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Sunday, 6 July 2014

Daylesford Winter Dispatch - Sunday, 6th July 2014


Dear Everyone, I left you last Sunday with the wet weather and a trip to Melbourne coming up. I did take Bilbo to the Sunday Market, but we left him at home with lots of celery during Breakfast as he would have been cold and miserable sitting outside. We had just come back home when the Telstra man arrived to fix the phone and 30 minutes later we were back on air.

I drove to see Leanne and spent a lovely afternoon catching up with her and Smokey before driving to Northcote to check in at Danny’s home away from home. We drove to the MCG enjoying a belated birthday drink on the way as Danny had been in Warrnambool on the actual day. Then fish & chips in our seats right on the wing and under cover. We enjoyed the game, which was very exciting and close after the first quarter, and the Pies were lucky to kick a late goal which put us in a winning position.

On Monday morning I drove back here after deviating to Strathmore to collect my mobile phone, which I had inadvertently left at Leanne’s place. It was a much easier drive than the day before as there was no rain or wind. However gentle rain started falling mid-morning and continued through the day with a soft grey mist for company.

Wes and Bilbo spending quality time together!

Shortly after lunch I succumbed to tiredness and Bilbo and I retired to the bedroom, where I caught up on Lewis, including the first episode which I had never seen, and Miss Marple. Wes had a meeting with Cr Kate Redwood, who was an apology for his later meeting and then met with members of his ALP Executive and Barbara.

On Tuesday we awoke to a dry morning, so Wes and Bilbo walked happily while I changed sheets and towels and got ready for gym. Highlight of my day was finding the exact model of my old Sunbeam Mixmaster on e-Bay and buying it. Can’t wait for it to arrive now!

Wes had a lovely time with his old friend, Terry Larkins – they met for lunch at a pub in Gisborne, where Terry lives and spent three hours or so catching up. They had tried to find somewhere halfway in-between, but nowhere in Woodend or Trentham was open on a Tuesday, so Wes was happy to do the driving. Terry doesn’t drink, so Wes was more than ready for his 5pm whisky when he arrived back home.


Latest photo from Berkshire of Amelia & Archie Hoolihan

We couldn’t believe the news on Wednesday morning that the young Aussie, Nick Krygios, had beaten Nadal overnight. I had prayed he would win a game or even a set, never dreaming he could win the match. I did some early morning shopping in preparation for Lib’s visit and then headed off to Mah Jong. Wes worked on the computer, and then spent time with Barbara as he does most Wednesdays.

Later that afternoon Lib arrived safely with bubbles for us and a big bone for Bilbo. She was very popular indeed, but we made him wait until the next morning. Wes made his famous fish pie and we enjoyed a quiet night sitting, chatting & some of us knitting.

We awoke to discover that Nick Krygios had been unable to beat Milos Raonic, but we are very excited for his future. It was a freezing morning and I went to gym leaving Wes and Lib to share breakfast. Then we drove to The Chocolate Mill, where Lib chose some yummy chocs and she and Wes indulged in decadent hot chocolates. Lib had seen Peppers Springs Retreat on TV, so we came back via Hepburn to show her what it looked like. We had decided to take her to Trentham where it was even colder than Daylesford and fairly quiet, although The Plough & The Cosmopolitan Hotels were doing a good trade. We enjoyed soup at Chaplins, drove to Newbury to show Lib where Glenn Testro will be living soon and came home in time for Lib’s massage at EKO, which she loved.

We lit the fire, put on David Suchet’s Tribute to Hercule Poirot and relaxed with our knitting and drinks. Later Wes made a wonderful mushroom & pumpkin risotto for dinner.

On Friday, it wasn’t quite as cold as the day before, and the fire was still burning in the grate when we got up. Wes and Bilbo walked early, while I started on DA’s Friday Cryptic Crossword in The Age. Lib spent some time accepting birthday wishes and messages then we two walked into Vincent Street to check out the shops. About 10 minutes into our walk the rain started to come down and it didn’t let up. I missed a call from Wes offering to pick us up, but Gillie took pity on us and brought us home instead.

Danny arrived at midday from Melbourne, then Judi came over and we four drove to Mercato for lunch, where we met Wes and Barbara, and later John & Jan Smith who had come up from Sandhurst the night before. Barbara & Lib were very generous in sharing their special days and we had a most enjoyable time together. We had decided to shout the birthday girls their lunch, but everyone else had brought gifts and cards for them, which really made it special.



Barbara, Jan, Judi, Danny, Lib, Karen, John & Wes @ Mercato

John & Jan had to leave early as they had an appointment at 3pm, but everyone else came back to our place, we lit the fire, Judi & Danny collected Michael, we opened some bottles and around 7pm Wes produced a huge dish of roast vegetables, a yummy pasta and some risotto to feed us all.
Barbara went home as she wasn’t hungry, but the rest of us had been drinking and needed solid food in our tummies. Eventually Wes threw our guests out around 8.15pm as we were all tired!

Yesterday we awoke to constant drizzle, so the early walk was abandoned and we all had hot drinks and a quick read of Saturday’s Age before heading to Gracenotes CafĂ©, for a lovely breakfast in front of their open fire. Everyone turned up, which was especially lovely for Lib.....we’re not sure when we will see her again as she is shifting to Tannum Sands, a Queensland town of about 5,000 people within cooee of Gladstone. Lib will be within 20 minutes drive of her daughter, Becky, who, with her husband, Adam, and children, Emily, David & Nathan, has just built a new home in Calliope, a satellite town of Gladstone.


1998 – Becky, Adam, Lib, Emily & Tom

Thanks Lib for spending these three days and nights with us – it was wonderful to catch up, hear your news, say goodbye and wish you well in your new life starting this September. Lib has bought a new two-bedroom fully-furnished apartment overlooking the beach and can’t wait to move in.

We decided to spend a very quiet Saturday in front of the fire listening to the Coodabeen Champions and watching the various games of footy that were being played. Collingwood had travelled to the Gold Coast to play the Suns and it was a very entertaining match that the Suns won by 5 points in spite of losing their inspirational Captain, Gary Ablett, in the 3rd quarter and then having 3 more injuries which meant there were no rotations in the whole of the last quarter. It was a brave and gutsy win in front of the best crowd ever at Carrara – 24,000+.

This morning Wes walked Bilbo in the drizzle and I’m about to take him out to pump mineral water at Leitches Creek, then visit the Sunday Market and if it isn’t too wet, we’ll take him to Sunday Breakfast at The Food Gallery as well. Then another quiet day beckons – Wes will be hoping that Carlton can beat St Kilda!

It’s six months today since Viva died – can’t believe how quickly the time has flown by!


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