today we have decided to forgo our usual Breakfast as there were only going to be four of us and Wes and I are off to lunch at Nick & Robyn’s at midday. As well, we are expecting John Scarffe sometime this morning to finish off mending the hole in the kitchen ceiling; Warren needs to take Barbara on a big shop, and Aileen was only coming to breakfast to keep us company as she is busy as well. So Bilbo and I will head off the Sunday Market shortly, which will make him happy. Enjoy your day!

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