Dear Friends, we had a most enjoyable Sunday, which started
with breakfast and lots of good conversation around films, our finding of Viv
and Aileen’s mother’s 101st birthday celebrations. Afterwards we
came home and Wes worked in the garden, while I baked a fruit cake. Then we
were off to Bob White’s home in Trentham for the interment of Kirk’s ashes. The
first ceremony was under the linden tree in the garden, where some of Kirk and
all of Claire, the dog, were scattered. Then we drove in convoy to Trentham
Falls, where a large amount of ashes were strewn in the water at the top of the
Falls, and where one of his friends sang ‘Send in the Clowns’ unoccupied, as he
had done at the funeral. Finally we drove to the Trentham Cemetery; where there
was a short service given by two Anglican priests and a lovely remembrance of
Kirk was read out. After Kirk’s remaining ashes had been placed in the brick
wall, the RSL representative came over to Bob and formally presented him with
an Australian flag on behalf of the RSL. This particular courtesy hadn’t been
accorded Bob at Kirk’s funeral, where the flag was given to Kirk’s sister
instead.
We all repaired to the Cosmopolitan Hotel, where there were
sandwiches and savouries courtesy of ‘Chaplin’s Café’, which had closed for the
afternoon, so they could participate in the ceremonies. We were in a back room
at the Cosmo and had a chance to have our photo taken with Bob, his daughter,
Natalie, and his son, Brendan. We came home in time to feed Bilbo, who shouldn’t have been
hungry, but was...and Wes made us a yummy pasta & broccoli dish for dinner.
On Monday I walked Bilbo into town and back as it was just
too dark at 5.30am to risk Lake Daylesford, with all the branches from the
storm to negotiate. The walk was lovely, and Bilbo was quite happy with the
change of plan. We arrived back in time for me to have a shower and go to gym,
while Wes spent the early part of the morning in the kitchen preparing for our
lunch guests – Robyn & Ian Robinson, & Marilyn & Robert Preston.
When I got home from gym, Nick arrived to give me a massage,
which I have every three weeks, straight after exercise, and obviously enjoy.
He had come without a treat for Bilbo, so I had to surreptitiously find a
biscuit and deliver it to Nick or Bilbo would have been devastated at the break
in this routine. After the massage, Wes came in from the garden and continued
working in the kitchen. He made baked rosemary & garlic infested rack of
lamb, baked parmesan encrusted blue grenadier and served them with smashed potatoes
and steamed green beans. Afterwards we had a version of Eton mess using our
nectarines, local strawberries and mango. We finished with a couple of local
cheeses and somehow fitted in chockies with tea & coffee. Everyone had
brought yummy wines and the conversation sparkled as well.
Needless to say it was a four dishwasher loads lunch – and
that doesn’t include the glasses as we drank from good crystal so I hand-washed
them. Bilbo was delighted to polish off the lamb bone this morning when he got
back from his walk with Wes. As it was a perfect Autumnal morning we decided to
play golf at Trentham and enjoyed our walk around the course, although some of
our shots left something to be desired. I sank a fairly long putt and Wes hit a
couple of excellent tee shots, but overall, there is room for improvement.
We arrived back home to find tree fellers next door removing
the dangerous branches from Rob & Dene’s oak tree. They did a wonderful job
and when they had gone; there was nothing to indicate they had ever been there
except some clean cuts in the tree.
Damage around the
Lake behind the Primary School
On Wednesday Bilbo and I walked around town early before I went to gym.
After gym I had a lovely long chat over a cuppa with Gillie at the Harvest
Café, where I was delighted to see Catherine, who used to work there, was back
doing a couple of days a week. Meanwhile Wes filled the garbage bins with
prunings from the garden, before spending a couple of hours with Barbara.
We enjoyed a yummy pasta with fish for lunch and then I
spent some time at the computer, (in between looking out at the roses and
enjoying the sound of water from the fountain) while Wes and Eddie Beacham
drove to Newlyn to interview John Hungerford, who owns Newlyn Antiques. They
came back here for a meeting at Barbara’s place before Wes and I headed to the
Daylesford Central Motor Inn for a short stay at Aperitifs there. We enjoyed
catching up with friends, but the venue wasn’t conducive to mixing and we ended
up sitting outside under the rotunda chatting with old friend, Peter Widdop.
This week’s roses – peach, yellow & deep red
It was cold on Thursday morning and I was glad to stay in
bed while Wes and Bilbo braved the wind. We had 2 kgs of tomatoes sitting ripe
and ready to go, so I turned them into pasta sauce using herbs from our garden
as well. It was a very satisfying morning of cooking, although Wes complained
that the smells were too enticing for a fast day!
On Friday, Bilbo and I walked around town, looking at all
the preparations for the Chillout Festival which is held here every Labour Day
long weekend. I particularly liked the window in ‘Benjamin Bandicoot’, where
David has outdone himself this year. After a quick shower it was time to go
shopping at Coles, where everyone was getting ready for a busy weekend. Bilbo
and I joined the Bushwalkers for a lovely stroll around the Wombat Dam, which
incorporated a bit of the Three Lost Children’s Walk as well. Josie, Malcolm
& I were joined by Anna and some friends of Malcolm from Paris. The two
young boys enjoyed taking the leads of Bilbo & Cara and their mother loved
the openness and light of the Australian bush.
Back home I quickly got changed and made my way to
Gracenotes Café to meet Rhonda for a catch up chat – our first in ages, as I
have not seen her since her return from Japan, which she loved. When I arrived
home Wes had added some mushrooms & broccoli to some of the tomato sauce I
had made and we enjoyed a very yummy pasta with a glass of our current
favourite quaffing wine – ‘Muscle Man’ Shiraz from McLaren Vale.
Yesterday Wes walked Bilbo early, while I read The Age in
bed. We visited the ‘Farmers’ Market’ at the Daylesford Primary School after
breakfast, and then caught up for a long overdue chat with Glenn & Denise
back at Gracenotes Café. Glenn had brought us a loaf of his sour dough bread,
which we tasted that night and which is extremely yummy.
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Sadly I could feel a head cold coming on and went straight
to bed on our return home where I have remained ever since. I missed out on
going to the Convent Gallery’s Pimms’ Pop-up yesterday with Wes, Rob & Dene
and this morning I am missing breakfast and the Chillout Parade. Bilbo is quite
confused but so long as he has a walk and is taken to the Sunday Market and now
breakfast, he will cope.
Today would have been Viva’s 93rd birthday and
Wes put up this photo of a Tuscan Superb rose with some lovely words on
Facebook. Thank you.
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