Dear
Friends, we started the week with a big turn-up to breakfast – David, Sandy
& Peter Russo were all last-minute inclusions and we enjoyed some wonderful
conversations. Margot had turned up an hour early and couldn’t believe the Food
Gallery wasn’t open; Janine had attended a function to celebrate South Street
in Ballarat the previous evening; David & Sandy had bought a washing
machine & fridge for their new home; Judi was excited at the response to
her request for an Arabic reader that I had put on the Daylesford Grapevine;
Barbara told us that NZ often has different daylight saving start & finish
dates to Australia which effects her chats with her sister, Margaret; Wes &
Peter had enjoyed the music they had heard the night before, and Wes also told
everyone about the funeral he had attended, where the Uniting Church minister
had experienced some difficulties with what he said about the retired minister
he was burying, who hadn’t believed in an afterlife.
Warren & Barbara,
with Margot on her way to say hello to Bilbo outside
We
tried very hard to get Carlton over the line against the Swans, but they were
no match for the Sydney side. It was some small comfort that they had beaten
the Pies by even more!
On
Monday morning, we went for an early walk together around Lake Daylesford and
saw Barry the fisherman as he set up near Monet’s Bridge. Back home we watched
a very low flying balloon hover over the Lake. Fells Electrical Service
answered my email at 7.30am and had an electrician here before 8am to replace
the noisy smoke detectors. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful local
business that reacts so promptly to requests for help.
After
Wes washed down the side of the ramp, I got painting again as it was a perfect
morning to do it. It wasn’t very easy as the wood really soaked up the paint,
but the next coats will look better – I hope! We had decided to go to Annie
Smithers’ Du Fermier in Trentham for lunch, and when Judi & Michael knew
what we were doing they asked to join us and even picked us up, which was
lovely. Lunch is table d’hôtel, but I had asked for fish when I booked and while
the other three feasted on duck, I had a perfectly cooked piece of snapper.
Judi & Michael
I
don’t know about the other two, but we weren’t interested in food or drink for
the rest of the day after our lovely three-course meal and sat quietly reading
or snoozing until it was time for bed.
We
woke early and went walking together again, which was wonderful, especially
with the very pink early sky. Wes went off to show The Lady in the Van, while I
had a fringe trim and picked some more chillies. We had been invited to lunch
with David Hall, so I picked up a bouquet of flowers from Wombat Hill Nursery
and chose a good bottle of tempranillo to take with us.
David,
who is 84, and has been widowed for 2 years, produced a three-course meal –
pumpkin soup, dauphin cheese with salad & fruit salad. We sat at his dining
room table, where he had placed a small vase of freshly picked roses and
enjoyed a stimulating three hours or so together.
It
was wonderful to hear the rain the next morning and everywhere had a good
soaking – missing the early walk was a very small price to pay.
Old friends, Cheryl
& Lib catching up with their partners, Graham & Ray, at Tannum Sands
It
was good to get back into gear at gym after two weeks’ break and I was pleased
that I hadn’t forgotten too much!
Janine
Hawker & I caught up for a long overdue cuppa at Daylesford Healthfood
Store, while the rain continued to fall lightly. We ended up with 6 mls for the
day, which wasn’t much, but it was steady and everywhere was soaked. Wes spent
the morning with Barbara, as usual, and came home to a cooked meal by me for a
change.
On
Thursday, there was a delightful mist over the Lake early in the morning. We
headed off to Ballart to put the Mazda 6 in to have airbags & front light
bulb replaced, as well as a service. This gave us a chance to go for a long
stroll along Sturt Street. There were many highlights – the City Oval (home of
Ballarat Football Club) & Loreto College (Catholic girls’ college formerly
an Abbey). We walked as far as Alfredton on one side, crossed over and retraced
our steps on the other side, passing St Patrick’s boys’ college and Ballarat
Clarendon College, which is an independent, co-ed Uniting Church school.
We
stopped at the Olive Grove café and deli for a cuppa. This is a Ballarat
institution that has consistently offered good food & service, as well as a
treasure trove of deli items. There was a constant stream of customers while we
were there enjoying our hot drinks (even the teacup had been warmed before
being served).
We
finally made our way to Fu Man Lou in Camp Street, for lunch. This place had
come highly recommended by friends and Trip Advisor. I enjoyed our meal of
seafood dumplings, Chinese broccoli, rice & tea, but the service was
indifferent. If the owner knew you, you were guaranteed a smile and quick
service, if not, you had to find your own menu after your initial order and I
even watched as our broccoli & rice sat waiting to be brought to our table,
which didn’t happen until the dumplings were ready some minutes later.
After
that, we walked to the Bridge Mall at the other end of Sturt Street and that
was an eye-opener. It was very busy, full of music, children’s playgrounds, cheap
shops, optometrists, op shops and cut-price chemists. We went to the Salvos
shop, which was similar to the one in Daylesford (very well set-out) and I
bought a book for $1.25 (would have been $4.25 here).
We
wandered back to Ballarat Mazda to collect our car and were a little early,
which gave me a chance to salivate over the most beautiful car I have ever
seen. Sadly, the photo doesn’t do it justice. Most people on Facebook agreed we
should just buy it, except for Ron Prophet who wanted me to get a red one! I
even dreamt about it that night – it was such fun to drive, but I kept stopping
to wipe off insects and smudges on the trip.
Wes
had a disturbed night himself and so we were all up and out the door at 4.45am
to walk around the Lake. It was peaceful, dark and quiet. Afterwards I went to
Coles to do some shopping and bumped into Margot buying a few last minute items
before she headed to the airport yesterday and a 5-week cruise heading for
Hawaii. At 9am, I took Bilbo for a walk around the Gardens to make up for his
lonely day before & another to come and he was very happy to come home and
sleep for the rest of the day. Wes spent the morning in the garden and came
inside with the good news that the figs were finally ripening and changing
colour.
Yesterday
we were all up early and enjoyed a peaceful walk around the Lake. I had
obtained an MCC Balcony pass for Wes, so we headed off on the drive to
Melbourne & the footy, our first live match for the year. There were lots
of highlights – lunch in the Terrace; meeting up with Gayle Gibson for a chat;
catching up with Ged, David & Daniel Lazzaro at half-time; great seats, and
a beautiful day – however, the Saints completely outplayed the Pies and
deserved their win on a day they celebrated the 50th Anniversary of
their first and only Premiership – a thrilling one point win against
Collingwood and I was there! Sadly Carlton weren’t able to beat the Gold Coast
last night either – a lean day for us both.
Today
marks 50 years since that handsome young man with twinkling eyes and lovely
smile asked me to dance at St Teresa’s Church Dance on Easter Sunday night.
When Viva picked me up after the dance, I told her that I had met the man I was
going to marry...
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